Tip Etiquette: How much do you tip for take-out?

Normally it is under 20, I tip a dollar.

If it was over 20, I tip two dollars.

$0.00

Zero. Do I tip the cashier at the local supermarket when I take out prepared foods? Of course not.

A dollah

1.00

Minimal. A dollar or two if I have it, or round up on the credit card.

$0. Sometimes, in my own neighborhood at a local store, I will tip a dollar or two. Pretty much only if I think they may recognize me, or if I feel they are really pathetic.

I usually give $2 and hope it gets me my delivery quickly in future. I try to give the tip separate from the bill, i.e., I always try to give dollar bills.

Give just the tip

You seriously have to tip someone for take out!?!!!!

You don't "have to" r10. Many people don't.

If I pick up from somewhere regularly, I want them to like me. And that dollar means more to them than it does to me, I remember how it feels to work those type of jobs.

A new pizzeria opened near me and their credit card payment system had an automatic tip selection - 15%, 20% or more and I felt like an ass for saying "where is the none button" but felt I had to because it was so outrageous to me to assume that handing me a slice of pizza and taking my money for it warranted a tip. I guess enough other people complained because they changed systems and went to the ubiquitous tip jar -- to which I will contribute if I use cash and get change back.

ZERO. To get a tip you have to deliver, OP. Sorry.

I don't get takeout. If I'm not doing the cooking, I'm eating it there.

There was a whole thread on this where a waitress spent all day preparing a big takeout order for a church and they tipper her nothing. So she went on social media to criticize them or something. If someone has to put together half a dozen entrees and salads (etc) then they might deserve more. And for catering they should just say “price does not include gratuity for preparation” or just add a “packaging” fee. Yes, they didn’t wait on you but in some cases it’s pretty time consuming

Why the hell would I tip for take-out? That doesn't make sense to me. Sometimes I think this "tipping culture" we have is silly and over the top.

If I’m a regular, the employees remember me, and we have a good relationship $1.00.

For all other: $O. Take out employees do nothing to earn a tip.

0. You never tip for take out, ya dumb fuck. For pizza delivery drivers or home delivery then you tip.

I do not tip for take out. The only people involved are management and cooks, both of whom are paid a regular salary, not a wait staff salary.

I just don’t want a slippery slope in the US where you have to bribe cops to be allowed to drive down the street. That’s what it feels like with tipping spreading as it has.

Zero point Zero

Doesn't it depend on how the restaurant works? I occassionally order take-out from a place where you call in your order, but it is then turned over to one of the servers to pick up from the kitchen, box it, bag it, and write up the ticket. so the server has pretty much done the same work as if I ate in. I tip a little less - 10-15% * but that person spent his her time assembling my order. I suppose this place would be described as "fast casual" or something. I wouldn't tip at Sonic or Whataburger though

I was dropping off a shirt at the dry cleaners when a young professional dashed in to hand the tailor/owner/dry cleaner a Xmas tip. I’d imagine it must have been a $20 or more, right? I was appalled. I give my hairstylist, housekeeper, massage therapist, and sometimes others a cash gift of about $50 plus a personal gift that makes Consuela cry every year. But I’m not tipping the shirt cleaner!

In my time here at my home, my place gentrified. It went from a mostly Black neighborhood to a Gayborhood to now, filled with young couples with a kid and nanny and assistants. Most making low to high six figures and insufferable. The worst people ever.

And I’m a friend of the Christmas Moose, too!

The only place I ever get take out from is Chinese, never thought of leaving a tip for them giving me my food.

I guess it depends on the place. If I get Chinese and I've called ahead, I just pay and go. If I stop in and order, and they offer me tea or a coke while I wait, I will leave a couple of bucks. Or if I go to a nice restaurant and order something to go, I will usually order a drink while I wait, the bartender is usually the one who puts my order in and brings it to me when it's ready, so I will tip a few extra dollars.

Why do people get takeout? Isn't it cold by the time you get home? Why not eat it there?

I think this is good advice. They are just processing your payment. You are already a paying customer there. If they offer you a seat with a drink and a little snack, then tip that person.

I think wait staff needs to be paid more and we all need benefits. I am also sick of these so called mom and pop restaurants, were the owners are never there or are not helping their customers.

