Author Topic: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service  (Read 14768 times)

nereo

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 17500
  • Location: Just south of Canada
    • Here's how you can support science today:
Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« on: March 27, 2021, 06:12:42 PM »
Note: this is for the US - I know rules/customs are much different elsewhere.

I’m wondering how other people treat the proliferation of “Tipping options” when it comes to limited service transactions (e.g. takeout, grab-and-go, etc).  A decade or two ago it seemed pretty straight-forward in the US; you didn’t tip for fast food or take-out, but you did if you had a server who took your order and brought food to your table (formerly the standard was 15%, though it’s creeped up to 18-20%, and in some circles even higher). The tips paid most of the server’s wages, as they frequently made < $3/hour in wages.  “Back of the house” (cooks, dishwashers, etc) got paid wages but not tips.

Now - perhaps partly because of the pandemic - I’m finding tip options everywhere. If I order from an app or online I often have to select an “optional” tip amount.  Even if I select ‘zero’ when I sign the physical slip in store there’s yet another line for including a tip.  This is for things like picking up a ‘bake-at-home’ pizza, where my only interaction was 30 seconds with the person at the desk and the food wasn’t even cooked there.  It’s also cropped up at several drive-thrus lately which normally would be classified as ‘fast-food/fast-casual’ and at present there’s zero in-store dining due to the pandemic.

Problem is I’m not even sure who I am tipping, or whether I should. It makes me feel uncomfortable being asked 2 or more times for a tip amount when there’s no obvious server, and when the service itself is limited to paper bags and napkins, and no one is cleaning up my mess when I’m done.  At the same time, I get that restaurants are suffering through COVID closures, and the service industry has been decimated in my area. 

I disagree with the practice in general and wish we’d just go with a (much higher) minimum wage for all service industry people, as tips are one of the most discriminatory practices that are also completely legal (see here).  But I always tip servers in sit-down settings the standard amount because the system is what it is and I’m not going to short someone busting their ass for $2.15 in wages when they ought to be getting at least minimum wage + benefits. But what do people do here? 0%?  20%?  Somewhere in between? 


(Given the dumpster-fire that the last tipping thread I participated in became, I suppose this certifies I’m a glutton for punishment... oh well)

charis

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3162
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #1 on: March 27, 2021, 07:03:30 PM »
We've always tipped at least a few bucks on takeout and upped it to 15% unless it's fast food. We don't do take out often and try to hit local independent places.

Dictionary Time

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 144
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #2 on: March 27, 2021, 07:06:52 PM »
Personally, I throw down $2 to $5 on an order if there is not an obviously tip-defendant person involved. People in fastcasual or grocery pick up are already making minimum wage. I’m not saying that’s great, and I’m in the retail crap-wage pay pool myself. But they aren’t reliant on tips the way a waiter or Uber driver is.

For tip dependent people, I tip 20% on average. Never under 15% even for bad service. More for very good.

But that’s me. You have to decide for you. But I think if you are deciding to eat at a restaurant or do pick up, you have to do the right thing. It’s part of the price, if you can’t afford it/don’t wanna then don’t order in the first place.

I agree it’s a stupid system. And it disproportionately hurts the most vulnerable. And we should get rid of it. But it’s the system we have.

Dicey

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 22322
  • Age: 66
  • Location: NorCal
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #3 on: March 27, 2021, 07:19:09 PM »
I almost always tip 20% or more, though I rarely eat out. You know what? I've never missed the money.

When DH and I began dating, I noticed he tipped well. I asked him if he'd ever waited tables. He said no, it just seemed like the right thing to do. I took that as a sign of a generous nature, and it has proved to be completely true.

Mr. Green

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4494
  • Age: 40
  • Location: Wilmington, NC
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #4 on: March 27, 2021, 07:20:21 PM »
I'll occasionally throw down a 10-ish% tip for take out during the pandemic but otherwise I don't tip if I'm not being served. I thought that was the whole reason tipping existed. If served, I've always tipped 15-20% depending on how good the service is.

nereo

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 17500
  • Location: Just south of Canada
    • Here's how you can support science today:
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #5 on: March 27, 2021, 07:23:46 PM »

But that’s me. You have to decide for you. But I think if you are deciding to eat at a restaurant or do pick up, you have to do the right thing. It’s part of the price, if you can’t afford it/don’t wanna then don’t order in the first place.

