Tips

I thought that way too until I was schooled by friends in the service industry.

The waitstaff could be waiting on a 20%+ tip table, or getting $0 for taking/preparing your to-go order.

I thought that way too until I was schooled by friends in the service industry.

The waitstaff could be waiting on a 20%+ tip table, or getting $0 for taking/preparing your to-go order.

Waitstaff do a lot of crap they would rather not do. (Filling salt and pepper shakers, wiping menus, cleaning a chunk of the QA line..) Working up a togo order is the least of their worries, it's the same as running some other waiter's food.

This just came up in a discussion a few days ago - I think the general consensus was, "OK, if less than 15%."

I do have to agree with Lucifersam about the response "do you want change?" The correct thing for a server to say/do is .. "I will be right back with your change." Alot of servers think that it is ok since alot of times they go get the change only to get back to the table to hear "oh, thats for you." But what they think is a time saving question (particularly if they are busy) can be construed as expecting whats left to be for them. I have come to the realization that there are some things you can expect as a server...you will have to roll more silver than you ever use, you will come to hate cheerios and goldfish crackers, and you WILL get "stiffed" on occasion.

But back to the topic at hand.. plz realize that servers,bartenders etc make less than federal minimun wage and it is the IRS that EXPECTS the customer to tip. That is why servers are required to claim those tips (whether they get them or not) based on a percentage of their total sales for the shift. So that person that just bagged your Styrofoam containers is basically PAYING for your convenience if you dont tip.

Yes you should tip for to go orders, I find to orders take a lot more time to prep than a meal in the window taken to a table. Spending time preping to go orders who don't tip, while I could waiting tables and caring for those who do, seems unfair. The rule is simple, if the person serving you is a tipped employee then you tip, it's how this person make their income. If you don't tip for to-go orders then go to an establishment with employees who don't earn their income from tips. To me, not tipping for to go orders is like asking someone to work for nothing.

I picked up a takeout order tonight (in GA). Used a credit card. Added a tip. The surly cashier never looked at the slip. As far as she is concerned, she doesn't know I tipped her. We are regulars, so I know she recognizes us. I will never tip her again.

Same at Dawson's. We love Dawson's, but the servers are so surly that we stopped tipping them. They have always acted as if they were doing us a favor by taking our order. We normally stop by after dinner, and they seem to be anxious to close. I wonder if they're paid until a certain time and want to leave early. We've been there at times that one wouldn't think they'd be closed and when the doors weren't locked, yet they refused to serve us because they said they were closing,

We still go to Dawson's and love the frozen yogurt there, despite the surly employees.

Tipping is subjective and is up to the individual...I always tip for good service, even when it is take out.
Karma...I do believe in it! Bad attitudes (on both sides) at some point, get just rewards ;-)

yes
Should You Tip on Takeout? - Table Manners - Food News - CHOW

I'm reviving this thread because of a new situation. I was at a liquor store and there was a tip jar on the counter. It appears to me that tips are no longer just for food servers. Apparently people in just about any profession will ask for tips. I'm not saying this is wrong, but it's also not wrong for me to ignore it either.

That would an example of out of control tipping. :roll:

Tipping at a liquor store??? Your kidding right? Maybe if they followed me home and prepared my drink for me.

Tipping at a liquor store??? Your kidding right? Maybe if they followed me home and prepared my drink for me.

Not kidding. It's one of the more expensive liquor stores too. It's the one next to Publix at Carillon Beach. Quiker Liquor I think it's called.

Going to that liquor store was your first mistake. IIRC there's one next to Winn Dixie across the street?

Going to that liquor store was your first mistake. IIRC there's one next to Winn Dixie across the street?

Very rarely do I go there (to Qwiker). Sometimes I'm already there cuz I'm shopping at Publix and I'm in a rush and need to get somewhere else before it closes. Something like that where I'm running late and every minute counts, I might hold my nose and and go into Qwiker Likker. But you are right, Winn Dixie has a good liquor store.

If I ask the clerk for advice on some type of special drink/liquor or ask them to suggest a good one for a guest I will be serving; then, I would throw some money in the tip jar.

I tip at most take out places as I am glad those folks are working. Most do a job a that many Americans would not do. As for someone who is a cashier, I do not tip. I did that job for 3 years and did not expect at tip...it was MY JOB!

Am I supposed to leave a tip when I order a small (black) coffee through the Starbuck's drive-thru? I usually get my morning coffee (or mocha) at the McDonald's near my neighborhood, and they are not set up to receive tips either at the drive-thru or inside at the "McCafe," but yesterday morning, McDonald's wasn't on my route and Starbuck's was, and I noticed they had some type of tip depository protruding out from the building next to the drive-thru window. I had already paid $0.50 more for a similar cup of coffee which, in my taste opinion, was not as good as the McDonald's coffee. As far as the Mochas, Frappes, etc., McD's employees make those upon order, just as the people at Starbuck's do, but there is no tipping equipment at McD's.

