Tipping For Take Out

[powellrj]

We always tip at carry out except at Papa Johns and Dominos. My DD use to work at a small local pizza restaurant that had tables that she waited on and also had carry out. Most people tipped when they picked up their pizza for carry out. Not sure since it is a small town everyone knew they were all paid waitress wages was why most tipped or not.

 

[fifthdimensiondweller]

Funny you posted this- I was just thinking the other day i should ask for opinions on this here!

I have in the past, but never more than 10%, and I don't always. If I know it's being prepared by servers rather than a designated takeout person, then I definitely would, but I don't usually know the inner workings of the places I'm ordering from. I think if servers are preparing, places should add the 10% themselves, I've seen this plenty of times, it'll say something like "A charge of 10% will be added to all to go orders for the servers who prepare them." Love that, since as the customer I almost never know how places handle their to-go.

My general rule of thumb is, if the person is doing something extra (delivery or curbside pickup), or of course if the person is a server as their wages are dependent on tips, I tip, and I tip well. However, I don't tip when someone makes a full wage and is only fulfilling the obligations of their job (I don't typically tip a barista, for example). My reasoning there is like others have stated- what's the difference between a barista and a drive thru worker? If I'm tipping them, should I be tipping retail workers too, since they also work very hard and make very little? It would get out of hand quickly.

ETA: I also tip if I'm placing a large or complicated order or if I'm ordering on a major holiday.

 

[bluehen]

In our area it seems normal to have a tip jar. I throw a few bucks in. probably comes to 10% or less.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

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!

You should tip if it's a regular restaurant (think Chili's), just not 20%; 10% is standard. The server has to get the order, put it in, assemble everything that goes with the order (plates/silverware/etc), possibly make some of the items (i.e. salads, dressings, condiments), and ensure it's ready on time and hot. It does take time away from their tables in the restaurant, and counts in their sales/tips.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

Funny you posted this- I was just thinking the other day i should ask for opinions on this here!

I have in the past, but never more than 10%, and I don't always. If I know it's being prepared by servers rather than a designated takeout person, then I definitely would, but I don't usually know the inner workings of the places I'm ordering from. I think if servers are preparing, places should add the 10% themselves, I've seen this plenty of times, it'll say something like "A charge of 10% will be added to all to go orders for the servers who prepare them." Love that, since as the customer I almost never know how places handle their to-go.

My general rule of thumb is, if the person is doing something extra (delivery or curbside pickup), or of course if the person is a server as their wages are dependent on tips, I tip, and I tip well. However, I don't tip when someone makes a full wage and is only fulfilling the obligations of their job (I don't typically tip a barista, for example). My reasoning there is like others have stated- what's the difference between a barista and a drive thru worker? If I'm tipping them, should I be tipping retail workers too, since they also work very hard and make very little? It would get out of hand quickly.

ETA: I also tip if I'm placing a large or complicated order or if I'm ordering on a major holiday.

A barista/drive thru worker are not relying on their tips for wages. Their tips are extra gravy on their mashed potatoes.
Servers rely on tips to make their wages. Their tips are their mashed potatoes.

 

[gottalovepluto]

We never tip for takeout.

 

[Alexle2007]

Oops, we never tip for take-out but we only ever order for the local pizza/sub shop by our house that is carry out only. I do make sure I draw a line through the tip amount so it doesn't unexpectantly get one entered. And I, personally, hate the tip jars. They are everywhere!

 

[kirstenb1]

We order pizza once a week, and I always tip$3 to the person helping me with the takeout. They are servers, and taking time away from their tables to ring me up. I just hand them cash.

 

[MomToOne]

Takeout from a restaurant where a fair amount of the business is actually sit-down: I tip, but less than I would for a sit-down meal. Depending on the place and the order, it may be anything from a couple of bucks to 10%

Takeout from a restaurant where nearly all of the business is take-out: I don't tip

 

[KaptKaveman]

I'm glad this question was asked. I get pizza from the same small Italian restaurant every Friday and I always wonder if I should be tipping. I feel guilty when I don't but it seems to be the same thing as a fast food window so..... now if my wife hasn't cleaned all the cash out of my wallet then occasionally i will drop a dollar into the tip jar.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I follow the etiquette...
Pretty much, anything that replicates a McDonald's To-Go experience (I walk in and just get handed my food), I don't tip. If I'm welcomed to sit in a chair, asked if I need anything while I wait, etc - I'll tip a few bucks b/c I got served.

