Tipping for takeout?

[kennancat]

Wow - now I see why the articles I found said that there's a lot of variation on this! Thanks for your post RNMOM - I hadn't really thought about whether the take out person is classified as a tipped position or non-tipped position. It sounds like it is classified as non-tipped, since your son is paid more and does not share in the tip pool. Nonetheless, I hadn't really realized what work they do to get the order ready.

I have been tipping 10% for curbside. My thought there was since I get to call in my order and sit on my tushie while they bring it out to me, that's worth a tip. It's the going inside to pick up the order that I've been confused about. And frankly, I've given out a wide variety of tips because I didn't know what to do. I went to pick up an order of Thai once and since it wasn't ready yet, they asked me if I would like some water while I waited. I thought that was very nice and did give them 10%. I think for now, I'll probably stick to 10% for curbside and maybe go with 5% for when I pick it up inside, unless they go above and beyond. Or hey, I could just start cooking more and forgo the problem altogether

 

[oxfordcircus]

I tip about 10% at one particular restaurant because I know there's a good bit of work that goes into preparing my order. It's not as much as a typical server because there's not nearly as much time involved, but I do see that it's more than just taking my money and handing me a bag. I also do regular take out there so I see the same server on a regular basis.

 

[DISUNC]

I never Tip for takeout and never will! All they are doing is putting Food in a bag as oppose to a Tray. And I am all for tipping Servers in sit down eateries.

Dont know why???????

Should we tip the Burker King servers who places my $1.00 Double cheese Burger on the tray???? I EVEN HAVE TO FILL my own soda, get my own napkins, straws...etc....Search for Ketchup (those ketchup machines are NEVER filled)

Tip the Drive Thru person at McDonalds?
Should we start tipping the faster check out person in Wal-Mart????
How bout the WalMart greeter who gives you a shopping cart??
Maybe Tip the postal clerk when I buy stamps?
Tip the Grocery clerk who 'double bags' for you????



When was the last time a low paid office worker was tipped for answering the phone?

 

[korbbec]

As a former bartender at a restaraunt whose job it was to take the order and package it up for "the guest", I will tip 15% as a minimum. But also, I only go to a handfull of restaraunts for take out and I usually know the person handling my order.

ITA. Sometimes packing up a take out is more work than waiting on people in house. The people responsible for your takeout are usually the waitresses and bartenders making less than minimum wage, but because they rang your order they are still going to be taxed on those tips. The only exception I make is if someone is obviously just there to do to go orders. Then they get $2-3. If I am unsure I tip the 15%.

 

[korbbec]

I never Tip for takeout and never will! All they are doing is putting Food in a bag as oppose to a Tray. And I am all for tipping Servers in sit down eateries.

Dont know why???????

Should we tip the Burker King servers who places my $1.00 Double cheese Burger on the tray???? I EVEN HAVE TO FILL my own soda, get my own napkins, straws...etc....Search for Ketchup (those ketchup machines are NEVER filled)

Tip the Drive Thru person at McDonalds?
Should we start tipping the faster check out person in Wal-Mart????
How bout the WalMart greeter who gives you a shopping cart??
Maybe Tip the postal clerk when I buy stamps?
Tip the Grocery clerk who 'double bags' for you????



When was the last time a low paid office worker was tipped for answering the phone?

I can see your logic, but you are missing a major point. Most of the people in reg restaurants who pack your order are paid below minimum wage. Their *tips* are supposed to make up the difference. And yes, maybe we should tip the faster check out person at Walmart. I think it would be well worth it to get those lines moving.



ETA: Some of you here seem to think that the cooks take the order and hand the server a packaged and bagged order ready to be passed on to the customer. That is not how it works at all. The cook cook the food and place the main entrees in a togo that they hand over. The server then has to check it, run around and gather all sorts of smalll containers, sides, sauces, condiments, napkins. Believe me, it is a PITA. I would rather wait on a table in house.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

I will tip the person if they have to bring the food out to me. If I have to go in to get it, then no tip. But, I don't usually order things with drinks, salads, deserts, etc. It's a meal in a box with nothing else. But I'll be glad when this pregnancy craving for Applebee's Nacho's is over - much less takeout them.

Just my opinion....

Jen

 

[LisaR]

Not true. They order it, package it up, get the sides you need, condiments, utesils, containers, bags, the check. Then you also have to re-stock.
It's really kind of a pain. It's nice when they have someone that is actually in charge of take out orders. I hate when I'm working and really busy, then have to stop everything I'm doing, read the menu to someone over the phone, and get together a take -out order. I think a few bucks is a nice idea.

The problem is there is not just one person who does this. I only order take-out (car-side service) from Carrabbas. 9 times out of 10 a girl takes my order over the phone and a guy brings the order out to the car. I tip 10% everytime, but I am willing to bet that the girl that took the order did more work then the guy who brought it out to my car. I really hope they split the tips.

