Do you tip for take out?

We do. Usually 10%.

I don't order carryout very often at all - I got a pizza recently, and I did leave a couple of bucks in the jar.

For delivery, I tip a full 20%.

I never started tipping at Starbucks; I've been patronizing the one near my job for over 15 years - long before they had tip jars (virtual or physical). Now y'all are making me rethink that! Honestly, though, I'm not there as regularly anymore - it's gotten so expensive already... I will probably just go there less often, rather than raise the cost of my (tall, dark roast, no, I don't need room for milk, thanks) coffee by another dollar.

My daughter works at Olive Garden as a "to go specialist". They get the orders together along with utensils, sides, dressing, bread, etc. and they deliver the order to your car. she usually gets tips and has been working there for about a year and a half.

I have noticed that a lot of businesses where you order at the counter, have a "tip" amount come up on the screen when you are paying. I usually tip a smaller amount in that case.

This is why threads like this are good. It will hopefully help people have a better understanding. 😉

When’s the last time you worked in a restaurant? 

Gennifer what sorts of nasty little surprises might you put in people's food? Is this something your family condones at their restaurant?

I've worked in a lot of restaurants, too, and while "times have changed" since, it was widely known even then that saying the staff will mar the food of people they didn't like was a method of coercion, a sort of ha-ha threat to make folks think twice about not being nice or tipping. No one with any integrity would have actually done that.

Yeah, um, I worked a lot of food service in the 80s-90s and workers will definitely take revenge. Often not as egregious as peeing in something. I used to see kitchen staff drop food on the floor on purpose, for example, and then box it up like nothing happened. Or put a hair in the food, or cough on it while plating.

Some customers have the attitude that service workers are beneath them and just have to take whatever shit is doled out to them, and would never dare do anything about it, but … some of them will.

(Before anyone asks, no, I never messed with anyone’s food in a disgusting way. But a couple of things I did when people were shitty - slow-walking everything to customers who were ordering next to nothing, asking for the moon in customizations, and guaranteed to leave a tiny tip or no tip at all. You, sir, get the slowest service I can provide. Oh and we’d mess up people’s to go orders on purpose if they were rude. That was back before anyone tipped the hostess for preparing a to-go order, so if you’re standing there yelling at me about how long it’s taking and blah blah blah, no guarantee you’re going to get the correct salad dressing or whatever and I’ll probably forget your garlic bread.)

DH and I both slung burgers and waited tables in school. We tip well, try to keep any changes to a minimum, and are polite and pleasant to everyone. I choose to believe this is why we almost never have bad service or a disappointing meal.

I've known quite a few people who have jobs in food service before they found their career.  And yes, people do get even for people who don't tip previously, act superior or are just demanding or rude.  It is not uncommon at all for servers to get even.  

Oh, gosh, I don't believe I will fuck off. YOU brought it up. YOU have talked numerous times about your/family restaurant. If you haven't seen it there or done it yourself (and I wasn't accusing you, Little Miss Thin-skinned, I was asking WHAT would those surprises be that you referred to) then you've got nothin'. No one said there aren't gross assholes out there who do nasty things to people's food like your link. Exceptions to rules don't make new rules. 

She accused you because you’re the one who threatened it.

Maybe someone who uses her real picture should think more carefully about things that could get her real restaurant in trouble with the real health department. Reverse image searches and google and all that.

What you said was gross and unprofessional. Really does make people wonder about how sanitary your place of work is.

I am always incredibly nice to waiters at table service restaurants. I tip really well for good service. I just don’t think take out does anything to deserve a tip. I don’t think bad table service deserves a tip, either. I feel no guilt at leaving a bad tip or no tip when we get bad service in situations where we would normally tip. Tips are for *good* service, not to be given just as a matter of course to everyone who sticks their hand out.

I don’t get takeout often because I hate takeout in general. We don’t get takeout anywhere often enough that we would be remembered, so I am not at all worried about the things you threatened.

I did not miss the point of your Arby’s post, I just think it’s stupid you’re going on a rant about tipping and then post an example of a fast food place that literally doesn’t accept tips.

Prior to COVID I didn't tip for takeout. Except the guy delivering my pizza. Now I tip all over the place and I've increased my tip level for dine in. I share the sentiment of allipeas. COVID was rough on the restaurant industry. Rough. And they still haven't bounced back. Just the other day I was in a Mexican restaurant with a sign on the hostess podium that said they were severely short staffed and asked patrons to be gentle with the service people. Half the restaurant was not open for guests and only 2 wait staff were servicing the rest of the restaurant. I got hot food and the whole order was correct. It took a while but I was in no hurry. We both waited until our drinks were empty to indicate we needed a refill, instead of him needing to make two trips to refill he took both our cups and refilled at the same time. It took him a slightly longer bit of time of clear our table and drop off our bill. But he checked on our food, our food was hot, and we could see him running all over the restaurant. He also had to take our payment and they previously had someone taking payment at the door. Not anymore because I'm sure they can't spare the employee. The hostess was not only seating people but also running takeout orders and prior to COVID this was not a takeout restaurant. You bet your ass I tipped him 30%.

The way I see it is I am pretty privileged. I have plenty of money. I kept working through COVID. I have the luxury of not having to do several people's jobs where I work, so like alli said, we are all in this together. And I'm being generous.

I tipped my pizza delivery driver $15 on a $50 order last week. You bet your butt that the pizza place which is right around the corner from my house says 45-60 minutes on their app but my pizza arrives in 30 because the driver knows they are getting a great tip. I tipped on my app order too so he knew what he was getting before he delivered and he thanked me at the door for the generous tip and he said he really appreciated our patience that night because they were running a skeleton crew inside and he was the only driver that night.

This is what is going on in food service right now. At least in my area. So many restaurants are doing takeout that was unheard of before COVID just because it was the only way they could keep their business thriving with shutdowns. And now they've set a precedent. You'd better believe I tip those restaurants good for my takeout orders. Their vision when they opened was not even to do takeout but it's the only way they survived for a year and a half.

Some people really need to look up the word Ubuntu. Community. When one thrives, we should all thrive.

As usual, you said all that so well. I also have been so grateful the past two years that the pandemic didn't affect my family's income, and I will keep doing my small part.

I love the last thing you said, jeremysgirl. That is perfect, and I wish more people believed that.

Depends what it is and where it is. I really hate the option that many small shops use where you tip when you order. No thank you. I just went ti a small soda shoppe and orders 3 mild shakes and they were $23. I did not tip because 1)that is plenty for an order that took 5-7 mins to make - they were all the same flavors 2)it was a tip as you order on an iPad deal and I hate them and 3)I stood at the counter waiting for them, leaving a table for someone dining in.