How Much Tip for Takeout (if anything)?
A while back, I asked readers the question, “how much do you tip for food delivery?“. It inspired an interesting, and somewhat heated debate! The differences in opinion in that debate highlight the ambiguity around tipping in the U.S., particularly in the restaurant industry. There seems to be no defined standard for anything.
Well, I have a related confession to make. Until recently (and maybe this is just me being completely clueless on my part), I didn’t realize that some people make it common practice to tip on takeout, or carryout orders that you pick up yourself. Wow! Who knew? Obviously, not me. But am I alone on this one? I don’t think so.
Do you Tip for Carry-Out what you Normally Tip at a Restaurant?
For a sit-down meal with waiting service, I usually stick to 15% tip, but go up to 20% if the service is good and I like the waitstaff. I go down to 10% if I get crappy service or feel like I have been disrespected. And I’m afraid I have no idea what, if anything, is customary in the United States to tip for takeout food?
I think my whole thought process was that I pay around 15-20% for sit-down meals because of all of the added service that the waitstaff adds to the meal. I didn’t realize until recently that some waitstaff in sit-down restaurants that manage the register actually make the same low waiting wages and rely on takeout order tips to make a fair wage. And to be honest, I have no idea how rare or common this is in the restaurant industry.
So, I have two questions for the readers:
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Do you tip for takeout?
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How much do you tip for takeout?
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I had no idea about that either. I actually never tipped on take out orders, nor did I ever consider that I should tip on those orders.
Why don’t the restaurant owners just pay their employees a decent wage, instead of trying to guilt trip the customers into giving extremely generous tips on already expensive meals? Why doesn’t the government change the minimum wage policy for waitresses/waiters? What is wrong with this picture?
I wish it was mandatory for all U.S citizens to do 2 yrs in the military or 2yrs in the food service industry. I think today 99% would choose the food service industry. Either way my though is we would have a more thoughtful, compassionate and less selfish society. If you have never been in either, you no absolutely NOTHING about it.
I work in the back of a restaurant, and my job is to take, and put together to go orders. At this restaurant, the customer parks in one of several designated spots, and I run the food out to them. Not everyone tips, but the ones who do tip between 10 and 20%. They are tipping for the friendly service, and the extra convenience. I believe if you are too lazy to even get out of your car to pickup dinner, you should leave a tip!
Why is someone who frequents a curbside takeaway lazy??? Don’t ASSume that a person is lazy. I have had a child in a car seat, been on crutches or other reasons when I have frequented this service. I ALWAYS tip and usually 20% or more!
Tip on takeout? Dont think so. Unless they offer you water or anything while your waiting, your just picking up, how is it sensible to tip for something that was never waited on? It’s not like they picked up after you or delivered it.
When I waited tables, we put together the to-go food, including making milkshakes or smoothies to go alongside, rang up the customer, and were responsible for paying if they didn’t show up. Most people were awesome and some people said what you did (by the way, we could only give away “free” water if we paid for the cup!)
No tips for all that WHILE waiting on other people who are tipping would be cause for us to treat you less nicely. Think of it this way: if you don’t tip, whether you eat in or take it with you, the wait staff will remember..
Ok so your sayin I now need to tip at McDonald’s and bk to?
I agree completely. I’ll tip for sit down wait service, and the people who deliver, but I gotta draw the line with the person who only takes the order and puts the food in a bag. Otherwise you might as well tip the cook, dish washers etc…
I would gladly get out of my car at curbside pickup and keep the tip for myself, but I didn’t know that was an option. Thanks! Enjoy your $2 an hour now that us lazy people have been educated!
I’ve tipped for the carryout service. when it’s been brought out to my car. I’ve also tipped for carryout when it’s for a party, because they usually help bring the large platters out to the car, which saves several trips. The nebulous factor there is that they send 3 people out with me, and I don’t know who to hand a cash tip to. I typically end up tipping w/ my CC and hope they know that their help was appreciated..
I tip based on what was done to get the food to me, just like in a restaurant sitting down. A server has to run back/forth, be jovial, chat it up etc & gets 15-20%. A pick-up order just needs to be presented well on time & gets 10-15% at most.
That’s just dumb. Why does a sever need to ‘chat it up’ for a good tip? It’s one thing if they’re ‘chatting it up’ about the specials or explaining something on the menu, but to require social chattery from a server is stupid.
