Is is appropriate for a employees to expect a tip for preparing take-out food?

Question

I am finding increasing situations where tip cups are being left at take-out counters and at cash registers. When I asked why a tip cup was at the register I was told the cashier expected a tip. PLEASE! Why should a customer pay a tip for an employee who places the take-out in the styrofoam containers and nothing else for me. When I pay a tip to a server in a restaurant, I am rewarding the efforts made to keep my drink fresh and table cleared. If business owners now expect me to tip their cooks and cashiers, I want to see compensatory lowering of their prices instead of them going higher. And I have worked in retail so I know how difficult it is to deal with the public. But this notion that everyone has a handout is burning me up.

Answer 1

I'm glad someone asked this question as I find it annoying that I am expected to leave a tip in deli's, pizza places, etc. Most waiters and waitresses earn less than minimum wage and their tips make up the difference. Their tips are also reflected by their performance. A counter clerk earns at least minum wage, and most times, minimum effort is given to serve me. I walk into most places where I'm not even greeted with a "hello", service is slow. I'm asked more than twice what I want to order. I'm called either guy, buddy, chief, or whatever nickname the counterperson wants to give me, and when I finally get my order, I don't get a thank you. Typically, the person merely says "you're all set", like they did me a favor. Most people don't care about their jobs, and the teenagers manning most service counters these days are desultory, unfocused, rude, and usually engaged in conversation with their co-workers and unavailable for such niceties as hello, thank you, and may I get you anything else? Should they be tipped? No way. They're lucky I'm buying what they are selling in the first place. Options are limited, and I'll save my tips for people who deserve them.

Answer 2

i do not and will not tip a cashier or a bus boy .. and if my server doesnt do a good job they dont get much either... i am not mean or cheap trust me if i get good service such as friendly and ask what we need often and is on time not standing around talking i tip very well... i have been know at times to tip way over the norm but when i go out i expect to get good friendly service and that is why servers dont make min wage they work for tips a cashier or someone who prepares take out orders are already making more

Answer 3

I can't believe that they expect a tip. They don't even do anything above and beyond thier job duties. There just doing it cause everybody else is starting to put out tip jars as well. I wish that they would ban TIp Jars. I wish that people would Write an editorial in there Local paper and state that to Ban the Tip jars and why Unless they are actually working at a restaurant. But even sometimes they don't even deserve a tip. Its their job And what they are suppose to do and what they are getting paid to do.

Now days I don't even like to go to places that have TIp Jars because they expect too much from you when they don't even do anything above and beyond there normal job duty for you. They are surely getting spoiled now days. You are not alone This Tip Jar thing Has to go.

In fact I think i'll take part of this what I wrote and email it to my local paper to and do an editorial on Tip Jars. I'm sure it will get them mad. But really, What are they working for. It doesn't make sence. I think they are expecting tips because there boss puts it out their and told them they'll get tips if they put out a Tip Jar.

Answer 4

I agree completely. I saw your answer below mine in another question. Where I used to work I kept my "tip cup" out of sight. It was never expected. When someone did tip me it meant that I really was appreciated because it was their choice to do that, not because I "made" them.

Now, I will only tip those who I see doing all the service for me, from taking my order to filling it to taking the money, not just part of it and if they are deserving of a tip. It's not appropriate. It's making customers feel they have to tip where it should be their choice whether they want to show their appreciation for good service. Employee's should never ever expect to be tipped.

I see these tip cups at bars for the people who are doing coat check! How hard it is to take someones coat, hang it up and find it at the end of the night?

Don't feel you have to tip because of these cups. Reward good service because you want to, not because there's a tip cup there demanding you to.

Answer 5

It's not like the people at the counter set the prices. They don't.

I'd be for abolishing all tips. Prices should reflect the cost, and employers should pay their people appropriately.

There's no real logic to "who gets tips and who doesn't" -- it's just arbitrary.

I'd go for abolishing all tips.

But the cup on the counter is hardly "forcing" people to put money in. Just ignore it, if you don't want to give a tip.

(I don't know what those people make in wages, but I bet it isn't much.)

Answer 6

You are so right!! It seems like more and more places are putting out tip jars. One annoying coffee place has a jar with the acronym "T.I.P.S.: To Insure Perfect Service." That pisses me off! I want good service without having to bribe them for it. I buy a $2.00 cocoa and they expect a $1 tip. Wait staff at restaurants do not even get minimum wage, they rely on tips. People working at a counter get paid at least minimum wage (I know it's not a lot), but still expect a tip for just doing what they are getting paid for.

Answer 7

Couldn't agree more. I completely ignore the tip cups because there isn't anything that I'm rewarding. Where would it end? Does the clerk at Macy's or the supermarket deserve a tip for ringing up a sale and putting purchases in a bag? Ridiculous.

Answer 8

Tipping is up to you and should not be
left to the owner to allow clerks or cashier
to set out a tip jar without the approval
of the owner and the owner should never
ask for or solicit tips.

Answer 9

But I thought we were supposed to give everyone $20 or 20%, whichever is more?

Now I'm wondering if I should keep giving the guy who scans my gym membership a $20 tip every time I go to the gym...?

Answer 10

I do totally agree with you. On the other hand, I gave the guy at Books-A-Million's coffee shop a tip the other day to encourage him to stay there; he's the only one so far who knows how to make cappuccino. The others keep giving me a latte and thinking I'm dumb because I complain...if I wanted latte I'd ask for latte. rrrrrrrr