OP, How much do you tip when you just pass by the window of a shop ? What's the etiquette ?

I give them more if they’re cute including occasional blow job

If they have a jar I might tip a buck or two for a larger order, but otherwise none, nein, zilch.

The cashier at my work cafeteria has a fucking tip jar. She sits on a stool and rings up food that you've grabbed yourself. Someone else stocks it all. People drop loads of money in the jar all day, every day (she has to clean it out constantly because it gets too full). It's insane. And this vendor has union employees, so this woman makes well above minimum wage. Her car is nicer than mine!

In DC zero, unless the food is high end and/or the take person. Is polite and friendly (which is rare in DC)

What’s even more insane is that some merchants use an iPad payment system with a predefined tipping structure- 15, 20 and 25%. It’s out of control.

When you call in, some underpaid worker takes your order, passes it to a server or to the kitchen directly. Someone then collects the food when it's ready, and carries it to your service surface, in this case the front counter. That's not as much effort as also having to attend to a table of diners, but it's worth something. I usually tip a few bucks depending on the order.

It’s weird how many assholes celebrate how cheap they are. There’s a really good reason that tipping food-service workers is expanding.

They don’t get sick days. They probably don’t have health insurance and if they do, they probably can’t afford to access those benefits. They’re probably never going to get a raise at the job they are at. Many of them do not have any security when it comes to their own schedule. And if they are part time employees many of them will show up at work only to be sent home an hour or two early without pay for those hours if it is slow. And they have to keep Massive flexibility in their schedules so that they can be called into work at the last minute or schedule that will by whatever management feels like doing.

Incidentally $1 or $2 is fine.

I like you, R35.

nada

Then the employees need to get better jobs R35

Does everyoone deserve a tip, no matter what the job?

I tip delivery drivers, waiters who actually wait on me, barbers, massage therapists and hookers.

And that’s it.

Growing up, the only grocery store in town was a mom-and-pop IGA. I worked as a bagger there for one day because the pay was $1.00/hr PLUS TIPS.

This was in 1978.

Trust me, nobody tips for a kid bagging their groceries. One old hag gave my a nickle for carrying her bags out to her car, though.

Take out depends. If I'm a regular and the service is fast and friendly, a couple bucks. This is usually Japanese or Filipino take out near me.

Why hookers, r38?

I hate tipping. I think all employees should be directly compensated by their employers.

One of the problems I have tipping for take-out is I don't know what the food will be like until I get home.

[quote]One of the problems I have tipping for take-out is I don't know what the food will be like until I get home.

Damn. You're smart.

[quote] R27: If they offer you a seat with a drink and a little snack, then tip that person.

Wow! How often does that happen? I’ve never seen that happen. I tell the pizza guy, who owns the joint, that we’ve been buying there for 50 years. And I dated his sister. Snacks and coke? Lol. Where is this, that this might happen, like, ever?

I tipped my first Uber driver today. I haven't taken it in 6 months and the option popped up. He was nice & I had to go 30 min away, so I tipped. Though the options populated in uber were 17% 33% 50% of the fare ... which is a bit much for an app with no tipping at all, historically.

I thought the deal with Uber, etc., was that there was no tipping? That’s the way it was originally, right?

I’d rather have a specified price and agree to pay or not pay, with no tip.

r45 yeah that was definitely how it worked since inception. Lyft let people tip, and then supposedly riders "wanted" to tip for good service, and of course drivers wanted the extra money (uber doesn't touch the tips, unlike the fares). So, they introduced it.

Uber introduced tipping in January of 2017. The drivers were getting pissed.

But yes, when I first signed up for uber it was stressed that you didn't have to tip and that the uber app doesn't even have it as an option. One of their selling points.

I don’t tip when I pick up. I usually tip $5-6 for delivery.

For delivery, now I give $10. If they take the three flights. If they won’t, I tell them to come back the next day. Then they take the stairs. That only happened once or twice in three years.

R42 - No you're the smart one. I wish I could be as smart as you.!