The crux of the question here is that it’s unclear to me what “the right thing” is in these new circumstances.
In the past it was “eating in a sit-down restaurant” - tip 18-20%; going through a drive-through or fast-food there was no tip.
Now... you mentioned $2-5 on an order.  That suggests a flat rate (not a percentage). Do you tip $5 on a $3 cup of coffee, and the same on a family-of-four order of Chinese take-out?  I’m guessing no...?

It feels like I should tip less when I pick up my own food than if I were to sit down and have someone bring it to me, clean up after me and refill my beverages - but how much less?  And when there’s no server involved, who exactly is getting my tips?  The owner, the clerk, or the kitchen staff who made it?

Zamboni

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3882
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #6 on: March 27, 2021, 07:40:07 PM »
Having worked in tip dependent jobs in the past, I'm a decent tipper. YMMV

I think you should just adopt a life philosophy about it and follow it. For example, I have a life philosophy of never ever buying the extended warranty for anything. Lol, sometimes a salesperson is pushy about it and I just say "sorry, I'm following my life philosophy."

Live philosophy on tipping: Tipping is a privilege.
-In the US, mine has always been to tip a buck or two even for take out if it's a normal restaurant because often the person who is handling that might not seem like they are doing much but they are probably getting paid server-level low wages.
-I tip more if they are running it out to my car.
-In seated restaurants I tip between 15% and 20% because that math is so easy to do in my head.
-Bartenders and bar waitresses get a buck or two per drink regardless of how much the drink costs (even if it is free at an open bar).
-Baristas get a buck in the jar, not that I buy coffee out much, so it's a special treat.
-I tip $4-$5+ if someone else drives the food to my house, way more if they are shopping for and delivering my groceries (not something I ever did until we got quarantined last March).
-I don't tip for fast food. . . that just never occurred to me.
-I tip hotel maids $5 per time they are cleaning my room.
-I tip drivers 15-20% if they get me somewhere safely without making me fear for my life.
-I rarely use valet parking but tip a couple of bucks coming and going when I do . . . my vehicles are crap so I'm sure they aren't expecting much from me.
-Solo musicians including street musicians get $1-$5 as I leave if I have been entertained, and I've been known to tip a band of musicians up to $60 (when I was very highly entertained and a little drunk).
-I tip private travel guides (nature park guides, rafting guides, etc.) around $20 if I've had a good time as a result of their guiding.
-When traveling to other wealthy nations I just go along with whatever the little game is in the restaurant . . . I always opt in for the bottled water they offer and little olives or crackers or whatever at the beginning, which gets things off on the right foot, and then I tip a little bit on top at the end as long as they've been friendly even though it's not expected in many other countries. Seems to work well.
-When traveling to less developed nations, I tip an unreasonable amount, often equal to the amount charged for the goods or service if not more. Not sure why I do this except for guilt at my good fortune of being born into a wealthy country. At all inclusive resorts that "discourage tipping" I tip like crazy, lol, because I don't like being told not to tip and it's fun to watch how fast a tip can get pocketed smoothly under this system.

I'd tip more if I had more walking around money. Funny how cultural and senseless it all is.

use2betrix

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2492
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #7 on: March 27, 2021, 08:26:10 PM »
Tipping is based on services provided. When you are at a restaurant, you tip the server for serving you. You don’t tip the cook’s, or the hostess.

I’m all about tipping. Basically always 20% at restaurants unless it was amazing or terrible service. Tip when I get hair cuts, tipped my lawn guy $10 yesterday.

With Covid, I’ve been doing a lot more take out. I’ll tip a couple bucks, but that’s about it. They are providing no more of a service handing me the food than a cashier is at the grocery store (in all honesty, probably less)

charis

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3162
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #8 on: March 27, 2021, 09:04:38 PM »
It's not really that complicated. I suggest

-20% for sit down, a bit less if service is distinctly bad, more if great
-5+ bucks to delivery person
-3-5 bucks for take out unless you are feeling generous (we do 15% during covid)
-1-2 bucks for a coffee/beer/drink

Bloop Bloop Reloaded

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 757
  • Location: Australia
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #9 on: March 27, 2021, 09:29:42 PM »
I'll occasionally throw down a 10-ish% tip for take out during the pandemic but otherwise I don't tip if I'm not being served. I thought that was the whole reason tipping existed. If served, I've always tipped 15-20% depending on how good the service is.