 

[CPM]

The problem is there is not just one person who does this. I only order take-out (car-side service) from Carrabbas. 9 times out of 10 a girl takes my order over the phone and a guy brings the order out to the car. I tip 10% everytime, but I am willing to bet that the girl that took the order did more work then the guy who brought it out to my car. I really hope they split the tips.

I think those places that have that curb side pick up are set up better for take out orders. They probably have people that are actually just working take out. A nice little system. I know when my daughter worked at Tony Romas, that's all she did, was take out. She got paid a little bit more and made some tips.

But, most non-chain restaurants are not set up like that. It usually goes like this:
Phone rings, manager yells to whomever is closet to take the order. lol
So, when I get a take out order at work, even if they don't tip, it goes under my sales and I'm taxed on it anyway.

 

[C.Ann]

There are only two restaurants I can think of that I (we) frequent - one is a Chinese restaurant and one is a Pizza/Italian food place.. Each have a few tables, but very, very rarely does anyone actually eat there - it's 99% take-out.. The food is handed to you over the counter - the same as McDonald's, Burger King, etc.. I (we) don't tip that type of establishment and I'm not quite sure why we would be expected to do so.. If we ate there, yes - for take-out, no..

 

[disneyfan67]

I don't understand why you would tip for take-out. I walk in the restaurant and get it, what am I tipping for?

Now a couple restaurants around here have the curbside service and bring your take-out to the car, I tip them a couple bucks.

That's the way I am. If I go into a pizza place and pick up my to go order there's no reason for a tip. I do notice a tip jar at some places and wonder why I have to tip when all you did was put my pizza in a box?

 

[tynkerbell]

I will tip if it's a curbside service- where they bring the food to my car, but if I have to park, get out of my car, go inside and get my food I see no reason to tip.

 

[tynkerbell]

Why in the world would you tip for takeout. How about tipping every time you flush your toilet. Someone on the other end has to clean up the mess. Where is it going to stop.

That's how I feel. I see tip jars in the local sub shop, etc... it seems now there are expectations for tips for just about anything. I wouldn't be surprised to see a tip jar at a fast food drive thru soon and hear how these people have to "take our order, punch it in, take our money and give us change" so they did us a service and deserve a few bucks. It really needs to stop.

I'll tip for service... I tip very well in fact. I tip when I get a haircut, I tip when someone handles my luggage, I'll tip a driver (cabs, shuttle, etc), I'll tip a server or the person who delivers my pizza. But I draw the line at tipping someone who throws a sandwich together for me or someone who takes my order over the phone so that I can come in and pick it up. IMO they should be paying more hourly to the restaurant staff that works the takeout counter to make up for the fact they're not working tables that tip.

 

[caitycaity]

i don't tip for takeout, but i do tip for delivery.

 

[LoraJ]

I usually tip 10%.

 

[RealMickeysGirl]

At some places, you pick up your take out order at the bar. I tip those people because they are doing someting extra - not part of bartending. I also tip the people who bring your order out at the "to go" curbside pickup. Usually 10%.

If I am eating in a restaurant, I usually tip 20%. If it is a place I go regularly and have the same server (or get to sit in a particular server's section) I will occasionally tip more than 20%.

I will sometimes tip more if I have drinks with dinner because the server has to split those tips with the bartender most of the time.

I base my tip calculations based on many family members who have worked in the food service over the years.

 

[ZuZugal]

last time I got take-away service from Applebees, I paid w/a credit card and the server brought out a little handheld electronic device for me to sign instead of an actual receipt. It gave the amount and I had to hit "okay". Then on the next screen it said "tip or no tip". Then it took you to a total.

To me when you sign a receipt it is easier to "overlook" the tip. You don't have to do anything but sign your name. They will carry the total down if you don't add a tip. But with this device, you actually have to make a choice. Do I tip or don't I??

Smart on Applebees part if you ask me. I think they'll get more tips that way.

 

[rhanditresmom]

It all depends for us....we almost always tip, especially those who bring it out to the car and especially those who go over our order with us, to make sure we received what we ordered.

I don't tip if the person tells me, "You might want to check that, to make sure it is right!" That happens frequently around here....

And I don't tip at the sandwich store, the coffee place, the drive thru taco joint, etc.

 

[minnieandme]

no, I don't tip for carry out. Then again, most restaurants we go to, we eat in. Now a chinese restaurant or pizza place, I may get it to go. I wouldn't tip for that.

I think some fast food places are going too far by placing a tip jar at the register. I went to Moe's last week and they had a tip jar. I don't see where they do anything different than someone at McDonald's would do.

 

[arminnie]

I have dinner at a nice restaurant once a month with friends. I often order a second meal to go for my dad.

I tell the server at the beginning of dinner what my second order is, but the server times it so I get my to go order shortly before I am leaving. I tip 20% of the total for both meals.

I don't tip at Taco Bell or the donut store.

 

[Melisa1]

Delivery - Yes
Takeout - No