I tip in all food service establishment because I know how little these poor people make. My daughter was a server and told me about all the people who stiffed her as well as tipped generously. I have had Chinese food delivered. I know it has to be the owner doing the delivering. I still tip 155 percent. These people are working and need to be compensated for their service.
Don’t be cheap. People usually never forget the good tippers and always remember the bad tippers.
155% tip, really! I wouldn’t think you are a great tipper, merely someone who is frivolous with their money.
Bri, I think he meant 15%. The five and the % sign are on the same key.
I tip ~10% on take-out orders and ~20% on sit-down restaurants. i figure take-out orders should be tipped less since there is no busboy involved (but this is coming from somebody who has never worked in the food services industry)…
Restaurant tipping should not be a standard 20%. I’ve worked in your typical chain restaurant (think Office Space) to some of the nicest restaurants. The typical check at a chain restaurant might be $25, but the server probably has to visit the table several times to refill sodas, bottomless chips, etc. At a more upscale restaurant folks tend to get a glass or bottle of wine, and an entree, which requires the server to visit the table only a couple of times – the remainder of the service is provided by food runners, bus boys, etc, whom the server will “tip out” at the end of the night.
In either case, I think that 20% is the minimum for good service. If you feel the server did an excellent job, go as high as 30%. Tip 10-15% on delivery and take-out orders.
If you don’t think 15-20% is enough, perhaps you need to find a different place to work.
servers in this state are paid TWO dollars per hour and if restaurant is slow, make less than $30/day
We had to clock out before cleaning bathrooms, rolling silverware (yup, we did both :p ew, huh?) and some people still didn’t tip at all.
it’s tough.
abc, i think you’re right, Jillian should change jobs-
keep in mind, folks, if you like your waitstaff show them by tipping well- greater than 20% is worthwhile if you appreciate the service. they’re probably doing way more work than you see
I have a friend work in an Asian restaurant. He get paid minimum wage but could not keep the tip. It goes to the owner. Personally I do not tip for take out and do tip around 15 to 20% for sit down. Not all customers are rich like restaurant workers that get paid less. If someone do not treat me well, I never go there again, whose loss?
It’s illegal for a company to require work when you’re clocked out. They’re basically asking for a law suit if they require that :/
10-15% on carry out.
15-20 on table service – almost always 20% unless I am disappointed with something that the server could have prevented.
I never tip for orders that I place on the phone and then go pick up myself. When I tip, I feel I’m tipping for good service, being waited on. When I pick it up myself, I’m buying a product and paying what the product costs, no more.
For delivery, I do tip, but not very much. I usually tip about $2 no matter how much my order was. I figure the person is doing the same service for me (bringing me the food) no matter if my order is $10 or $40. So, I should pay them the same. If it’s bad weather outside, rain or snow, I tip more.
If you are tipping $2 for a $35-$45 delivery order you are considered a poor tipper by anyone who has ever worked in a restaurant or delivered food.
Hi, It depends on my cash flow. I did not tip for Subway, fastfood when econ was good. I recently started tipping for takeout. Inde.
I have never tipped on a to go order. It is my understanding that tipping is part of receiving a service (refilling water, taking order, etc) which doesn’t make me think of a to go order. Most people that tip on a to go order seem to often do so out of guilt or ambiguity.
I always tip well when eating out since I am receiving a service.
Frankly, I wish the whole process would be clear and just built into the price of dining out. Or pay waiters/waitresses a living wage and build that into the price of the food.
I agree totally! As I’m sitting here at the bar in ruby tuesday its so akward but the bartender does put the order together as she is serving other costumers then they stand there as you sign slip I gave 15% but why do we not feel obligated to tip@ mcdonald, bk etc
Sorry, no tip for takeout. Otherwise, I always tip 15-20% for sit down meals and delivery.
I tip between 10-15%… Even when I pickup…
Tip 20%. 50% if I feel wacky! No matter what. Take out. Delivery. Bar. Nice restaurant. Crappy restaurant. One soda, one beer.
Doesn’t matter.
I lived in New Orleans, where almost every single person I knew lived off of tips. The whole, ‘I’ll tip less if I didn’t like the service’ is awful.
Maybe their manager told them to cover 3 times the tables they normally have, maybe the line cook is sick, and the food is just going to be bad, maybe the hostess is being awful to them.
What I’m saying is: crap runs downhill at a bar/restaurant/whathaveyou and the lowly service people take the brunt of it, and usually work for a few bucks an hour.
If you can’t afford the tip, you can’t afford to eat.
