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I don’t think it’s rude at all, because if you think restaurant wise, the cooks don’t get tipped, and the host/hostess who are normally handing you food don’t get tipped. Or if it’s a delivery place it’s the same thing, the drivers who actually get tipped, arn’t doing anything so you’d just be tipping people that wouldn’t normally get the money anyway.

I eat chinese take-out often, and my parents never leave a tip. Why should you? They make you the food and you pay for it, they havn’t done you a service like waiters do, so why would you tip them? (Trust me, food prices are high enough.)
Besides, they’re not expecting it so that would be really akward if you gave them extra, and they think you’ve messed up or something and give it (The money.) back to you, and you’re like, “Oh no, it’s yours!” and so on.
Actually, my family and I go to a specific chinese place so often that they’ve stopped charging us full price for meals since we don’t use their coupons! Usually it’s like 22 or some dollars and they only ask us for 20 =)

I have worked in the service industry for over 12 years. My personal rule has always been to tip if you are picking up food from a dining establishment that has servers. Tipping at your local pizza place or asian takeout, is appreciated but unexpected. The distinction comes from two factors. 1. rate of pay, Most people who work takeout in a pizza place or takeout only establishment are payed a full rate of pay, as tipping is not expected. Restaurant workers are usually paid a lower rate of pay, sometimes a fraction of minimum wage, because of their classification as a tipped employee. Resteraunt workers may also have to tip other employees, such as bussers and hostesses, on a percentage of their nightly sales. Therefore, if you raise their sales by purchasing food you should tip to compensate. 2. In a pizza, or takeout place the cooks are usually responsible for packaging the food for takeout. In a restaurant the person who hands you your food is usually the one responsible for packaging your food, and servicing any extra requests you may make

No tip for take-out.
Tip for delivery.

I tip only when a service is provided. My husband has worked in this industry for ten years, as a delivery driver, as a manager, and now as an owner. If it’s delivered, I tip, they provided a service. If I pick it up, I used my sweet time and gas to go get it, I’m not tipping. If I eat in, and am served, I tip. A service was provided. Hair stylists, mechanics, delivery drivers, installation techs (the cable guy), servers- they all provide a service, and deserve to be tipped.

Hi Mike, I agree with you completely. I don’t see any need in tipping the cashier at the Chinese take out down the street if i’m already paying him for the food. It’s not necessary!

I’m a bartender in an establishment that sells a lot of take out. I’d say about 1/3 of take out orders leave a tip. It is not expected but always appreciated.
If you do end up eating in the restaurant I do think you should tip. Not as much as when someone is serving you, but someone still has to clean up after you.
I only personally get annoyed with really high maintenance orders that call in their order, then come in and change it or want you to get extra this, extra that. That’s when I think a take out order should tip. It’s ok if you are a pain in my butt, just make it worth my while.

i worked at a place called moe’s that sold tacos and texmex, and i was so thankful for people that left tips in the tip jar. even people that left $.50 in that tip jar helped out. we all split those tips and it really came in handy. i only made $7.25 at that place and i was a working college student so that little bit really came in handy. as part of karma and being appreciative of people that did tip, i make it a point to leave a tip even if i’m just dropping a few cents in the bucket. the only time i don’t leave money in the bucket is if i know that its a family run restaurant and they’re just trying to supplement their income with the tips. but many takeout people only make $2.13 an hour (including the takeaway people at outback steakhouse, another place where i worked) and trust me when i tell you, those people depend on those tips.

I think it would be good manners to leave a tip when receiving a take-out. Although I don’t think it’s necessary to do so. The car part is totally unrelated. As food service is a whole different relevance.

But yeah, I think a tip would be appreciated, but I don’t think it should be seen as rude when somebody doesn’t leave you one.

Elis

I think leaving a tip would be nice, but it certainly shouldn’t make one feel bad if they don’t. If it was a nice restaurant then sure, but not for take out.

I have worked in take food all my life.Some places didn’t allow tipping if the customer picked up.At a sandwich shop I worked out if the order was rather large the customers usually left a tip.If it was a normal order I wouldn’t even want to be tipped.

No. I do not tip for picking up take out. That’s absurd. There is no service being done there, besides taking the order and making the food. But when we eat in we don’t tip the cook do we? That’s like tipping the person at the drive-thru window, it is not neccesarry.

