Tipping For Take Out

[WDWNY]

Not sure if this should go here, and if this is ok since it's not Disney related.

Do you tip when you take out food?

I always order food for pickup and pay at the restaurant not online. The lady at the pick up counter at this particular restaurant always is kind when you get there, and gets rude if you don't tip. When I pay using a gift card theres never a line to add tip so I feel like it's unnecessary, but when I pay with credit card there is so I usually leave some money. But I'm not sure what the standard is in this situation. I'm not sure if I should be tipping in this situation and if so, how much? I think 20% off is ridiculous because I don't think they do as much work as the waiters at the restaurant even though some places have it as a suggested tip when I take out.

I definitely want to tip them if I should be, but I honestly don't know what to do in these situations!

 

[kymom99]

I don't

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

Honestly, I don't usually tip and I consider myself a good tipper as I work for tips (massage therapist). I will occasionally if they go above and beyond but I don't see much difference in their job than that of a drive thru worker who I've never tipped. If I leave a tip it's a dollar or 2. I also worked in a restaurant when I was going to school and NEVER expected a tip for those doing takeout. I'd maybe get one every few shifts.

 

[BigAlsGal]

I’ve worked as a server and I guess it’s really up to how the restaurant handles take out. At my particular restaurant when a call in order came in it was the servers job to take the order and put it together. I remember it being super frustrating because we all avoided the to go orders because it took time away from your tables and people rarely tipped. Then you had to make sure EVERYTHING was in the bag. Cutlery, ketchup, syrup, butter, dressing, and any other condiment you can think of. Maybe some restaurants have a designated person paid hourly to put together to go orders. I always tip at least a couple dollars. Maybe not a percentage of the bill but something for their trouble.

 

[Alesia]

I’ve worked as a server and I guess it’s really up to how the restaurant handles take out. At my particular restaurant when a call in order came in it was the servers job to take the order and put it together. I remember it being super frustrating because we all avoided the to go orders because it took time away from your tables and people rarely tipped. Then you had to make sure EVERYTHING was in the bag. Cutlery, ketchup, syrup, butter, dressing, and any other condiment you can think of. Maybe some restaurants have a designated person paid hourly to put together to go orders. I always tip at least a couple dollars. Maybe not a percentage of the bill but something for their trouble.

That's how it is where I work. Dealing with carry out orders is kind of a pain - there's more to it than people think.

About half of the people tip. Those that do usually leave a dollar or two. Occasionally, someone will give 20%.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I do 10%

 

[dosekies]

I don't, but the only places we ever really order take out from are the places where most of the orders are take out. They only have a few tables, no servers, and you pick up the food at the counter. Good topic though, I've never really thought about it before

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

I’ve worked as a server and I guess it’s really up to how the restaurant handles take out. At my particular restaurant when a call in order came in it was the servers job to take the order and put it together. I remember it being super frustrating because we all avoided the to go orders because it took time away from your tables and people rarely tipped. Then you had to make sure EVERYTHING was in the bag. Cutlery, ketchup, syrup, butter, dressing, and any other condiment you can think of. Maybe some restaurants have a designated person paid hourly to put together to go orders. I always tip at least a couple dollars. Maybe not a percentage of the bill but something for their trouble.

That's how it is where I work. Dealing with carry out orders is kind of a pain - there's more to it than people think.

About half of the people tip. Those that do usually leave a dollar or two. Occasionally, someone will give 20%.

Any place I've ever gone to it's been a designated person at take out or the hostess handles it. Is it in your job description? If not, I'd have a problem with it.

 

[Alesia]

Any place I've ever gone to it's been a designated person at take out or the hostess handles it. Is it in your job description? If not, I'd have a problem with it.

I work for a small family restaurant - we all help each other out.

 

[wendow]

I usually do about 10% too.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

I work for a small family restaurant - we all help each other out.

Ahhh, got it. I worked for one, too. It was a tad nicer than a pizza restaurant but not quite sit-down Italian (order at the counter with me, I'd take the food, get things like a side of dressing or an extra silverwear etc. and also clean the tables). I rarely received take out tips and only ever got more than a few dollars for sit down diners. I guess that's why I don't tip all that great (or should say I rarely do) for take out. Sit down almost always over 20% though.

 

[Alesia]

Ahhh, got it. I worked for one, too. It was a tad nicer than a pizza restaurant but not quite sit-down Italian (order at the counter with me, I'd take the food, get things like a side of dressing or an extra silverwear etc. and also clean the tables). I rarely received take out tips and only ever got more than a few dollars for sit down diners. I guess that's why I don't tip all that great (or should say I rarely do) for take out. Sit down almost always over 20% though.

Ours is fairly upscale chinese - white tablecloths, remarkably good service, and food that people will drive an hour or so for pretty regularly. It's definitely not an order at the counter kind of place.

 

[WDWNY]

I love seeing everyone's responses!! Thank you everyone!

The main place that got me wondering about the tipping is a big chained restaurant, and the location I go to the take out place has a separate entrance next door. It's usually the same lady there every time so I don't think she's a waiter. She just gets so unpleasant when I don't tip and is a complete sweetheart when I do (because I've never known what to do sometimes I do sometimes I don't) Every time I've gotten someone else they're pleasant the entire time lol

Glad to hear no one tips 20%... whenever I see at the bottom of the receipt tipping suggestions for take out with 20% I'm always shocked (and then I leave feeling bad because what if I should've tipped 20%)

 

[Alesia]

She just gets so unpleasant when I don't tip and is a complete sweetheart when I do

That's never acceptable. You should report it to a manager.

And, fwiw, she would never get another tip from me again.

 

[BigAlsGal]

Any place I've ever gone to it's been a designated person at take out or the hostess handles it. Is it in your job description? If not, I'd have a problem with it.

Well this was 20 years ago, it was also a popular chain restaurant and yes it was in the job description.

 

[Lain]

Take Out: No obligation; 10% for extra service (curb delivery) or a large, complicated order

http://emilypost.com/advice/general-tipping-guide/

 

[wendow]

10% for a large, complicated order

Exactly, this is us! We are a large family....so our order is typically big. I usually am asking for things to be cut in half, put on the side, extra broccoli, no mushrooms, no butter on the bread, etc... We are the epitome of big and complicated. The server who gets our order together definitely deserves a little extra!

 

[mjkacmom]

I don't, but the only places we ever really order take out from are the places where most of the orders are take out. They only have a few tables, no servers, and you pick up the food at the counter. Good topic though, I've never really thought about it before

Same, the business is set up for mostly takeout or deliveries, with a few tables, or a completely separate restaurant with servers. I’ve tipped at chain restaurants for take out where the servers pack it up, but I rarely order from chiains.

 

[mco65]

Traditional Delivery places like Dominos or Papa Johns, i do not tip when i pickup or takeout.. but a traditional sit down place like Chilis or Outback, I probably would but can't remember the last time i ordered take out from that style of restaurant.

 

[loves to dive]

Any delivery we tip and big since we live out in the country and there are very few places that will deliver to us. If we go pick it up and there is a tip jar we always put a few bucks in the tip jar. If it's something like outback where you can order on line then go pick it up, we include a tip in the order since there is a real live take out section at the restaurant. If it's a restaurant where you call in the order and go in a pick it up and the hostess just hands it to you and there is no tip jar, we don't normally tip.