This is what I'd do if I still lived in the US.

You guys are all free to donate as much as you want (on top of the above 'standard rate') as it seems you love supporting restaurants, etc.

The way I see it businesses/people in both the US and my home country (Australia) have had more than enough support/stimulus thrown at them and I'm not going to support them even more other than in the usual form of patronage and tipping *for service*.

IslandFiGirl

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 195
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #10 on: March 27, 2021, 10:14:06 PM »
All of my kids have worked in or currently work in places you wouldn't normally tip at but there's an opportunity to tip if you so desire.  I've seen them all come home from a long shift and be gleefully happy to have a few bucks thrown their way after dealing with the grumpies of the world.  I feel like if I have the privilege to go out and enjoy myself, I can afford a few more dollars to brighten someone else's day.  I do it because I want to and it's in my heart to freely give, but if I feel the service was really bad at those "non-tip" places, then I don't do it.  I never feel guilted into it.  I will say that for the delivery services around here...if you don't give a big enough tip they will refuse your order.  Kind of annoying!  You have to choose your tip in a lot of cases before you ever even get service!  I have chosen not to use those unless I'm on my death bed and can't get out and do for myself. 

charis

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3162
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #11 on: March 28, 2021, 06:49:46 AM »
I'll occasionally throw down a 10-ish% tip for take out during the pandemic but otherwise I don't tip if I'm not being served. I thought that was the whole reason tipping existed. If served, I've always tipped 15-20% depending on how good the service is.

This is what I'd do if I still lived in the US.

You guys are all free to donate as much as you want (on top of the above 'standard rate') as it seems you love supporting restaurants, etc.

The way I see it businesses/people in both the US and my home country (Australia) have had more than enough support/stimulus thrown at them and I'm not going to support them even more other than in the usual form of patronage and tipping *for service*.

We rarely order or eat out, pandemic or otherwise, so not much support coming from us. On the occasions that we do, I'm very happy to tip service industry workers at small businesses who have been laid off for most of the year or had their hours slashed as I am in a much better position than they are. They literally cannot serve despite their incomes depending on it. That's my personal perspective - to each their own.

jehovasfitness23

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 257
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #12 on: March 28, 2021, 06:57:05 AM »
It's not really that complicated. I suggest

-20% for sit down, a bit less if service is distinctly bad, more if great
-5+ bucks to delivery person
-3-5 bucks for take out unless you are feeling generous (we do 15% during covid)
-1-2 bucks for a coffee/beer/drink

I pretty much follow this... I didn't use to tip for takeout where I pickup, but due to covid I now do.

Fomerly known as something

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1627
  • Location: CA
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #13 on: March 28, 2021, 07:29:17 AM »
Having worked in tip dependent jobs in the past, I'm a decent tipper. YMMV

I think you should just adopt a life philosophy about it and follow it. For example, I have a life philosophy of never ever buying the extended warranty for anything. Lol, sometimes a salesperson is pushy about it and I just say "sorry, I'm following my life philosophy."

Live philosophy on tipping: Tipping is a privilege.
-In the US, mine has always been to tip a buck or two even for take out if it's a normal restaurant because often the person who is handling that might not seem like they are doing much but they are probably getting paid server-level low wages.
-I tip more if they are running it out to my car.
-In seated restaurants I tip between 15% and 20% because that math is so easy to do in my head.
-Bartenders and bar waitresses get a buck or two per drink regardless of how much the drink costs (even if it is free at an open bar).
-Baristas get a buck in the jar, not that I buy coffee out much, so it's a special treat.
-I tip $4-$5+ if someone else drives the food to my house, way more if they are shopping for and delivering my groceries (not something I ever did until we got quarantined last March).
-I don't tip for fast food. . . that just never occurred to me.
-I tip hotel maids $5 per time they are cleaning my room.
-I tip drivers 15-20% if they get me somewhere safely without making me fear for my life.
-I rarely use valet parking but tip a couple of bucks coming and going when I do . . . my vehicles are crap so I'm sure they aren't expecting much from me.
-Solo musicians including street musicians get $1-$5 as I leave if I have been entertained, and I've been known to tip a band of musicians up to $60 (when I was very highly entertained and a little drunk).
-I tip private travel guides (nature park guides, rafting guides, etc.) around $20 if I've had a good time as a result of their guiding.
-When traveling to other wealthy nations I just go along with whatever the little game is in the restaurant . . . I always opt in for the bottled water they offer and little olives or crackers or whatever at the beginning, which gets things off on the right foot, and then I tip a little bit on top at the end as long as they've been friendly even though it's not expected in many other countries. Seems to work well.
-When traveling to less developed nations, I tip an unreasonable amount, often equal to the amount charged for the goods or service if not more. Not sure why I do this except for guilt at my good fortune of being born into a wealthy country. At all inclusive resorts that "discourage tipping" I tip like crazy, lol, because I don't like being told not to tip and it's fun to watch how fast a tip can get pocketed smoothly under this system.

