To Tip Or Not To Tip…That Is The Question
January 17, 2011 
20 Comments
I need all of you to help me out with something. I help you guys day in and day out, and now I’m asking for your help about a very important issue.
To tip or not to tip?
When you get takeout food, do you tip or not tip? When you grab takeout food, what really does the register person actually do? Think about what they’re doing. The kitchen cooks the food. The kitchen usually puts the food into whatever container in which it will go out to you.
So what is that register person usually doing? Taking down the order, putting it in a brown paper bag and handing it to you. They also have to work the front desk and ring up the order, but isn’t that their job?
Isn’t that what they get paid to do? Nevertheless, it seems that every single place you pick up (or take out) from has a tip jar and a place designated on the credit card receipt to put a tip. Not only that, but most times they will stare at you while you fill out the credit card receipt so that you feel like you are being guilted into leaving a tip.
I don’t leave a tip when I get takeout. It’s called takeout for a reason. If you are the person giving me my takeout, you are not serving me. You’re not getting me water and drinks. I’m not asking you to anything but pack my food into a bag. That’s it.
So the question I have for all of you is this: Do you tip on takeout?
I don’t, not because I am cheap but because I feel that putting together the takeout orders is what they are being paid for by the restaurant. I’m already paying the money for the food. I don’t really need to hand somebody $5.00 for putting that food in a bag.
How about at places other than restaurants, like at a Starbucks? Do you tip at Starbucks?
I don’t. They chose to work at Starbucks. I don’t feel like I have to tip for someone pouring me a cup of coffee.
We have been over-tipping as a society. There are tip cups in coffee shops, donut stores, delis and ice cream parlors. People always want a tip. If we tipped every single person out there, we’d be broke at the end of the day.
So here’s a tip for you. If you want to work for tips, get a job as a bartender or a waiter. I was a bartender for seven years, so I know what it’s like to hustle and work for tips. If you want a cushy job working behind a counter, and don’t want to hustle for tips, then don’t expect them.
So tell me what you guys think. To tip or not to tip . . . that is the question.
Yeah, Dave, I have noticed that also. When I go somewhere to get some takeout food and that tip jar is there, I may put a dollar in there if they are exceptionally nice, polite, and go beyond the call of duty in helping me and to make my experience in this establishment a good one. If they are just nice, I’ll notice the tips jar on my way out and add some pocket change (whatever is in my pockets) to it. If they are the kind that just ring you up, take your money and there’s no “Thanks for your business” or even a “Have a pleasant day, sir” they might get the pleasure of me noticing the jar sitting there and how brightly decorated it is, but no donation.
Big Al
I don’t tip for takeout. I never even considered tipping at Starbucks. But you know what, i’ve tipped when i got pizza to go. It’s actually a great idea to tip at a place you go to often. Once you get to know the people i think you should tip at places with a tip jar. Just not every time
Tip if they are super friendly, try to start some small talk with you, etc… You shouldn’t leave more than $1 though, just the spare change that you’ll get.
I hate the takeout stare-down while you’re signing the bill!! WTF is up with that?
My takeout policy is this: if I’m paying cash, I’ll throw a couple bucks into the jar or leave it in the bill thingy if the change I get back permits. No more than that. They’re getting paid by hour. If I’m paying credit, there’s NO WAY I’m penciling in “$2.00″ in the tip section and then adding up the total.
I dated a girl who hostessed at a restaurant, and part of her duties was to ring up takeouts. It was a nice place, but she would get about $20 extra b/c a few people decided to leave her a tip. I don’t think she really cared one way or the other–the waiters tipped her out anyways. Often she would come home with 50 or 60 extra bucks though, b/c a couple guys thought she was pretty and decided to waste $20 each so they could look like big spenders. Then she’d call me after her shift and invite me to a late-night dinner and tell me about how pathetic they were.
I always wondered why the hell guys do this… It’s like you’re directly communicating, “Here’s $20 b/c I know you’re not impressed by anything else I have to offer.” Suckerrrrrs.
This is confusing for me as well…until my daughter worked as a hostess did I get the whole picture. The person answering the phone is also the person seating and when busy they are really hustling. When a take out order is placed they take the order, turn it in to the kitchen. The kitchen cooks and in this case she put the food in the containers as well as the condiments and made sure everything was together that was suppose to be together. They do not get tips when helping out the waiters or waitresses. So when someone does tip it is really nice way of saying thanks..I appreciate you putting the order together….I never tip what I would tip a server but a little something is nice….Starbucks..sometimes I do, they go non stop and are really quick. Guess it is a personal thing!
Tipping at restaurants is different because they don’t get minimum wage, they get far below it and need the tips to even have a decent per-hour wage. So if you can, tip the waiters/tresses who do a great job well. If you come back and do that, while of course striking up a good conversation, expect amazing service the second time around and after. Conversely, if you don’t tip at all, I’ll remember when you come back and you will be the last one served because what do I have to lose?
As far as David’s question, nope, tipping at those places is completely unnecessary.
My grandfather always tips large amounts, but as far as I know never gets takeout. Whenever I eat at a restaurant, even though I’m n almost broke college student, I also usually tip around 20% instead of 15% because I know a lot of people are horrible tippers.
However, I don’t even feel the slightest bit guilty when I decide NOT to tip, which is only when I either get take-out or decide to eat at Chipotle (or Starbucks if I ate there)
That’s one of the things I like about living in the UK… no tip jars. Id say people behind counters never have the expectation of tips. The only form of tipping is at a restaurant.
