Tipping at quick service restaurants

I would feel free to skip that suggestion. Now if someone is actually SERVING you something, I would feel differently. We regularly go to a Chinese buffet place, but a hostess seats us and a waiter/waitress brings us drinks and refills them, so in that situation we do leave a tip. If someone handed me a paper cup that I had to fill myself and a muffin on a plate at the counter and I had to seat myself, I don’t see a need to tip in that instance because there is no table service being provided.

ETA: the only counter service type place where I do tip is at an ice cream shop, and that’s because they are scooping up our ice cream and making up our sundae to order on the spot. Those kids I usually tip.

If I was just getting a muffin and a drink, I wouldn’t tip at Panera. But, when I order food and stay to eat, I tip a couple bucks. They deliver it to my table, often come and clear my table.

If I pay with cash, I will usually leave the returned coin, or maybe a dollar or two depending on how friendly the clerk was or if I'm a "regluar". If I'm paying with a credit card and there is a place for tip (standard on cc receipts) then I draw a line through it and enter the total sale on the line.

It has been a long time since I’ve been to Panera but I could have sworn they used to have signs on their tables specifically saying to NOT tip.

  I don't tip at quick serve places either, and that includes Starbucks.  The employees in the places are being paid minimum wage at least.  In a regular restaurant?  I'm a very generous tipper.  The tipping culture in the US has gotten out of hand.

In my province adult minimum wage is $14.75/hr. There is no way I would tip in those circumstances. As minimum wage is increasing I find myself tipping less and less.

My daughter recently got a job at a pizza buffet place..her first job. She is a cashier/bus person. There is a place for tips on the receipt when you order, but they are not allowed to keep any tips offered to them specifically. The tip bucket is split between everyone working that night and given to them in a couple days. Folks aren't used to tipping in this situation at all, so its rare for her to get much. 

My other daughter is a hostess in a regular style restaurant (also first job as she was a very busy cheerleader until just recently). She also buses for her servers, but rarely gets tipped out from helping them. I get that they don't get paid much as it is....so I just encourage her to keep doing a good job and helping where she can. Someone will notice and appreciate her on a busy Friday or Saturday night...and perhaps someday she can return the favor when she is a server.

I try to tip when I know its just a kid trying to make a buck....

But you don't need to tip in this situation. Tipping is for full service sit down restaurants.

^^ That.    The tip jars, hints, and jar shaking (yeesh!) aren't going to stop until everyone stops giving in to the craziness. Everyone wants a damn tip for doing the job they signed up to do. Next thing you know, the cashier at Target is going to have a tip jar next to the register since you used her lane rather than the self checkout. Stop the madness. 

I think this makes it worse.

You’re annoyed by it, so why do you do it. Being annoyed by it means you have an inkling that it’s not necessary and you don’t really want to do it.

I only tip at restaurants where a server seats me, brings me a menu, brings my meal and drinks, etc.
I do not tip at counter serve places like panera.  If a server delivers my order to my table I'll leave a small tip for the extra service. But I know they make full wage (and often more than minimum wage) so I don't feel bad. But wait staff in a sit down restaurant aren't paid full wages on the expectation the patrons will make up the difference. 

For good service, I tip at least 20% at full service restaurants and tip 10% at buffets and delivery. I do not tip for take out, ice cream, bakeries, fast food, or for any place I have to serve myself.  Shake your tip jar at me and all you're going to get is me shaking my head at you.  Depending on my mood, I might offer you the tip to find a job where you don't have to beg for tips.  

If you make it a point to tip a teen that's trying to make a buck which is likely for a want, do you make it a point to give a higher tip to an adult that's likely trying to make ends meet? I'm an equal opportunity tipper.

I've never tipped at Panera, and I go there at least once a week to work. They have a charity jar rather than a tip jar. I spend a couple hours there on Monday mornings when it's quiet.

I always tip for ice cream at the place in town, because I know all the kids working there. But normally, no.

i don't tip at most quick service places.

i have a couple of local coffee shops that i do. staff will bring over my quiche warmed up, clear the table and top up my tea with hot water. i often work at those coffee shops, see lots of regulars and more people tip than don't there.

they are locally owned establishments with full time staff so i like to support both the owner and the employees.

but to grab take out and pay by credit card, nah... i skip past it or when ordering fast food or at a donut chain.