When you order dinner take-out from a restaurant and pick it up do you tip them?

[madinmaryland]

I don't, but had never really thought about it. I know some will complain about the fact that I didn't sit down to eat in the restaurant to support the employees there, but we don't have the money to pay for the extra service.

I'm not referring to McD's or the like, but restaurants that actually have sitdown meals that are served to you. Yeah I know, that could include the Olive Garden.

[no name no slogan]

1. I do-- usually 10-15% depending on how I'm feeling.

The cashier/host/hostess is providing a service by getting my meal together, so I figure why not? Those kinds of tips are usually split between the waitstaff, and I have no problem with giving them a bit extra.

[MilesColtrane]

2. No

I generally don't tip people for merely taking my money. (OK, so they did actually put the food in a bag, but that comes with their job description in my opinion.)

I do tip waiters, delivery people, and bartenders though.

[Tektonik]

3. No

[mitchum]

4. Not unless they carry it to my car for me

[Left Is Write]

5. Yes, I do.

[blue_onyx]

6. Usually

It does take some effort to get things together so I put a few dollars in the tip jar.

[grace0418]

7. I give them a couple bucks for packing it up for me. I figured that took time

out of their day. They usually seem surprised that I do.

[Rabrrrrrr]

8. No. I see no reason to do so.

[arbusto_baboso]

9. No. Tips are for service from waiters or delivery people, not for the food itself.

[madinmaryland]

10. That's my feeling. Yeah, I'm sorry that I'm not sitting in the restaurant

so that the service people can have a job, but I can't afford the additional 20% that adds to the meal.

[Left Is Write]

11. I don't tip 20% for pick-up, but somebody did serve you -

the person who took your order, conveyed it to the kitchen, picked it up, packed it up, and made sure everything was included. Oftentimes, it's a waitress taking time out from her tables to do this. I'm one who hates the idea that every person needs to be tipped for everything, but 10% seems appropriate for pick-up from a regular sit-down restaurant.

[madinmaryland]

14. Sort of, but the way I see it

the folks preparing the food do the assembly and put it into the containers. Essentially the "server" is doing taking your money and handing you the meal. Not much service to me.

[Genevieve]

12. No.

[Orrex]

13. No, and if there's a "Tip Jar" in evidence, I dump it into my pocket before leaving

[madinmaryland]

15. Note to self: If I ever meet Orrex, leave my change in the car or at home!

[latebloomer]

16. Rarely

Usually the reason I pick up food is to avoid having to tip a delivery man.

If I go to a place that doesn't deliver, I usually tip the waitress who hands me the food.

Consistent? I guess not. :shrug:

[madinmaryland]

17. You tip someone who hands you your meal in a bag?

:shrug:

[latebloomer]

22. I have!

Comes from years of waitressing- I am a tipper!

Of course I don't give them what I would if I sat down and was served- but a couple of bucks, yeah, sometimes.

[MineralMan]

18. Never thought much about it.

I used to pick up food at a local Mexican restaurant. The bill always came to $16.14, since I always ordered the same thing. I always gave the person at the cash register a $20 and told him they didn't charge enough. I guess that was a tip.

One benefit was that they recognized my voice when I called in an order, knew what I wanted, and said, "Thank you, Jorge."

[Parche]

19. just give them toll money

:woohoo: :hi:

[madinmaryland]

24. How do you get home after using your toll money??

:hi:

[Tangerine LaBamba]

20. I don't, never have, no .........

TIP stands for "To Insure Promptness," and that doesn't apply to a takeout order. You're doing the work, the others are doing their jobs, and there's no special service - that's where the "promptness" comes in - called for.

The rest is just part of their regular job .........................

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

21. No

[tigereye]

23. I do if there's a tip jar - but I've never really been clear about the etiquette

of tipping when you get take out.... :shrug:

[yewberry]

25. Sometimes, and here's why:

In small, single-owner restaurants, sometimes the restaurant doesn't have a separate system to manage take-out orders. So, the take-out order is rung up as part of a server's sales. That server may be required to tip out a busser, bar, or kitchen based on sales, and that can mean tipping based on take-outs. Truly, I've been there.

Also, take-out orders can screw up reporting percentages that are monitored for tax purposes. In some areas, reporting under 10% is a invitation for an audit, so the server just eats the difference. Sure, it's a small difference, but it adds up (and gets old.)

[MrSlayer]

26. No. That isn't a tipping situation

You tip for table service or delivery, not if you are picking it up yourself.