Anyone ever tip at Sonic?

[LilyWDW]

Of course. They are bringing your food out to the car. I would never have thought not to tip!

 

[King Schultz]

My son told me something today that I had no idea of. I don't know if it's because I rarely eat fast food or if I'm just oblivious over here.

Apparently, Sonic pays their employees like five-something per hour plus tips. They don't pay minimum wage - they pay a tipped salary. And his friend says, "no one ever tips."

I've gone to Sonic a few times during their "Happy Hour" because . . . Raspberry Limeade at half-price! Anyway, I've never included a tip when I pay there and to be honest, I'd never even thought about it before he said something and now I feel bad. I always tip really well!

You guys ever tip there?

A Sonic cherry limeade with rum is a wonderful treat for children of all ages!!

 

[JJZMgailey]

A Sonic cherry limeade with rum is a wonderful treat for children of all ages!!

Oh, hey now!! That is not a bad idea there! I can drink it down about a shot's worth by the time I get home!

 

[dotfurio]

So do you all tip at other fast food places? For example, Carl's Jr and McDonald's are at least two places I know of that bring your food to the table. I'm not trying to be cheap - I tip plenty at sit down restaurants, but I've never seen anyone tip for fast food anywhere - I know none of my friends or coworkers do when we've gone out. I guess that's why I never thought to tip at sonic.

 

[mco65]

i assume they are making minimum wage but i do tip the car hops.. but most of the time i go thu the drive thru and do not tip.

 

[King Schultz]

Oh, hey now!! That is not a bad idea there! I can drink it down about a shot's worth by the time I get home!

Let the kids help on the way home, then cut 'em off as soon as you can spike it.

 

[Minnie17]

Always unless I go thru the "drive thru"

 

[bcla]

I probably don't tip much, but it's more a keep the change deal. Maybe a dollar if it's a bigger order. I tend to have small orders like just a drink and a snack.

 

[Bluestars]

So do you all tip at other fast food places? For example, Carl's Jr and McDonald's are at least two places I know of that bring your food to the table. I'm not trying to be cheap - I tip plenty at sit down restaurants, but I've never seen anyone tip for fast food anywhere - I know none of my friends or coworkers do when we've gone out. I guess that's why I never thought to tip at sonic.

I've always thought of the sonic employees more like waiters and waitresses because they are bringing the food all of the way out to my car, which is why I always tip. The McDonald's restaurants in my area do not bring the food to the tables. You have to stand at the counter and wait for your food. There are no Carl's Jrs in my area. I think there is a difference between a fast food worker dropping food off at a table and someone taking food all of the way out to your car, rain or shine.

 

[dotfurio]

I've always thought of the sonic employees more like waiters and waitresses because they are bringing the food all of the way out to my car, which is why I always tip. The McDonald's restaurants in my area do not bring the food to the tables. You have to stand at the counter and wait for your food. There are no Carl's Jrs in my area. I think there is a difference between a fast food worker dropping food off at a table and someone taking food all of the way out to your car, rain or shine.

I don't see the difference. It's not like the car is parked a significant distance away from their door. We usually sit at one of the outdoor tables when we go to sonic anyway, so they drop off our food in a bag and leave. That seems the same to me as the other fast food places that bring our food to us at the table.

 

[Micca]

I think it's nice to throw a little somethin' somethin' when someone is nice & prompt. Not everyone can do that, but if you can it's nice to help someone out a bit. I figure someone working fast food isn't exactly rolling in dough (Krispy Kreme/Dunkin Donuts employees not withstanding.) I think good service is a just reward, but I don't think someone is a scumbag if they don't tip at a fast food place.

 

[JJZMgailey]

I figure someone working fast food isn't exactly rolling in dough (Krispy Kreme/Dunkin Donuts employees not withstanding.)

And, very true!

 

[RedAngie]

Of course. They are bringing your food out to the car. I would never have thought not to tip!

Yes, the few times I've eaten at Sonic I tipped because I equated it to waitress service.

 

[wilkeliza]

So do you all tip at other fast food places? For example, Carl's Jr and McDonald's are at least two places I know of that bring your food to the table. I'm not trying to be cheap - I tip plenty at sit down restaurants, but I've never seen anyone tip for fast food anywhere - I know none of my friends or coworkers do when we've gone out. I guess that's why I never thought to tip at sonic.

Carl's Jr. And Mc. Donald's don't bring the food to me and won't bring me refills and such. The sonic I grew up going to you could push the button and ask for a refill or more ketchup or whatever you needed just like if you called a waiter or waitress over. They also had the trays so you could leave your trash and they would clean up after you. If Mc. Donald's starts bringing food to my table and checking on me ever so often then yeah I'll tip them but for now none of our locations do it (well the one that doesn is super inconsistent at it).

Our sonic also let local kids be car hops for a couple hours to raise money for little league, FFA, etc. Sadly someone complained and said they should be paid minimum wage so they can't do it any more.

 

[Mokat76]

If I get carhop service I tip. If I use drive-thru I don't.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I don't see the difference. It's not like the car is parked a significant distance away from their door. We usually sit at one of the outdoor tables when we go to sonic anyway, so they drop off our food in a bag and leave. That seems the same to me as the other fast food places that bring our food to us at the table.

Sonic is a different business model from McDonald's with different procedures. Like bluestars, we don't have any Carl's Jr.s here.

I look at it like Wolfgang Puck Express vs. Earl of Sandwich. WPE brings the food to you after you stood in line to order it (equivalent of ordering while sitting parked in your vehicle at Sonic.) I tip. EoS calls out your number when your food's ready and you get it yourself. No tip.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Just as a reference, "Carl's Jrs" is also known as "Hardee's".

 

[bcla]

Just as a reference, "Carl's Jrs" is also known as "Hardee's".

More specifically, Carl Karcher Enterprises bought Hardee's and then gave them most of the Carl's Jr menu and the star logo. For years I never knew what Hardee's was except as a primary sponsor for one NASCAR team.

As long as I recall, Carl's Jr ordering involved getting a number to place on the edge of the table. I have no idea if that was the way Hardee's operated before CKE bought them.

There are a few McDonald's that do table delivery. I remember one in the financial district in Manhattan. I ordered at the counter and got a number. I asked for ketchup, which was pulled from an apron pocket.

 

[King Schultz]

More specifically, Carl Karcher Enterprises bought Hardee's and then gave them most of the Carl's Jr menu and the star logo. For years I never knew what Hardee's was except as a primary sponsor for one NASCAR team.

As long as I recall, Carl's Jr ordering involved getting a number to place on the edge of the table. I have no idea if that was the way Hardee's operated before CKE bought them.

There are a few McDonald's that do table delivery. I remember one in the financial district in Manhattan. I ordered at the counter and got a number. I asked for ketchup, which was pulled from an apron pocket.

I wanna party with you dude.

 

[dotfurio]

The sonic I grew up going to you could push the button and ask for a refill or more ketchup or whatever you needed just like if you called a waiter or waitress over. They also had the trays so you could leave your trash and they would clean up after you.

That makes sense to tip in that scenario. In my very few experiences with sonic they drop off a bag of food and I never see them again. No refills or anything.