I'd tip more if I had more walking around money. Funny how cultural and senseless it all is.

While this is great for the person receiving the tip it often is negative for the community overall.  It can drive up inflation in the local communities making it much harder for those not working in the tourism industry to pay for basics. 

Cranky

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3842
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #14 on: March 28, 2021, 07:30:30 AM »
I don't tip the people who work the cash registers at Target or the grocery store, so I'm not clear why people who work the cash register at a fast food place are different. I do hear that there is more tipping for take out now.

I avoid take out and eating out as much as possible, and while I want people to have jobs I don't really care about the survival of the restaurant industry outside of that.

Restaurants and bars here are complaining bitterly that they can't find people to work, though.

E.T.

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 413
  • Age: 35
  • Location: U.S.A.
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #15 on: March 28, 2021, 03:24:52 PM »
I don't like to think about it too hard so I just tip about 20% for restaurants / takeout / bar tabs / haircuts / movers / etc.

I tend to forget on fast food but if there were an easy tip 20% button I'd tip for that too. I'm also hit or miss on remembering to tip at hotels but if I do it's usually like $20-40 depending on length of stay even though I never request room service since I prefer to keep things clean myself. I don't tip at the grocery store or clothing stores or things like that. I guess the line I draw is tipping is for dining out and personal services. I don't tip in other countries unless it's a standard practice there.

I don't care if the service is bad, I figure if I can afford the luxury of going out and using these services then I can afford to be a generous tipper. I've never regretted tipping too much, only regretted tipping too little when I've forgotten cash or something. Then again, I don't use these services too often so it's no big deal to me.

Hotstreak

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 838
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #16 on: March 28, 2021, 04:17:37 PM »
If you ask for a tip, some people will give it to you.  So why not ask?


Just because they ask, does not mean you are obligated to give them money.

nereo

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 17500
  • Location: Just south of Canada
    • Here's how you can support science today:
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #17 on: March 28, 2021, 05:42:13 PM »

Just because they ask, does not mean you are obligated to give them money.

I’m not sure this is true in the United States - while perhaps not legally required, tipping in many circumstances is certainly compulsory.  For example, its quite common for someone who leaves no tip at a sit-down restaurant to be confronted on their way out and asked never to come back. The responses here (e.g. “if you can’t tip you shouldn’t go out to eat”) certainly reinforce that notion, and our labor laws which exempt servers from minimum wage requirements also suggest tipping is “built in” to the business.

 

Abe

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 2647
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #18 on: March 28, 2021, 08:09:14 PM »
At sit-down restaurants, 20% if they are nice to me, 0% if they aren’t. At other restaurants, 10% or 0%. Except the Taco Bell near my work because they are super nice so I tip them 20%.
« Last Edit: March 28, 2021, 08:10:45 PM by Abe »

Bibimbap

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 79
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #19 on: March 28, 2021, 08:19:26 PM »

Just because they ask, does not mean you are obligated to give them money.

I’m not sure this is true in the United States - while perhaps not legally required, tipping in many circumstances is certainly compulsory.  For example, its quite common for someone who leaves no tip at a sit-down restaurant to be confronted on their way out and asked never to come back. The responses here (e.g. “if you can’t tip you shouldn’t go out to eat”) certainly reinforce that notion, and our labor laws which exempt servers from minimum wage requirements also suggest tipping is “built in” to the business.
And no one has a problem with this?  Why?