[quote]A new pizzeria opened near me and their credit card payment system had an automatic tip selection - 15%, 20% or more and I felt like an ass for saying "where is the none button" but felt I had to because it was so outrageous to me to assume that handing me a slice of pizza and taking my money for it warranted a tip. I guess enough other people complained because they changed systems and went to the ubiquitous tip jar -- to which I will contribute if I use cash and get change back.

Businesses like that are so stupid. You're a new place and immediately, the word of mouth will be "you MUST tip there." Way to turn off potential repeat customers. If they want that extra buck, just add it to the price of the fucking pizza.

there's no tipping in my country people kind of just pay their employees

I leave a dollar if there's a tip jar, because it's no big deal, but more than that for picking up food? Ridiculous.

Bunch of cheap bitches here on DL. I feel sorry for you if a couple bucks is that important. But it probably is for the person preparing your takeout.

Everyone wants money from me r54...EVERYONE.

Provide exceptional service, not the standard service, and then I may consider leaving a tip in the jar. Otherwise, if the tip jar is critical to your survival, then you should probably find a different job.

R54, I don't know if you're including me in your comment, but if I'm sitting down to eat and being served and the server is fine, I leave 30%. I'm not giving more than a buck when I'm picking up my own food - that's just ridiculous.

And R55 is correct about EVERYONE putting out a damned tip jar or expecting tips. I once went into a check cashing place to buy a metrocard and there was a fucking tip jar. The reason people go in there to cash checks is because they're too poor to have DD. You're already taking a percentage out of this poor person's pittance and you want a TIP for it???

I try to to ask myself, “will this dollar or two change my life?” Usually, it will not. Then I leave it or give to the homeless, whatever the case may be.

I just went to my local place, and my local, clueless, twink served me. He’s maybe a 6, which I give him for youth alone. I like him well enough, but feel for him if that’s how he earns his way in life, working at this over-priced deli. So, I pity-tip.

But the point it, society sucks if it’s arranged like this.

Rule: if you must tip, save it for the takeout places you use regularly. They'll remember.

Other than, save your cash.

Nothing.

I suppose if I had a complicated order for 25 people and someone needed to help me carry it to the car, I'd hand them a five, but otherwise, no.

Though I do sometimes feel cheap not writing anything in the "tip" box on the credit card receipt.

R51 - I suggest you step into the 21st century. Certainly you're familiar with the option to add a tip to a paper receipt? This is just another added convenience. It's similar to the option to get cash back. Do you think people feel forced to get cash back when the options appear on the screen?

Guys, sorry I know this is the wrong thread but I need advice!

Are you supposed to tip in bars and restos in SPAIN and IRELAND? Do they already include VAT and service charge in the price? I have 3 people in my party.

If I'm ordering carry-out at a place that also has seated dining, from what I've seen the food is usually packaged up by the waitstaff or bartenders. It takes them away from their regular work taking care of seated customers. So, I usually tip 10%, which is usually only a dollar or 2.

If it's a place that's only has only carry-out or seating is not served by a waitstaff, ie, Panera, then I do not tip.

Bump to ask how much to tip valet? Also, do you tip when you give your keys to the valet; or, do you tip only when your keys are returned to you?

Just a leer and a wink.

What is it with Gay weddings and tip jar at a cashless bar? Tacky beyond words.

While quality customer service declined, more tip jars appeared.

Tipping should be reserved for people who are already taxed as if they received that tip and are underpaid on their hourly salary because of it (waitstaff) and anyone who does exceptional service. Someone who rings me up but does nothing else and is already getting the (new higher) minimum wage rarely deserves it, unless they’re splitting it among the staff that actually did the work.

So glad to live in Europe where we don't have such a ridiculous system. Why would I pay someone more than I've already paid them for giving me the food I'm carrying home myself? All they've done is take my order, take my money and hand me my food. That's not worth a tip.

[quote] I was dropping off a shirt at the dry cleaners when a young professional dashed in to hand the tailor/owner/dry cleaner a Xmas tip. I’d imagine it must have been a $20 or more, right? I was appalled.

Mary!

I tip all the regular people who help me throughout the year- dry cleaner, hair person, water delivery, favorite servers, etc. It's only money. So what if I die with $100k less?

