Why do you tip carryout orders?

Question

According to Emily Post, the nation's foremost authority on etiquette, tipping for carryout orders is not necessary. The reason being is that restaurants determine their prices on the cost of dining in. When you pay for an item, you are paying for the rent, employees wages, plates and overhead. But when you carry out food, you are not receiving any of those benefits although you have paid for it. Therefore, an additional tip is not recommended according to EmilyPost. There are exceptions of course but the general rule still stands. After all, do we tip at Subway? The person not only takes the order, but he makes the sandwhich, packages it and often rings you up. But we don't tip him? I understand a waitress takes time away from her tables to take your order, but that's all she does. The server simply puts the pre-boxed food in a sack w/napkins and condiments. Hardly seems like that's worth 10%

http://www.emilypost.com/everyday/tips_on_tipping.htm

Answer 1

i would say it depends on whether it is a carryout place that is also a restaurant, or a restaurant that does some carryout.

for example, chinese restaurants make a huge portion of their business on carryout. i don't think waitresses bag up the food. the actual waitstaff just sticks to taking orders, getting drinks, serving food, etc. i think the people who bag up the food just do that--bag up food, ring up carryout orders, take the phone calls, etc. these people should be making(unless it is a shady/illegal business!) at least minimum wage.

now, at applebee's or something, with the newish "carside to go," the person that brings your food to your car is a waitress, and usually waitresses make like $3 an hour plus tips. so here, it is appropriate to tip the waitress for her time.

the same is true for delivery people. they usually make low wages and with high gas prices, they don't hardly make up for expenses, even if they are reimbursed!

and i don't even tip at coffeeshops, unless the service is extra good (and because of the open design of coffee shops, i can see that they aren't spitting in my glass! ha) because "baristas" make usually at least $7/hr, which is almost $2 over minimum wage in my state. so they don't need the tip to make up their income (as much as $7/hr isn't really much, i don't make much either!!!!!!!)

so therefore i say tipping is only necessary in instances where it makes up a fundamental part of the wait staff's wages. or tip if you really like the place or really like the service. your call on whether packing food requires a smaller tip or the whole 15-20%.

Answer 2

Hi Abbs, I often have tipped even 100 % at a sit down, but we have them here Roadhouse and as a chain, for a take out, No I wouldn't tip. Havin done servin before though and knowin that the servers get like $3 an hour wage, and sometimes have to pool the tips, specially like if they are put on credit cards, No one really knows who is gettin the money. Sorry to ramble on but the tip deal is as regulated by the restaurant as is the minimum wage by the Govt. Problem is they system, like so many, is full of corruption. Then there is the issue of Is it a separate like take out window and cashiere, even if inside? They may be on a different pay scale, as might e a hostess who shows ya to a table. Then there are the servers who go all out to serve a large party, with a way high bill, and get pennies as a tip. OR have everybody wantin to pay their own part, which is extra work for the server, and they still might end up with junk change for a tip in a total bill that could be over $100 and took hours. The basic law of a restaurant is like a shoppin mall parkin lot. Each seat, each space is assigned a dollar amount and depends on turn over. How fast can they get in and get out and seat or park the next customer. Sadly the customers don't often care about stats or rules, or even wage laws.

Answer 3

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 4

you should tip a carry out person because they are making the same amount of money as a server, minimum wage which is like 3.65 at least it is in Florida. they cannot control the prices of the restaurant. if you are going to use their services you should be able able to spare a few bucks so they can make some money.

i work at a place that has carry out and today i was the one stuck doing it and i worked for 4 hours and only made $1 plus my 3.65 per hour. i got 6 or 7 orders and only one person left me a dollar. how would you feel if you were working for that?

the carry out person takes your order, rings it in, packages it, puts all the dressings, sauces, and condiments in it and carries it out to your car. when it's busy it can be more work than waitressing at times. if you can't spare 3-4 dollars for this person you should really go to a drive thru mcdonalds or something (i'm not being sarcastic). also if you are a regular and you want this person to take good care of you you should leave some sort of a tip. if i remember that people are nontippers i don't go out of my way to make sure their order is done correctly and they have everything they need.

Answer 5

I don't think the OP is referring to curbside service that's offered at places like Applebees but simply walking inside and picking up food from the hostess or the person working the register. The servers at Applebees, Outback and Ruby Tuesday are making about 20 dollars per hour when tips are accounted which is a lot more than the minimum wage earned by fast food employees. So It's not going to kill them to take 1 minute of their time to hit a touch pad screen and then drop off the food at the counter for someone else to ring up. Yes, that's all you do so don't act like you do more. I was a waitress so I know exactly what goes on. The boys in the kitchen cook and box the food. All you do is pick it up and put it in a bag with condiements and utensils. You just drop it at the counter.I'm sorry but if you expect a tip for that minimal amount of effort then you are a sad individual. It doesn't matter what type of food is served or the reputation of the establishment. I'm tipping your service not the food you are serving so if you are not providing any additional service (which you aren't in this case) then I'm not going to tip you regardless if you work at Chiles.

Please don't feed these servers with these undeserved tips. They are just a bunch of whiny and entitled brats who are trying to squeeze as much money as they can out of you. What's next, am I supposed to tip the hostess for taking me to my table. I'm sure some hostess will respond and argue she is providing a service by walking customers to their booth at the Olive Garden

Answer 6

because at places like outback they pay the takeout people the same amount as servers... $2.13 an hour.

SUBWAY IS FAST FOOD. MCDs IS FAST FOOD. You don't tip them because they are making minimum wage already!

Places like Ruby Tuesdays, Outback, Applebees, etc. are not.. TIP THEM!!


Oh, and the 'server' does a lot more then putting the pre-boxed food in a sack!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 7

because the person who did it might have made all that stuff for you and it was in there way ......im a waitress and one time i had like 4 tables with about 4 people at each .. then you call in and i have to stop for the phone cus the hostest went home , i gotta take your order ...give you all your condiments , and bag it up , so now i have to interupt my tables to serve you and i know you wont tip me ( most dont trust me ) and possibly make my table mad , i dont know but we put more into it then you think ....some places...we never expect 10 persent froma togo ...at least a dollar for the time were only getting like 3 bucks an hour

Answer 8

i tip for one reason: that person responsible for my order brought me my food, made it and drove it over here to my humble home,and i didn't have to do a darn thing but pick up the phone, and pay for it and dig in.

Answer 9

I tip on carry-out's. Just not as much.

Answer 10

tips keep them from spitting in your food;>