Do you tip for takeout food?

[mrspaha]

I was just reading the thread about a tip being added afterwards for a takeout order, and now I feel guilty. I very seldom get takeout food -- if I do, it's usually a fast food drivethru, an occasional KFC or Subway, but I do pick up pizzas fairly often at a local takeout pizza place. And I don't leave a tip. Frankly, I can't picture a tip jar on the counter; otherwise, I think I might have gotten the hint.

What is normally expected and at what type of places?

And, as long as we're talking about tips, what do you usually tip for pizza delivery? 20% seems low to me if you have a small order, yet it seems like most places have a delivery charge. Does the driver get the delivery charge, as well as the tip?

 

[DawnM]

NO! I do not. If a server doesn't have to bring everything out, come check on me, refill drinks, etc....then it is just like a place you go up to the counter for.

 

[princesscj]

Yes, for more formal dining carry out, fast food, no. For example, I get carry out from Bravo sometimes, I will tip $2. I also always tip our local ice cream place whatever change we have left, usually throw under 50 cents in the jar.

People remember tips, and treat you better at locally owned places, or places you go more often.

Pizza delivery, they only get a portion of the delivery charge, which pretty much covers their gas and use of their own car, so I tip them well. Minium of $3 unless it's a big order. The tips are 100% theirs.

 

[mom2cookies]

tip only delivery whether delivery charge or not. Not neccesarily any certain percent. A little more if it is a huge order.
Only tip at the counter if i get coins in my change and i don't need to save it. Yeah sometimes i'm that broke lol. But no i don't feel obligated to tip at a counter. They are cooking your food.. that is included in the cost. On the other hand, if i made alot of changes or requested special care or preparation i probably would.

 

[sissy_ib]

I always tip delivery, even if there is a delivery charge. I never thought about if the driver gets that too. I do tip a bit more if it's raining/snowing, as the reason I'm ordering in is I don't want to go out
I tip at some take out places, like the smaller local places where the person may be the only one cooking/ringing up/waiting tables. I don't usually tip places like Starbucks/Dunkin Donuts, because the people who work there get a full wage, not like a water who only makes $2-3 an hour.
A friend who was a waitress told be if you don't tip on a CC ALWAYS write in 0 and fill in the total. You can write in a tip of $100, but they can only charge you what is on the total line. So NEVER leave that blank when paying by CC. I don't know if that is true of not, but it is good practice.

 

[The Princess]

No not unless I'm getting a pizza delivered.

 

[powellrj]

I tip if its a casual dining type place like Texas Roadhouse or Applebees. I know Waffle House adds a 10% charge to take-out for your server if you order carry-out.

For pizza and Chinese that I pick-up, not I don't tip because I consider that just a normal carry-out.

 

[HM]

I tip if its a casual dining type place like Texas Roadhouse or Applebees. I know Waffle House adds a 10% charge to take-out for your server if you order carry-out.

For pizza and Chinese that I pick-up, not I don't tip because I consider that just a normal carry-out.

Same here. I tip 10% at places like Carrabas or Longhorn Steakhouse. I don't tip for Chinese or Pizza.

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

I do not tip for Chinese or pizza that I pick up at the restaurant. I do if it is delivered.

We usually do tip something at places like Outback, especially those places that have the server bring it out to your car. We don't usually leave 20% there, but we usually add $5 or so.

 

[mom2my3kids]

any food that is delivered to you, yes absolutely..now picking up take out food at a sit down restaraunt like ihop,outback etc I leave a few bucks. from experience we don't expect 20 percent of the bill, but the server is the one putting it together so a couple bucks would be nice..

 

[disneychic2]

If there is a jar on the counter I usually put money in it. I never thought about tipping the person who hands me my pizza when I pick it up. Don't think it's necessary or expected. As for other carry out, I've done PF Changs, Bob Evans and Applebees to name a few and never thought to tip anyone. Who would get that tip? The person who handed it to me or the person who rang it up?? I always want to tip where it's expected. I'll pay better attention from now on. Thanks for the thread!