What if you were on a tip-based pay for your job? How do you think you’d do?
Off the soapbox. :)
If I had to work on tips, I’d leave my bs at the door just like I do at work as a teacher. I can’t be rude or negligent to my students just because I don’t feel well or someone is being crappy to me. Geez, I WISH I could get tipped for the extra hours and effort I put into my job. I’d be RICH! I almost always leave a tip and usually a generous one for service that is at least mediocre, but if a server is consistently negligent AND rude, I just feel like a dummy if I leave them some of my hard-earned money as a reward for being a jerk who did a terrible job.
I add a few extra bucks to my check when I sign my bill. When you’re hired as waitstaff, just because you’re working the curbside take-away doesn’t mean your hourly wage magically increases. You’re still making 2.65 an hour or whatever it is these days.
With takeaway, no tip. Sometimes, the cost savings of not having to leave the tip is the only reason I am able to “splurge” on a real restaurant. Otherwise, my dining out custom would go to a fast food establishment.
That’s right, they would rather have my business with no tip, than no business at all. I can only afford these high end places with no tip.
I too did not know the particular ratio of tipping. Didn’t know waitstaff was so dependent on tipping. Nice insight!
How about one of my favorite restaurants like Chili’s? I may get take out but always prefer parking and entering the side door especially for take out.
I give the cashier my order, usually a meal for one, pay for it, wait about ten minutes, and leave with my order. I certainly don’t feel this warrants a tip but that must be a real bad position to work for $3.00/hr.
If I had a complex order, a number of questions or specific request, or waited outside in the pickup parking space, then a few dollars would be appreciated. But tipping someone who punches a few keys on the register to me is like tipping the city bus driver for doing his job.
I used to get take out at Ruby Tuesdays weekly when I worked at the mall and I’d go to the bar, place my to go order and tip $1 because really what did he do? He pushed some buttons and ignored me while I was waiting, gee thanks. The end. And really that was still like 9% so he didn’t have much to complain about I guess since 10% seems to be average.
When you placed your order did you talk to someone? Were they pleasant and helpful? Did they take your order? Did they take the time to make sure there were utensils, condiments, napkins, maybe bread if that’s customary at that particular restaurant, or that your order is correct and complete?
There’s more to it than pushing a button and taking your money. Frankly, that kind of mentality and ignorance is insulting.
It doesn’t need to be 20%. It doesn’t need to be based on percentage at all. A couple dollars is all it takes.
$0 tip * 15 people = $0 , $3 tip * 15 people = $45 .
They’re still providing you a convenient service and if you are that strapped for cash and $3 is to much to part with then go to McDonald’s.
I am shocked you don’t tip at McDonalds. You are one stingy person. Did a physical person listen to you and record your order? Did they accept your payment? Did they make sure to get your correct order and hand it to you? Who cares if they make minimum and it’s fast food. They did more work and deal with more selfish people than someone running take out.
I usually don’t tip on takeout unless they bring the food to my car or go out of their way to help. If they do then ill leave few dollars. I leave a dollar if they are sweet.
I do tip for carry out.. 5 to 10 %. I do not believe it is mandatory. Tipping is for a service to get the food to you either delivery or waiter/ waitress. The price on the menu is the cost of the food and the prep ( employees and overhead) thus this is included in the price on menu..when you get carry out there are no dishes to clean no tables to wipe. Do you tip your cashier at the grocery store, the service person when you get your oil changed… Do you really have to tip someone for doing their job. I look at a tip as a thank you for making my life easier and I do it without conviction.
I don’t get it. If I go to Old Navy and buy some pants—I don’t tip them for taking the pants out of the box and hanging it up, making sure it’s neat, checking me out at the register. And those folks make the same amt of money. I think the American tipping culture is getting out of control.
Everyone wants something for nothing these days. Tipping is for service. If I have to drive to the restaurant, waste my time and gas, why would I tip the person who takes my money and hands me the food? That is stupid. They don’t give you a discount on the food for picking it up yourself so why should I tip? Whats next, leave a tip for the guy who cleans the bathrooms? The amount they charge for meals these is ridiculous as it is. There is so much profit in food it’s crazy. 4 chicken tenders and fries $10 or more, the actuall cost of that food is maybe $2. So then it is marked up by 500% to make chicken tenders, effort and time is minimal. Restaurant makes a big profit and part of that money pays the staffs hourly wage. The old navy example was perfect.