Bibimbap

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 79
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #20 on: March 28, 2021, 08:22:31 PM »
Having worked in tip dependent jobs in the past, I'm a decent tipper. YMMV

I think you should just adopt a life philosophy about it and follow it. For example, I have a life philosophy of never ever buying the extended warranty for anything. Lol, sometimes a salesperson is pushy about it and I just say "sorry, I'm following my life philosophy."

Live philosophy on tipping: Tipping is a privilege.
-In the US, mine has always been to tip a buck or two even for take out if it's a normal restaurant because often the person who is handling that might not seem like they are doing much but they are probably getting paid server-level low wages.
-I tip more if they are running it out to my car.
-In seated restaurants I tip between 15% and 20% because that math is so easy to do in my head.
-Bartenders and bar waitresses get a buck or two per drink regardless of how much the drink costs (even if it is free at an open bar).
-Baristas get a buck in the jar, not that I buy coffee out much, so it's a special treat.
-I tip $4-$5+ if someone else drives the food to my house, way more if they are shopping for and delivering my groceries (not something I ever did until we got quarantined last March).
-I don't tip for fast food. . . that just never occurred to me.
-I tip hotel maids $5 per time they are cleaning my room.
-I tip drivers 15-20% if they get me somewhere safely without making me fear for my life.
-I rarely use valet parking but tip a couple of bucks coming and going when I do . . . my vehicles are crap so I'm sure they aren't expecting much from me.
-Solo musicians including street musicians get $1-$5 as I leave if I have been entertained, and I've been known to tip a band of musicians up to $60 (when I was very highly entertained and a little drunk).
-I tip private travel guides (nature park guides, rafting guides, etc.) around $20 if I've had a good time as a result of their guiding.
-When traveling to other wealthy nations I just go along with whatever the little game is in the restaurant . . . I always opt in for the bottled water they offer and little olives or crackers or whatever at the beginning, which gets things off on the right foot, and then I tip a little bit on top at the end as long as they've been friendly even though it's not expected in many other countries. Seems to work well.
-When traveling to less developed nations, I tip an unreasonable amount, often equal to the amount charged for the goods or service if not more. Not sure why I do this except for guilt at my good fortune of being born into a wealthy country. At all inclusive resorts that "discourage tipping" I tip like crazy, lol, because I don't like being told not to tip and it's fun to watch how fast a tip can get pocketed smoothly under this system.

I'd tip more if I had more walking around money. Funny how cultural and senseless it all is.

While this is great for the person receiving the tip it often is negative for the community overall.  It can drive up inflation in the local communities making it much harder for those not working in the tourism industry to pay for basics.
I agree with you. I wish more people would think about this. 
In general, I think tipping should be eliminated and everyone should be paid a proper wage.

Hotstreak

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 838
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #21 on: March 28, 2021, 09:31:20 PM »

Just because they ask, does not mean you are obligated to give them money.

I’m not sure this is true in the United States - while perhaps not legally required, tipping in many circumstances is certainly compulsory.  For example, its quite common for someone who leaves no tip at a sit-down restaurant to be confronted on their way out and asked never to come back. The responses here (e.g. “if you can’t tip you shouldn’t go out to eat”) certainly reinforce that notion, and our labor laws which exempt servers from minimum wage requirements also suggest tipping is “built in” to the business.
And no one has a problem with this?  Why?


This is only in certain jurisdictions.  In the State where I live, servers are required to be paid minimum wage.  Any tips are extra on top of that.

lhamo

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3094
  • Location: Seattle
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #22 on: March 28, 2021, 09:57:07 PM »
We have been ordering takeout a couple of times a month from places we hope will survive the crisis. I have been tipping 20-30 percent for the most part. They need the money more than I do.

begood

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1013
  • Location: SE PA
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #23 on: March 29, 2021, 06:37:32 AM »
We have been ordering takeout a couple of times a month from places we hope will survive the crisis. I have been tipping 20-30 percent for the most part. They need the money more than I do.

