Tip Question

[AchtungBaby80]

I don't really know what proper etiquette on this is either, since my etiquette book was written before take-out places were common. However, I honestly don't think tipping for takeout is fair...I understand that the people putting orders together may not be getting paid much, but they should be, especially if a place is takeout only. I can see tipping for a regular restaurant's curbside service maybe, but not for takeout. That, to me, seems dumb.

[hottytoddy]

Also.. I was a hospitality mgmt major and our books always said to tip less for buffet style places. like 10%. I usually tip more but that's the rule on that one. I don't think they mentioned take out.

[AOPIHottie]

Originally posted by hottytoddy
I know how much they make on average in tips and it's A LOT. I dadted a bartender for a little while and he made really good money.

Yes. From the TIPS. Thats how they make that really good money.

The kind of place you are talking about, I doubt they only make 2.13, so no, I would not tip either(and NO at starbucks as well-they get paid like 7.00 starting out-crazyness)
But when its a regular restaraunt that you are getting to-go food at, then it is NICE to tip, but of course not REQUIRED. Just like it is not required to tip when you sit down at eat. I always leave like 2 or maybe 3 dollars at the buffet place, because they usually make more an hour, and don't really do all that much for you. and I always tip at least 20% on to-go food, more if they were really awesome to me while waiting. But since I have been in the restaurant business for 10 years, I know what they all have to put up with, so I always tip more.

[navane]

I generally don't tip at fast food places. Actually, I'm not sure if people like McDonald's employees are even allowed to receive tips!

There was a "fast food" Chinese place in Long Beach that I used to frequent. The menu was pretty inexpensive to start with, plus they'd always really pile my food in the container. So, I had no problem tossing in my change into the tip jar; especially since I was a regular customer.

At buffet places we normally just put a few bucks on the table since we're serving ourselves. Though, we recognize that the "server" is bussing the old plates away and such.

I've never bought from one of the restaurant "to-go" services like Applebee's has; so, I don't know what to say about that. I probably wouldn't tip that person though....I don't know. Just because someone bagged it for me, that doesn't seem to qualify for a tip. After all, don't the Burger King folks bag my meals too? Interesting, I wouldn't have thought to tip there.....

I used to work for an upscale bakery/cafe in Long Beach. We sold pastries, breads, and deli items. However, we also had a coffee bar and made sandwiches to order. We did have a "tip pitcher" which would probably collect $8-14 a shift (which would be split about 3 ways, or 4 if the *owner* asked for her cut ).

I thought the customers were pretty generous, after all, I was usually just bagging a loaf of bread or something. Though, a) many of the tippers were regular customers and b) the neighborhood was a bit more upscale and thus people probably had the ability to tip. I gave the best service I could to everyone; though, for the regulars, I would stuff their sandwich with just that little bit extra the next time.


.....Kelly

[navane]

Oh yes, and about the wages and tips for servers thing. First off, I could never be a server because I lack patience, math skills and I can't carry more than two plates at once. So, hey, mad props to the servers out there.

I do kinda feel for the servers who are forced to accept lower than minimum wage just because they "might" get a lot of tips. That doesn't seem fair. If they're always working slow days, or the customers are cheap, then yeah, they could be making only $3 an hour!

HOWEVER, I don't want to hear it from servers who get paid minimum wage and THEN complain about how little they make. In 1998, I had a roommate who worked great weekday and weekend shifts as a server for a very popular bar and grill (one of those 250 beers on tap places). She received minimum wage plus tips. It's now $6.75 per hour, but I think minimum was about $5.25 at that time. She came home cranky one Friday night ranting about what a bad night it was and how she hardly got any tips. I asked her how much she made in tips and she said she "only" made $90!!!! That's *not* including the hourly wage! Flabbergasted, and not knowing what is normal, I asked her what she would normally make for a Friday night and she said it was usually around $150!!! Come on! The tips she would get in one evening was more than I made in one week!!!!!!!!!
I'm sorry, I don't want to hear anyone's whining about how they "hardly" make anything as a server....some of them make big $$$.