There are two different situations at work here and you’ve only touched on one of them. If you call in an order, drive to the restaurant and go inside to pick up your order then there is no reason to tip. If you call in your order, drive to the restaurant and wait in your car for somebody to bring the order to you then I think you should tip, especially if you are paying with a credit/debit card and that somebody has to make two trips to your car.

Just my $.02

My answer comes in the form of another question…if you go to wendys or burger king and wait to get your food do you tip them? NO. so you use your money to put gas in your car and drive acrossed town to pick it up there is not tipping required. only on delivery and then 3 or 4$ should suffice.

I believe you should tip. My fiance is a host at a resteraunt. He does do alot to get your food ready. He has to put in the order, make sure it’s being done. And then go retreve and finish it for you.(Ex. Dressing on salads, finishing the salad.)

So seeing that there is some extra work involved, I tip a couple bucks. Would I tip 15 %? No, but a couple bucks says you appriecate what they did.

Well I live in Las Vegas and here we have “tip compliance” so no matter what we a taxed a certain amount for our total sales for the day so if you don’t tip for take out chances are that person is still paying taxes as if you did……………….

I tip for service. I don’t consider cooking food and wrapping it deserving enough for a tip. Would you tip at McDonalds or Taco Bell? The only times I’ve tipped for takeout is if my order is ready unusually fast or they’ve served me free tea/appetizers while I was waiting for it.

I usually leave a tip at restaurants where I know I get great service. I go to this sushi place 30 mins from my house at least twice a month and I always make sure to tip them well. They provide great food and excellent service. I take care of them just like they take care of me when I eat in.

I know I may come off sounding rude but my view is that if you start tipping at take-out, then you’d have to tip everyone you have ever bought anything from- the cashier at cvs who rung up your personal care products, the poor kid at the supermarket who bagged your 20 pounds of fruits and vegetables, the dunkin donuts staff who makes your daily frap, the staff at McDonalds and other fast food restaurants who take orders from high volumes of people and wipe the tables down, etc. I do think a tip is in order if it is an especially large order that requires a lot of careful bagging and utensils, but I don’t think that requires the 18%-20% recommended tip. I think of it this way: if it’s a pizza restaurant, by going to pick up the pizza myself, I am stopping one of the workers from having to take the time to drive over to my house and back- in turn, he or she can spend that time taking more orders and getting to other places faster, making other patrons happier- therefore earning better tip off them. To me, it cancels out in the end. If it is awkward with using a credit card for take-out and not tip, then don’t use a credit card. Use cash!

So in the end, it’d be extra nice if you’d leave a small tip for take-out, but I don’t think it’d be rude to not to. But definitely tip at least 18% for eat-ins at restaurants and delivery.

Tipping on takeout really should be your personal preference. In most restaurants, the tip is shared by most staff (bartenders, bar backs, waiters, servers, food runners, host, etc). Take-out requires the attention of the people in the kitchen - but most places dont split the tip with the kitchen as these guys are paid full - as opposed to the bar tender who only makes $2.80 or whatever tip based minimum wage.

These days, where chain restaurants offer take out as an established option - no tip. If it’s your favorite chinese food - tip them and tip well - they will remember you. If its a upscale local restaurant that doesnt experience too much take-out, then the tip shouldnt be based on the value of the bill - rather a buck or two.

The 2 fundamental reasons behind tipping is to pay for the service you get and to reward the specific staff that served you. So take-out is the grey area. My suggestion is that you frequent the restaurant to dine in as well as have takeout. Tip when there, dont tip when not having take-out. That way, they know you are not cheap and you know you’ve done your part

i work as a carry out and i like a few extra bucks. not 20% but at least something
We have to make sure all of the food is prepared well and make sure everything is perfect.
we also have to put together the meal for who ever gets it
and we have no margin for error, unlike servers who can just replace the meal if there is an error

TIP THE CARRYOUT

I worked as a waitress and host for a few restaurants. It’s true that a tip is not expected but I do find it slightly rude. What most people don’t know is that you are paying someone to be a waiter/waitress. Just because your not at the restaurant does not mean they are doing jack sh*t (pardon my words). When a person places a order for takeout that caller is the host. The cook makes your meal and when done the host checks the order, fixes the drinks if you order any, grabs any condiments that a waitress would inside the restaurant, packs it all up for you and labels your meal so no one else mistakes it.

