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

[buzz2400]

My son works at a burger joint (family owned) part time. He gets minimum wage. They have a tip jar. At the end of the shift, the two counter people split the tips. He gets very excited about it. He always comes home and tells me how much he made in tips. Sometimes it is only a few dollars but he still gets excited.

A previous poster put down that people at these establishments (i.e. starbucks) get paid over minimum wage. I don't believe so. Most of these places pay the minimum they can.

Do I tip when I go to these places, no. If you have extra money and you frequent the place, it should be totally up to you and you should not feel guilty if you don't. I also don't tip at restaurants where they have curbside like at outback.

 

[kristinw3girls]

no way!

 

[andrews_dad]

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.

I agree with this post. Soon Mc'D's and Wendy's will have a tip jar out. Then the school bus driver... the post man ... the mechanic ... the cashier at the grocery ...

 

[BillSears]

If it's a take out place, not a restaurant then I don't usually tip.

But...

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.

If they have waitresses taking time away from inside service to package and bring the food to me then yes I tip.

 

[disneychrista]

We don't pizza regardless (pick up or eat there) ...it is not expected at where we go. In fact they even fill in the tip with a Ø and the total.

 

[Juliet25]

I was wondering this as well. I picked up a pizza from Domino's last week and paid with a credit card. There was a line for a tip. I suppose it is there for delivery drivers. Certainly the counter people don't expect a tip, right?

FTMP, no, I don't tip at places like Starbucks unless I'm flush with cash and the people were extra nice or something. I'm not opposed to the tip jar, per se, but I don't feel obligated to leave anything.

I also don't tip at curb side pick-up, but I'm feeling bad about that now. However, one of the reasons we use that service is so that we can afford to go "out" to eat since we're saving on drinks and a tip. I do see the point about the waiters being taken away from their tables to be in charge of that duty. Is it customary to tip 20% in these circumstances, or is something like 10% more appropriate?

 

[NYCDiane]

I agree with this post. Soon Mc'D's and Wendy's will have a tip jar out. Then the school bus driver... the post man ... the mechanic ... the cashier at the grocery ...

They already have "bus driver appreciation day" where parents can "tip" the school bus driver. I usually give a $25 gift card because I do appreciate the driver getting my DD to/from school safely and I know they don't pay the drivers much.

The small grocers around here also have "tip" jars out (don't know why! I always bag my own stuff)

The post man usually gets a yearly 'gift' (they're not allowed to accept cash gifts but they can accept a gift)

 

[powellrj]

I also don't tip at curb side pick-up, but I'm feeling bad about that now. However, one of the reasons we use that service is so that we can afford to go "out" to eat since we're saving on drinks and a tip. I do see the point about the waiters being taken away from their tables to be in charge of that duty. Is it customary to tip 20% in these circumstances, or is something like 10% more appropriate?

20% isn't expected, 10% or 15% is what we usually tip at Texas Roadhouse or Applebees type places. I never tip at pizza carry-out or Chinese. I hit or miss at Sonic.

 

[Tinkerbelle9980]

I was wondering this as well. I picked up a pizza from Domino's last week and paid with a credit card. There was a line for a tip. I suppose it is there for delivery drivers. Certainly the counter people don't expect a tip, right?

Yep, that is why it is usually there. Although last year my optometrist's office got a new credit card machine and it had a tip line on it. When I was there they were waiting to hear from merchant services rather they could take it off or if they needed a different one. The sad thing was a couple people did write in tips.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I tip for Chinese but not for pizza.

The pizza take-out isn't that great and you have to wait a really long time. Plus, you are just sitting on a bench in the cold waiting area. Not fun.

For our Chinese place, they are so wonderful and give us a free soda or water at the bar while we are waiting for take-out.

 

[flamingglobessigmund]

No.

 

[Justsyd2]

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'll tip if there's a tip jar. After all, they ARE doing me a favor by shopping, preparing, and cooking my food, then packaging it up so that I can just run in and grab it!

 

[hsmamato2]

NO. this a weird new trend,where all takeout pickup places have tip jars now....WHY!?!?!?!?! what started as a way for waitstaff to make more than their miserable wage for WORKING for the table ( and working well) has turned into a 'hands out,gimme gimme' kind of world. I feel no obligation to tip for any kind of takeout,ever. this is just pure follishness,and I feel strongly that we work hard for our money too,and I'm not giving it away to fill some jar on a counter.

 

[hsmamato2]

I'll tip if there's a tip jar. After all, they ARE doing me a favor by shopping, preparing, and cooking my food, then packaging it up so that I can just run in and grab it!

disagree,that's why I'm PAYING the money to have it done for me. I can make food cheaper at home,and I will pay more for the convenience of takeout sometimes, but not tipping a cashier.

 

[cm8]

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.

, I think I may just do that too!! Thanks for the idea

 

[disneychrista]

I'll tip if there's a tip jar. After all, they ARE doing me a favor by shopping, preparing, and cooking my food, then packaging it up so that I can just run in and grab it!

But you are tipping the wrong person. You should be tipping to manager & cooks for this.

Funny though there are several mexican places that have tips "buckets" for the cooks, in additon to the server/cashier (if getting it to go)

 

[branv]

No way. I worked those counter type food service places when I was in high school/early college and never expected a tip. Back then, in fact, you never really saw that (at least in the region I lived in). I do remember one time working at BR31 when this guy came in a little "happy" He wanted a hand-scooped quart of Daiquiri Ice. Well anyone who ever worked at BR can tell you that that stuff literally gets like ice when it gets towards the bottom of the tub. I had to lean in so far my legs were hanging up in the air and me and another worker had to take turns to rest our arms. He felt so bad he did tip us. And that is about when I would tip counter service...when someone goes above and beyond just their basic job. Though I have been known to throw in a tip when the person helping me just had to deal with a jerk customer. Been there...

 

[WDisneyMom]

always!

 

[eyor44]

I do tip at Sonic as the car hops don't make minimum wage. Found that out when I applied there. Plus, I usually ask for extra stuff they have to go back for. That's when I tip them.

 

[PinkRhombus]

The post man usually gets a yearly 'gift' (they're not allowed to accept cash gifts but they can accept a gift)

As a federal employee, my husband has a BIG problem with people giving gifts to mail delivery personnel who are also federal employees.



On another note, I recall...maybe Ann Landers?...someone complained there was a tip jar at their Dentists office and were asked if they wanted to tip the dental hygenist.