Just learned that a friend of mine always tips 10% on takeout. Ive never tipped on takeout unless they offered me a water/soda while I waited or something.
US biased, but I’m a little curious about other countries as well.
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I tip 20% or $5 on takeout orders, whatever is larger (provided nothing goes terribly wrong). I have the means, and I remember how much I fucking hated working in retail. I depend on these people to feed me and I appreciate that they’re willing to do it (especially with how poorly they get treated at times). If I can make someone’s day better then it’s worth it to me.
That being said, I hate tip culture and wish that the laws in my country around tipping would change. This is getting off topic now (since I think that the people doing takeout orders aren’t subject to this), but it’s absurd that we let restraunts pay $3.50 an hour if someone is making the rest of the minimum wage in tips. If I tip someone, I want it to be because I really appreciate what they did. I don’t want to be paying their wages, they should be receiving a livable wage no matter what. I know that refusing to tip won’t change that, so I just go along with it.
20% / $5 on true “takeout”? When you drive/walk there, go to the counter, wait, and leave with food?
I love the generosity and understand the point for appreciating workers, but that still sounds too generous for getting zero “service” and only getting food.
I never ever tip if I’m picking up the food myself. No service is being rendered.
I also pretty much never get takeout anymore because the grossness of being asked for a tip ruins the experience.
There’s a donut place I go to that hands you a device/keypad thing when you pay and it has like a gazillion prompts and questions, including tip. But I found that if you order ahead and pay online, you can skip all that and just pop in and pick up your order. So that’s what I always do now.
For anyone in the Chicago area, you need to try Stan’s Donuts. Everything is good but specifically the yeast-raised donuts are to die for. Best Boston Cream donut I’ve ever had.
I just assume that the tipping screen is built into the POS (cash register) software. It doesn’t know if this is a tip appropriate business, so it just asks for one.
They surely wouldn’t complain if you did, but I don’t think that any of those places are trying to manipulate people into tipping through their cash out screen prompts.
I’ll tip like a buck sometimes, but only if I’m feeling like it. Certainly no obligation. USA
Yup, in the US you shouldn’t tip on takeout orders
No, because tipping culture isn’t a thing here.
Same. They’re trying, tho. Restaurants often ask me to punch in the total before paying. I consistently go for the sum that I actually ate for.
Some taxi drivers/companies do the same. I’ve started only using those who don’t.
Until people outside the service industry have the same opportunity to get something extra, tipping culture can fuck right off. I’ll gladly keep paying more for my meal if the waiters etc get decently paid.
This. I’m happy with weekend surcharges, so long as that’s going to the staff being paid properly. If you want staff to get paid better, do what literally every other workforce does and bake it into your business.
Until people outside the service industry have the same opportunity to get something extra, tipping culture can fuck right off.
I think that’s called bonus pay, I’ve just never seen a job that actually gave bonus pay.
Restaurants often ask me to punch in the total before paying.
What? That’s such a slow way of doing it!! The ones who try it here just have an extra screen like the receipt yes/no screen.
If they’re going to start making you do data entry that’s awful.
No tipping culture where I live either, but there are a few places - especially in tourist heavy areas - where the EFTPOS machine will ask if you want to add a tip before you put your card in. Just about every place I’ve been the server will hit the “0%” button for you before handing the machine over if they can tell you are a local
Never. On nothing. Fuck tips.
Fuck tips.
Please, people: continue tipping for non-takeout service!
I generally agree with you and personally think that tipping culture in the US is out-of-control and needs reform. Restaurants should pay their employees a living wage, regardless of whether or not the customer gives them extra… But until they do, workers still rely on you to survive. So please don’t stiff them in an attempt to make a point!
In the US, tip servers, they make about $3/hr. Now that you know, you’re the asshole if you don’t tip.
This is untrue. If they earn less than minimum after tips the business has to make it up. The first $5 an hour essentially go in the pocket of the owner.
Sounds good on paper, huh?
You’re still the asshole though, because even though you don’t tip, others will, and in that hour they will exceed the $7 min wage. So, their employer will be out nothing, and didn’t make a dime off of your table.
Huh, seemed like they only one benefiting is you. Calling out the system doesn’t justify you being selfish.
And don’t give me the “well, at least they made minimum wage.” Fuck that. Minimum wage wouldn’t even pay for the meal you just ate.
Don’t want to tip? Either get take out, or accept that you’re an asshole and nobody wants you sitting at their table.
I will in the US as per your country’s unfortunate custom. But at home? Fuck no.
Won’t change the system through conformity.
I avoid places that enforce tips, but if there’s no alternative, I’m not giving away free money.
Scotland. As much as they are trying tipping isn’t. Thing here but back in the days when we payed by cash I’d usually just round it up to the next £5 or £10
As much as they are trying
Ha ha ha same here (NZ), I’m assuming gullible tourists must be keeping that misguided dream alive.
Went to Greece last year and they’re trying the “Would you like to leave a tip” message on the card machine
It’s your fucking civic duty to click “NO” then immediately get on Google leaving a 1-star review saying why
Fuck right off, I’ll decide whether to tip or not, NEVER ask for it
@Mr_Blott those are popping up a lot in tourist spots here. I just laugh, they’re trying it on.
