GTKY: To tip or not to tip??

rainedrops117 · August 2013

That is the question... With the fairly recent tip hoopla. Curious - Do you tip when you order a take out meal? As in ordering at a restaurant (not a fast food joint) and picking up on your way home? Those in the industry what say you???

rainedrops117 · August 2013

I overheard a convo today at lunch and it got me thinking. I do, automatically mostly bc its awkward standing there, cashier staring and not tipping. Is it just me??

Cheerilee · August 2013

I do. I do a 10% tip instead of a 15-20%, though.

jodegaard · August 2013

Yep. About 10%.

alake · August 2013

Yes, 10% and then make it equal the dollar.

ks3pink · August 2013

I don't because I've never really thought to. I consider a tip to be for refilling my drink and such which isn't happening if I'm getting take out.

SJandVA · August 2013

We will usually leave a few bucks to the bar tender, that's usually where the pick up is at.
I'm curious to see what people in the industry say. I never tipped pizza delivery as much as I should have been, until my brother started delivering.

jodegaard · August 2013

SJandVA said:
We will usually leave a few bucks to the bar tender, that's usually where the pick up is at.
I'm curious to see what people in the industry say. I never tipped pizza delivery as much as I should have been, until my brother started delivering.

I hosted/served for a couple years in college and DH served for 6 years before, during, and after college. We always tip for to-go from restaurants.

Most of the time the bartender or server who is handling your order is doing everything they normally would, except refill your drink. Instead they have to box up your food.

I'm always surprised when people justify not tipping with "well, it's not like they had to do anything besides grab my food from the kitchen." Even if that were true, servers tip out the bussers, hosts, and back of the house staff.

Mrs. Rohde · August 2013

I am embarrassed to say that I don't tip take out stuff very often. Reading what some of you pps have said has made me change my mind.

latnprincess · August 2013

I usually don't. If I do its like $1.00. Why is everyone and their mother putting a tip line now a days?!

twoitalians · August 2013

The restaurant I worked at gave all the to-go tips to the kitchen. Those guys got paid way less than the rest of us and worked their butts off. I tip 15% at least. That way if a server still takes the tip, at least there will be more to tip out to the kitchen.

Lizzydarcy618 · August 2013

Island_Breezie said:

That is the question... With the fairly recent tip hoopla. Curious - Do you tip when you order a take out meal? As in ordering at a restaurant (not a fast food joint) and picking up on your way home? Those in the industry what say you???

A take out meal? No. What service did they really provide? If the tip was going back to the kitchen, maybe, but it's not.

jodegaard · August 2013

Lizzydarcy618 said:

Island_Breezie said:

That is the question... With the fairly recent tip hoopla. Curious - Do you tip when you order a take out meal? As in ordering at a restaurant (not a fast food joint) and picking up on your way home? Those in the industry what say you???

A take out meal? No. What service did they really provide? If the tip was going back to the kitchen, maybe, but it's not.

Have you ever worked in the food service industry?

Keoh1215 · August 2013

I don't usually tip for takeout but definitely will start now. I have never worked in the food industry before and never knew they did more then just give me my food. Thank you for the insight!

jodegaard · August 2013

Ambsies said:

jodegaard said:

Lizzydarcy618 said:

Island_Breezie said:

That is the question... With the fairly recent tip hoopla. Curious - Do you tip when you order a take out meal? As in ordering at a restaurant (not a fast food joint) and picking up on your way home? Those in the industry what say you???

A take out meal? No. What service did they really provide? If the tip was going back to the kitchen, maybe, but it's not.

Have you ever worked in the food service industry?

I think it's pretty obvious what her answer will be
If she had worked in food service she would be singing a whoooooole different tune!

True. I just wanted to give her a chance to explain herself before I said what an ignorant statement that was.

Megispreg · August 2013

Yes! I always tip our takeout and delivery people. I see them more than I probably should. Our sushi guy will ask how the baby is doing. Perhaps I should learn to cook, ha.

jodegaard · August 2013

SpringMomv2 said:

So this must be regional, or vary by restaurant but when i worked in restaurants, the hostess who checked out the to-go or the person working to-go got to keep the tip if one was left.

no one ever tipped out the kitchens. only the bar.

takeout was always fully done in the kitchen, but the hostess would sometimes have to bag it up and throw utensils in. or at another restaurant, the manager used to do that.

so now i'm wondering what the common way to do it is and who usually gets the tip.