This is what we have been doing. And I'm so grateful for the people doing my Costco shopping that I give them $20 in cash in addition to the tip I pay online. Then I know for dang sure they get it. It's also given me a lot of joy to see how much that "big tip" means to the drivers. One woman said she hadn't been sure how she'd pay for gas that day and I'd made her whole day. I can't solve the "let's pay the labor what they're worth" problem, but I can pay for that person's gas.

My child is working as a barista in a coffee shop and like the poster said above, the GLEE with which they whip out those ones each day is something to behold. I think they like the tips more than the salary that goes into their bank account via direct deposit! Side note: They ask me to change out the ones for twenties because as they said, "Mom, I can't use all these ones to pay for things. They'll think I'm a stripper."

Arbitrage

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1405
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #24 on: March 29, 2021, 10:11:24 AM »

Just because they ask, does not mean you are obligated to give them money.

I’m not sure this is true in the United States - while perhaps not legally required, tipping in many circumstances is certainly compulsory.  For example, its quite common for someone who leaves no tip at a sit-down restaurant to be confronted on their way out and asked never to come back. The responses here (e.g. “if you can’t tip you shouldn’t go out to eat”) certainly reinforce that notion, and our labor laws which exempt servers from minimum wage requirements also suggest tipping is “built in” to the business.
And no one has a problem with this?  Why?


This is only in certain jurisdictions.  In the State where I live, servers are required to be paid minimum wage.  Any tips are extra on top of that.

Right.  Same with my state.  Mind you, this does not mean that tip expectations are any different - they are the same as for states with special minimum wage exemptions for servers.

Laura33

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3479
  • Location: Mid-Atlantic
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #25 on: March 29, 2021, 10:21:01 AM »
I'll occasionally throw down a 10-ish% tip for take out during the pandemic but otherwise I don't tip if I'm not being served. I thought that was the whole reason tipping existed. If served, I've always tipped 15-20% depending on how good the service is.

This is what I'd do if I still lived in the US.

You guys are all free to donate as much as you want (on top of the above 'standard rate') as it seems you love supporting restaurants, etc.

The way I see it businesses/people in both the US and my home country (Australia) have had more than enough support/stimulus thrown at them and I'm not going to support them even more other than in the usual form of patronage and tipping *for service*.

I'm wondering what the support/stimulus is you're thinking of here.  We got a PPP loan.  It covered 2 months of employee pay (capped at $100K), assuming that we continued to employ those folks.  For us it was great, because we hadn't planned layoffs (just pay cuts), so the extra cash allowed us to keep people at full pay while letting us keep some cash free while we were all still figuring out what the hell was going to happen to the business.  But for a restaurant that doesn't have any business and has laid off its staff?  They can bring their staff back for two months, but that's about it -- so the staff benefits, but the restaurant owner not so much.*  And our state has been mostly shut down for a year now.  One of my favorite places has already gone under, and several others are barely hanging on. 

I absolutely hate the proliferation of tips and tip jars and I wish like hell we could just pay people a living wage and be done with it.  But that's the system we have, so I try not to take my frustration out on the employees who are stuck relying on the generosity of strangers.  Since Covid hit, I have been tipping generously and intentionally ordering more takeout than I used to, just because I want these places to stay in business.  Sit-down is now closer to 25%, delivery is 15-20%, takeout is usually 10-15%, grocery delivery is usually $20 ($25 for a really big order).  Haven't been to haircut or nail salon or anything for a year, but those are usually around 20% -- more for the nail place, because they are really really cheap (like $35 for a full hour-long pedicure), so my $10 tip is a much higher percentage.  We have been very, very fortunate to have retained our jobs and pay over the past year, so I feel like the least I can do is pass some of that along to people who are hurting. 

*Note that this is a particular hardship where servers are concerned.  Restaurants are not exempt from minimum wage laws -- they are just allowed to take tips into account in determining whether a server has been paid enough.  So if there are no tips to be had because there's no business, a restaurant is actually going to have to pay more out of pocket to retain a server.

Kris

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 7335
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #26 on: March 29, 2021, 10:31:23 AM »
I used to do 10-15% for takeout or delivery, and 20% for in-restaurant service.