A good diversion article from dating.
Well… since I live here in the Philippines, I think you only tip if they did good service. If they did crappy service and you felt that it wasn’t a good place to begin with, why do you tip then? I only tip if they did good service. But tip or not to tip? Tip only if you felt they deserve it.
I never tip. People wont come to my office and leave some money when they’re leaving. Why should I do that? I earn my money with hard work why should I throw them out? So no, no tip.
Don’t tip on takeout. Tip at standard times unless someone really goes out of their way. Then it’s ok to show appreciation. I suddenly have the urge to watch ‘Reservoir Dogs’…
I like to tip the takeout person if A) I go there a lot B) The person is really cool or C) it’s a hottie. I used to go to the same starbucks all the time and always through an extra buck in the jar. Then they started hooking my up big time with all kinds of baked goods and fancy drinks. No joke! also I dropped a 5 in there when they highered a hottie and the next time I came in there she was all over me, again, no joke. So tipping the take out person can work out well for sure! David – you always have the best blogs man, lovin’ it.
if paying with cash, i’ll put a nominal amount of change (clinky change) in the tip cup/jar. if paying with a card, i’ll give them one dollar. They’re usually nice, so i don’t mind a dollar, but they’re not getting a full 15%.
David talks about getting to know the people at Whole Foods so that potential dates can see us talking to them. etc. If we develop “relationships” with these people at whole foods, the takeout place, etc, isn’t it a good gesture to tip them? They’ll likely be more frienndly, remember us, and chat us up in front of the hot gal who happens to be standing next to us in line.
i’m cheap and don’t like tipping. unfortunately, everyone wants one now
I don’t tip the person behind the register unless they provide some type of service beyond the norm. Saying that, I’ve only ever tipped the register person once. At a place I used to go to regularly because I loved one particular dish, the guy at the register saw me come in the door, he placed my order for me, got me in front of the line and out quickly. I felt that type of service was deserving of a tip.
Oh hell no!!A waitress only gets paid like 3 dollars an hour thats why they get tips.Plus you gotta pay out your ass for anything you get and it’s usually the same size as the same product in japan.Now these chain pizza places charge a delivery fee!!I guess when the economy was good in the 90′s and pizza hut was chargin 24 dollars for a large pizza they werent makin enough..If it’s curbside and they walk my stuff to the car then I’ll hook’em up.But I like to burn food buisineses when I can.Their not doin me any favors.Mcdonalds used to cook their fry’s in fat so they don’t care about you.Matter of fact fast food is almost Largely responsible for wiping out the farming buisiness with these govt. controled mass farms..I say abuse em anyway u can.Plus Dairy queen does’nt even lower their price and they barely but any toppings in my blizzard it’s almost all vanilla ice cream like 3 bites in.C’mon Dave tell me you don’t feel like u get raped at ANY food place!?I say screw em outta every dime.Unless its like a locally owned pizzeria or somethin thats were the value and quality is..
This one’s actually pretty easy.
It comes under the heading of “Know the rules. Then use your good judgement”
“T.I.P” is actually an acronym, believe it or not.
It means, To Insure Promptness.
It is to be given in instances of service that is above and beyond.
Now unfortunately, in this day and age, in some establishments, management have glommed onto tips as another revenue stream for paying staff a basic fair wage. It’s in these cases one should consider whether a top-up is required to round out what is fair dues for those who work at such places.
If you’re not sure? Ask.
Oh. And if you’re simply wanting to peacock? The more free with the money the better ‘¬]
I give tips in restaurants and a few other places where you are expected to do so. But I’m pretty cheap about it. I usually give more or less 10% of the meal’s price instead of the usual 15%. And surprisingly, the more expensive the purchase, the cheaper the tip, percentage-wise.
That is my usual. However, I am willing to give an extra to someone who offers me a really good, personalized service. To them, I can give up to 20% worth of tip. So in these rare cases I spend a lot, but I win it back in every place that gives me a poor-to-usual service. That balances out, and ensures the good tip goes to the right people. In my eyes, anyways.
G
Pizza hut is garbage food and they never charged 24 bucks for a pizza.
I would never eat at any of the above places you mentioned.
Fast food is death food.
All garbage for you.
Pure crap.
As for tipping I am a huge tipper when they serve me.
Takeout is part of there job and I am driving there picking it up and eating semi hot food when I get home.
I used to own a bar and I think many places underpay so the customer can cover the wages and the place can make the profit.
Tough business.
But back to Mcd.
Eat that crap and die an early death.
Yes, if you were making minumum wage, and giving uncomplaining, friendly service, with a smile, wouldn’t you appreciate a tip, for your efforts? I always tip, when there is a tip jar by the register, to thank the person who is willing to provide the service I want. It just shows your appreciation for someone who is providing you a service, that you would never even consider performing, at the wages, and horrible working hours, and conditions, that they are providing you, (the more fortunate one) for the services you want, but don’t require.
btw, “tip” is actually not an acronym for “to insure promptnes.” that’s a myth
i only leave something in those tip jars if i got only coin change back, and i dont feel like opening my wallet again. then again, i’m talking about patronizing the daily grind at college, where i pour my own coffee into my own travel mug and dont even order the food.
my family is in the habbit of tipping 15% or better, especially if we leave a gospel tract. no use advertising our religion if they think we’re cheapskates…