Tipping at Sonic?

[esoumyekcim]

Are you or aren't you 'supposed' to tip at Sonic? When I ask people around here, some do and some don't.

I don't; my reasons:
- (This is an assumption on my part) The carhops don't make any less than they do at other fast food places.
- Sonic food is already slightly more expensive than other fast-food places
- Drinks are a lot more expensive - their base cost is more, and you don't get free refills.

So, do you tip, and if so, how much? Do you tip based on a percentage? What if you just stop in for a drink?

(For those who don't have a Sonic nearby, it's a drive-in fast food place with a bunch of stores in the mid south, and spreading out to the coasts.)

It is my understanding that while tips are appreciated, they are certainely not neccessary. The carhops make about half of what a regular person might make in another fash food place, but it is under the assumption that tips will make up for whatever they aren't making in straight hourly pay, or so I've been told.

We usually tip them with whatever change is left over plus a dollar or two for the service,depending on the amount of the order.

ETA--Jenna, in some places Sonic IS counterservice. There is one inside our local mall food court where I live, as well as one inside The Shops at Willowbend in Plano, I think. And I know that I've seen at least one sit-down stand-alone Sonic, but I can't recall where it was. If you go to one of those places, I know that tipping is not only NOT required, but it is frowned upon by management.