Since I’m not from a tipping culture I like being reminded in countries where they need it as part of their wage, though. Didn’t realise it’s offensive.
USA, I also tip 10% on takeout. I guess it’s my way of helping the employees have a shot at a livable wage. I used to have a job in the industry myself, and internalized the “pay it forward” culture.
This.
Was in both front and back of the house positions, in the service industry in the US and while yeah, it may be allowing employers to skate a little longer on paying their people a REAL wage, that’s their karma accruing.
I’ll help the person in front of me.
Nope.
Canadian here. If I call in, pick it up then yeah, about 10 is my general go to. They’re in my neighbourhood, I like them and I’ll spend more than that on an unnecessary beer without thinking.
I’ve seen a lot of good places go under, I’ll do my small part to help keep places I like in business. Admittedly, while I’m not rich a few extra bucks here and there to people busting their asses isn’t a backbreaker. (Worked in kitchens, am not a hard enough worker for that ever again. Mad respect for those who do.)
Singapore here, we don’t usually tip but it’s sort of forced into the overall cost as a 10% service charge in certain restaurants. No tips on takeout but some places will charge you a couple of tens of cents for the takeaway container. This is usually for smaller cheaper stalls though, usually never happens at restaurants.
For pickup? No tip. There’s no service provided. You are paying the listed price for the goods (food) you are receiving.
Delivery? 20% with a cap of $5
At a bar? 20% with a cap of $10
Sit down restaurant? 20% with a cap of $20
I hope you’re not capping your sit down restaurant tips in America. Most more expensive places have waiters working far fewer tables so they can be more attentive, and they’re also usually the cream of the crop waiter wise. The higher total tips but still a normal percentage are definitely what they need/deserve to make the longer meals and fewer tables make sense financially (assuming the service actually was good of course).
Note I’m not advocating for any of this “20% is the new baseline” bullshit, but you definitely shouldn’t be capping your tips. Same goes for capping your bar tips unless you’re talking about only pouring wine/drafts or opening beers, and then I’d still advocate a per drink cap of like a buck per - definitely not a total cap.
I absolutely am capping my tip in America. Even at an expensive restaurant. If there’s a big party, or we’ve stayed longer than usual, then yes I’ll pay more. But fuck anyone who thinks $20 is a bad tip for less than an hour of service. That’s 20% on a $100 bill. I don’t feel the server at a steakhouse is magically working harder to refill my water glass than a waitress at IHOP is. The premium is already factored into the price of the food. Paying strictly on a percentage basis is a completely fucked line of thinking that’s led to the tipping nightmare we’re in. Wake the fuck up and realize what you’re advocating.
It’s a question of opportunity cost. In order to be really attentive they work fewer tables, so they need to have higher margins to make up for lack of volume. If you can’t afford a 15% tip, or 20% for good service, you shouldn’t be eating at an expensive restaurant to begin with. That’s the social compact in America, that’s how it works. Until servers start being paid a living wage, you’re not the arbiter of what constitutes paying “enough”, you’re just rejecting cultural norms and hurting servers so you can save a few bucks.
An alternative way to view this: if I order three sodas at a fancy restaurant vs three top shelf alcohols, the service is functionally the same but the bill is wildly different. Would you still say I should tip on pure percentage in the latter scenario?
You should because that’s how tipping works. No one likes tipping (as a customer anyway, plenty of servers and owners do), but until servers are provided with a living wage that’s how it works. You’re not changing the system by tipping less - you’re just being a dick.
And not for nothing, but there is a slight difference between soda service and a simple pour service. Actual liquor service usually comes with someone asking how you like it (e.g. on the rocks vs straight vs three drops of water) whereas a soda is just a soda. Sitting at a bar, no one is gonna get pissy if you’re not tipping 15-20% on opening beers or straight pours, but that’s just how table service works.
If they’re working at a fancy restaurant, they’re being paid a living wage.
There’s no service provided.
And furthermore, takeout workers are not defined as a tipped position legally and therefore their employer should be paying them an actual wage, not “waiter’s wage,” which is federally $2.13/hr. (“Should” and “is” obviously not always being the same thing.)
I am always wary of touch screens and other gizmoes popping up everywhere begging for tips in non-tipped counter situations. It is possible, indeed likely, that the tips are not going to the employees anyway and are just being pocketed by the management.
Fuck no, they’re paid to prepare food. There’s no service, why am I tipping? People who tip like this are the reason why we have a terrible time ordering every time we go out.
I tip $5-10 every time I order delivery. I do not order delivery unless I am sick or its shite weather and I cannot get my own food. I feel like if you are bringing me necessities in whatever condition it is you deserve to get a fair amount. If it was friends or family I would offer a case of beer, how is it different for a stranger.
None. I just pay in the app and choose a 0% tip. The thing is expensive already and I don’t wanna waste money uselessly
Only during COViD. They put extra service by risking their health. Some sullen teenager standing behind the register while I pick up my bag has provided no service
