Do you tip if you pick up carry-out food like Chinese or Pizza?

[Shellydm]

Hello everyone!

I was just wondering if you tip when you pick up yourself carry-out food like pizza or Chinese food?

I always feel guilty when I pick up Chinese and see the tip jar, so usually do tip them via their tip jar.


I just wondered what everyone else does?

Sometimes if I'm running low on money I may opt for take-out to avoid a tip and drinks, but end of tipping anyway for take-out if I go to pick up and see a tip jar. Its not a big deal, I was just curious what was the norm?

FYI, I always tip if its delivered, I just wondered about tipping if you go in to pick up take-out food like pizza, chinese etc...

Thanks,
Shelly

 

[littlbugmom]

I never tip if I'm picking up the food. I pay for the food, that's all.

 

[Jill2150]

no...
it's just as if you go pick up food from Mcdonalds, no one tips there and they are only taking your order and making your food. I just tip for delivery.

 

[gr8leg8]

We do chinese take out every Friday.
I put the change (coins) and $1 in their tip jar.

It's a steam table / takeout only that is a family owned place.

The owners have a daughter who goes to school with our DD, so I see the mom frequently.

Food and service are Great.
In my head it's a gesture of appreciation.

 

[eyor44]

No, all the person does is take my money and hand me my food.

 

[Ava]

No, I don't usually tip if I pick up food. The only place I ever leave a tip in the tip jar is our local coffee shop/bakery, and that's only because I like them a lot.

 

[lizerbug]

I don't tip when I'm picking up take out. My mom was a waitress and I grew up knowing to tip for SERVICE. When you pick up take out, all they do is ring you up. I used to feel guilty about it until I realized that I had to get up and go somewhere to get my food and I was already paying for the prepared food. No service, no tip

 

[*BTMRR*]

The only takeout we usually get is Chinese. The people at our Chinese place very carefully wrap everything, are always really nice and friendly, offer us to sit down and have a glass of ice water or tea (for free) if our order isn't quite ready, and help me carry the order out to the car if I have my two little kids in tow. I always tip, but just a couple of bucks.

 

[Keira1387]

I don't tip, but I do feel a little guilty.

 

[M5ward]

No, all the person does is take my money and hand me my food.

In most places, the server who took the order (usually over the phone or walk-in), is the one who packages and packs up the order; making sure you have requested sauces/dips, napkins, utensils, etc. This takes time from his/her other duties and customers. I always tip the server.

 

[dawn1620]

I hate to say it but it feels like I'm expected to tip for everything these days. I see those tip jars at the dry cleaners, gas stations, pizza carry out, ect. I only tip for food deliveries and at sit down restaurants where the waiter brings your food. Even my local Starbucks has a tip jar at the drive-thru window...seriously?

We always tip 20% at restaurants if the service was ok - husband was a waiter years ago so he understands how little waiters make.

I had a friend gripe at me because I don't tip at Sonic. Why - they are just bringing the food to the car..10 feet from the door. Do other people tip at the drive in places like that?

I'm thinking of putting a tip jar in the kitchen and laundry room - maybe I'll get some extra cash.

 

[ICF]

no, I dont tip if I pick up a pizza.

IMO, it's no different then when I go to a McD's or other fast food to get something to eat.

 

[Kay1]

I hate to say it but it feels like I'm expected to tip for everything these days. I see those tip jars at the dry cleaners, gas stations, pizza carry out, ect. I only tip for food deliveries and at sit down restaurants where the waiter brings your food. Even my local Starbucks has a tip jar at the drive-thru window...seriously?

We always tip 20% at restaurants if the service was ok - husband was a waiter years ago so he understands how little waiters make.

I had a friend gripe at me because I don't tip at Sonic. Why - they are just bringing the food to the car..10 feet from the door. Do other people tip at the drive in places like that?

I'm thinking of putting a tip jar in the kitchen and laundry room - maybe I'll get some extra cash.

Oh, yes, I tip a Sonic waitress like any other. At counters, yes, but only a dollar or two. Anyone who delivers to my house, yes.

 

[NYCDiane]

No..... I HATE those tip jars!!!! I see them a lot in small grocery stores, Dunkin' Donuts, the chinese place, the pizza joint, etc. Why am I tipping you???

I'll tip a waiter/waitress or a delivery guy but NOT a counter person.

 

[magresearch]

y

 

[JB2K]

Hello everyone!

I was just wondering if you tip when you pick up yourself carry-out food like pizza or Chinese food?

Typically, no -- but if there is a tip jar present, I might do it, because these are small businesses, and times are tough, all over. Depends on the circumstances.

And I absolutely don't tip if I pick-up my food from a pizza chain (Papa John's, Dominos).

 

[leight]

I don't tip for Chinese or Pizza take out- most of the times I have to add my own sauces/napkins at the local chinese place any way.

I tip at Sonic if the carhop brings my food- they also will go fetch other items like extra sauce, napkins etc. Not usually 20% but a buck or two depending on the order. If I am jsut getting drinks thru drive thru I don't tip- no delivery to me just drive thru.

I hate seeing tip jars at D&D, starbucks etc- you are paid over minimum wages so I will not tip for quick take out.

At car side delivery at restaurants (which is very rarely done) I do tip because a serve has to take the order- and put it together and bring it to me- that gets a tip because they sometimes lose an inside table because of it.

 

[candielips]

We also do not tip when we pick up our food.
One thing to note, I worked at a small family restuarant as a server last year. If an order was placed for pick up and the customer tipped, we had to give the money to the owner to disperse to the cooks who prepared the food. But I asked the cooks if they ever got that money and they answered no?????

 

[shirleyb]

We also do not tip when we pick up our food.
One thing to note, I worked at a small family restuarant as a server last year. If an order was placed for pick up and the customer tipped, we had to give the money to the owner to disperse to the cooks who prepared the food. But I asked the cooks if they ever got that money and they answered no?????

Similarly, we had a Viet Namese student intern one year at work, and he always said to tip the waitresses at Chinese restaurants in cash, because if it was put on your credit card they would never see it. I don't know if that's true or not, but if I have cash on me, that's what I usually do.

 

[Praying Colonel]

If I'm picking up pizza, I don't tip. The person takes it out of the oven, puts it in a box and sticks it in a pile, same as all the others. They're not adding any value.

I usually tip if I'm picking up carry-out at another restaurant, however, because then you have the bartender or a server doing a lot of extra things to get the order submitted, check it, package it and ring me out.