Tipping on Take-Out Food
June 19th, 2006 - 7 CommentsWhat is the deal with tipping on take-out food? Danielle just came home after picking up some food at a local restaurant and was a bit perplexed and even felt guilty. Someone put the take-out boxes (that the food was in) into a bag and took her money from her. The food came to $37.78 and she gave the girl $38. The girl apparently did not even make a move to give her the 22 cents in change Danielle was due. Danielle left without saying anything to the girl or making eye contact because she was not thinking that she was going to give the girl a tip when she walked in…but, now she felt like she was expected totet. My question is, what is the deal with tipping on take-out? Should someone get a tip for taking your money and putting your food in a bag? This is a bit perplexing to me.
Perhaps the girl was perplexed by the math needed to make change. Or the girl was a total slacker.
I don’t think I’d tip anyone that thought they could just take the tip from me. In general, I don’t tip someone for letting me drive to their location to pay for food, with the exception of one Chinese restaurant I go to.
They’re a really nice family, the food is good (& cheap!) and they all seem to work hard there. They have a tip jar on the counter, so I just drop in the coins I get in my change.
I actually started doing this one night when I called at 9:52 PM and asked what time they closed. “10:00.” Me: Okay, thanks–I guess that’s a little too late to place an order. “It’s okay, what would you like?” She actually took the order and it was ready to go at 10:05.
I guess that was just a pleasant change from the stores where the employees shift into useless mode 20 minutes before they close (assuming they weren’t already stuck in that mode from the time they clocked in.)
A tip should be given when ordering take out from a restaurant that provides a dine in service. It is important to remember that the restaurant is still paying this person a meager wage because legally they can. Also this individual has also taken your order and modified it (just like dining in), given you your food (just like dining in), and checked the food and then packaged and bagged the meal. The standard 20% is not necessary but just give the girl a couple of dollars and you will be happy and they won’t continue to spit in your food.
the standard 20%??! who the hell tips 20% … i thought a standard tip was 15% … i usually give 10% but not for takeout.
here’s a tip… get a better job where they pay you what you’re worth and you don’t have to rely on the charity of strangers.
I personally work in take-away and YES you should tip. We work off tips and get paid the same as servers. 3.77 an hour!! We do everything from taking your order, preparing the food(all condiments, sauces, xtra this and that, drinks, etc). Not to mention you are doing this for 10-30 different orders at one time. It is a convenience to be able to pick up the phone, make an order, pull up and leave. If you can’t afford to tip, you can’t afford to eat out. We make your experience better for you and deserve a tip. Thats how we make a living. Everywhere you work, you rely on other people, whether it is to buy your product or services, or leave you a decent tip. That is how the world works. Also, we are not in the 90’s anymore, 20% is the standard.
No tipping on take-out. Here we go again – servers advocating more money for themselves. What’s next, a tip for answeeing the phone, for a smile, for the order bag ? Servers have been trying to change the norm on this take out topic recently. Very credible. Trying to change the existing customs for personal gain.
Sorry – the majority of tipping etiquette sites and even Wikipedia for gosh sakes indicate a range of 15 – 20 % as the norm for good to excellent service for traditional table service – And nothing for take out (and I’m not talking about curbside take out).
Yet most servers are advocating 20% as a bare minimum, and pushing for 25% on traditional tanble service without any reference to the level of service.
I tip appropriately for traditional table service, and the level of service. With take out – I call in an order, in my case the cooks are the ones who puts the order in a bag or container. The owner or waiter rings it up and I’m gone.
And please stop the “servers only earn below minimum wage” sob routine. They more then make up for that on regular table service tips, and I’m sure their reporting all that income to Uncle Sam (LMAO).
With take-out the restaurant does extra business, which keeps them in existence, which keeps a job for the servers. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
Now the IRS basically assumes if you are a server that you are getting 15% in tips. They now track all of the sales of the servers and add 15% to their income and tax it. So, if you don’t tip or even if you only tip 10%, the IRS is assuming you tipped 15% and the server gets taxed on the 5% they did not receive. I know people who are servers and I know they are not raking in the money. Most are very hard working individuals who deserve more than they get.