You are misinformed if you think that Old Navy workers and servers/bartenders get paid the same hourly rate. Generally the bartender or servers take your order over the phone, key it in to the system, go get your food when it’s prepared, box it up, add utensils and napkins, condiments, perhaps make the salads. Same as servers. They don’t generally have to refill your beverages but generally do everything else a server does. All the while not having the time to attend to their bar customers, who do tip, because they must take care of you the non tipper.
I don’t tip for carry out except maybe some change like I do when I get my coffee in the morning. The staff isn’t doing anything special putting in my order and then handing it to me is their job and nothing more. I do tip delivery drivers (10%-15%) and waitresses 15-30% depending on how nice they are and how helpful I’ve found them. Yes I know that they are dependent on my tips but I never forced them into that profession and it’s not really my responsibility to take care of them.
I will tip for carry out if they give me a discount on the food to compensate me for my gas. How about that? Lazy fuks always want something for nothing. I don’t tip the cashier at target, yet she talks to me, is cute, and bags my stuff and takes my money.
I dont tip at McDonalds so why tip for takeout at a restaurant.
I’m about to take a job at Bertucci’s (Italian Restaurant) again as a Carry-Out Hostess to hopefully work up to Waitress this time. The Carry-Out Hostess is lucky to get $10 in tips a week, if any, and if I do say so myself, the food is very good. What can I do to make more in tips? I would appreciate any feedback. Thank you for your time.
This is how my people get good tips. $3-5 a visit. Super friendly. A lot of hostesses ect. are the cute girls. I’m a fat mom, believe me–leave the judgmental attitude behind and know that my family and I are MUCH more likely to be repeat customers and TIPPERS when you are glad to see me!! Always include free bread, or anything else, like chips at a Mexican place, that we would ordinarily get with our meal. Utensils etc. good too. And I guess this is normal human behavior, but if I tip you, REMEMBER ME!! Write down names if need be. If I order and my husband forgets to tip you, don’t sweat it. I’ll tip more next time as long as you are friendly!!
C’mon folks, tipping for carry out?? I have no problems with kicking a few bucks to someone if they bring it to my car but if I go in and pick it up at the register, why would I tip??? If you want to tip because you just want to, that’s fine. I’ll never have a problem with anyone doing a good deed. But to say that you SHOULD tip doesn’t make sense. When you buy a Big Mac, you’re paying for the food, the cook, the packaging and the cashier. Same with any other restaurant, low or high end. The cooks in the kitchen are the ones that plate/package everything that’s prepared so why are you tipping the cashier? For bringing the food out to the counter in a bag?? The tip comes in for all the additional services. I tend to be a pretty good tipper but I don’t tip in circumstances that don’t warrant it. In my humble opinion, many of the fast food stores that have tip jars out only started doing this because people were tipping them for just doing their job and now some of them think they are entitled to it.
On take out orders your saving the restaurant money by not taking a table, so no need to tip. They save money on dish washers and table bussers. They won’t need as much square footage so their rent or building is cheaper. Plus they would rather have your business with no tip, than no business at at all.
There’s a lot wrong with this statement. First of all, the restaurant owners make more. Not anyone taking your order.
Secondly, no, servers would not rather have your business with no tip than none at all. The owners might, but if you don’t tip for takeout then you’re just a pain in the ass who is distracting them from caring for the people who WILL actually tip them.
I’ve worked as a hostess at a fine dining restaurant and as a cashier/food prepper at a local sandwich shop. Having that background, I’m aware that these positions usually only earn minimum wage or slightly above minimum wage and rarely get tips. However, my issue is ensuring that the tip goes to the people who cooked and prepared my order (always check to make sure it’s correct before tipping!) I wouldn’t want my tip to be pocketed by the cashier if they did nothing else but ring up the order. For takeout orders, I suggest asking for the person’s name on the phone who’s taking your order as they are at least half responsible for making sure it’s correct. Be sure to tip the correct person and not the jar where it will be divided equally. Also I never tip for takeout at a restaurant I haven’t eaten at before anymore. I have in the past and after eating my meal, discovered the food was not good and I would not be returning. Correct special orders, large orders, and restaurants you frequent warrant a tip; based on the service and quality anywhere from 5-10%.
Tipping is only common in some countries.
Hence, it reasonable when using Australian themed restaurants in US to not tip, but suggest that they triple the minimum wage.
On the other hand, in places where tips may be taken from staff by management, it can be appropriate playing the obnoxious foreignor and pretending to not tip, but discretely tipping in local cash over 100%.
