Why do people not tip the takeout person at the restaurant?

Question

As one of the takeout people in our restaurant I am dependent on tips for additional income just as a server would be, yet guests in general, do not tip the takeout person, why? Think about it, a server greets you at the table, takes your order, places the order, picks it up from the service line (galley) and brings it to you. They refill your drinks, check on you and then after completion of your experience, you tip the server. Now, the takeout person greets you, on the phone and in person, they take your order, place the order and many times, prepare your order, they package it and bring it to you, accept your payment, offer you refills if indicated, and thank you. What did the server do that is so much different then the takeout person did? Shorter exposure and time maybe, but not much other difference, so why did you not tip them? Ok, why not at least 10%?

Answer 1

I think that many people are unaware of exactly what a takeout person does. Just the other week a friend and I grabbed takeout and he saw that I left about 10% as a tip and he questioned it. I had to explain that the takeout person actually has a large roll in preparing your order. They take your order, box it, often making your salad and desserts, add all the necessary condiments, ensure that everything is correct and there, and take your payment. Some people must just believe that your order places itself and magically shows up in the bag and ready to go.

I believe anytime someone does a service for you, they deserve at least the consideration of a tip.

Answer 2

The person who takes the order on the phone is not necessarily the same person who takes out the food. I know because when I call, sometimes it's a man who answers but a woman who brings it out or vice versa. Besides, the real work is in the cooking of the meal, all the take-out people are doing is throwing it in a Styrofoam container and bringing it to the car. PLUS, don't take out people make minimum wage or more? Food servers make the food server wage which is no more than $2.50 an hour. I'm pretty sure the take-out people don't make that per hour.
I don't tip the take-out people either, nor will I start. When I go in a restaurant, the food server is doing so much more, they're bringing my drinks, bringing napkins, taking my order, bringing the food, checking to make sure the food is OK, bringing extras, refilling my drink, it's an hour or more experience, not 2 minutes.

Answer 3

Obviously the rest of these people have never worked in a restaurant doing the take-out orders. I have and so let me try to give you some assistance. I agree that you don't need to tip as much as you would a normal server since the person isn't bringing you refills or checking up on you. However, they are taking down the order, ringing it in, making any salads or extra sauces/dressings that are needed, making sure that your food is correct, and making sure that you get it in a decent amount of time. Most of this is done on their own, while servers in a restaurant usually have the assistance of an expo or food runner to check on the accuracy of food and to take it out to tables. Especially if to-go orders are handled by a host/hostess, this is not the case; they are on their own. So back to the amount. A couple dollars is really appreciated. A couple more if you had a large or complicated order or lots of special requests or extra salads or extra dressings, etc. Hope this was helpful!

Answer 4

Where do we draw the line? We are expected to pay for service that used to be free AND of a much higher quality? A food server is focused on helping to make the meal more enjoyable. From the many experiences I have had with takeout personnel, they are focused on what they will be doing after work, who is dating who and "did ya hear what CeeCee said ...?". I do not tip take out and I do not tip poor table service either. If you desire more money, aspire to a better position or job.

Answer 5

...They take your order, box it, often making your salad and desserts, add all the necessary condiments, ensure that everything is correct and there, and take your payment. Some people must just believe that your order places itself and magically shows up in the bag and ready to go. I believe anytime someone does a service for you, they deserve at least the consideration of a tip.

What you're describing is any food joint. Do you tip servers/window people at McD's, Taco Bell, Burger King?? I doubt it. Some of the posters here say they EXPECT a tip, well you're not getting a tip from me unless you EARN it. If you don't like the way the restaurant industry works, find a different job!

Answer 6

Are you making the same amount as a server? Most servers make only 2-3 dollars per hour, and the do just about everything for you. I've worked in the back of a resturant and as a server.......the cooks get paid more per hour. If you are making the same rate as a server, then this is wrong you need to talk to your manager. Problem is, every where you go these days people want tips. The hairdresser, the pizza joint, the coffee stand, the dry cleaner, even I've seen them as gas stations and convience stores. There are a lot of people who barely make livable wages who never get a tip and do as much to help people.......e.g, those working at the deli counter in the super market, most receptionists, etc....who never get tips and they manage. Where does it end? Am I going to have to start tipping my landlord just to keep living in my apartment?

Answer 7

True enough. But having worked in the resteraunt business myself (although twelve years ago so I may be dated) I know that the person who does the preparing and taking of orders and all the rest may not be the person who actually rings up the total when the customer picks up the order. That one who rings up may not have done a dang thing except say "Your total is $14.83." In the place I worked, the cahsiers made considerable more than servers for that reason (and others as well). Happy totaling...

Answer 8

i usually get takeout fairly frequently and from the same place once i find a place i like. as the months and sometimes years go by, they're getting more business from me without any tip than they would if I tipped but went there a little less frequently. 10 - 20% tip every single time, 2 maybe 3 times a week, month after month, year after year adds up. too much.

Answer 9

Good question...I work curbside takeaway at a popular restaurant, too. While I do not get paid solely on tips, I still rely on tip money somewhat as part of my salary. I know it is different at every restaurant...I've worked somewhere where I got paid about $3/hour for takeout...that sucked because tips were very low. Now I get paid a little more, but still less than minimum wage. Most people where I work do tip take out...I am very appreciative that people realize that I am providing a service...a very convenient service, seeing as they don't even have to get out of the car. It is hard though because you cannot tell someone to tip you, it is still discretionary, just as it is inside the restaurant. I'd say 10% is probably the norm for takeout tips....20% is awesome and very appreciated, but not expected at all. Hopefully with many restaurants offering some sort of take out or curb-side service now, more and more people will start realizing that tipping is normal when a service is provided, just like table waitresses. Tell your friends and family about the job you do and try to get them to pass the word around...hey every little bit helps, right?




Also, to all the people who say they don't tip take out, or will never tip take out, you may want to consider, because personally, the staff at my job actually look forward to serving the tipping regulars and it makes our job a lot more enjoyable when people appreciate what we do. We see some regulars a few times a week and get to know them and their special orders and knowing they usually take care of us, we're more likely to throw them some extra bread, or an extra dessert if we have one. Of course we have regulars that never tip....and we definitely do not look forward to them coming at all...so if you are looking for a more pleasurable take out experience, you may want to try dropping a buck or two and saying "thanks!" instead of acting so stubborn!

Answer 10

I say 7-10% would be sufficient for to-go's. I would get so aggravated when I had a humongous to-go order that I was sweating my butt off trying to prepare and got absolutely nothing. In some restaurants, granted, the to-go people do make min. wage and above but in many they make server wages. If you didn't want to tip then go eat FAST FOOD not just to-go.