Another tipping question. Do you tip when you pick up food?

[chasbos]

I do not understand how employers can get away with paying only $2/hour. Here in Canada we have a minimum wage of around $7-8, is there not one in the US? Now if I get really good service I tip - bad service I do not.

Now IMO the restaurant owners charge more than enough for the food they serve, should they not be the ones responsible for paying their staff better?

I have no problems tipping for service that is above and beyond but it really irks me when all a person does is take an order and then bring it to me. Is that not their job?

A tip should NEVER be expected, it should be earned. After all you are getting paid and it is a job. Tips are an added benefit and should be earned.

Now I know when we travel in the states that the waiters do not make a reasonable wage and I do always tip then. But I wonder why so many people accept these wages? Has no one ever stood up and demanded an decent wage and then if you do an excellent job you can get tipped and make more?

When it comes right down to it, the restaurant owners are the ones coming out on top! Pay your servers a decent wage - they are worth it if you expect your patrons to tip them so much.

 

[Nana Annie]

We do a lot of take-out (hate cooking) and we always tip 15%, whether it is curbside or we go in. However, this is only for restaurants where the waitstaff are tip-dependent. Fast food, no, because their wages are adjusted for counter service. Heck, somebody had to put the order together for us. Whether they put it in a bag or on the table makes no difference to me. It was served to me, so they get tipped. And I won't have to cook, nor do dishes! Worth 15% to me.

I am surprised at how many people don't think there is any effort into putting a take-out order together and feel they should not have to tip the server.

However, that said, if I was handed a bill with the tip line starred and highlighted, they would probably find a nice little slash through it.

 

[greenyskp]

If you go to a sit-down restaurant and order take-out I think a tip is expected. Now, i used to work at one so maybe thats why.

Yes a server gets your refills and brings out your food and makes sure you're taken care of.

The person who takes ALL the take-out orders (not JUST yours) is in charge of making sure ALL condiments, sides, meals, drinks, utensils, napkins, and extras are in place. Sometimes You're juggling 10-20 orders. And it gets complicated and difficult to remember.

Also, they get payed slightly more an hour, but not minimum wage.

I beleive I made 2.13/hr when I was a server, and I made 4.50/hr when I did to-go. And that was standard at Chili's and Olive Garden.

Just my two cents.

 

[chasbos]

I understand that they are providing a service, but so does the poor guy at the grocery store who has to bag my groceries and then take them out to my car and put them in there.

Do we tip these people - NO - why not?

They are providing a service also.

It is just getting way to complicated these days to know who to tip and who not to.

 

[Cantw8]

No I don't.

In college I worked at a Dunkin Donuts for a while though, and I did receive tips sometimes from people just coming in for a dozen to go. I even had a guy tip me a $20 once for $5 worth of donuts.

Was that at the topless donut shop I heard about in Tampa?

 

[ItsonlyExperiment626]

Never heard of tipping with take-out, but than I don't like those tipping jars popping up at all the counter shops. I always put a line through the tip spot and copy the total on the balance due line if charging on a CC. I do tip for curb-side service though and only a buck or two for that just like the pizza delivery person.

 

[swankybeth]

I don't tip when I pick up food. We've never done carside pick up, but when we go to Sonic we always tip. I never thought about the person packing our food and how they have to pack everyone else's, etc, etc so I may change my mind about tipping next time.

 

[Disney Doll]

No I do not tip when I pick up food.

 

[JoyCrazy]

Nobody anywhere is getting a tip when they rudely remind me of it. Highlighting or X'ing the tipline is just rude . I start at 20% when I tip and go up the more I'm impressed with the service and down the less I'm impressed with it. I'm Canadian as well and don't understand the 2.13 wage thing either. Why in earth would someone put up with such an uncertain wage when their bills are basically the same each month.

Heck people at our local MacDonalds make $9 an hour starting wage. Smitty's starts at the same rate. Tim Hortons starts at $12 dollars an hour on night shift. And they all pay overtime if they have to. Overtime and a half for holidays. (At my last job everyone was paid Double Overtime and a half for holidays and somebody was always happy to get that) . In Llyodminister where my anut lives they are offering $12 an hour day wage, a promotion where they pay for half of a new car or computer for as long as you work for them, excellent benefits and free child care facilities. (Llyodmister is booming like crazy so are we in Stettler actually but not that desparate yet)
The only bad thing is Canada is tax happy. I was reading an article that 36% of what we pay at the pumps is taxes. They said that the US and us would be paying nearly the same thing for gas if we took the taxes off! That's crazy! I believe that Alberta's the only province without a provincal sales tax (excluding the electronics recyling fee which is like the deposit you pay on cans). Every province has a 7% federal tax. That's not even including the taxes they take off your paycheck. It's always nice getting a check and seeing what you would have got if it wasn't for the government. If they take away our free health care (an inovation credited to Keifer Sutherland's grandfather btw) I'm moving to the states. I wouldn't take a job for 2.13 though.
It's like saying "Hey come and work your booty off for me for a spit and that guy over there will give you the lick you need to make up for it."

 

[mrsv98]

No way...and I always draw a line thru the gratuity line and write the total so I know nothing will "accidently" be added in later. I think Europe has it right, pay a living wage and do away with the top nonsense.

