Do you tip when you get a take out order?

Question

I am a bartender and I recieve minimum wage for servers as my pay (this is from 2-3 dollars an hour). I find it VERY annoying when I have to stop what I am doing and take, bag, and check out a to-go order where RARELY a person tips when I should be tending to my tipping customers. I was wondering who tips when they get a take-out order to get an idea of the general public consensus on this matter.

Answer 1

If the service is good and the person who helps me with my take out order treats me as if I am just as important as any other customer in the place I absolutely do tip and I usually over-tip because I used to work in bars and restaurants when I was younger and I know how much servers depend on their tips. I tend to tip very, very well at places I frequent because I want them to remember me and my goal is to develop a relationship in which I get excellent service because the servers know I won't waste their time. (An older waitress at one of my first restaurant jobs told me that's what "tips" means: To Insure Prompt Service.)

If the service is lousy (slow, unenthusiastic, server obviously hates job) I will still tip, but I'll keep it around 10 percent (hey, everyone has a rotten day now and then and we all had to learn somewhere!) The only time I absolutley won't tip is if the server is just obviously rude and/or acts as if I and my take out order are a complete pain in the ****. If a server is new or swamped or just having a murphy's law day I still tip and tip very well because I remember what it was like and I remember that getting a nice, fat tip and an "attagirl/boy!" can really make a server's day! (And then the tips get better because they are more cheerful!)

If I'm ordering food to go at a bar or tavern that does not take very many to-go orders I usually have a drink or two while I'm waiting for my food and I tip 20 percent of the entire bill because I realize I'm asking for something somewhat out of the norm for that place and the person serving me. Plus, if I'm having a drink or two it gives me something to do while I'm waiting for my food and I think (I hope, anyhow!) my server feels a little less pressured because I'm not standing around tapping my foot and looking bored while I wait for my food order.

I realize most people don't tip like I do. I think it's because they figure that since they're not dirtying a table or bugging you for condiments or drink refills they don't really need to tip. They simply don't realize the work that goes into taking and bagging up a to-go order while juggling all the other customers, side-work and prep-work you are still responsible for. People who have never had a job as a server simply don't realize all the work that goes into a to-go order. I always thought it was LESS work when they sat down and ate and they almost always tipped better!

Your customers who get take-out orders on a regular basis are trainable. I used to give everyone the benefit of a doubt the first time around and package up their food neatly, including condiments, napkins and plastic cutlery in a seperate bag and otherwise going out of my way to give them the best customer service possible. If they stiffed me I'd cram the food in a single bag on top of any condiments or napkins I chose to include mushed in the bottom of the single, greasy bag. If they said anything I'd tell them I remembered them from last time and I thought perhaps they didn't like the way I packaged their food the first time because they didn't tip so I thought I would try doing it differently this time in hopes of finding a way of packaging their food that they would like. You'd be surprised-most peole got it instantly. Some got mad and some genuinely didn't give a sh*t and the mad ones and the ones who don't care if you slop 'em like hogs are the ones I didn't put much effort into. I was polite and I got their food ordered and to them as quick as possible but I sure didn't bother going the extra mile and they often had to wait until I had attended to my customers who tip well before I was able to get to them. It didn't bother me a bit!

People like LongJohn and TurdT are just rude, classless jerks. You are going to encounter plenty of ignoramuses like them who resent you because they think your job is simple and tips are "easy money." Honey, they couldn't do your job for 5 minutes and if they did no one would tip them because they are angry, nasty, stupid people with no empathy, patience or sense of humor. When you get customers like that just nod, smile politely, do the absolute minimum you have to do for them without getting fired and hope their dining experience was so lousy they'll never come back! People like that really should be limited to McDonald's and Taco Hell, anything nicer is lost on them!

Answer 2

First of all, I think waitstaff should get at least minimum wage plus tips all day, everyday, even if it means the food will be a little more expensive. Additionally, restaurant owners who expect waitstaff to pitch in by rolling flatware, making salads, and assembling desserts ought to be stabbed with a particularly sharp dinner fork. Theoretically speaking, to-go orders shouldn't earn a tip because because the order should have been handled entirely by kitchen staff. No matter who actually did the work, there's not really any "service" involved since all you're getting is the product. In reality, that's not usually how it works. P.S. Personally, I find it annoying when the food prep staff puts out a tip jar for counter service. I assume that the cost of food includes the cost of preparation and plating (hold the saliva, please). What if every job expected the customer to kick in a little extra at the end of the transaction? Excuse me, ma'am. Did the grocery clerk ring up your goods correctly and then put everything in little plastic bags? Ok, that will be an additional $4.38 for the excellent grocery service. You'll notice that we added it to your receipt. Thank you, and please come back soon.

Answer 3

The following is for restaurants only, not sonic, pizza, etc. I usually do unless I have waited for an extreme amount of time.

Yes, I tip. Usually 15%, but lately I have been wondering why when it seems they take their time getting you your food. If they are quick, remember the plasticware & napkins, I will continue to do the 15%. If they offer a drink while I wait I add whatever the drink would have cost me. If they are sitting on the phone talking to their friends or if after I have called it in 20 mins ago it is still not ready and takes another 15 mins because the were in the back taking a break. Or if they bring it to the car and don't remember the drink I ordered or I have to ask for something I already asked for on the phone. No tip.

Answer 4

No, I don't.

No offense to you, but it seems that tipping expectations have gotten a little out of control in the last few years. I can see where you would be annoyed because you are taken away from your customers, but the person picking up the order may not know that you are the bartender and rely heavily on tips.

Those of us that have never worked in food/beverage service really don't have a clue as to who does what in your business, or what is expected of us as customers anymore. I'm always afraid of offending a server, but at the same time I also feel like I'm spending way too much on tips.

Answer 5

Regarding tipping for a take out order: isn't preparing it part of your job? The only thing you're annoyed with is that you aren't getting easy money. If you're giving above average service done with an above-average attitude towards the customer, maybe the tips will start coming in. Tips, after all, are signs of appreciation for services rendered. They're not part of your wage package. Besides, realistically, why should you expect someone to tip you for work as simple as you describe, expecially if it annoys you.?

Answer 6

I tip if I can see that the waitress or whoever has to stop what they are doing and get my order and bag it and ring it up. I only tip like 10% though because it's not like they have to check my drink and clear my table when I'm done. If they go out of their way I will tip them 15-20%.

Answer 7

If the person at the bar is nice.and get me my order in about the same time as one of the people waiting at the booths but usually in my experience.I get my order or whatever then I sit there and watch others come in and get seated and served after I came in and before wait until I am just about to just say Fu** it and walk out when I get served and sometimes I can see my order sitting getting cold/hot for several minutes while I wait for a server to get done serving her tipping customers.Then I don't tip,but I do tip in the drive through window at a restaurant, at sonic,and the dominoes delivery person if they are nice and on time.

Answer 8

No, I don't tip for take out.
Tipping is for when you sit down in the restaurant and you get served. If you take out the food I don't think you have to give any tips. there should be a separate cashier to handle take-outs, and leave you waiting on the tables. The problem lies with your employer.

Answer 9

I have a couple of times but after reading your snotty question, I never will. If I have to drop what I'm doing at work to tend to something else, I don't receive a tip. If putting food in a bag and taking money is too taxing for you, find another type of job.

Answer 10

i ussualy tip 10% for simple takeout, 10-15% for delivery and 20- 25% for dining in