Take-out Tipping Etiquette

[skycat 0]

Ok, so when i go out to eat or order in I normally tip really well, but I'm kind of stuck on if I should tip or not for take-out. I'm not talking McDonalds or anything like that, I'm talking about places like Macaroni Grill, T.G.I. Fridays, Red Robin, ect....

This is where you call ahead, place your order, 15-30 minutes later show up, pay, and leave. Now all of the above places actually have great take-out services and Red Robin will even call you later that night to make sure you dinner was good and that you got everything you ordered. So I'm really torn cause it's not like I sat at a table and they served me, but they always do a really good job when it comes to take out.

FYI...Bennigans does a really crappy job when it comes to take-out.

Fly it like you stole it!

[mailin 0]

When I was a waitress we had to pool tips to break even between the wait staff and the bus staff. The cooks received an hourly wage (wait staff and bus staff received < $3/hr. + tips).

In the case of take out the only one doing the work is the cook really - and they don't get tipped if its like the place I worked at.


Jen

Arianna Frances

[RfukfreeflyingW 0]

whats Red Robin???

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-God, you are the perfect amount of dumb...

[skycat 0]

Only the best burger place I've ever eaten at.

www.redrobin.com

Fly it like you stole it!

[RfukfreeflyingW 0]

and a burger joint is a take out restaurant? and wow I want one...

----
-God, you are the perfect amount of dumb...

[dan_iv 0]

a long time ago I worked in a resteraunt, i dont' believe it's necessary to tip when you get take-out, do you tip when you pick up your own pizza?

Thanks for the link to red robin! i've been meaning to try that place for a while....

[OrangeJumper 0]

I do curb side take-out at Outback all the time. I always tip them!!!! You just never know when someone is having a bad day and they remember, hey there's the asshole that doesn't tip, let me take care of his/her order." Plus, I seem to get my food much quicker.

The Original Cabana Boy!

[AndyMan 7]

I don't tip for takeout, ever. Fast-food, or otherwise - if I'm picking it up, the cashier deserves the tip no more than the cashier at a 7-11.

I tip generously for eat-in, and delivery - usually well over 20% if the service is good, but have no qualms leaving exact change if it's not.

Before anyone lectures me, yes - I have been a waiter and know exactly how hard they work. Tipping for poor service only encourages it.

_Am

__

You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

[jlmiracle 7]

I never tip at Fridays for Take-out because they already charge me 10% take out fee and they ususally screw up the order. Macaroni Grill - I usually give the person getting my order together $2-$5.00.

Judy

Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

[tigra 0]

I don't tip for carryout. If they were actually bringing the food to my car, I might tip a buck or 2 like I would a parking valet. I've never ordered from a place that does that though! I also don't tip 20% for delivery since we're paying a delivery fee, but I do tip a couple of bucks. I'm a pretty generous tipper when I'm dining out though, especially when the service is good.

[skycat 0]

Hmm...none of the places I order from charge a take-out fee or a delivery fee. I'd quit going there if they did especially since there are so many in the area who don't.

I'm also sure depending where you live will depend on which places mess the order up and which ones don't, like I said Bennigans is the worst one in my area.
Oh and don't get me wrong I tip well when eating in or when they deliver, I'm just stumped on what to do with take-out.

Fly it like you stole it!

[SkyDekker 1,465]

don't tip for take out.

[tigra 0]

I've never heard of a take out fee either, but delivery fees in my area are standard!

[diablopilot 2]

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I'm kind of stuck on if I should tip or not for take-out.

Hell no.

The tip is a reward for service, not product.

That's nearly as bad as the G.D. "tip jars" infront of cashregisters are takeaway, coffee shops, and fast food places.

----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[tigra 0]

Who would you even tip for takeout? The hostess might take your money and hand you your order, but someone in the kitchen packaged it up for you, right?

[skycat 0]

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Who would you even tip for takeout? The hostess might take your money and hand you your order, but someone in the kitchen packaged it up for you, right?

It depends on the restaurant, at Some places it's the bar staff such as Red Robin and Bennigans. At Macaroni Grill there is a girl at the take out counter who does it. Some places I have no idea cause the hostess gives it to me.

I've actually started tipping at Red Robin because I've sent them HUGE take-out orders for 10-15 people and they always get it right, put names on the boxes so there is no guessing who had tomatos and who didn't. Then they call you later to make sure everything was alright. Plus, if you get there before your order is read they will give you a free soda or tea while you wait. Maybe I should start a post called I love Red Robin.

From the look of the poll it's pretty much divided down the middle on which to do.

Fly it like you stole it!

[Buried 0]

if they come out to the car I prob wouldn't ask for change. I suppose that's tipping. Otherwise no.

love the 'for their effort'. Seriously, not like they need to display much

Where is my fizzy-lifting drink?

[RozeAY 0]

I worked at Macaroni Grill for several years. Before I was old enough to serve tables, working to-go orders was one of my jobs. It varies from restaurant to restaurant but I actually did work to get to-go orders together. I took the order on the phone, sent it to the kitchen, got the food, packaged it up, and then took care of payment, etc. Sometimes you'd have to fight to get your orders from the kitchen because in-house cutomers tended to be more important. I never expected a tip but it was always appreciated when someone gave me an extra dollar or two. And having done that job myself, I usually tip a little when I order take out now.