 

[skuttle]

Wow...I'm surprised to see this again! It's been a while. lol!

I agree with whoever said that tipping should be for good service...not just because the person did their job. I also agree that it's silly that servers are paid a lower wage because it is expected that they get tips. But then again, would they try to do their job well if they knew they were getting paid a "normal" wage and the tips were just extra? I'm sure many would, but not all. I've read many times on the restaurants board here of people feeling like they got worse service and/or were treated differently because they were on the dining plan, which includes gratuity.

 

[Chattyaholic]

I've been a waitress for over 9 years and I'm up to a whopping $3.50 per hour for my "wage" so I still do depend on my tips to pay my bills. And for the Canadians who think we should demand better pay...server positions have ALWAYS been "tipping" positions and probably always will be. We don't have a Union to speak for us. If I don't take the waitress position I'm offered, someone else will. I doubt the system will ever change.

I work in a diner, and we do get quite a few "to go" orders. Some people tip and some don't. We do appreciate the tips we receive on "to go" orders, as it is the waitress who answers the phone and takes the order down, it's the waitress that boxes up the pie/desserts, it's the waitress that gets the drinks, it's the waitress that gets the silverware/napkins/condiments, it's the waitress that makes the milkshakes for the order, it's the waitress who boxes up the total order (after the cooks have put the food in foam containers), and it's the waitress who rings it up when the customer picks it up. All of this takes time away from our sit-down customers. So when we receive $1 or $2 it's very much appreciated.

There's one guy that comes in and always leaves a tip for the COOK. No matter that the cook makes $10+ an hour and what's the difference between putting the prepared food on a plate or in a styrofoam container? It's still the waitress that does ALL THE REST, yet he doesn't tip us, but makes sure we know to give the extra $3 to the COOK! Nice!

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

I work in a diner, and we do get quite a few "to go" orders. Some people tip and some don't. We do appreciate the tips we receive on "to go" orders, as it is the waitress who answers the phone and takes the order down, it's the waitress that boxes up the pie/desserts, it's the waitress that gets the drinks, it's the waitress that gets the silverware/napkins/condiments, it's the waitress that makes the milkshakes for the order, it's the waitress who boxes up the total order (after the cooks have put the food in foam containers), and it's the waitress who rings it up when the customer picks it up. All of this takes time away from our sit-down customers. So when we receive $1 or $2 it's very much appreciated.

Yeah, but that kind of situation pretty much depends on which restaurant you order your takeout from. I know that at many restaurants that we order our food from, they have an employee, or sometimes a hostess, who is paid $12-14/hour just to take delivery and takeout orders and does not rely on tips.

I don't tip on takeout, but do tip 20% on delivery. Most of our delivery guys should be sainted as far as I'm concerned!

 

[Chattyaholic]

Yeah, but that kind of situation pretty much depends on which restaurant you order your takeout from. I know that at many restaurants that we order our food from, they have an employee, or sometimes a hostess, who is paid $12-14/hour just to take delivery and takeout orders and does not rely on tips.

I don't tip on takeout, but do tip 20% on delivery. Most of our delivery guys should be sainted as far as I'm concerned!

So, if you know it's a WAITRESS taking care of your "to go" order and you KNOW they only make $2-$3 per hour, you still won't tip them for your order? But you WILL tip the delivery guy who is making at least minimum wage or more?

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

So, if you know it's a WAITRESS taking care of your "to go" order and you KNOW they only make $2-$3 per hour, you still won't tip them for your order? But you WILL tip the delivery guy who is making at least minimum wage or more?

Jeez, I don't know. We don't order takeout from anywhere where they actually pull a server out of their station and away from his/her guests to answer phones and/or put together take out orders. I don't even know how that would work? And what if the food expeditor set it all up, bagged it and handed to to the server and the server just brought it out of the kitchen and handed it to me? Does the server deserve a tip then or should I go back in the kitchen and tip the expeditor? I feel that it's probably up to the servers to complain to management that they should not be placed in a non tipped position if they aren't going to be being paid accordingly.

 

[TENIA66]

I don't tip for carry out, never even dreamed of it

 

[babar]

Jeez, I don't know. We don't order takeout from anywhere where they actually pull a server out of their station and away from his/her guests to answer phones and/or put together take out orders. I don't even know how that would work? And what if the food expeditor set it all up, bagged it and handed to to the server and the server just brought it out of the kitchen and handed it to me? Does the server deserve a tip then or should I go back in the kitchen and tip the expeditor? I feel that it's probably up to the servers to complain to management that they should not be placed in a non tipped position if they aren't going to be being paid accordingly.

Exactly!! Every restaurant I get take-out from (lot's of nice ones here) it is the hostess that answers the phone when I call, and then gives me my food when I get there. I have NEVER seen a waitress be called to give me my food. I even asked my waitress friends if this is true. Same holds true for when I pick up a pizza. So no, I don't tip for take-out. If I were going to, then it would be to the chef who cooked my food!!!

I tip waitresses.
I tip bartenders.
I tip valets.
I tip cab drivers.
I tip delivery guys. (I only order delivery when it is too crappy to drive, so I appreciate them coming to my house!)

I may have tipped in other instances....