I've been to a certain sit down restaurant twice and both times I called in a take out order and went to pick up my food.
My food was already wrapped up in a bag ready to go. I gave them my money, but rather than handing me my change, they put my change on a tray and placed the tray on the counter. I was really puzzled by this until a friend told me they expected me to leave a tip.
This didn't make sense to me because no one waited on me, got me a drink, or any of the other things that are associated when you dine in at a restaurant. Furthermore, one of the times, my change was only 45 cents and I thought it would be insulting to leave someone a 45 cent tip on a $20 meal.
Are you supposed to tip when you call in a take out order at a sit down restaurant? If so, how much are you supposed to tip? I don't think it's fair to expect 15% when all they did was take my money, hand me the bag, and give me change.
2007-09-27 09:27:56 · 12 answers · asked by Bodie 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
I never do! I've never even thought about it, but don't start doing it just because they "might" expect it. You're right - they didn't do anything to serve you, and you weren't taking up one of their tables or anything.
2007-09-27 09:42:12 · answer #1 · answered by makeloans2 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Never patronize this restaurant again. How presumptuous of them to "tip themselves" with YOUR money!!! Tipping a wait person or a delivery person is one thing, but to EXPECT a tip on take out food is atrocious behavior. Technically ALL tipping is VOLUNTARY... at least in the USA is it.
I cannot STAND seeing those "Tip Jars" on bars, lunch counters, deli counters, and even pianos. It is tantamount to begging for tips, and tips are not to be begged for, either. The definition of a "gratuity" is: something given voluntarily... note.. VOLUNTARILY!!
If take-out orders expect gratuties, then gas station attendants, grocery store cashiers, Librarians, Toll-takers, Movie theater ticket takers, YOU NAME IT... will be EXPECTING TIPS!! How far will this GO?
(Note: This is based on the premise that this FOUL restaurant does NOT have a sign posted in plain sight saying, "All change is considered a tip, and will not be returned to the customer." or some other crap like that.) IF you MUST patronize the restaurant again for take-out, when they hand you your food and aim your change for their drawer, you tell them... politely... that you would like your change, please. If they refuse, tell them that if they don't return your change, you will call the police and have them arrested for theft.
Have a polite day!
2007-09-27 18:55:08 · answer #2 · answered by wyomugs 7 · 7⤊ 0⤋
It all depends. Sometimes I do only because they are being very nice and get the whole order right so I give them a couple bucks, but if they give me attitude or mess up the order then I either give them nothing or less then I was going to give them. Nobody should ever expect a tip tho. I understand tips are nice because I used to work in the field, but I think it's just a nice thing to do. Good Luck!
2007-09-27 16:34:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I do think a person should tip when ordering take out. I'd say 15% IF they got it there in less than an hour, if not then 10%.
2007-09-27 16:34:05 · answer #4 · answered by beanie_babymama 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, because they didn't provide you any additional services. Tips are always 10 to 20% depending on how good the service was. I guess you could give 0% if it was horrendous. I tip waiters, barbers, cab drivers, pizza deliverers. I do not tip the mailman or newspaper delivery person.
2007-09-27 16:33:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I work in an italian restaurant that has " To-Go" and they usually get $2 or so when taking a to-go order. Not as much as if the customer were sitting down to eat. Either way not leaving a tip at all is an insult and so is leaving 45 cents
2007-09-27 16:35:29 · answer #6 · answered by Stoner Jenn 4 · 0⤊ 6⤋
Definitely tip. These folks make very little money and every bit helps. And the tip will go to the people that helped you, not to those that simply took your money and handed you your bag. They DID do you a service, remember -- they got the food, just as if you'd ordered while there. They packaged it nicely so it would stay warm and not make a mess. They may even have included plastic implements to help you eat it. All this is an added service, on top of cooking the food for you. You don't have to tip as MUCH -- but definitely leave something for them. I always do.
2007-09-27 16:41:49 · answer #7 · answered by Yahzmin ♥♥ 4ever 7 · 0⤊ 6⤋
I don't think you're supposed to tip on take out but you can go to www.manners.com and see what they say about - let me know because if I come and get my food - I don't tip - delivery - I tip, sit down restaurants, I tip....
2007-09-27 16:32:01 · answer #8 · answered by justaboutpeace 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I don't tip when I get take-out food, but I went to pick up lunch 2 days ago with a co-worker. When we paid, I did not tip on my credit card and my co-worker put a dollar on the bar. When she saw my receipt, she put out another dollar. I was mortified. So i'm interested in the answers to this question as well!!!
By the way, I am assuming you mean when you go to pick it up yourself, not when you have it delivered. There is a difference there, duh.
2007-09-27 16:33:52 · answer #9 · answered by Katie G 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Not if you don't want to. I hate leaving tips. That's why I rather cook at home.
2007-09-27 18:16:06 · answer #10 · answered by Bu Tran 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