Tipping for takeout?

Question

"Tip jars" seem to be springing up where they weren't before. Two places I've seen them recently are Subway and a local Chinese place - both have some eat-in space but are mostly takeout.

If I eat in at the Chinese place, which I occasionally do, I obviously tip the server who has taken my order, brought my food, kept my water glass filled, and cleaned up the table, just like at any other restaurant. But it never really occurred to me to tip when I do takeout until the tip jar showed up at the register.

Does anyone know whether Subway employees make regular minimum wage or just the much lower minimum for tipped employees?

And what's standard? I'm not trying to cheat anyone out of a tip, and do tip well when I eat in at a restaurant. But Subway seems more like Burger King than like Applebees or someplace like that. OK, at Subway the same person makes my sandwich as rings it up (sometimes anyway) but with tip sharing that still seems more like Burger King.

Input please.

Answer 1

i've been a waiter in australia on and off through out my tertiary education, in both good and average establishments so i know the importance of tipping, here in australia it isn't customary to tip, and lots of people don't, essentially i think it comes down how good the service was. I wouldn't tip for take away, and i wouldn't tip bad service, for good service i'd tip 10% for great service i'd tip 25%. but having said that, wait staff may be paid better in australia. there were nights where i'd take home $250 tips, but i worked d**n hard for them.

Answer 2

Yes I too have noticed this too...but naw I don't tip, only when I eat at a restaurant....

Answer 3

Tipping is an individual choice, and so is the percentage amount, but be aware that waitresses, hair stylists, servers, bussers, bar tenders and the like have very low wages that are supposed to be brought up to a better level with your tips.

I tip the usual 18 - 20% for take out so the staff doesn't have to suffer at below minimum wage because I have chosen to take dinner home.  Out here the tips are usually pooled and shared, but it doesn't make a difference to me on how much I leave for tips.  Weeknights at my favorite Chinese restaurant the dining room is sparsely populated, but take out business is very brisk.  I don't want to cheat employees out of a living.

Subway and BK pay minimum wage.  I have never tipped at those places, but suppose that I would for outstanding service, if the management allows it.

The automatic "tip calculator" on my cell phone allows for 15, 18 and 20% tips on the total bill.  The customary amount to tip depends on the geographic location I suppose, and how good the service was.  I always tip in salons, resturants, car washes and delivery people other than Fed Ex or UPS.

I am not allowed to tip at my local grocery store when someone helps me take groceries out to my car and load them for me, but I would if I could.  I am really grateful for the help.

Answer 4

Subway employees make the full minimum wage. I have never even thought to tip at a subway and I definitely tip when appropriate because i'm a server.  I only make $2.65/HR. which equals out to $0 on my check everyweek!! Trust me people don't even know how to tip REAL waitresses and that's all the money we make. I doubt those subway workers are getting rich on tips!!

Answer 5

Im sure at Subway they make minimum wages. No, I don't tip at a fast food place. It's not like they wait on you hand and foot, like at Applebees. When I eat at MacDonalds I clean up my own mess, so why leave  tip when you clean up your own mess.

Answer 6

Let's see, the chef makes the food, someone from the kitchen staff brought it to the front and now another person will take my money and hand me the take out.

No, I don't tip to  cashier.

Subway is more like a deli; are we tipping deli owners?

Answer 7

I always give $5.00! not too much, not too little!!!!!!

Answer 8

I tip 15% usually. But i'm broke most of the time.

Answer 9

My friend works at a ice cream store and they have a tip jar, at the end of everyones shift they split it up. It  often adds up to about an extra 3-4 dollar additional to every hour. I never tip unless their is a waitress that is actually getting the food in a reasonable time.   I once was in a restaurant and I waited 2 1/2 hrs for food. A simple hot dog.  I didn't leave a tip. I usually leave about 2 dollars. I once was in a restaurant and you didn't tip at all. I still gave the girl $10.00

Answer 10

just give 1-2$ per tip

Answer 11

Tipping usually ensures prompt service, i.e. "T-I-P-S" To Insure Prompt Service.  For the most part you establish a relationship with the sandwich maker, and who knows, maybe they show you a little better service along the lines of throwing in a free bag of chips, or a cookie or two, if they know that your the guy or gal who "always" tips a buck or two.  Even fifty cents shows that you acknowledge their service.  I know, everybody has their hand out these days, but hey, when I tip on a regular basis to people that know I do, go out of their way to help me.  That's worth it to me.  Especially in this day and age when it's hard to get help shopping in a big discount store or grocery store.  I like the attention that tipping brings, plus I'm helping out somebody I see normally, not just some peddler on the street.

Answer 12

...good question... just some change, that's all

Answer 13

I see it as prolly another way for the store to deduct wages. What they're doing is apart of their job. however if they went above and beyond, I'd want to tip that person, not something that they'd have to share with everyone else, that's not fair

Answer 14

It's not necessary but if they give you particularly good service then $1-3 is good, if not, then don't even worry about it. If you go to like Applebee's and order to-go or if you place a large order, then you probably should tip no more than 10% of your bill. This will also ensure you better service next time.

Answer 15

I don't think that what they does on Subways their workers with, have plus to see with their wages.

I think Subway restaurants are to people that like that kind of bad cheaper services.

If you look around you can see that they are worse then Chinese restaurant and I haven't nothing against people that come to here or to somewhere else to earn their lives working but Chinese food for me it's the worst food I have eat.

And if you are thinking on standards, you can't compare Chinese workers with because they haven't any standards.

The Chinese workers on restaurants and  some others places usually do not earn wages or salary's because their employer (the boss) bring them from China and they stay very grateful for this because over there in China they usually are living so bad they haven't food to eat neither home to live.

So, here in the UK and in many others countries when they  migrate the boss give to them the guarantee that gives house and food and they usually work for it by gratitude because as you well know the government haven't respect for their citizens over there.

It's as some costumes they have in China. per ex:

If you rescue some person from certain death.

He or she will be as your slave for life and you have to take care of him/her forever!

That's is very good!

Answer 16

Tipping for take-out food is the equivalent of paying a fee for an isle seat on an airline.   I would never give such a tip.  It only encourages adding charges for no value added.

Answer 17

It's just another way to rip the economy off.  Don't tip at fast food! Only at restraunts.

Answer 18

No ,It has never been a polite gesture to tip when you order take out, unless it's delivered.

Answer 19

Personally I don't think anything other than delivery guys should be tipped, other than restaurants.  The employees make minimum wage and they do not work for tips.  I think it jars are there in case you want to tip the employees.  But its not expected or anything.  Unless it is someone who working only for tips then I said no to the tipping.  But there are some cases where I have tipped employees of like Burger King and such.  The reason being you don't find too many people who don't work for tips going above and beyond their job title for customers.  When I experience that or see it I will tip.