When your in a restaurant with a waiter serving you they do the same thing a host would to prepare your order and yet you tip the waiter don’t you? The waiter will bring your drinks, bring your food, bring the condiments, etc. As take out that host is getting your order, your drinks, your silverware, your condiments, just because your not there seeing doesn’t mean they didn’t do it.

I use to not make is a huge deal if i got tipped of not, but on occasion there are huge to-go orders. If a host is going to prepare 5 meals and the drinks, they do the same crap load of work a waiter does, there for i believe a tip is somewhat needed. I do not tip all the time, but i tip. i tip when i get ice cream at dairy queen. If i am too lazy to make an ice cream and someone does it for me they are working for it. So they deserve the tip they worked for it. Thats just how i see it.

I used to be a waitress at Chilis, and the to go people really did do a lot. They package all the food and make sure its the way your ordered it, get the soup, salad, and any salad dressings or condiments you may have ordered with your food, and also make to-go drinks. (think about the respondsibility of your waitress if you were to sit down, its not a whole lot different) I would absolutely tip them, and maybe more if its Superbowl Sunday or some other big “takeout” night, b/c that is a pretty busy and stressful time for someone in a to-go position.

As a server and bartender at a huge chain restaurant, I know that I really appreciate tips when doing takeout orders. A lot goes into these orders. We have to wait on the food, pack it all up in individual containers, pack up condiments and utensils, and then take care of any of the extras and changes the customer may have or need after receiving the food. Compared to serving it can actually be a bit more time consuming, and a lot more care goes into these orders. Not to mention when doing takeouts we’re paid only $3.75 per hour and we’re taxed on your food regardless.

I noticed some of the “driving to get it” thats still not a good excuse. If someone is too lazy to cook or doesnt want to make something at home and you want takeout, driving there isnt hard labor, thats crap. someone else is still cooking your food and packing it and putting it together so you get a meal. If people complain about gas then dont order takeout.

sorry if im sounding rude.

you really should tip. the people who work there are often tired and irritable and they get really annoyed with unhelpful people. 16-20 percent is good from the bill to the tip.

You totally need to tip. Sheesh. The person who puts your order together is a server who is paid way less than minimum wage. Usually 10% is expected.

i dont think its rude at all I only tip if they are serving me while eating out not cooking it and wrapping it

I am a server in a restaurant. We take the carryouts. It takes time out of taking care of our tables, quite a bit actually. My rate of pay is 2.65 / hr + tips. We truly are dependent on tips. Now, we don’t have to tip out the bus boys or hostesses, thankfully, as then a percentage of our SALES would be taken out, usually about 10%, which is sometimes barely what I made in tips that night. It is rude not to tip carryouts in places where the servers do the carryouts. Now I worked in a place where I hosted and did carryouts. That was different.

I think if the service is exceeded what you expected than a small tip wouldn’t hurt and especially if the waiter or waitress has satisfied your needs without too much fuss and promptness.

I would say that you should tip. Do you tip the waitress when you eat in? or the delivery man when you order in? Why not the girl who is answering your call and putting your order in, and getting your food together for when you come to pick it up? Obv you dont need to leave anything close to what you should give a waitress (20% MIN for a waitress), but a dollar or so for the takeout person, or maybe even the change off the total, because they are working hard to get these orders out timely and deserve a small thank you!

My son works at Outback Steakhouse, frequently in the Curbside Takeaway section. JJ goes out to the patrons car to deliver their food in all weather conditions. He receives minimally more than the waiters, but still not minimum wage, though; JJ depends on the tips to make up to minimum wage. One night, he made a whopping $7.00 in tips. However, another night, he made a record $76. His normal average is about $15. Is a tip appreciated? OH yes!! Does he “expect” a tip? Kind of. He DOES provide a car-side service in various weather conditions. Also, some Curbside customers have VERY large orders, meaning JJ has to be very careful that nothing spills or flips while being brought out to, and set into, the car, (whether the order is large OR small). Despite the care and attention he gives every customer, some are quite rude; he is frustrated, but polite to them, regardless. Some give tips, many don’t.

