Do you tip for take out?

[luvmy3]

You might be surprised at how many servers there are who have the same attitude as I do towards tipping/not tipping. The servers I worked with felt the same. And I belong to a couple of serving message boards and most of them feel the same. Thankfully, I no longer work in the restaurant business but when DH and I go out to eat, we always leave a tip unless the service was really terrible. But as a server myself it has to be really, really, really terrible for us to not leave anything. We know that tipping is how the server makes her money. If we couldn't afford to leave a tip, we just wouldn't go out to a sit-down restaurant. It wouldn't be fair to the server.

Thats why I said "if they demonstrated that attitude". Tipping is not about what the customer can afford, its what they are willing to give for the service they recieve. If I recieve terrible service, I don't have a problem not leaving a tip. I don't feel bad because thats how the server makes their money, if they need that tip then they better give service deserving of a tip. If they have the attitude that they are getting a tip anyway so who cares what kind of service I give, then I have no problem letting them know it doesn't always work that way. Now I have never not left a tip, however I have left as little as 10% because of horrible service. If you aren't willing to work fo rthose tips that you need, then you need to find another line of work. Nobody owes you a tip because you are wearing a uniform and have a name-tag.

 

[bicker]

Okay, how about this then. I (assuming I am a non-tipper) can afford to go against societal norms and standards and be forever known as the non-tipper who chooses to eat out at restaurants, not really going to effect me in the grand scheme of things.

Yup, pretty much. A lot of folks talk about karma, but our materialistic, consumption-fixated society is so far from the realm within the concept of karma is derived that talking about karma in this context is laughable. You surely can transgress with impunity.

However, the server still can't afford to pay their bills on their salary (the one they agreed to when they took the job) alone, seems pretty obvious who has the real problem.

Yes and no: The server can rely on the fact that the vast majority of people fulfill their obligations.

 

[JennyDarling]

I dont see how that could even be true. At worst, I would say it would have to be done as of 12/31 every year for tax reasons.

I cant see someone trying to do a true-up of a waitress that worked someplace for 20+ years.

I'm sorry, I should have qualified my comments by adding that I can only speak for SC. I work in the home office of a restaurant chain that was randomly audited in 2009 by the SC department of labor.

I have been in this industy for years and this was a new one for me too but it's true for here.

BTW...Out of the almost 3500 tipped employees my company employed in SC during the audit period, not a single one even came close to falling below minimum wage.

 

[DizBelle]

I never really understood why servers aren't paid a wage to provide good service (i.e. at least minimum wage) and then tips can be given for service above and beyond.

i.e. tips should not be for what the server is supposed to do anyway. Tips should be for better than expected service.

I would expect the cost of my food to reflect the cost to pay the server to serve it with good service.

 

[bicker]

I'm sorry, I should have qualified my comments by adding that I can only speak for SC.

SC law says explicitly that there is no minimum wage law in SC, and also says explicitly that the Federal FLSA is what applies.

Putting the FLSA together with all its associated documentation would be too lengthy a proposition for something as trivial as a discussion forum thread, but a quick read of Section 206 indicates that the standard is workweek, not pay period as I indicated earlier. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[nyc2theworld]

Simple answer to this question.
No. I do not tip at take out places nor do I tip at the semi-table service places where you go to the counter, order your food, then they give you a number on a table stand and your food is brought to you.

I only tip at full service restaurants where the restaurant comes to me for all aspects of the transaction.

 

[7165red]

No, but it's a good question. I have wondered about it myself.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Nope. Restaurants have always been required to make-up the difference to ensure each employee is getting at least minimum wage.

I was a server for two months in college and it wasn't the case then (1988). At least the restaurant didn't comply, if it was.

 

[bicker]

I'm pretty sure that it's been the law since at least 1985. Of course, compliance will vary, especially if employees don't protest.

 

[cm8]

I will usually tip a dollar or two if the person helping me was especially nice, friendly, or helpful.