Am I supposed to leave a tip when I order a small (black) coffee through the Starbuck's drive-thru? I usually get my morning coffee (or mocha) at the McDonald's near my neighborhood, and they are not set up to receive tips either at the drive-thru or inside at the "McCafe," but yesterday morning, McDonald's wasn't on my route and Starbuck's was, and I noticed they had some type of tip depository protruding out from the building next to the drive-thru window. I had already paid $0.50 more for a similar cup of coffee which, in my taste opinion, was not as good as the McDonald's coffee. As far as the Mochas, Frappes, etc., McD's employees make those upon order, just as the people at Starbuck's do, but there is no tipping equipment at McD's.

Now, this is just plain EXTREME!!!! Starbucks is a racket anyway and I do NOT go there...much rather go to our wonderful local Amavida!!!

Key West is the capital of all people wanting tips, the corner store has a tip jar even!!

I agree to tip some on a take out order because they pack up your togo and often are throwing in your condiments and such that you've requested.

Here's my subquestion, do you tip at a restaurant where you stand in line to order, get your own drink and refills and they bring your food to you (non-fast food joint)? I also wonder if I tip when I pay at the beginning at such restaurants, do they share the tip with the person that delivered my food?

Further question, if you stand in line to order, get your own drink and pick up your own food (non-fast food joint), do you tip?

It really varies - if you're a real restaurant who is doing counter ordering but it's just food running, but you do a good job, etc. I'll tip you - but not 20% - more like 10-15%.

Given my shy and retiring manner, I ask when I am unsure, but then never know if I am getting the polite or real response.

I must say that Smiling Fish does this for lunch and I never feel like I am getting it right tip wise - combined the employees do all that a typical waitress/waiter does, but the way it is set up makes me feel like I am shortchanging other waitstaff who come to my table and take my order if I tip the same way. But I feel like I am shortchanging them if I tip less because they do almost the same thing and have good service.

Am I supposed to leave a tip when I order a small (black) coffee through the Starbuck's drive-thru? I usually get my morning coffee (or mocha) at the McDonald's near my neighborhood, and they are not set up to receive tips either at the drive-thru or inside at the "McCafe," but yesterday morning, McDonald's wasn't on my route and Starbuck's was, and I noticed they had some type of tip depository protruding out from the building next to the drive-thru window. I had already paid $0.50 more for a similar cup of coffee which, in my taste opinion, was not as good as the McDonald's coffee. As far as the Mochas, Frappes, etc., McD's employees make those upon order, just as the people at Starbuck's do, but there is no tipping equipment at McD's.

please tip whenever you can!
Starbucks, as well as other coffee shops, gives me very good coffee when I need it and I appreciate their service. If I can tip, I will!

It really varies - if you're a real restaurant who is doing counter ordering but it's just food running, but you do a good job, etc. I'll tip you - but not 20% - more like 10-15%.

Given my shy and retiring manner, I ask when I am unsure, but then never know if I am getting the polite or real response.

I must say that Smiling Fish does this for lunch and I never feel like I am getting it right tip wise - combined the employees do all that a typical waitress/waiter does, but the way it is set up makes me feel like I am shortchanging other waitstaff who come to my table and take my order if I tip the same way. But I feel like I am shortchanging them if I tip less because they do almost the same thing and have good service.

I think they pool tips, which means you're taking care of everyone.

I think they pool tips, which means you're taking care of everyone.

I don't really know how they do it, nor do I really care. JUST TIP good and often.

Had an awesome salmon special at Smiling Fish on Thursday for lunch. YUMMMMMMMMMM - still one of my favorite places on 30A - and has been for years!

I was a tightwad when it came to tips up until about ten years ago when I started dating this waitress who promptly gave me the business after I broke out with a ten percenter on a meal (10% - cuz that's what I was led to believe was the norm).

After I was duly and most vociferously consulted on the ins and outs of food service, how money is earned, the various personality sorts and 'seasons' of customer psychology on the Emerald Coast, I tip 20% as a norm without batting an eye. The woman conditioned me like one of Pavlov's dogs. I was also educated as to what kinds of people waitstaff can generally predict will be lousy tippers - "Snowbirds!" she'd exclaim with a frown, "and families with small kids!" and...gulp..."BLACK FOLKS!" I was like, GIT OUTTA HERE!!!! No way! She was like, WAY! I was like, "NO WAY!" and I said, "FER REAL!?!" She was like, "Yeah!" So after that I made sure not to fill the stereotype.

One outcome though is that I have a discerning eye as to what constitutes 'tip-worthy service' versus 'entitlement begging'.

I consider it major punishment if I tip 10-15% for horrific service and piss-poor attitude. Only once in the last ten years have I simply walked out with no tip. Even in that instance I spoke to management and let them know why that particular employee would have to survive without my three fiddy. I hate not leaving a great tip, which is why I think it's perfectly normal for me to be utterly dismayed by people who have such a low estimate of their own value in this world as to render poor service.

I'd make a magnificent service person - especially a waiter. I'd even break out with the French accent...in SoWal of all places. I'd make a killing!