Especially if you have take-out delivered to your car, PLEASE give the person a tip! Some of these people depend on them for living.

I work as a Hostess. Hostesses/hosts DO get tipped. We get paid less than min wage and get 10% of what the servers make in tips. However, the only people doing work when you get a togo order (from ANY restaurant) are the people in the kitchen who dont get any share of tips period. So I really do not think anyone should feel awkward or guilty for not leaving a tip when you take out. I mean its how I make my bills every month and I never tip on take out. Delivery, yes.
If you are being served in some way, tip. If you go pick it up and get handed the food, definately not.

I definitely don’t think it’s rude…you’re already paying for the restaurant to make your food, and just because they happened to put it in a cardboard box so you can take it home doesn’t really necessitate a tip. i agree with the auto part example, it’s definitely not necessary. i’m a waitress and even i think its a little absurd to tip someone who did nothing.

then again, i also think its absurd to tip the baristas at places like starbucks. you tip a waitress at a restaurant because she did a good job of taking care of you, meeting your needs, and delivering your food. you DON’T tip her because she made your food, just like you don’t usually tip your cooks unless the food is especially delicious, which ppl rarely do anyway.

Not tipping for take out is rude! Servers do not make much money on the hour and depend on every tip. So just because you are taking it to go, remember someone put that food together for you!

No. There is no need to tip for take-out.

you should…if you dont think its a service for someone to make you food then you are dead wrong…. it doesnt have to be much maybe a dollar at most but honestly if you got it you might as well

I can see most of the people here have never deliverd food nor worked in a resturant.. Delivery people and servers dont not even make min wage there only income is tips. Plus delivery people have to pay to put gas in the car. Please tip these people its how they make money is from tips.

It depends on what kind of restaurant it is. If it’s purely take out, and there are no servers, only cashiers and cooks, then no tip is required (think, take-out Chinese or pizza). But in a place that does take-out and dine-in, frequently, the servers are the ones taking your order, packaging up your to-go food, even ringing you up. Not only does this take them away from their tables (who are tipping them), but even if they don’t have any tables at that time, remember that they’re still just making $2.13 an hour to get your food to you. Some people have pointed out that you don’t tip at fast food places, but remember, fast food employees make three times what servers make.

A couple of people have said something to the effect of “I paid for the food why should I pay them again?” The answer is this: You paid the RESTAURANT for your food, not the server. Tipped employees DEPEND on their tips for their living. By not tipping in that situation, you are paying the restaurant for the food, but you’re expecting the server to pack it up for free. Especially if the servers have to tip out the bussers, dishwasher, etc. They’re usually tipping out a percentage of their sales, not of their tips.

So throw in an extra dollar. They’re not expecting more than that from a take-out order.

I think that they are a few factors when determining to whether to tip or not for take out. Now if it’s a small order then I don’t feel obligated to tip. If it’s a big carry out order, most likely I will tip. It won’t be the typical 15% or more, but enough to show appreciation for getting the order together.

I work at the curbside takeout window at a popular restaurant. I believe it is absolutely right to tip the take-out server. I know I have a biased opinion, but it is not just the cooks making the food and the hosts bringing it out to you. I spend 6 hours packing scalding hot food into boxes and bags with the specific sides and dressings you asked for and getting your drinks and making sure your salad has enough tomatoes and your steak isn’t overdone and your steamed carrots have no butter like you specified while running back and forth between the restaurant and your car in the pouring rain and getting coloring books and animal crackers for your kids and taking more long, complicated orders on the phone that won’t stop ringing and running trays of food to tables when the servers need help. And I make less than minimum wage if you don’t leave a tip.

I’ve worked in the industry as a server and when it was my turn to prepare an order for pick-up, I had to take time away from my other (tipping) tables to do so. I always remembered to include condiments, and napkins, and eating utensils. I did my best to make my customer happy. I expected and deserved a tip. I always give one now.

yes i tip for take out. depending on the restaurants though. i dont tip the full 18-20 percent, usually 10percent because someones got to package it etc. the cooks dont box and bag it.

employees at fast food places are not allowed to accept tips, generally. They are paid minimum wage. employees who work for tips have a lower wage based on their expected tips. At my McDonald’s, tips usually go into the Ronald McDonald House boxes.

