Tipping at Sonic

[MSKKG]

Went to Sonic for Happy Hour today. Got a Route 44 iced tea for $1.07--LOVE their ice. Didn't tip because I went through the drive-thru, but I will usually tip if I park and order.

[Kevin]

My wife's band (she's a HS band teacher) works at Sonic as a fund raiser. From what I understand, the carhops make above minimum wage.

I don't tip. It's fast food, all they did was bring me food. That, in my estimation, isn't really tip worthy.

I also use the drive through most of the time.

[lyrica9]

Originally Posted by Kevin

My wife's band (she's a HS band teacher) works at Sonic as a fund raiser. From what I understand, the carhops make above minimum wage.

I don't tip. It's fast food, all they did was bring me food. That, in my estimation, isn't really tip worthy.

I also use the drive through most of the time.

FALSE. carhops make exactly minimum wage. i made 5.15 as a carhop.

also, yes all you see them do is bring you your food, but there's a lot more waitress-y type things carhops get stuck with. many take your order, make your drinks, ice cream, shakes, bag the food, keep all kinds of stuff stocked, do side work like waitresses do (ie stuff napkins into bags, sweep the lot, take out the stupid "smile tray").

what always shocked me when i worked there was that i'd get huge tips from people paying 2-5 bucks for something, but the $60 orders wouldn't tip at all. and it's really hard to spend 60 at sonic, it's a lot of freaking food, balancing etc.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by lyrica9

FALSE. carhops make exactly minimum wage. i made 5.15 as a carhop.

also, yes all you see them do is bring you your food, but there's a lot more waitress-y type things carhops get stuck with. many take your order, make your drinks, ice cream, shakes, bag the food, keep all kinds of stuff stocked, do side work like waitresses do (ie stuff napkins into bags, sweep the lot, take out the stupid "smile tray").

It might be false where you worked at, but some places do pay higher than minimum wage.

Every fast food type place has those "waitress-y" things to do. I did those things when I worked at Coldstone and I never expected a tip.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by lyrica9

also, yes all you see them do is bring you your food, but there's a lot more waitress-y type things carhops get stuck with. many take your order, make your drinks, ice cream, shakes, bag the food, keep all kinds of stuff stocked, do side work like waitresses do (ie stuff napkins into bags, sweep the lot, take out the stupid "smile tray").

Congratulations. You did exactly what every other person at every other fast food joint in the world does except you have to walk out to the customer's car sometimes.

I know exactly what Sonic workers have to do... I've spent plenty of time standing around in the kitchen area (getting in the way) when my wife's band kids were doing their fund raiser.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by lyrica9

also, yes all you see them do is bring you your food, but there's a lot more waitress-y type things carhops get stuck with. many take your order, make your drinks, ice cream, shakes, bag the food, keep all kinds of stuff stocked, do side work like waitresses do (ie stuff napkins into bags, sweep the lot, take out the stupid "smile tray").

I had friends who worked at places like Taco Bell and Burger King who did the exact same things you're explaining. Isn't that what most fast food workers are asked to do?

[Tippiechick]

Originally Posted by lyrica9

FALSE. carhops make exactly minimum wage. i made 5.15 as a carhop.

also, yes all you see them do is bring you your food, but there's a lot more waitress-y type things carhops get stuck with. many take your order, make your drinks, ice cream, shakes, bag the food, keep all kinds of stuff stocked, do side work like waitresses do (ie stuff napkins into bags, sweep the lot, take out the stupid "smile tray").

what always shocked me when i worked there was that i'd get huge tips from people paying 2-5 bucks for something, but the $60 orders wouldn't tip at all. and it's really hard to spend 60 at sonic, it's a lot of freaking food, balancing etc.

I worked there in high school...

I was doing the work of a fast food restaurant worker. I did NOT expect big tips as a carhop. After all, I was making more than 2.13 an hour.

Really, you DON'T work as hard as a true waitress does (I worked my ass off as a real waitress at Cracker Barrel). Most carhops just hop. Sometimes, you will get pulled into another spot in the line making shakes, etc.

If you are one of the hops in my hometown that skates, I'll tip your ass for entertaining me. But, if you are one of the lazy ones around here who doesn't stock her tray with condiments and then gets bitchy when I ask for ketchup, it is NADA.

Waitresses work MUCH harder.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by Tippiechick

Waitresses work MUCH harder.

I actually really enjoyed being a waitress despite the "work" (as opposed to being a desk jockey), and if I could make the kind of money waitressing that I make at my current job, I'd totally do that.

[IlovemyAKA]

I didn't realize people tipped at Sonic until I worked there my senior year of high school. I wore skates, so I got tips. It was fun & made me stand out because most don't do skates anymore. I got more (unintentionally) from guys who tried to get my number.

I don't know who is from AR but we would give out Wild River Country coupons near the summer. I got the biggest tip from the General Manager of Wild River Country because I gave him a coupon.

[WinniBug]

I actually plan to tip when I go to Sonic, but since they have the credit card machines now, I don't have the option....
And I had a craving for Sonic last night, so I had a supersonic cheeseburger, chili cheese tots and a lemon berry slush....yyuuummmm There were 3 carhops working, one walking around, one on skates and one on rollerblades. The ones on skates got to the cars quite a bit quicker than the walker. :-)

[Tippiechick]

Originally Posted by WinniBug

I actually plan to tip when I go to Sonic, but since they have the credit card machines now, I don't have the option....
And I had a craving for Sonic last night, so I had a supersonic cheeseburger, chili cheese tots and a lemon berry slush....yyuuummmm There were 3 carhops working, one walking around, one on skates and one on rollerblades. The ones on skates got to the cars quite a bit quicker than the walker. :-)

Which one did you go to? If you go to the Exit One Sonic, don't keep your windows down much. The sewer smell will knock you over. And, there is always a pond of "water" in the field behind them.

I still get stuff there, because it is one of the cleanest kept ones other than the smell from the field behind them and it is close to my house.

[Tippiechick]

Originally Posted by christena911

Sonic Car Hops get the *waitress* minimum wage. which is 3.15/hour. I work at sonic and think its ridiculous we get the waitress minimum wage even tho people don't even know they're supposed to tip, and they shouldn't have to tip since its a fast food place. Yet, that's the way it is. But when you do the math 15% of a 5.00 meal would only be .75 cents to tip.

Not all Sonics do this. It depends on the franchise owner. The ones here still make min. wage.

[WinniBug]

Originally Posted by Tippiechick

Which one did you go to? If you go to the Exit One Sonic, don't keep your windows down much. The sewer smell will knock you over. And, there is always a pond of "water" in the field behind them.

I still get stuff there, because it is one of the cleanest kept ones other than the smell from the field behind them and it is close to my house.

I actually went to the one in southern Dickson County on the other side of I-40...We were on our way to Hickman County for a ball game...it was too cold to leave our windows down for too long anyways.

[AGDLynn]

I always tip even it it is only about 60 cents.