Do you tip at Sonic?

[RN01]

I have never tipped at Sonic and never plan to. Like other posters said, it is fast food. I also don't tip at ice cream shops, hardees or car washes. I don't tip the person bagging my groceries either, although usually I am the one bagging. I personally think tipping has gotten out of hand. Everyone these days has a tip jar. Really? Are we going to start tipping the post man, he does bring us the mail? How about UPS, they actually bring it right to the door, not just the mailbox. How about pizza places? If you order a pizza and they expect you to come get it from the counter, are you gonna tip too?

If we go somewhere to eat and order from a menu, and someone waits on us and refills our drinks then I will tip, and I will tip 20% unless the water didn't do their job then I will tip a little less.

I AGREE!!!

 

[lulubelle6188]

Coming from a carhop that just worked 7 days straight,I'd like to clarify a few things...

If you stay at Sonic you will see that we don't just bring your food and leave. Ever sonic is required to have a carhop go around and check on every customer every 13 minutes or less. It's part of the mystery shops. I cannot tell you have many refills I took out today and wouldn't even began to guess how much extra condiments. I can think of several cars that I went to at least 3 times each today.

I think by not allowing you to tip on your credit/debit card is Sonic's way of saying NOT to tip. I don't see how sonic encourages tipping. I think it's unfair to pay every carhop at the Sonic I work at under minimium wage b/c of tips and then not allow people the opportunity to tip. We just signed agreements with the IRS about claiming tips. Part of the agreements on Sonics part was that they would change the cards to allow tips-but we'll see how long that takes. (We had to agree to claim a certain percent of sales in order to not be auditted)

I'm not saying we deserve 20% or a $5 tip everytime. Of course the bigger the better for me but I think the change to the dollar or $0.50 is fine. I'm all about being on a budget but I think this is such little money to get ruffled about. I think of myself as a server and try to be polite and friendly each order I take out. I certainly feel like carhops should be tipped.

Oh, and our Sonic doesn't have a drive-thru. I wouldn't tip the person handing food out of a window but walking to my car I would. It's more work and more of a personal service. I would say if you don't wanna tip go through the drive-thru.

 

[pigget74]

Have not read all responses other than the first few.

I worked at sonic and did very well until the last pay increase in July. At the sonic I was working at they knocked all car hops to waitress pay plus $1. I was already making 7.5 an hour. Then this past November they hiked it up to 4.15.

I was working there to pay off debt. As you can see, wasn't making much anymore. I would work 40 hours a week in the summer making less than what I was making a 20 hour week in the spring before the changes went into place.

When the changes went into place sonic was supposed to change the card machines to allow tips--well it is almost a year later and that has not been done.

At our store we were supposed to go back at least once to check on our cars and more if needed. Most days I delivered on average to 120 cars.

 

[stitchfan18]

I always tip if the food is delivered. If I drive thru I don't tip, but last time the girl working thought I should tip for my drink. She took my money, said thank you and ran off, I sat there for a minute then gave up. It was only like 30 cents, it just irked me that she sort of expected it was her tip, especially since it was drive thru and I only got a drink!

 

[NYCDiane]

You're not tipping based upon the employee's salary --- you're tipping for good service!!!! I've never been to a Sonic (I've seen the commercials but they don't have any around here) but I'm assuming it's a drive up restaurant with Car Hops?? If I someone came to my car, took my order, and then brought the food to my car, yes, I would absolutely tip them for good service.

How does anyone else see this differently?? If you think your tip should be based on wages, then how do you tip a hotel cater waiter differently than an upscale restaurant waiter or a diner waitress or the wait staff at a wedding or a taxi driver or a black car driver?? They all make different salaries. And, please, don't give me that "15% of the check" nonsense --- I've NEVER tipped 15%. That is tacky and cheap and meant as a guide for people who don't know any better. I tip based upon the service I receive and it's always much more than 15%.

If I ever go to a Sonic restaurant and get good service, I will absolutely be tipping the server.

 

[robind]

I always tip if the food is delivered. If I drive thru I don't tip, but last time the girl working thought I should tip for my drink. She took my money, said thank you and ran off, I sat there for a minute then gave up. It was only like 30 cents, it just irked me that she sort of expected it was her tip, especially since it was drive thru and I only got a drink!

I would call that stealing and you did better than I would. I would have waited until she came back and asked for my change. Eventually the line at the drive thru would have backed up for so long she would have had to come back to the window.

 

[LMN]

I have been going to Sonics for over 20 years. It has never occurred to me to tip. Mainly because 1) they don't come to your car to take your order- you order thru a microphone call box and 2) I generally take the food home to eat- I don't stay there and eat in the car. On the occasions that I have stayed to eat in the car, I could probably count on 1 hand the times that the car hop circled back around to see if I needed anything else, and that consisted of them standing at the hood of my car and gesturing with their condiment tray-not actually coming to my window and interacting with me. I look on it as fast food-not tippable. Shame on Sonic for putting their car hops in this position, all for the sake of lowering their payroll expenses. I think it will be a while before I patronize another Sonic. Shame on them.

 

[sillysmom]

You obviously haven't been here around the holidays -- there is a legion of folks, right here on the BB who tip their letter carriers, very well...

Ummm, thought everyone tipped their postman at Xmas???!!!