SURVEY: Do you tip when picking up carryout food at a restaurant?

Question

Whenever I go to the BBQ or Bar & Grill, I notice the charge slip receipt has a spot for TIP. I never know if this is "expected", or just to leave it blank. Sometimes I feel guilty, so I throw in a dollar, but then wonder if that's really unnecessary. All they do is ring it up and hand me the food. I still had to get out of my car and go in and stand in line to get it. Just curious.

Answer 1

it would be nice. TO ALL THOSE OUT THERE WHO DINE OUT: Do you really think that is all front restraunt staff do? Cashiers and take out people answer the phone to you, take the order, bag the order, get the different condiments required, greet you when you walk in, cash you out, organize the chaos during high volume, attempt to maintain a smile and pleasant attitude during all of this. It doesn't take a rocket scientist, but you have to hustle and have a sense of urgency. Remember you are only going to one place, that cashier repeats this process on average in a store that grosses 6000.00 in a day 30 times in one hour. And you feel guilty about throwing one dollar? You should. Try it once just for kicks. A part timer at any restraunt, I guarantee you will see it ain't so easy on 'em. If you consistently get accurate orders and a friendly face, throw 'em a buck or two. 30 people in one hour each tip a dollar, that's good money.

This motivates that cashier to always get your order correct and always give you a pleasant face even when people are rude and mean and treat you like you are the "lowlifes".

They remeber the ones that tip, you'll never wait long, and you'll be known as one of the good people out there.

Answer 2

heeey if you dont tip dont expect special care next time at least 15 percent really that will end the guilt now you know ok soulbabe

Answer 3

You don't have too, but it might be nice. I don't think there wage relies on tips though...

Answer 4

I always tip togo because they do alot of work and the have to deal with much more people and food than a server does. Where I work, the togo people make the same hourly wage as the servers...which is $2.13. Especially people who take call in orders and then bring it out to our car. Those people are doing much more than just taking your order over the phone and then handing it to you. The also have to bag all the orders which can be up to ten bags at a time. They make sure the steaks are properly cooked and in the right bag, everyone has the right salads and apps that their supposed to, ensure all the sides are with the proper entrees, and get you all your condiments plus toppings and extra things you might have asked for.

  

   There's a special sort of pressure put on the takeaway orders because you have to get it right the first time. It's not like dining inside where if there is a problem they can fix it right away. If something goes wrong and they have to call and complain and don't feel like getting back out, we have to make that up to them since it's a HUGE inconvenience. The restaurant ends up having to give away more money towards comps and gift certificates for just that reason. So your carryout person is under a huge amount of stress to make sure everything is perfect for every order they take. In an hour that can be up to 30 people.

   As a server, we ALWAYS remember the good ones and we do care about them. I go out of my way to make sure everything is perfect for those that always are kind and tip generously. They make my day which is important when I have to deal with as many grumpy, hungry, and demanding people that I do in a day.

   As a rule, 10% on takeaway is standard. More or less depending on the service and how friendly the person was with you. It's a very demanding job with a huge importance on attention to detail over a high volume of customers. Definitely,  they deserve a tip.

Answer 5

They cannot change the slip just to ring carryout so just disregard it.

If a carhop were to bring it to your car then a small tip would be expected.

Tipping is "to insure prompt service" and in a restaurant that means food delivery, polite service; water and drink refills; an attentive wait person; and accuracy on order filling.

I do not tip the pizza driver what I would tip the waiter.

Answer 6

No, I would not tip....people who think they deserve tips for doing their job by getting your take out are crazy! You choose your own job, and fyi, if a waitress does not tip out to at least equal what they would have made on minimum wage, their employer has to pay them until it balances out. So dont feel like they arent going to be able to pay rent bc you didnt leave them a tip...I dont tip at McDonalds, why would I tip the bbq stand...and all that c**p about "leave a tip, you'll get better service next time...." whatever! they dont remember you from a hole in the wall, and they could care less! Most of the time they dont even give you everything, and if they do it's wrong anyways...if your only income is tips--go be a stripper--they make more money and dont cry about not getting a dollar for doing their job! I used to work jobs like that but I hated it so now I work at a dr's office, does that mean that I should put a jar on my desk just for going out of the way for the patient?!? NO, ITS MY JOB...just like it's their job. If they dont like it, go get another one and quit crying about it!

Answer 7

The real problem with carryout orders is that they show up on a server's sales just like a regular table.  The server has to pay taxes on their total sales.  They also "tip-out" to bussers, hostesses, and bartenders on their total sales.  $1-$2 on a to-go order ensures that the server does not have to pay out of their pocket for the priviledge of getting your food together.

Answer 8

I am a waitress at a local diner/restaurant, and I do "togo" orders. Personally, I am sick and tired of not getting tipped. I take the order over the phone, put the order in, bag it, make sure the condiments and utensils are there, total the bill, and cash it out. I do more work for a togo order than a table! It's not going to hurt to leave a dollar or two.

The other day I had a $50 order togo, and I didn't get a cent. I had to take time away from my TIPPING tables, and take care of the togo order.

I get paid $2.83 an hour plus my TIPS. I rely on my tips, and if that was the case, I wouldn't make sure everything was there, ready to go to be picked up. Leave a dollar or two. They will MAKE SURE that you are taken care of again in the future.

Answer 9

I say that is what the restaurant pays them to do and would not tip.

Answer 10

naw you don't have to. they don't make two kinds of slips they are the same for carryout and non carryout. all i ever do is give them any coins i have on me. yeah its tacky but i hate coins and its nice to give something. whatever you feel like giving.

Answer 11

you can tip if you want to,but i don't and everyone i know does not. If you go into like a regular restraint, with a waitress or waiter then leave a tip.

Answer 12

Never tip for take out food unless someone really did something unusual to get you the order.  The reason is that they did not really give you any personal service.  As for the receipt, just move the sub-total down to the final total to play it safe.  You probably will not have any problems leaving it alone either.  The reason it is there is that they use the same system for the waiters plus there are some people that do want to leave a tip anyway.

Answer 13

Hello :)

I'm a server at the Olive Garden, and I know (at our restaurant at least) our "to-go specialists" have the sole job of preparing the to-go orders, short of actually making the food.  They gather, garnish, and package the food.  They are like a one-stop server, and are classified as a "tipped employee", so they expect and appreciate tips.  

I work closely with the to-go specialists and they talk openly about their tips, good and bad.  Some people leave it blank, some throw in a dollar or two, and others actually tip the 10-20% as you would for a server.  It's up to you.  I've seen them prepare some pretty big to-go orders for large parties and their work is, in my opinion, deserving of at least a 10% tip on those big orders.

So, I'd look at what you are ordering.  If it is a single meal just for yourself, maybe tip a couple dollars for their effort.  If you got to-go for the whole family, take into consideration a 10% tip.  I hope this helps! :)