I don't make the "who does pick up orders" decisions at restaurants - management does - so whether it's a tipped or untipped position is not my concern when it comes to tipping...

 

[AnnaS]

Yes and no, it really depends and when I do/have - probably a few dollars (depending on the order). Some places that have a cup for tipping - I will leave a dollar or two or lose change. Again, depends on what I am buying/spending.

 

[LovesTimone]

Every restaurant is different on how they handle take out meals, some delivery to the car when you pull up, some have separate door for take out, and other give it to a server, or whoever answers the phone gets it, or the bartender at lunch takes the order/ and then someone else is dedicated to doing for evening service tae out, So I just sorta see what's going on then decide.. Our little Chinese restaurant has a tip jar by the register and they share the tips at the end of the day... I always tip here, Our order is around 40 bucks which is 2 meals for us, so I throw a 5 in the tip jar...Pizza if they deliver then yes we always tip the driver, if we run in a pick up it really depends here... When we lived in GA, our favorite local pizza joint was take out and delivery, no tables, they had a tip jar and did the split at the end of the shifts we would throw in anywhere from 3 to 6 depending on the order.. Now that we are back we have several mom and pop places we eat at and get meals to go and we tip at consitantly, as far as the major chains it really depends on what we are ordering and the service once there.

 

[DizzyStitch]

Waffle House adds a surcharge to the order for take out. So no need to worry.

 

[wishuponastar1984]

I work out of town frequently and have had more than my fair share of chain takeout (Chili's, PF Changs, etc) I typically tip between 10 and 15% if I pick it up. One interesting point that I hadn't actually considered till today is I am relying more and more on services like UberEats, DoorDash, GrubHub which picks up the food for you and brings it to your door. I always tip my driver but now I wonder who is packing that order on the restaurant end. These delivery services are becoming more and more prevalent. I don't know for sure, but I know these pickup delivery orders are becoming a larger part of many restaurants nightly cash intake that maybe they are starting to staff a dedicated person just for these takeout orders.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

I work out of town frequently and have had more than my fair share of chain takeout (Chili's, PF Changs, etc) I typically tip between 10 and 15% if I pick it up. One interesting point that I hadn't actually considered till today is I am relying more and more on services like UberEats, DoorDash, GrubHub which picks up the food for you and brings it to your door. I always tip my driver but now I wonder who is packing that order on the restaurant end. These delivery services are becoming more and more prevalent. I don't know for sure, but I know these pickup delivery orders are becoming a larger part of many restaurants nightly cash intake that maybe they are starting to staff a dedicated person just for these takeout orders.

Most of the delivery services keep the tipout. The servers don't receive it, in most cases.

 

[Shanti]

Do you tip when you take out food?

I tip a dollar or two just to be nice. I wouldn't want to work there...

 

[fifthdimensiondweller]

Servers rely on tips to make their wages. Their tips are their mashed potatoes.

Yep, exactly! A good way to put it

 

[wishuponastar1984]

Most of the delivery services keep the tipout. The servers don't receive it, in most cases.

I know that the driver/service keeps the tip simply because you tip within the app but I wonder how these restaurants are addressing these orders. Are they having a non-tipped employee who is now responsible for processing and packing these orders or are the tipped servers now required to assemble these orders even though they are not getting paid to do so? This new delivery model where there is a secondary service provider is now handling the delivery is a disruptor in the industry. Fast casual take out is becoming a larger part of the market and expecting people to work for free will only work for so long.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

I know that the driver/service keeps the tip simply because you tip within the app but I wonder how these restaurants are addressing these orders. Are they having a non-tipped employee who is now responsible for processing and packing these orders or are the tipped servers now required to assemble these orders even though they are not getting paid to do so? This new delivery model where there is a secondary service provider is now handling the delivery is a disruptor in the industry. Fast casual take out is becoming a larger part of the market and expecting people to work for free will only work for so long.

It varies from restaurant to restaurant.