Should I tip if theres a delivery charge?
Yes, you should tip. But in the case of a place that is charging $5 delivery on $15 of food, you should look for a different place to order food from, or go pick it up yourself. I used to use a food delivery service here in LA, until recently I got fed up with their constant charge hikes and extra charges (gas charge, oh PLEASE). Finally they screwed up my order and were crap about fixing it – so that was it for them. I totally understand what you are saying about feeling ripped off, but don’t punish the driver for the restaurant’s ripoff policies. Look around for other restaurants that offer free delivery, and tip the driver well. If you are a repeat customer they soon learn which customers tip well and which do not, and the good tippers often get faster delivery.
If delivery drivers are getting stiffed by not getting the delivery charge, they should quit their jobs. I have never tipped when there is a non-trivial delivery charge (which I define as greater than $1) nor do I ever plan on. The restaurant very well could be using that for profit, but that’s their business, not mine.
Don’t count on the delivery guy getting a cut of that delivery charge! I think the most pissed I ever got at a customer was this summer when a customer tipped me two cents for making her $45 worth of assorted smoothies, lattes, and cappucinos. NEVER piss off someone who is handling something you’re going to put in your mouth.