Tipping for Counter Service/Take Out/Fast Food

[Adelle Dazeem]

I'm sure this has probably been discussed, but I searched and didn't find anything...

Last night, I decided to grab dinner for my family at a (new to us) sub shop. I went in and ordered. There is no sit down service. It's order at the counter like Subway or Togos. My sandwiches hadn't been made yet, but the cashier asked if I was paying by cash or card. I always use my card to earn reward points so I went over to the register to pay for our food. The cashier told me to follow the prompts on the screen. The very first screen was a TIP SCREEN asking if I wanted to add 10%, 15%, or 20% to my bill. It did give the option of "no tip", but the employee was staring at me while I am making my payment so I felt totally guilted into adding at least the 10%. I was really taken aback by requesting tips for a counter service/fast food meal. I have no issue with tipping in general, but it seems everyone has their hand out for tips these days. I don't even mind a "tip jar" on the counter and I could throw a dollar in should I feel like it, but having it come up on a screen with an employee staring me down was incredibly uncomfortable. While we all enjoyed our sandwiches and would go back, I am may not return simply because of the tip screen. I did leave an online review mentioning how put off I was by the tip screen so the owner/manager will know. I discussed the issue with a few co-workers and they have had the same experience.

Is this the new norm? Should I expect to have to tip at McDonalds next?

 

[Andtototoo]

Maybe I should ask my retail employer to put a tip screen up so I can get tipped for wrapping up their glass and ringing up their purchases. Why not? Apparently, it's okay to get tipped for doing my job.

 

[JanaDee]

You should have asked how to skip that screen.

 

[minnie mum]

I have absolutely no problem with entering 0.00 on a tip line for CS, whether they're standing there watching me or not.

 

[sonnyjane]

That's bizarre about the screen. I've never seen that before.

I tip at sit-down restaurants if I'm doing takeout, just a few bucks, because I'm taking time from the bartender's (or a server's) as they prepare my bag. If it's a place like Subway, no tip.

 

[gwynne]

I wouldn't let a computer screen tell me what to do. I'd just check no tip if that was my choice that day. And I'd drive home without a second thought about it.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I'm sure this has probably been discussed, but I searched and didn't find anything...

Last night, I decided to grab dinner for my family at a (new to us) sub shop. I went in and ordered. There is no sit down service. It's order at the counter like Subway or Togos. My sandwiches hadn't been made yet, but the cashier asked if I was paying by cash or card. I always use my card to earn reward points so I went over to the register to pay for our food. The cashier told me to follow the prompts on the screen. The very first screen was a TIP SCREEN asking if I wanted to add 10%, 15%, or 20% to my bill. It did give the option of "no tip", but the employee was staring at me while I am making my payment so I felt totally guilted into adding at least the 10%. I was really taken aback by requesting tips for a counter service/fast food meal. I have no issue with tipping in general, but it seems everyone has their hand out for tips these days. I don't even mind a "tip jar" on the counter and I could throw a dollar in should I feel like it, but having it come up on a screen with an employee staring me down was incredibly uncomfortable. While we all enjoyed our sandwiches and would go back, I am may not return simply because of the tip screen. I did leave an online review mentioning how put off I was by the tip screen so the owner/manager will know. I discussed the issue with a few co-workers and they have had the same experience.

Is this the new norm? Should I expect to have to tip at McDonalds next?

It may just be a generic system they ordered.
There is one place I go where if you put in a tip amount, they give the amount to you in cash, charge it to your card, and then you choose how much of it to leave on the table. It's a leave a little bit on the table for semi service kind of place rather than a full service 20% of the bill type place. I'd have just put in zero at Subway and not thought twice about it. I put in zero on the tip line on the credit card slip when I go to the Chinese place for take out and am not annoyed in the least. Why would I do differently on a computer screen? I don't tip when I have to both order and pick up at the counter and throw my own trash away. When they bring it to me (semi service), I usually will leave a little bit. The one thing I think is tacky is a tip jar on the counter with the exception of a Mongolian BBQ where you tip the chef separately.

By the way I love Togos #9

 

[3 MEN AND A BOAT]

My bigger issue with places like this is their asking for a tip BEFORE the service has been rendered. But I just put no tip and move on.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I've seen this before. I'll say nothing and tip $1 cash. If the service was good. What's $1 when I'm getting an $8 meal? But I'm also the type who will tip nothing for bad service and a lot more for amazing service.

 

[scrapquitler]

I'm sure this has probably been discussed, but I searched and didn't find anything...