This was a good question OP. I often wonder if leaving a dollar for take-out was too cheap. I too think if I have to stand in line to get my own food, that is enough. With the turnover at take-out places they make a nice extra amount at the end of the day. I do tip delivery people a lot though. They provide a more valuable service.

My hat if I wore one.

I tip $1. A server is packaging the food. For the guy saying get a better job: get some compassion. If you hate tipping so much you should support raising minimum wage.

I don't usually tip if I'm getting take out, I just leave whatever coins I that get back from the transaction.

Nothing. I'm Norwegian. People here actually earn livable wages.

$100.00

yes I agree. no need to tip the servers, they all have free health care and great benefits. Only tip them if they are in the USA, many are illegals trying to make a living and do it with cash not credit card as they get taxed.

If I'm just picking it up, a la OP, then nothing because the cashier didn't do anything other than hand me the bag someone else took out from the kitchen.

Most of the newer credit card machines, the ones that look like iPads, have a tip option. Particularly irksome in smaller coffee shops if they're not actually making me anything--e.g., I'm picking up a bottle of water

But it's a good way to make sure the workers get more tips and I feel like that way it's dispersed among all the workers, so someone who actually prepared my food might get something.

Why would you pick up a bottle of water?

Enough with tipping, period!

Stop letting the owners guilt you into picking up the slack that allows them to pay inappropriate wages to their staff.

Just stop

LOL R79 -- because I'm walking past the coffee shop and I'm thirsty and don't want more caffeine.

I wouldn't make a special trip to get water or order it on the phone first.

Zero, as I move around like other Homo sapiens.

Usually around 10% if it’s primarily a sit-down place. Although the serving staff may have been let off the hook, the host/hostess and kitchen staff have not.

I worked as a bartender in college (service bar in the kitchen) and the waiters and waitresses would share their tips with the kitchen staff at the end of the night. Only seems fair when you order takeout from a restaurant.

[quote]Why would you pick up a bottle of water?

So you can drink it.

Depends on how much the person preparing my order is being paid per hour. If it's the $2.85 waiters make in my state, at least 10%, often 20%.

Then quit eating out r80, ya cheap cunt.

You act of not paying your server a tip doesn't change the system, you are just being a cheap asshole who is ruining that person's day.

Thank you for your humanity, r86.

Sure, R86

I’m the cheap cunt, not the owner who pays slave wages...

If I’m ordering a meal for myself or for company, and I pick it up, I don’t tip. On the few occasions I have ordered a large amount for 6 or more, which to my mind is more or less catering, if there isn’t a tip built in, I will tip. Overall though, 90-95% of the time I get it delivered.

I get more annoyed at the “tip jars” on the counter at places where they do nothing to warrant a tip - bodega, Chinese take out, pizza parlor, fast food places, donut shop, bagel store, etc.. None of these places wait on you - you order at a counter and most times pay before you get what you ordered, so what justifies a tip? Most annoying is the deli counter at the supermarket, and the check out. Really? A tip? I don’t think so.

I’ve never heard of anyone tipping the dry cleaner or at the landromat.

No, r88, you ARE a cheap cunt, regardless of what the owner pays the waiter.

Your food is cheaper because they work for tips rather than normal salary r88, that is how the restaurant industry in America works.

You know that is how it works, you know you are expected to leave a tip when you eat out. If that is too great a financial burden for you, then you shouldn't be eating out.

Once again, you refusing to tip is not changing the system. You aren't being rebellious. You are just ensuring this poor soul is going to have a harder time making their rent.

Sure, Jan

Enough with the "that's not done in ____ country". This is the US- until or if ever things change, you tip.

I tip people who bring the food too me. Table service and delivery drivers.

When I go to the food, takeout, no tip.

R94, me to, lol!

I tip about 10% on delivery. I don't tip at all on anything I go to the place and take out. Fuck, enough with everyone wanting a tip. Who tips me when I do my job that btw doesn't pay all that well either.

I definitely tip the delivery people. I remember a group of workers were suing this Asian resto in the city for underpay and the things they described were just terrible in the legal documents. Like if a customer called the resto to complain the delivery is not there yet etc, the delivery guy gets fined. They make nothing basically.

R96= shop bottom at Macy's.

R97- maybe they should get jobs at a restaurant instead of a resto?