If it’s the owner of the take out place I don’t tip. If it’s the same person waiting on me most of the time, or exceptionally well compared to the others. This person may get a cash gratuity at Christmas. This is just like the regular postman and the garbage collector, even though they make decent money. Definitely the gardener. Not the plumber.

If I am doing takeout three or four times a week for the same place week in and week out, at each month end, a gratuity then may be appropriate.

Great question. I tip about 10% on take out, feel like I’m doing the right thing when a nice waitress looks after getting the order for me (even brought me tea while I waited) and confused or foolish when the food is simply handed to me over the counter. I don’t like to write a $0 on the charge slip then either.

But I have to add I do not like those paper tip cups at Starbucks and similar joints.

It depends on the establishment. Where I work, the bartender takes care of takeout. We have to leave the bar to go prep the salads, get the sauces, pack up the bread and ensure the entire meal is present when the order is picked up. If there is not a dedicated takeout person, I usually tip something because they had to leave their usual job to take care of me.

I had no idea that I was suppose to do it until a few years ago. It’s not required, but it’s a nice gesture.
I usually put $1 to $2 on take outs. I figure it will be divided up accordingly, at least I hope so. A lot of them are college kids that are not making a whole lot (I should know, I’m one of them). If you can afford to, and they do a good job, it’s the decent thing to do.

I think it isn’t necessary to tip when picking up from either the restaurant or at the counter of a fast food place. The reason I tip people to begin with is to thank them for their service - bringing my food to the table, pouring more tea, getting the extra fork when my kid drops hers. I tip for that quite well (being mathematically challenged, my rule is $2.00 for every $10, with extra for extra good service).

What am I tipping for when I have to carry the food home and serve it myself? lol

I just leave $1. It’s not too much so it affects my wallet, but it’s also something so the service staff can’t get mad either.

You are in the right. I feel like tipping at a take out place, is not……How shalll I put this….. I don’t find it to be a correct way to work. You’re getting paid to make the damn food, so why should yo ube getting paid extra just for standin’ there and giving me my damn food? I mean seriously.

Get some common sense people.

So, to answer your question, I think NOT tipping at a fast food joint is going in the right direction.

But I think the people on here that do this would beg to differ (:

I always tip my waitresses. That makes sure i have the food i want and the extra’s are there. When I place my order over the phone they know they will be tipped and everything is perfect. There is nothing worse that getting home and finding your order is messed up.Thats what happens when you don’t tip you fav. waitress/ Take care of her and she’ll take care of you.

If there is a person dedicated to doing takeout at that particular place, then I tip. (Especially when they go to the trouble of including all the side items, dressings and such, utensils, etc.)

If it’s strictly a takeout place with just a cashier, then I don’t. I also don’t if it’s just a host handing me the bag.

At most dining establishments, take out is normally handled by the host or hostess. They make an hourly salary unlike the wait staff. Take outs make at least minimum wage if not more so tipping is nice but not necessary.

If the take out chick is hot, why not?

i have worked at a few restaurants with take out, and the reason why you should tip people who do to-go or car side to-go is because they are the ones who put your meals together, package them, make sure everything is there, and that it is done timely.
the people who do to-go dont just stand there and ring you up, they prepare and put together everything.
i am sure that at some coney’s the cooks slop it in a box and throw it to a cashier. but when you order take out from a place like the olive garden, to-go people are preparing meals for 5+ people at a time. sometimes it is even more demanding than being a server.

I’ve grown up in this business. Heres my advice:

If its a place that ONLY provides quick service (ie Chinese take-out, Panera, McDonalds, Pizza take-out, and the like) a tip wouldn’t be necessary, but appreciated. These people more than likely get atleast minimum wage therefore they do not DEPEND on the tips.

If you’re going into a diner, restaurant or any other establishment that doesn’t ONLY do takeout but mostly deal with dine-in service, you should atleast tip something! Heres why. Many of the chain restaurants who offer special to-go promotions do have a designated take-out person, so they MAY still get the minimum wage, but in most other places, the person taking your order and putting it together are not getting minimum, they are getting the tipped server minimum. If they are taking time from their job of serving their dine-in customers who WILL definitely be tipping them to take and put together your order, it makes us feel like crap and like we weren’t appreciated and wasted time doing all that for you. I get really annoyed when I’m busy but I have to leave my post or make my customers in house wait because I have to put together a to-go order that 90% of the time you won’t get a tip for.

