Why do people expect tip when you order something to go?

Question

Most of the time you have to pick your food up at the bar anyway. It isn't like anyone is waiting on you. I got the stink eye from a waiter today because I didn't leave a tip when I picked my food up to go. Why should I?

Answer 1

I agree that a tip should not be given on a 'to go' order.  If I get something 'to go' I feel I shouldn't have to pay as much as if I had sat there and been served. (Frankly, I think the 'to go' prices should reflect that.)

Should the waiters make more per hour if they are working the 'to go' line? Well, of course - but that's an issue that the wait staff should take up with the management - not me.

Would you rather I not patronize your restaurant at all?

Answer 2

Thats such an ignorant question. Okay, Mcdonald's is fast-food and the workers get slightly higher hourly pay so maybe tipping an McDonald's worker is going too far, BUT for pete's sake somebody is waiting on you. The only difference is your not sitting at their table eating the food. I'm pretty sure the person preparing your order is in the kitchen making sure everything comes out of the window correctly. They are packing all your condiments and rushing your order so you receive a warm meal ready to go. The funny thing is most people freely tip a deliverly person for bringing you food yet they feel to go orders are different. The next time your order is messed up DON'T wonder why!

Answer 3

I tend to agree with you, however, if I pick up take out from a place I frequent quite often and have had good service then I usually leave a tip.  If it is a lunch order, not so much because I am just picking it up and since tipping is based on service you technically aren't getting wait service, you are just picking up food.  As fas the chick above me, if I am short on cash and called in something to go then the person isn't getting a tip.  Maybe you should give up those bitter memories of being stiffed.

Answer 4

In Arizona Wait staff get paid $2.60 a hour. Event though they just handed you the bag, before you got there they had to place your order, package it make sure everything was in the bag that you ordered probably made sure you had a napkin and plastic silverware. The restaurant used to tax our paychecks on how much food we sold so he may have been taxed say $1 from what you ordered which he will have to pay when tax season comes around..

Answer 5

the bartender or server that handled the order has to ring it up,handle the packaging,bag it ect ...also because of the way the pay stucture is they get paid little (2.50 and hour now for servers, I think) and they will get taxed on 8% of every thing they ring up...even if they don't get a tip. So your bartender or server lost money out of his pocket..If you can't afford to tip you need to learn how to cook for yourself.

Answer 6

I work at a fine dining restaurant and get paid $2.13/hour to serve tables.  3.5% of my sales go to the house to be distributed  and the government taxes me based on my sales.  That means taking a $50 to go order with no tip costs me $1.75 right off the bat.  Come tax season the government assumes I made about 15-20% off that ticket, and taxes me another couple dollars.  Your $50 to go order just cost me about $4 if you don't tip.  I know most places don't serve to go orders at that price, but even the small ones add up.