.....Kelly

[UKDaisy]

Okay, I have a tip question but it doesn't involve food. I recently had MicroDermabersion (spelling?). It was in a salon, but it was done by a doctor that comes every so often. So it wasn't a typical salon type service (like hair and such). What should I have done?

[AlphaSigOU]

Originally posted by AOPIHottie
Ok, I am a bartender at a casual tex-mex restaurant-Tias Tex Mex, if anyone has heard of it-and I handle all the to-go orders so here is my opinion...

Mmmm... Tia's! You work at the one in Lewisville?

Having lived in Las Vegas and knowing first hand (almost) about the service industry (my brother was a craps dealer for many years before he got promoted to management), you make sure to tip and tip well. In certain eateries that are take-out or fast food, I feel no tip is necessary, but I do agree with AOPiHottie and try to make sure to tip in a sit-down restaurant that offers take-out. But then, only if the service is prompt and courteous, just like a sit-down meal.

P.S. - Ya gotta bartend in Vegas... an unwritten tradition in Vegas is that you tip the bartender or change person well when you hit a jackpot!

[AOPIHottie]

Originally posted by AlphaSigOU
Mmmm... Tia's! You work at the one in Lewisville?

Yes I do!!!! I agree with the navane, those who make minimum plus tips don't need to complain, because they get good paychecks, but I work 40 hours or so a week, and at 2.13 after taxes, that comes to like 20 bucks or so a week. Yeah, I can live off 80 bucks a month. But on average I make 250-350 in tips a week. wich is a less than a whole lot of other jobs. The difference in Mc Donalds fast food and a restaurant take-out is McDonalds doesnt spend as much time putting it together-it comes down the shoot into the bag and here ya go. And they get paid to decent to do that. A restaurant usually takes more time, and by the way, usually a lot friendlier.

I am sorry but if i have to pay $5 for a cup of coffee from a long line already i am sorry i do not tip. I only tip in a sit down resturant because they are hustling back and forth to bring you things and to make your visit there pleasent. Fast food is what it is fast food. half the time is never correct.

[PsychTau]

First of all, I also give mad props to wait staff and servers, cause I could never do it. (I was a caterer, but you didn't take 20 different orders there).

Second, my sister was a waitress at Pizza Hut in high school. She was only paid $2 something an hour, but she had to report her tips each night (never really honestly though ). If she didn't make enough in tips to equal the amount she would have been paid that week if she had gotten minimum wage, they adjusted her check to make sure she made minimum wage each week. (Well, it was something like that....they adjusted her wages based on the tips she made). Is that still done? Meaning, if you don't get good tips you're still paid less than minimum wage?

Thirdly, the radio stations debate this one every so often: Do you tip Sonic Carhops? No one around here seems to know. I don't even know what they're paid per hour.

PsychTau

[Not a Mezzo]

I think there's legal issues there; a place, by law, has to make sure you're making at least minimum wage. If your hourly wages plus tips don't equal that, then yeah, they have to make it up to you. Or at least, that was my experience as a server. It took me a bit to figure out why I had hostess wages when I hadn't hosted during those two weeks.

As for Sonic carhops...I had a roommate who was a carhop and then managed. He used to make awesome tips--equaling more than he made as a manager!--because he's just that great a guy. I mean, they are bringing the stuff out to your car. I always tip them because I hated getting cheap tips or no tips as a server. Sympathy costs me.

[Optimist Prime]

yes tip for take out
that job sucks

You have to make the food/prep it as well as deal with a ton of whiny customers who are all in a hurry and take it out on you that there is not enough sause or whatever

[hottytoddy]

All restaurants make sure you make at least minimum wage...that's one reason (besides taxes that you claim you're tips. In the end if you don't some out making at least minimum wage, the restaurant must pay you the difference. I ahve been a server before as well, I'm not sure that I'd do it again. I tip well at sit down restaurants and all....


Anyhow...do y'all tip at Sonic?

[AlphaGamDiva]

i do...but only b/c our sonic is on a hill....i figure they could use a few extra bucks when their medical bills for skating down that hill come in.

[hottytoddy]

Originally posted by AlphaGamDiva
i do...but only b/c our sonic is on a hill....i figure they could use a few extra bucks when their medical bills for skating down that hill come in.

My sonic people don't skate. I am getting the shaft.