So next time you are getting a to-go order from your favorite dine-in restaurant, consider tipping for their troubles.

As a manager of a restaurant, you are supposed to tip for take out.

Servers get paid a wage of $2.13 per hour.
And essentially all of that gets taken away in taxes.

So, their tips are their wages.

If you don’t tip for take out, they are essentially working for free, which really isn’t fair.

Take out orders are assigned to a server, who has sit-in tables of his own. He’ll usually have to enter the order into the system, wait for your order, then make sure everything is packaged correctly with correct utensils and condiments.

You should tip a minimum of 15%.
(%18 and up for eat in)

Someone brought up the point of “if you tip at take our you should tip CVS employees and everyone else.”
Those people mentioned are making a legal minimum wage. Severs are paid $2.13 because it is assumed they will be tipped.
THAT is the difference, and that is why servers are supposed to be tipped for their hard work!

They’re right.
Tipping at a take-out restaurant is always appreciated, but not expected, unless they went completely out of their way to help you out.

If someone delivered to you or you were at a eat in restaurant then 15% is the minimum, but I would tip at least 20%.

I worked in food service for years before I went to college, so believe me–If you’re known as a bad tipper, your food will be late, and cold–not to mention the service won’t be spectacular because they’re not expecting much from you.

I work in restaurants (not Chinese, think Bob Evans and Applebees) where the carry-out person is actually a server on the reduced minimum wage. In that case, their time helping with your food (putting in the order, bagging it, checking it) affects their service to other customers and could be taking out of the tip money they could be making on the floor. It isn’t rude to ask the person who hands you your food if they were the ones who took the order and if they had tables on the floor.

Sometimes, a carry-out person who makes minimum wage will take the order and then a server is the one who has to put it all together. Different restaurants sort out that tipping situation in different ways.

Chinese take-out? Every one is probably paid minimum wage so tip isn’t really needed.

Like another poster above, I don’t usually tip at places with no servers (moes, zaxby’s, chinese places, etc). These people make the same money whether you’re satisfied or not. But at dine-in establishments with servers, I do. I served at Perkins for a couple years and not only did we have to leave our tables to take and place the orders, but we were then responsible for making the salads and drinks to-go and putting the cooked food in to-go containers. I didn’t expect a fulll 20% tip like I would from an eat-in table, but I always appreciated a couple of bucks thrown my way. I felt like I provided a service. The problem is many customers don’t know what goes on behind the scenes and so didn’t share my sentiment.

I just thought I’d mention that most restaurants that offer “pick up” food, include a 10% gratuity charge on the order. While that money is supposed to go to the server who signs the ticket, sadly, it rarely does.

No rudeness there. I think it would be very generous of you if you did tip. I usually tip 20%…it is more spiritual than tangible.

I have worked at Chili’s, and there is a certain single person who is responsible for taking your order correctly over the phone, entering it into the computer, packaging soups and flatware and making sure the order went through to the kitchen, then bagging it before the customer picks it up. That person might even bring it out to the car. It does take effort and skill, and it’s easy to feel underappreciated if no tip is given…or at least misunderstood. Sometimes the person in this position is not available so someone who is already waiting tables must handle the phone order, which adds to the juggling of tables.
So, it really depends on where you’re ordering from. If there’s a place for a tip, sometimes it’s best to give 50 cents to avoid insulting someone.

Hi Mike.
I think you have thegeneral gist of it..You call ahead, and someone just hands you your food and you pay for it…No tip is necessary…But..Let’s say that you’re at Sonic drive-in…Those car hops work almost solely for tips…A buck at this point is great appreciated.
That’s the way I see it anyway..
Now let’s say that you’re picking up takeout and the person has to go back in for you because the cook forgot your ranch dressing or the extra something that you asked for ? This is taking a bit extra time on their part and since they aren’t actually the one that packed the takeout, a buck is in order here too…That’s the way I look at it anyway..
Oh, and ALWAYS tip your pizza guy..

quoted from Joel:

“i work as a carry out and i like a few extra bucks. not 20% but at least something
We have to make sure all of the food is prepared well and make sure everything is perfect.
we also have to put together the meal for who ever gets it
and we have no margin for error, unlike servers who can just replace the meal if there is an error

TIP THE CARRYOUT”

Tell me: What about your statement goes beyond your standard job description? You work carryout, and expect tips just for doing your regular job?!? Seriously??