[rehmwa 2]

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I don't tip for takeout, ever. Fast-food, or otherwise - if I'm picking it up, the cashier deserves the tip no more than the cashier at a 7-11.

I tip generously for eat-in, and delivery - usually well over 20% if the service is good, but have no qualms leaving exact change if it's not.

Before anyone lectures me, yes - I have been a waiter and know exactly how hard they work. Tipping for poor service only encourages it.

_Am

That pretty well covers me too. Also, if there is a jar with "TIPS" or "KARMA" or whatever labeled on it, absolutely no money of mine will ever go into it. If a service charge is placed directly on a bill, I won't add to it either. As soon as it's made mandatory or treated as an entitlement, the extra goes away and many times the patronage as well.

If a server "takes care" of food of a poor tipper, then they shouldn't be punished with less tips, they should be fired and possibly brought up on charges and the establishment brought to the health authorities' attention. To tip to avoid this kind of thing is just a form of blackmail and encourages the wrong behavior (i.e., a direct result of entitlement mentality).

Otherwise, good service gets VERY good tips. (Also been a waiter, busser, and a delivery guy)

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[rehmwa 2]

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I've actually started tipping at Red Robin because I've sent them HUGE take-out orders for 10-15 people and they always get it right, put names on the boxes so there is no guessing who had tomatos and who didn't. Then they call you later to make sure everything was alright. Plus, if you get there before your order is read they will give you a free soda or tea while you wait. Maybe I should start a post called I love Red Robin.

This sounds like a good reason to tip. Better question, how do you make sure it gets to the people doing the 'extra' rather than just the guy who takes the boxes from the warmer and hands it to you?

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[payback462 0]

i figure why the hell should the lazy uncaring, teenager working at applebees, who slams your plates down and dissapears so you dont get any drink refills, get a tip when the waitstaff at the sushi place pretty much stands over you waiting to refill your water.

i prefer to take the tip i would give them, and give it to the people who earn it!
ill also tip the sushi chef if he goes out of his way to make my meal look more like a work of art then food!



as far as take-out, it depends, at the sushi place i usually eat at, yes a few bucks since their lightning fast, and always manage to "accidentally" put an extra roll in there!
other places, probably not.

[ACMESkydiver 0]

Quote

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I don't tip for takeout, ever. Fast-food, or otherwise - if I'm picking it up, the cashier deserves the tip no more than the cashier at a 7-11.

I tip generously for eat-in, and delivery - usually well over 20% if the service is good, but have no qualms leaving exact change if it's not.

Before anyone lectures me, yes - I have been a waiter and know exactly how hard they work. Tipping for poor service only encourages it.

_Am

That pretty well covers me too. Also, if there is a jar with "TIPS" or "KARMA" or whatever labeled on it, absolutely no money of mine will ever go into it. If a service charge is placed directly on a bill, I won't add to it either. As soon as it's made mandatory or treated as an entitlement, the extra goes away and many times the patronage as well.

If a server "takes care" of food of a poor tipper, then they shouldn't be punished with less tips, they should be fired and possibly brought up on charges and the establishment brought to the health authorities' attention. To tip to avoid this kind of thing is just a form of blackmail and encourages the wrong behavior (i.e., a direct result of entitlement mentality).

Otherwise, good service gets VERY good tips. (Also been a waiter, busser, and a delivery guy)

Yeah, that's what I do too. I am a very generous tipper when I'm being served, but take out is not a 'service' to me.

I also get PISSED when they add their own gratuity onto the bill. It is usually less than what I would have tipped, but if that's what they want to 'force' me to tip, screw 'em. They aren't getting a dime more, and I go out of my way to not visit that restaurant any more. <--LAS VEGAS RESTAURANTS ALL DO THAT!!! -and then their servers DO get pissed if you don't add a tip on top of it!

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[skycat 0]

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This sounds like a good reason to tip. Better question, how do you make sure it gets to the people doing the 'extra' rather than just the guy who takes the boxes from the warmer and hands it to you?

They have a separate take-out area at the bar. I've seen them put the order together and the person that takes the order and the money is the one who puts it together. So hopefully she/he is the one who gets the tip, honestly when I do a credit card tip I do always wonder if the person who waited my table really gets the tip or not.

Honestly though I just wanted to make sure I wasn't stiffing anyone when I got take-out from a nice restaurant. Since this seems to be a fairly new service that these places started offering in the last 2 years in this area.

Fly it like you stole it!

[pyke 0]

at a real "restaurant" - I MIGHT tip for take-out, but it's not likely. If I do - it's usually only a buck or three...but never a percentage. I don't feel they do anything other than put it in a box and carry it out to you - so where's the service?

When I waited tables...I busted my ass for the tables...because that is how they got their food...and it was a reflection of service (still should be) on how you tip/get tipped. If I did lousy service (and I knew it) and I got tipped accordingly - it was a reminder to take more care with my tables.

Take-out is take-out...and the customer ends up doing most of the work anyway. They're not asking to be served...they're wanting food.

Tip = Service
Take-out = NO "SERV"ICE = NO TIP (or a small one)


mostly it depends on how "rich" I'm feeling too!

Kahurangi e Mahearangi,
Kiwi, RB #926, AFF-I, FAA Snr. Rigger, RN/BSN/Paramedic

[sunshine 2]

I don't tip when i pick up the food myself.

___________________________________________
meow

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