 

[roscoepc1]

No "service" involved? I beg to differ with you. As a former waitress I say there is actually quite a bit of "service" involved, besides the cook preparing the order and putting it in a to-go box rather than on a plate to be served. It is the waitress who answers the phone and writes down the to-go order (or takes it in person at the counter when the person comes in to order). It is the waitress who makes the salads, gets the soup, packages up the desserts, etc. It is the waitress who checks the order when it's ready, she opens every box to make sure each order is correct, then she puts the boxes into the to-go bags. It is the waitress who gets the drinks, makes the milkshakes, puts in the condiments and plastic cutlery that are needed/requested. Then it is also the waitress who retrieves the order from the back when the customer comes in to get it, and rings them up on the cash register. All of this is definitely "service", and takes time away from customers in the restaurant who she is neglecting while she takes care of the to-go order (they might need drink refills, extra napkins, whatever and she can't get to their table because of dealing with the to-go order) so it is always, always appreciated when the customer tips on a to-go order.

Not anywhere we go. It's the owner or hostess who answers the phone, and brings the food to the front 98 times out of a hundred.

That being said, we live in a SMALL town....I'd definitely not be surprised if it was different elsewhere.

I was waitress for YEARS (worked my way though school), so I am actually a SUPER tipper for good service.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

No.

 

[FoundMyPrince]

no

 

[dejr_8]

Generally we tip about 10% for pick-up orders.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Counter service type takie-outie, no.

Sit down table service restaurant that I called, yes.

Personal preference.


I also tiP for curbside from places like Texas Roadhouse.

 

[TwinsinCA]

I know they are just trying to get me out faster, but it bothers me to pay a tip on the food before I even see it. How can I tip when I don't know if they got the order right, got it in a reasonable about of time, or did some nice extras like throw in a couple of biscuits (some waiters will give me some free and others will charge for it). I also feel like I have to tip sight unseen or something bad could end up in my food.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Not anywhere we go. It's the owner or hostess who answers the phone, and brings the food to the front 98 times out of a hundred.

That being said, we live in a SMALL town....I'd definitely not be surprised if it was different elsewhere.

I was waitress for YEARS (worked my way though school), so I am actually a SUPER tipper for good service.

Though I still tip, it was this way at our favorite Chinese restaurant where we used to live. The hostess was the owner and she took phone orders, grabbed them from the kitchen and added the extras. It cm's out of the kitchen already bagged, so I don't know if she did that as well.

This was in the area of Melborne, FL. Not a small town, but not a large one either. Large enough to be called a city. and several cities nearby. Nothing like where I live now though. (Northern VA)

 

[disykat]

But for someone to just make a blanket statement and say "I do not tip",.

That's great, but if you come to my state, with one of the highest COL in the nation, please tip your servers,

Where in this thread has anyone made a blanket statement they do not tip? The question was whether you tip for takeout, and some have said no, not for that. No one here has said they never tip - unless I missed it?

I have waited tables. It was a hard job, but one of the better paying jobs I've had. I do tip, I certainly never said I didn't. I've also served mainly takeout food. It was over 30 years ago though and it wouldn't have even occured to anyone to tip for for that.

 

[bicker]

Not anywhere we go. It's the owner or hostess who answers the phone, and brings the food to the front 98 times out of a hundred.

That's probably a useful differentiator: If you're waited on, either in placing your order or picking it up, by someone who is also waiting tables, then tip. Otherwise, not.

That makes sense, Roscoe, but TwinsinCA's point, above, is critical. I haven't seen anyone address it yet.

 

[JennyDarling]

That's probably a useful differentiator: If you're waited on, either in placing your order or picking it up, by someone who is also waiting tables, then tip. Otherwise, not.

That makes sense, Roscoe, but TwinsinCA's point, above, is critical. I haven't seen anyone address it yet.

My thoughts on TwinCA's point are this: I tend to consider food and service as 2 completely separate things. I am not tipping for the food. I pay the menu price for the food. The tip is for the service.

Great service and bad food= normal tip for the server.

Great food and bad service= reduction in tip.

However, I will consider both when making a choice on whether or not to return to the restaurant.