It varies by restaurant. I worked at a chain, DH worked at a family owned place. At the chain, the bar handled the take-out and at the family owned restaurant, there were designated "to-go staff". But either way, the servers tip-out everyone else.

PaisleyRuth · August 2013

I have never ordered to-go food, but this is a very informative thread on food service practices. So complicated!

latnprincess · August 2013

Or how about like the sub place I go to, its a mom and pop place, same deal as a Subway. They have a tip jar on the counter and also the tip line on the receipt. Do you tip then? Sometimes I give a dollar, sometimes I'm short and don't.

rainedrops117 · August 2013

@Sharona1700 I never tip at those pizza take out only places. Perhaps I should be??? :-SS

jodegaard · August 2013

Sharona1700 said:
What if it's a solely take out operation? We have a pizza/fastish food place. I never know what to do

I say tip as you see fit at places like this. I always err on the said of tipping. You never know who is on the receiving end and it can really make a difference in someone's outlook on life. Paying it forward, so to speak.

Manda-Kay · August 2013

I've always wondered if I'm supposed to be tipping people who bring me my food when I do "car side to go." I never have or at take out places. ::hangs head in shame::

rainedrops117 · August 2013

latnprincess said:
Or how about like the sub place I go to, its a mom and pop place, same deal as a Subway. They have a tip jar on the counter and also the tip line on the receipt. Do you tip then? Sometimes I give a dollar, sometimes I'm short and don't.

Places like Subway. I honestly don't. If I'm paying cash and happen to have change ill throw some in the jar. If I'm using my CC. I don't usually add to the total. To me that's along the lines of fast food joint. But that's just me.

rp-chicago-mom · August 2013

I tip because hosts make nothing and in the long run, it's not going to save me a lot of money. I especially feel obligated when they're nice and quick.

rp-chicago-mom · August 2013

Oh and, I'm terribly cheap but I never want my frugality to hinder generosity.

bigbootyjudi · August 2013

If I'm picking up Chinese, coney island, or a sub place, then I'll throw my coin change into the tip jar.

If I'm picking up from a chain/for SO and myself/over $20, then I'll tip about $2.

rp-chicago-mom · August 2013

LucyD1029 said:
I don't think I've ever gotten takeout from a restaurant! DH has a few times and I'm assuming he tips, but he tips everyone.

He's a good one.

rp-chicago-mom · August 2013

Island_Breezie said:

latnprincess said:
Or how about like the sub place I go to, its a mom and pop place, same deal as a Subway. They have a tip jar on the counter and also the tip line on the receipt. Do you tip then? Sometimes I give a dollar, sometimes I'm short and don't.
Places like Subway. I honestly don't. If I'm paying cash and happen to have change ill throw some in the jar. If I'm using my CC. I don't usually add to the total. To me that's along the lines of fast food joint. But that's just me.

Chains probably pay better and honestly, at subway everything is all measured out. At a mom and pop place, I feel obliged to throw a little in.

melmarie26 · August 2013

I tip everybody. All services. Especially the front line men, who typically make the last amount of money. My Daddy said that these folks have a remarkable memory. Once I got into serving, I figured out what he meant. They will always go the extra mile next time they see you. Plus, you might have to make up for the assholes who don't tip their servers at all!

thepretzelchick · August 2013

Always. At least 15%, usually 20%. These people are handling my food. It's the least I can do.

WhtRssnGrl · August 2013

I usually tip 10% with takeout. About 10 years ago, my friend who was a server at the time explained why she got pissed when people don't tip for takeout orders. It made sense to me, so I've done it ever since.

cmb2 · August 2013

I usually do about 7-10% on take out - but I'll admit for the paranoid side of me - if my food isn't out and ready for me, I will tip more for fear of angry to -go people messing with my food. I did work at a restaurant, I know it happens!

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