You like money, and expect people to pay you extra just for doing your job. If you like money so much, GET A BETTER JOB!

I don’t work in the “service” industry, but my work as an engineer certainly provides a service to my clients. EVERY JOB falls into that job description.
I don’t expect my clients to pay me extra money just because I tell them that their specs meet code; I don’t expect extra money just for doing my job, and you shouldn’t either.

When I spend my own gas money and take time out of my day to visit your sandwich shoppe for a pickup order, don’t expect me to give you extra money for handing me a bag with a sandwich in it, no matter how much time you have spent making sure my food is “well prepared.” Think about it: if you didn’t put forth that effort to do your job correctly, then I wouldn’t come back to buy your terrible sandwich.
Instead of whining for tips, you should be thanking your repeat customers for coming back and paying your salary. If you want a tip, bring my lunch to me in my office so I don’t have to spend valuable time out of my day visiting your carryout restaurant.

Answers to this question divided pretty evenly. People who have worked in restaurants explained what employees who take care of take-out orders actually do. It sounds like they deserve at least a 10%-15% tip.

Some people who have only been customers, and have never served in a restaurant didn’t see any need to tip. It reminded me of a similar question that came up back in the 1940s and 1950s: “Do I need to tip if I’m just eating at the counter?” (Many lunch places had counters right next to the food prep area, in addition to tables. Some still do.) I don’t know why people ever thought they didn’t have to tip for counter service, but thankfully etiquette experts soon set them straight.

Since customers can’t know all the Byzantine rules for who gets taxed on their tips and who doesn’t, be nice and give a decent tip for take-out service when the restaurant has both tables and take-out.

I am a server at a restaurant that also does take out. Not only am I responsible for packing up the food, but also responsible for preparing the salads that come with the dinners. It’s more than just writing down an order and handing it to the chef. The time I spend on take out orders takes away from my customers sitting at tables. I don’t expect 20% on a take out order but 2 or 3 bucks is appreciated!!

Absolutely not. At Sonic, sure, I’ll tip the car hop. But at a take out place, nope. Tip them for smiling…? On rare occasion, when someone just goes above and beyond the call of duty- absolutely. Everyone likes to be treated as an individual instead of an order number.

(A) Sometimes when we’ve paid our restaurant bill with a credit card, we’ve marked in a 15% tip, and then left a little extra in cash on the table. Sometimes we’ve put just the cost of the meal plus tax on the card, and left the entire tip in cash, drawing a line through the tip area and bringing down the total.

(B) Lately we’ve been paying all our restaurant bills in cash, and leaving a cash tip on the table.

(C) What do the servers in sit-down restaurants think about all this?

I worked in the industry for 10 yrs and it really depends on the resuraunt…If the host a togo service (like Chili’s) then the person who is doing that part usually makes around min wage. If it is a place that does not have a specific togo place, then it is usually a server/bartender or hostess who is not making min wage (at least in TX). Waiters down here make 2.13 + tips. Also, most places pull out a tipshare for bussers/hostess which is usually 2% of sales even if you didn’t make the usual 15%. Make a waiters day/night…tip them!!!!

10% is not a tip…its an insult

What is this $3-4 b.s.? 20%!?!

Y’all are crazy. I try to tip 5-10% if a server is good, delivery drivers get tipped for fast service and usually only if they aren’t already charging a delivery fee. Some pizza places charge $2-3 for freaking delivery!!!

At some restaurants, it is stupid. The servers have to share tips with bussers and hosts. I was gonna get hired by one of the places as a server but found this out, and turned down the job due to that idiotic policy.

Sorry, had to rant, but yeah… you don’t tip for take out. You also don’t tip garbage men, mail men(cept for maybe cocoa in the winter if they want a cup and you know them like that), you don’t tip for fast food, I am looking at YOU… Culvers, KFC, McD’s, BK, Wendys, Hardees, Taco Bell, etc.

The difference is the amount of pay the person gets. At McDonalds the workers get paid $8.50 an hour and at my restaurant I make $2.65 an hour to make your To-Go orders. I took this job because it is a tipped position. I had no idea that people were so rude.

