OK, so Math_Rocks's new thread reminded me that I wanted to ask about this.
We've all kicked around tipping thoughts for a sit-down meal in a restaurant. But what about calling in for a carry-out order at lunch on a weekday?
There's an O'Charley's restaurant 2 minutes from my office. About twice a month I call in a carryout order for lunch, and I usually tweak it a bit. Don't give me the Killer Rolls of Death please, but do give me two little containers of sour cream, and medium means pink in the inside, not the cow mooing; that sort of thing. The employee at the window is doing a bit more than shoving my food into the plastic carryout bag, but it's not like table service. I'd like to tip something, but I have no clue how much or how. (I pay by CC.) On a $7-8 bill, is a $1 bill (cash) tip appropriate? That's between 12-15%, depending on the check.
I don't want to put the tip on the CC, because then the employee has to report it for IRS withholding. They don't make enough as it is.
Anyone else deal with this? How do you handle it?
And to expand a bit, what about restaurants that are a level above Burger King that often do carryout? (Chinese restaurants, Japanese grill joints, etc.)
Just to explain, the challenge for me in this is that I hardly ever have cash on me. Trying to remember to have some ones in my wallet is a major task.
We've all kicked around tipping thoughts for a sit-down meal in a restaurant. But what about calling in for a carry-out order at lunch on a weekday?
There's an O'Charley's restaurant 2 minutes from my office. About twice a month I call in a carryout order for lunch, and I usually tweak it a bit. Don't give me the Killer Rolls of Death please, but do give me two little containers of sour cream, and medium means pink in the inside, not the cow mooing; that sort of thing. The employee at the window is doing a bit more than shoving my food into the plastic carryout bag, but it's not like table service. I'd like to tip something, but I have no clue how much or how. (I pay by CC.) On a $7-8 bill, is a $1 bill (cash) tip appropriate? That's between 12-15%, depending on the check.
I don't want to put the tip on the CC, because then the employee has to report it for IRS withholding. They don't make enough as it is.
Anyone else deal with this? How do you handle it?
And to expand a bit, what about restaurants that are a level above Burger King that often do carryout? (Chinese restaurants, Japanese grill joints, etc.)
Just to explain, the challenge for me in this is that I hardly ever have cash on me. Trying to remember to have some ones in my wallet is a major task.
For years, I wouldn't tip on take-out, regardless of the level of restaurant. This was mostly borne out of the feeling that a tip is for the service that is rendered when you sit down at a table. But part of me knew that this wasn't entirely valid, because a lot of restaurants actually pool their tips and then divide them among the waitstaff and other workers, so some of the money goes to those who actually prepare the meal, not just to those who deliver it to the table. I was a busboy in a Chinese restaurant in high school, and I was alway grateful for the unexpected (and under-the-table 
) income from the tip jar.
I also justified not tipping by arguing (with myself) that the reason I was doing take-out was specifically to save money on the tip and the drinks, so adding a gratuity to the take-out bill seemed counterintuitive.
In recent years, my opinion about this has changed. With the current state of the economy, I've also been more sensitive to the restaurant workers, especially since I often walk into near-empty restaurants that used to have lines out the door. So now I tip the same amount as I would for table service. I'm still saving money since I make my margaritas and mojitos at home.
I don't think that anyone should be tipped for ringing up my order and handing me my food...this is essentially their job, and they're spending every bit of 2 mins or so waiting on me. I have tipped in the past (2 bucks max) if my order is ready and waiting for me, and the server is great...and I'm in a good mood.
@Anonymous wrote:I don't think that anyone should be tipped for ringing up my order and handing me my food...this is essentially their job, and they're spending every bit of 2 mins or so waiting on me. I have tipped in the past (2 bucks max) if my order is ready and waiting for me, and the server is great...and I'm in a good mood.
i agree. sorry, i'm not seeing the logic of paying for takeout.
for the poster who tips up to 30% & gets freebies: if you're spending that much on a tip, are you really getting it for free? seems like you're still paying for it. the money is just going somewhere different. just my opinion.
@laz98 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:I don't think that anyone should be tipped for ringing up my order and handing me my food...this is essentially their job, and they're spending every bit of 2 mins or so waiting on me. I have tipped in the past (2 bucks max) if my order is ready and waiting for me, and the server is great...and I'm in a good mood.
i agree. sorry, i'm not seeing the logic of paying for takeout.
for the poster who tips up to 30% & gets freebies: if you're spending that much on a tip, are you really getting it for free? seems like you're still paying for it. the money is just going somewhere different. just my opinion.
30% every time you take out is excessive and not needed. However, a good tip on a regular customer ensures prompt service and high quality food. It's just the nature of the beast.
Before I was married I live in an apartment by myself for about 3 years and I ordered a ton of pizza - maybe one every couple weeks (hey, I was a single guy who hates cooking! ) and almost always from the same pizza joint. I always give at minimum $5 for a tip when ordering pizza. I quickly became a regular and became friendly with my pizza delivery guy. After about 4 - 5 pizza's they knew who I was and how I tipped and I would get my pizza in 10 - 15 minutes depending on what I ordered.
It's the same concept with restaurants. If you order take out or eat there regularly the servers get to know you and know how you tip. We had a guy who use to come in by himself every Friday night 30 minutes before we closed and stayed about 30 minutes after the doors were locked and he only tipped $1. Everyone knew who he was and hated waiting on him. Needless to say that guy got a ton of food that was mircrowaved as people tried to get him in and out and he waited a long time for his refills on his soda's. It's an example of you get what you paid for. if he had tipped a reasonable amount he would have gotten a much better meal and probably even friendly chat.