What is the etiquette for tipping when picking up take-out?

Question

When ordering take-out from a restaurant where you would tip if eating in person, what is the etiquette for tipping? I usually give a couple bucks if the server had to go outside to the car and a buck if someone just had to hand me the food. Too much, too little?

Answer 1

Here is the opinion of experts:

Tipthepizzaguy.com lays it out -- if you pick up a pizza, no tip is required, but, "The tip is still expected at other restaurants when you order pick-up." In these cases, your tip is for the waiter or waitress who has to prepare and package your order.

So a tip is in order, but how much is appropriate? Well, according to one source, it depends on the establishment. If it's a restaurant that features take-out meals, 10% is appropriate. If it's a restaurant that is really more of a dine-in place, the typical 15% is in order.

Phyllis Richman, a restaurant critic for the Washington Post, says that she doesn't usually tip at a carryout establishment, although she may add something to the jar on the counter. But if she is getting a meal to go from a sit-down restaurant, she will tip up to 10%.

Waiters and waitresses are required to report 8% of their total sales to the IRS as tips. At some dine-in restaurants, takeout orders are added to a waitperson's total sales and fall under the 8% rule. And even though you may be eating at home, the waitperson is still providing you a service by preparing and packing your food.

As one source succinctly states, "When in doubt, leaving a couple of bucks is always appreciated."

Answer 2

If you get to your destination without having an accident do you tip your cab driver? The notion of tipping has boiled down to an expectation of a tip if you receive average service. It used to mean a reward for going beyond your minimum expected level of service. I know that wait staff make a ridiculously low base pay but I would put that burden on restaurant owners and whoever allowed this exception to standard minimum wage. Since they're currently talking about raising the minimum by more than $3, I would think that this is a great time to make a change to the restaurant industry's wage compensation standard. Then, if a tip is given, it is actually in response to exceptional service. By the way, putting food in styrofoam containers hardly seems worth much of a tip if any at all.

Answer 3

Never tip on take out. Do you tip at that the drive thru window?Now of course if the woman handing you the food has red air and huge boobs the least you can do is call the manager and inform how polite she was and friendly and how she made you feel right at home.

Answer 4

I never tip for take out. But I just read what curious cook wrote. I practicly never order take out from a sit down place, but next time I do I will be sure to tip 10%. However I will never tip at something like a pizza place or chinese take out.

Answer 5

Generally speaking, I feel that you tip for good service. If you are simply picking up the food, there is no need to tip. If the food is delivered, I usually tip the driver if they are prompt.

Answer 6

Traditionally you do not leave a tip where you bring your own food to a table or for take out. Tips started out as bribing the host for a good table. Later, tips (to insure promptness) were given to insure good service from the waiter or waitress. You only need to leave a tip when you are seated at a table and you are served 100%.

Answer 7

Tipping is important whenever ANYONE dos a good job in the service industry. If yu had crappy - really bad service, don't tip, but if they were fast and nice, give what you feel if comfortable. I usually just let them keep the change. People who don't tip are jerks!!

Answer 8

I don't tip for take-out. When you think of it, I'm making it easier for them. Nobody has to serve me at the table, no drink refills, no making the wait staff try to balance all the food on that one serving tray, no host/hostess will have to seat me. All they have to do is put it in a brown bag and ring me up when I get there, so no tip. They get the benefit of my business.

Answer 9

Tipping is for service at a table. Do they bring your order swiftly? Do they keep your coffee cup filled? Attentiveness. Take-out is no different than hitting a drive-thru window in my opinion. No tip required.

Answer 10

ok it tottaly depends if your picking up tackout at a sit down restraunt like, a chiness reastraunt aka dragon bowl then you tip 10% of the meals value if its mc.donalds then dont bother tiping at all unless you have cange back if i have a five $ then i buy a quarter pounder for 2.63$ then i will give the 1.37$ dollars to the tip jar and keep the extra dollar