Last night, I decided to grab dinner for my family at a (new to us) sub shop. I went in and ordered. There is no sit down service. It's order at the counter like Subway or Togos. My sandwiches hadn't been made yet, but the cashier asked if I was paying by cash or card. I always use my card to earn reward points so I went over to the register to pay for our food. The cashier told me to follow the prompts on the screen. The very first screen was a TIP SCREEN asking if I wanted to add 10%, 15%, or 20% to my bill. It did give the option of "no tip", but the employee was staring at me while I am making my payment so I felt totally guilted into adding at least the 10%. I was really taken aback by requesting tips for a counter service/fast food meal. I have no issue with tipping in general, but it seems everyone has their hand out for tips these days. I don't even mind a "tip jar" on the counter and I could throw a dollar in should I feel like it, but having it come up on a screen with an employee staring me down was incredibly uncomfortable. While we all enjoyed our sandwiches and would go back, I am may not return simply because of the tip screen. I did leave an online review mentioning how put off I was by the tip screen so the owner/manager will know. I discussed the issue with a few co-workers and they have had the same experience.

Is this the new norm? Should I expect to have to tip at McDonalds next?

The credit card processing service might just have the tip thing automatically added in because the place is programmed as a restaurant. I would not feel bad or pressured into tipping just because it was on the screen.

 

[JanaDee]

I've seen this before. I'll say nothing and tip $1 cash. If the service was good. What's $1 when I'm getting an $8 meal? But I'm also the type who will tip nothing for bad service and a lot more for amazing service.

The cost of service is already built into your $8 meal.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

The credit card processing service might just have the tip thing automatically added in because the place is programmed as a restaurant. I would not feel bad or pressured into tipping just because it was on the screen.

This. I think it's built-into the newer technology POS systems. The little cafe in our office building just got a new one with a tablet type thing that you sign with your finger and has a tip screen. The only people who work there own the place and I've gotten to know them and don't think they did it to milk the customers. It's just an integrated part of the new system.

It's the same screen I see on all those same type POSs and on small shops or delivery places that use Square for iPhone

 

[JoeA]

Let me play devils advocate...do you tip the barista at Starbucks if they make a specialty drink? I believe that is somewhat common?? What difference does it make then if you're tipping a dude making a sandwich or a coffee maker? And if you pay by CC then there is almost always a line on the paper receipt to enter a tip, which is essentially the same as inputting it on the electric doodad.

And for the record, I am not a fan of tipping counter service or take out. It seems that everywhere you go these days you'll have a tip jar awaiting you at the end of the line!

 

[JanaDee]

Let me play devils advocate...do you tip the barista at Starbucks if they make a specialty drink? I believe that is somewhat common?? What difference does it make then if you're tipping a dude making a sandwich or a coffee maker? And if you pay by CC then there is almost always a line on the paper receipt to enter a tip, which is essentially the same as inputting it on the electric doodad.

And for the record, I am not a fan of tipping counter service or take out. It seems that everywhere you go these days you'll have a tip jar awaiting you at the end of the line!

No.

 

[MomofKatie]

If I am going to a mom and pop local place that is a favorite, I tip at the counter. At a big national chain, no tipping.

 

[soccerdad72]

I've seen this recently at some places I go to for lunch as well. It's the credit card software that they use (on an iPad or other tablets). Most of the time, I just ignore it at counter service places. Usually, they have the tablet on a swivel holder and thus, it's not facing the checkout person when you press the tip amount. I've never felt any pressure to tip because of the software (that, or I'm oblivious to it .

 

[Adelle Dazeem]

I could have pushed the "no tip" button, but I was so surprised to see the screen in the first place, I got a little flustered. If I go back to that place again, I'll have cash in hand so I don't have to deal with tipping. If I use my card, I now know to expect the tipping screen and I will be prepared to push the no tip button. I paid over $20 for two sandwiches and a kids meal. I felt expecting a tip on top of that when I didn't ask for anything "special order" was ridiculous.

I don't drink coffee and if I order anything at Starbucks, it's never a "special request" so I don't feel the need to tip there either. It may have been a software thing, but it wasn't one of the iPad payment devices either. It was like a typical point of purchase transaction device I've seen at other places.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I tip $1 per drink because my drinks are typically something like venti americano iced with extra ice two pumps white mocha two pumps regular mocha. Not just tall latte. And like I said, it's just a dollar. A freaking dollar. What's a dollar to make someone else happy?

 

[LilyWDW]

I only will tip at a CS type place when it is somewhere I visit often and have gotten to know the employees. I will also do it when I believe that an employee has gone above and beyond to assist me (like when I had someone call the owner of a location to verify if they used soy flour because they were not sure). To me, it is in a way an extra "thank you".

Otherwise I don't leave a tip nor would I ever feel bad about it.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I tip at some counter service restaurants ie. Starbucks. I also tip on take out orders from restaurants. Although, I have never encountered an establishment with the option for mandatory gratuity. Well...except WDW.