Elsewhere, I only tip when I think the service is really good, when I intend to return and they will remember me, or when I am with people who will return.
Tipping should be a law. Every worker, for every trade/skill, should carry litte jars dangling from their necks with a ‘tips sign.’ For example Cop comes and profiles your ass, proceeds to kick your ass for not having any drugs, and then takes you to jail for assault on him, tip his jar 10%-15% of your bond. I mean, you did get served?
Amen
I just tipped on a carry-out order I believe for the first time tonight. Restaurant was not real busy and cashier helped me take order out to my car. The cashier at this particular joint is tending bar and taking orders and bagging them up. I don’t owe them the tip but I do consider the low wages they are paid. If I don’t have tip money then I don’t leave it of course. I receive some tips at my job. I feel like I already get paid to do my job, but some folks just want to show some appreciation sometimes. I don’t feel like I deserve it any more than the next guy. I agree that the tip should not be necessary. That things should cost what they cost and people should be paid what they deserve. It’s simple that way.
Many of you sound like uppity a-holes! You obviously just see these people as the “help” or servants of some kind. I always tip at least 10% for take out and 20-30% for sit down. You have no idea what people in the service industry have to put up with. I hope they remember you and do something horrible to your food!
I tipped for a good five years 15-20% on takeout till I had roommate who told me I wasn’t supposed to, who also worked in a takeout job. I never once received better service for being a frequent tipper or was never greeted differently or remembered. Don’t even remember getting thanks. My karma has been better not tipping on takeout ever since my roommate had convinced me not to.
I don’t think you should no.. I think tips are for people who are waiting on you, filling your water glass and etc. The bagger at the grocery store does the same thing as they would for takeout, and they are expected to be tipped. I think tipping gets excessive when you start tipping everybody for everything.
I worked my way through college and grad school in restaurants, and it definitely colored my worldview. I would never dream of not tipping for a meal except in the case of the most outrageously poor service.. For sitdown meals, my baseline is about 20%, 30% for very good or special service (and occasionally but rarely up to 50% in cases where my table has required exceptional assistance and received it & beautifully — e.g., a mixed table of vegans, omnivores, celiacs, teetotalers, diabetics and children, all eating various and different numbers of courses but wanting to dine together, plus one couple sharing a plate, with a ceremonial slice of birthday cake at the end, requiring multiple trips to the kitchen to inquire about ingredients, skill in judging timing for the orders, 9 forks and a candle with the cake, etc..). I tip 15% if the service Is truly mediocre, and 10% or less down to zero, only in cases where I have had to complain to management to get my meal or somesuch. Things I would never dock a waiter for: elements out of his or her control, like a bad cook in the kitchen, noisy diners or crying children at the next table, etc.
For a bar tab, which I haven’t seen much mention of here, I tip about the same as for meals, 20% being the average baseline, especially in cases where we may have had more than a single round. For a single drink, I will tip 1 to 2 dollars in most cases. The reason I tip more at the bar, where there is arguably less work to be done, is that some bartenders do make more than waiters, but some do not. In those cases, 20% of drink sales alone might not amount to much at the end of the night in a restaurant bar – I know this from experience and so act accordingly. In a saloon style bar, I follow the same tipping rule simply because if I decide to belly up for a second beverage, I want to get it quickly and a decent tip on the first round can often help assure that.
For baristas,, somehow I seem to tip less – sometimes just the coin from my change if I’m paying cash, or a dollar on a charge. This is mostly because I am under the impression that they are paid better then waitstaff earning $2.01 per hour. At least I hope that’s true. However, if I am coming into your establishment only to get hot water for my own tea bags in my own cups, I will definitely tip a dollar to the person who kindly takes the time and trouble to fill the cups for me and tell me that there is no charge.
For takeout, I will tip a bit less than for sit down on the theory that there is less work at least to some degree . For a quick order — phone it in, pop in, grab it and go — usually around 15%. This is an appreciation for the person who took time to take my order, often with a couple of special requests, and the person — maybe the same one, maybe not — who bagged my order, added utensils & condiments and then answered my questions when I picked up to make sure all the “special requests” were in the bag. Again, if I’ve really asked you to go above and beyond and you have, then I might go higher, as much as 25% in really exceptional cases.
