The logic behind tipping on Carryout orders?

Question

According to Emily Post, the nation's foremost authority on etiquette, tipping for carryout orders is unnecessary. Restaurants determine their prices based on the cost of dining in. When you order carryout, you pay for the cost of dining in but receive none of those benefits of dining in. Do you tip at Subway; he takes your order, makes the sandwhich, bags it and rings you out. None of you tip the Subway and it's not because you aren't allowed to. Are you so afraid of getting arrested for slipping the guy 1 dollar at the register? Spare me the "Yeah but they don't even make min. wage" They would be working at McDonalds instead of they were truly that poorly compensated. They serve tables for a reason....it pays pretty well..$15-$25 per hour according to most surveys when tips are accounted for. That's a lot better than the $7hr the Subway guy gets paid. Spare me the "it's just a dollar" then give the McDonalds girl a buck when she picks up your tray and wipes your table. Hypocrisy!

What is the logic behind tipping? The Servers doesn't box the food. The server often doesn't take the order. At most, he/she simply puts it in a bag and rings you out. But we are supposed to tip 10% on that. And why are we supposed to feel sympathetic for them when they are earning 15-25 p/h w/tips for doing nothing more than refilling drinks and handing out food. Thats more than what most teachers earn. I would hope that servers and ex-servers would drop the spoiled brat attitude and quit feeling entitled to money they didn't earn.

What work did the server do on the carryout order. She didn't cook the food. She didn't box the food. She simply took some boxes and threw it in a sack with some prepacked condiments and napkins. Whoooaaa that's so much work! You would be lucky if she even rang you out which is also hard labor considering the computer does all the work and she merely just enters the items. Sniff Sniff...we are supposed to give her money because she earns less than min. wage...cough cough...15-25 an hour...boo hoo

Answer 1

Wow. this must be quite an important issue for you seeing how this is the second go-around with the same topic.
I never meant to incur so much hostility from you. I think perhaps you just wanted an answerer who agreed with your assertion that you should not have to tip a carryout server.
I guess I was just trying to be sympathetic because I remember the all the hard work. I remember how badly I was treated by people like yourself who automatically look down on those in servile positions.
Of course you do not have to tip carryout servers. It's not at all necessary. That is the true answer. I know you work hard. Never said you didn't. I was just appealing to your sense of empathy/sympathy. Or attempting to anyway.
So no more sob stories. You are vindicated. The serving class deserves nothing from you. Keep your two bucks.

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

I think you may be getting regular servers confused with carryout workers. I can guarantee you that while serving generally makes 10-20$/hr., carryout employees are not making that much. Most people dont tip them, and they do almost just as much work as servers do. While servers have a controlled number of tables (usually they have a certain "section" of the restaurant that they take) carryout people can have virtually unlimited amount of orders to ring in, box up, make sure all sides (salad, potatoes, bread, etc.) are accounted for, make sure any changes to the order are completely correct so the guest doesnt have to return with incorrect food, ring up the orders, and other things that I am probably forgetting because I don't work in that position. Not to mention in many restaurants, the one I work at included, the carryout people are expected to do other things at the same time, i.e. stock to-go supplies, ring in gift cards, give change (at least 1 server needs change every half hour), ring in employee meals (when they are on lunch break), etc. Most of the time this is one person handling all of these tasks at once, while still getting your food ready by the time you get here. And on a busy weekend dinner, it gets crazy. We have had many carryout people quit because it is a very high-stress job and you often have a manager, server, and guest telling you to do 3 different things at the same time. At subway, to use the example given, have you ever seen a worker frantically rushing to make your sandwich while he/she has 3 other things that need to be done? no. they can make 1-2 sandwiches at a time, while you wait, and if anyone else wants something, they have to wait their turn. this is not so with restaurants. 10% is a completely reasonable amount, as that would usually only constitute 1 or 2 dollars. Restaurants base their prices on cost of food (including delivery, etc.), prep/cook difficulty, and then of course, profit. Don't confuse money that the restaurant makes with money that an employee makes. the carryout person doesn't see any of that money.

Answer 4

I never tip for take-out and I've just about decided to quit eating out altogether after listening to all the whiners in this forum. Everybody wants a tip......

Answer 5

I don't tip fast food people. They get minimum wage but I always tip waiters and waitresses at resturaunts, even people who bring it to my house.

Answer 6

I never tip on take out

Answer 7

I'd go with Emily Post's advice and not tip. I don't.

Answer 8

I've never heard of tipping for take-out. I don't.

Answer 9

Well go get a job at Mcdonald's and stop whining.

Answer 10

Geez! Just tip when you feel it is appropriate.