Depends. I usually tip something. Heck ya tip the pizza delivery guy right. I tip the taco guy that made my taco’s, I tip the Chinese lady that handed me my food. WOW If I saved all my tips I’d be rich but then I wouldn’t get all those extra’s they gave when I keep ordering.
Do what you feel is good sometimes it doesn’t hurt to give a little kick back.

I am a hostess/cashier in a restaurant and I agree with the idea that a tip for take out is not expected but it is truely appreciated!

Appreciated, but not expected. When you eat in you tip because the servers are there making sure you enjoy your meal and that everything is running smoothly. When it’s take out, it’s, well… take out. As someone who works at a fast food restaurant I can say that it doesn’t bother me at all when I don’t get tipped. I love the extra cash, though- because I work the overnight shift and I don’t have to share tips with anyone else, I make about an extra $10-15 a day. That pays for my groceries

That’s just for a fast food place, though- not a real sit-in restaurant. When I started working here I was surprised I got to make tips.

You wouldn’t tip the burger guy at a drive through window to check your bag and hand it to you, why would you do the same for a restaurant?

Does anyone else find it comical that people who do NOT work in the industry are coming on here saying “no, it’s not necessary.”

I used to HATE getting to go orders as a waitress, because I usually had 4 time-consuming tables, who I was expecting a tip from, and therefore, needed to devote extra attention to.
And then I’d get stuck waiting around the kitchen for some guy’s to-go order, I’d package it up all nicely, make sure everything is in there, put in the condiments, napkins, utensils, etc.
Bring it out with a smile on my face, and the guy would say “thanks a lot” and walk out.

What is my incentive to work for free?
I don’t get paid an hourly wage.
I get $2.13 and hour that gets taken away in taxes.
It’s not fair that I had to stop what I was doing, therefore, providing slightly inferior service to my eat-in tables, to do a whole bunch of work FOR FREE.

You DO have to tip for to-go.

Some restaurants have established “to-go” parts, where they hire people specifically to do take-out orders, and they are paid a legal minimum wage.
In THOSE scenarios, a small tip would be greatly appreciated.

But in other restaurants, especially diners, you are expected to tip, since, the server who is doing all the hard work is being paid a “tipped wages” rate of $2.13

In fact, I am taxed out of my gross sales, and my to-go orders are INCLUDED in that.
Therefore, I am paying taxes on a %15 tip that you never gave to me.

PLEASE END THE IGNORANCE!

I agree with the majority of the posters and I am an above-average tipper. I know how Reagan implemented one of the worst taxes in American history by taxing waitresses’ tips and I make it a point of tipping in excess of 20% if the service is good.

However, if I order take-out I do not tip. Tipping has gotten way out of hand.

I am from Europe and we ony tip when the service is very good. The waitresses and waiters get paid a decent hourly wage unlike in the US. I say the owners of the restaurants should give then a decent wage and not leave it to us (the customers) to make up their paycheck. We have to pay for the food and drinks, don’t we??
That makes me so mad.

I work at a restaurant and when people order to go (whether from phone or in the restaurant) it’s very nice to tip. In one store I worked at when you did to go’s only you were paid waiters salary ($3.77/hour) so if you didn’t get any tips, you made no money. Even when you have a regular server or host take your order they are taking time away from their tables to do something for you and make sure your food comes out properly. It doesn’t have to be a tip like if you were sitting in their sections but a little tip lets them know that you appreciate the service they DID give you

I don’t have a problem with for tipping for pick -up (or for dine-in) My beef is why we tip. Read the 100s of comment above mine with servers saying they’re job is hard and even for pick up they still have to take the call, place the order, cook the food, ect. ect. BUT THAT IS YOUR JOB.

Sorry if that sound harsh I too have worked as a server and know firsthand what a difficult job it can be and when your being payed min. wage you feel like you have earned your tip and usually you have.

I have also work as a lifeguard, Receptionist and with severally autistic kids. All these job payed with in 3$/hr. of the current min. wage. I worked dang hard at all of them expediently the latter 1. I was not tipped of any of these jobs and believe me I deserved one!

So I guess in short what I am trying to say is tipping is fine just don’t tell me you deserve one because you ‘did