How much to tip for take out?

Question

When ordering food to go from a restaurant how much should you tip? What about when you phone in an order and pick it up? They always give you the folder with a slip that allows for tip, but why are you tipping and if so how much?

Answer 1

no tip for takeout, period

delivery

5% if there is a delivery fee
10% if there is no delivery fee

both of these rates are averages, go up or down based on performance

Answer 2

I only tip for pick up if it is a nice restaurant. And then only sometimes like if my food is not ready but the bartender gets me a glass of water. Usually I give one dollar.

If the food is delivery it depends on so much -- distance, timing, quality, weather, overall cost. I can't imagine giving a delivery guy less than $2. Usually I just round to the nearest five dollars. More in the winter or rain.

Answer 3

I don't think that they are "expecting" you to tip. I think that is just the type of receipts that they use. Like when you do dine in, they give you the check and there is a line for the tip.

Well, from a business prospective, why purchase a different set of receipts for take-out? I am sure that they get a bulk discount and that's just the type of receipt that they use.

If you choose to tip, that is your porogative. Do you think that they diserve a tip? Remember, if you tip now, you may have to continue tipping when you take-out from there again, because they will remember!

I have to say, I don't tip on take-put. You wouldn't tip the Mc Donald's person...

Answer 4

Well, that's a good question for me, because I used to be a waitress in a restauant/bar. No take-out. I know that the federal government expects people in the industry where they make regualr tips to make at lest 8% so they expect you to report an extra 8% on top of your regular wages. But, normally I think that it is like socially acceptable for when you are eating in to tip like 15%, but some tip more, some less.

For take-out, I don't know if you mean like McDonalds, or more like Chinese. I don't think that fast food places expect you to tip at all for eat in or take out.

Chinese or other more restaurant-type places where you like you said, call in the order then pick it up - if they give you a slip that "allows for tip", well, then they are obviously in a not so subtle way telling you that they expect a tip. For what exactly? I'm not sure, except that maybe it is just the sort of kind of restaurant where they also have people who eat in, and tip regularly.

You know, the minimum wage does not apply to employees who are expected to make tips regularly - mainly like waitresses & bartenders, so often they only make like $3.00 or $4.00/hr for their hourly/weekly whatever wages, then depend on tips to make up enough to live off of.

So I bet that if they are giving you a little tip slip when you pick up your order, they are probably making under minimum wage and really rely on tips to get by. Just my guess, but I would say that probably for take out in this instance about 8% - 10%, but then of course, tips are also based not only on percentages, but on the service that the individual gives you.

If they are very friendly, making sure that you have all your condiments, etc.... your order is ready and hot when you arrive to pick it up and stuff, you might want to give them a little more. If they are rude or cold and unfriendly, you have to ask for every little napkin, salt, ketchup, etc... they are slow and/or grudging, well, you may want to give them less. If they are just downright assholes, well, give 'em a penny or nothing.

Hope that helps a little.

Answer 5

I think it's 15%. You have to tip something because this happened to me. I went to a restaurant in my area ordered a small tray of food and they charged me a tip. I called them back thinking it was a mistake and they assured me that it was only $29 (I think). But no, I charged $5 more. Be on the safe side just round up.

Answer 6

This depends upon who you are ordering from. If there is a specific person whose job it is to put together take outs, then no, they are getting paid to do their job, however, if it is a server or bartender, then I would tip them because you are taking time away from their tables where they are getting tipped.

Answer 7

if i'm picking up chinese food i usually give a dollar or two to the bagger, but we usually get pretty large orders and i ask for lots of condiments, which are a pain in the butt. they know be by name and the service seems to be a little better.

Answer 8

I don't think that you need to tip for pickups...npbody waited or provided you a service. We don't tip the bus driver or the school teacher for their service.

Answer 9

Give money to everyone! Tips for all.

Answer 10

if u are picking up dont tip. everything else depends on the delivery guy on his courtesy