Finally, for delivery, I usually tip somewhere around the 15% mark — on average, about $3-$5 for 1 to 2 diners. I may tip less if the food is very late (and I’ve called the restaurant and been told that the driver left with my order a long time ago), or if I am ordering from an upstairs apartment and the delivery person won’t make an effort to bring it up the stairs at least partway, etc. On the other hand, I’ll usually tip more if it’s really cold (or hot) out, or raining or snowing, or doing anything that I don’t want to go out in and so ask you to do it instead. I think that’s only fair. In the same way, there’s an extra buck in it for the driver if I’m on the third floor and he’s already at the door before I finish buzzing him/her in – an amazement bonus. And likewise, I confess to the occasional “sympathy and gratitude” bonus if it’s an older person (or the owner of the tiny mom-and-pop operation on the corner), etc., who brings my meal to me. Maybe age doesn’t always deserve to garner respect, though I like to think it usually does, but it definitely makes it harder to run around and climb stairs for most folks.
One more thing – I don’t really think I’m an extravagant tipper in any way, I think what I do is how it generally ought to be, and based on this thread, I think most folks agree with me. For those who don’t, I just say this: given the low wages that waitstaff generally make before tips, I consider the gratuity just part of the cost of the meal, in the same way as paying tax on your dinner check. Sales tax isn’t included in the price that’s listed on the menu, and the tip isn’t either. If you’re watching your dining budget – and shouldn’t we all be? – then in most U.S. states, you need to do a little bit of math when you’re ordering to account for sales tax, and a little more figuring after the meal to account for the tip. As a rule of thumb , that means your sitdown meal costs about 20 to 30% more than the prices listed, and your take-out meal about 15 to 25% more. It’s just the cost of not cooking it yourself, and sometimes, that’s priceless.
(In fact, somewhat off-topic, but I think pretty much the same thing about the cost of a babysitter for people who bring their children out to eat when their kids clearly aren’t quite ready for a restaurant primetime. Please, Mom and Dad, I don’t want to hear your little darlings squalling throughout my meal, or dodge a minefield of cheesecake smears on every surface within reach. I know parents need a break as much as anyone in the world, probably more in many cases. My folks weren’t rich, but they started my table training early, both at home and at simpler dining places until I was ready for a more adult environment. If it was beyond my skills, I got a babysitter and a treat that I could relate to — please note, I’m a bit ancient – a neato TV dinner, or even better, a groovy new Stouffer’s lasagna. Everybody won, which IMHO is how all dining experiences should end up, insofar as possible.)
I tip on take out, but I choose how much. Sit down I do 18 – 20% . I feel guilty if I don’t tip, just the same you don’t have to tip, it’s not a law for any reason and don’t feel guilty. But I do. They accepted the job with a wage, it’s not my fault their wage is what it is and I shouldn’t have to make up the difference. I seriously hate tipping for anything. It’s the job they accepted and should give good service no matter what and never expect a tip, just be greatful when you do receive a tip. By accepting a job, you should always guarantee good service period tip or no tip, it’s not a law to tip. Lol do I make myself clear?
I appreciate you for helping me learn more about tipping when ordering a take-out food. Like you said, it is advisable to tip 10 to 20 percent depending on the quality of service that we will be receiving. I will keep that in mind when we order a pizza this weekend. My boyfriend and I will be having a movie night this Saturday to celebrate our anniversary, and we’ve thought of pizza as our snack. The information you gave will help us decide how much to tip the delivery boy that day. Thanks!
“you need a new job” is a terrible thing to say, you know why? The tipping culture is so ingrained in our history in the U.S. that it has its own section of labor law. I ask you in return – would you prefer if restaurants all to a fault didn’t have wait staff?
Because of federal law, if you want a job as a waiter your wage is going to be about 65% of minimum wage. The law sets the standard. Proprietors can’t afford to each individually take a stand. They’d be driven out of business.
If you don’t like tipping let’s even the playing field. Write your U.S. senator to have service industry labor laws revisited, and a reasonable living wage imposed as the minimum for wait staff. When prices at non-fastfood restaurants hike by 30% our waitstaff won’t need ‘gratuity’ from their customers anymore.
Let’s see how that plays out – there might be unexpected consequences.
I don’t tip takeout if I’m picking it up myself. The cost of packaging is already factored into the cost you pay for your food. A base employee wage is paid as well from the amount paid thus I shouldn’t tip extra for takeout when the person is not doing anything out of the norm. Box up food? Really how hard can that be? It’s not like you had to cook it yourself. People at McDonalds work harder than a lot of folk but nobody running over to tip them either.