 

[amandaluvsgoofy]

We usually pick up pizza, Chinese, etc. So there's no real need to tip. But if we order from a sit-down restaurant (Outback, etc), we'll leave a few bucks. The people that do to-go at those places bust their butts! I used to work at the Olive Garden and to-go people were always busy. Taking orders, packing them up, greeting the people, etc. I always felt bad when they didn't make much in tips. And I also worked at Starbucks and we LOVED getting tips! Sometimes it could bump our pay an extra dollar an hour!!

 

[JoiseyMom]

If there is a jar on the counter I usually put money in it. I never thought about tipping the person who hands me my pizza when I pick it up. Don't think it's necessary or expected. As for other carry out, I've done PF Changs, Bob Evans and Applebees to name a few and never thought to tip anyone. Who would get that tip? The person who handed it to me or the person who rang it up?? I always want to tip where it's expected. I'll pay better attention from now on. Thanks for the thread!

See, I don't get this? I go to a Dunkin Donuts or SB or such, why would you tip? These are not tipped positions, they are paid a bit more then minimum wage, why would you tip them? If Mickey D's starts putting out tip jars, are you going to tip them too??

Honestly I think the tip jars are wrong and should be removed. Lets just beg for money!! You get a salary..just do your job why ask for more? Isn't that what a raise is for??

 

[Kathi OD]

I do not tip for Chinese or pizza that I pick up at the restaurant. I do if it is delivered.

We usually do tip something at places like Outback, especially those places that have the server bring it out to your car. We don't usually leave 20% there, but we usually add $5 or so.

this, although we rarely get take out from regular restaurants.

 

[talulabelle]

The only time I tip for pick-up carry out is at the sushi place. The sushi chefs are there behind the counter and arranging a plate of sushi can be like artwork. Also - I go there so much they know me - and I don't want them remembering I'm the chick that doesn't tip next time I come in.

I tip for delivery. Anything else, that I am picking up in store, like chinese or pizza- no - no tip needed. The cooks don't work on tips like servers do.

 

[mom2my3kids]

See, I don't get this? I go to a Dunkin Donuts or SB or such, why would you tip? These are not tipped positions, they are paid a bit more then minimum wage, why would you tip them? If Mickey D's starts putting out tip jars, are you going to tip them too??

Honestly I think the tip jars are wrong and should be removed. Lets just beg for money!! You get a salary..just do your job why ask for more? Isn't that what a raise is for??

You know I am a server but I went to get ice cream at a baskin robins drive thru and they had a little ice cream cup taped on the outside that said tips.. that really made me mad because they do get paid at least minimum wage and they are asking for tips. I am all for tipping and I tip well but this one confused me..

 

[jakoky]

Can i ask, in the US, are all waiter/waitresses paid less then minimum wage. In bc, canada, minimum wage is 8.00 an hour whether you waitress or work at walmart. I just wondered how this works down there, i tip when i go to a restaruant (of course) but if i dont get good service i will not tip. (this usually happens 3 or 4 times a year that i get horrible service,usually i get great service)...sometimes i think my son works harder for his 8 dollars at canadian tire than my waitress does for her 8 dollars...so just curious how this works with servers in the US?

 

[okeydokey]

If I go in and get it, then I don't tip just because someone put it in a bag and worked the register. Target cashiers perform the same service too and I don't tip those cashiers.

 

[okeydokey]

Can i ask, in the US, are all waiter/waitresses paid less then minimum wage. In bc, canada, minimum wage is 8.00 an hour whether you waitress or work at walmart. I just wondered how this works down there, i tip when i go to a restaruant (of course) but if i dont get good service i will not tip. (this usually happens 3 or 4 times a year that i get horrible service,usually i get great service)...sometimes i think my son works harder for his 8 dollars at canadian tire than my waitress does for her 8 dollars...so just curious how this works with servers in the US?

No they make well below minimum. 2 or 3 dollars maybe?

 

[SoonerSarah]

When we moved to our new town about 2.5 years ago, local fast food resturants here were hiring for $12.75 an hour. With large banners across the resturant saying that was how much they were hiring for.

We don't do delivery, so no, we don't tip unless we are sitting down and being served.