Now during Covid, on the rare times that we get takeout it's from small businesses, we always tip at least 20% (note: we're getting curbside or delivery from the business itself, not Door Dash or another service).

robartsd

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3342
  • Location: Sacramento, CA
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #27 on: March 29, 2021, 11:29:38 AM »
Originally tipping was a practice engaged in by European aristocrats, reserved only for EXCEPTIONAL service. After the civil war, service industries employing former slaves justified low wages on the idea that the employees would be compensated with tips - this started the American custom that ALL service is tipped. This idea was codified in New Deal era Federal minimum wage laws - and in all but seven states, this is the case today. (Alaska, California, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington require minimum wage not including tips; Wisconsin may soon join this group of states.) Since a tip is generally considered part of the employee's income, many people feel it is not really a tip unless you tip more than the generally accepted minimum. This seems to have caused the generally accepted minimum to creep upward over time (IIRC 10% was a standard tip in the '80s, now it would be considered insultingly low).

NumberJohnny5

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 780
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #28 on: March 29, 2021, 05:48:23 PM »
I hate tipping. I absolutely loved the system in Australia. Yeah, we paid a bit more, but honestly it about evened out when you consider the price quoted was all-in...there was no having to figure extra for tax or tip. The holiday surcharge did catch us out once, but we adapted.

That said, I generally don't tip for take-out or carry-out. I can't remember the last time we got delivery, it may have literally been decades ago, but I would tip for that. For eat-in restaurants that aren't fast-food (i.e. there are waiters/waitresses), I tend to gravitate closer to 15% if we do almost everything ourselves (buffet place where the server only gets refills) and closer to 20% otherwise, though honestly it's more like "over 15% but no need to make sure it's 20%" for the first scenario. I also calculate the tip percentage on the total bill, not the bill before tax; my wife is of the opinion that you don't have to figure tax into the percentage.

Some places are sneaky and charge a standard gratuity and still have a line for a tip (I'm not talking the auto gratuity for large groups). The really really scummy places just hand the receipt with the total and a line for tip, so you don't see the breakdown where they already charged for the tip. I tend to be wary of such places, if they're being that sneaky to your face, I don't want to think what they're doing that you can't see.

nereo

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 17500
  • Location: Just south of Canada
    • Here's how you can support science today:
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #29 on: March 30, 2021, 07:57:25 AM »
(To lighten the mood...)

Bloop Bloop, number Johnny five and others might appreciate this...

When my brother moved to Australia for work he went out to a bar with his coworkers and ordered a beer. Paid for the beer and left his standard $2 tip. Rather than smile the male bartender just stared at him and then turned and walked away. Twenty minutes later my brother did the same thing. Similar reaction. Then he orders his third beer and tries again to give the uncommunicative bartender a few bucks. At which point the bartender walks over to him and said “look, you seem nice, but I’m married and not interested in blokes”.

SuperNintendo Chalmers

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 103
  • Location: Colorado, USA
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #30 on: March 30, 2021, 01:35:20 PM »
We have been ordering takeout a couple of times a month from places we hope will survive the crisis. I have been tipping 20-30 percent for the most part. They need the money more than I do.

Same here.  I generally tipped 25-30% sit-down before Covid (more for favorite restaurants, sometimes less but never below 20%), and haven't changed that for takeout.  Mainly to support those who have to show up in person in a stressful and potentially dangerous environment, not to mention in the middle of a silly culture war. 

In general tipping well has been a no-brainer because of the relative small amounts compared to other expenses.  For example, last year I found a bike I liked and bought it.  All in with pedals, etc., it was about $2,500.  If that amount happened to be $1,500 or $3,500, I still would have bought the bike.  Compare that $2K swing to tipping on a $50 takeout order:  the difference between 15% and 30% is $7.50.  Yeah, I'm good with 30%. 

BussoV6

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 287
  • Location: Egoli
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #31 on: March 31, 2021, 03:33:30 AM »
(To lighten the mood...)

Bloop Bloop, number Johnny five and others might appreciate this...

When my brother moved to Australia for work he went out to a bar with his coworkers and ordered a beer. Paid for the beer and left his standard $2 tip. Rather than smile the male bartender just stared at him and then turned and walked away. Twenty minutes later my brother did the same thing. Similar reaction. Then he orders his third beer and tries again to give the uncommunicative bartender a few bucks. At which point the bartender walks over to him and said “look, you seem nice, but I’m married and not interested in blokes”.

That's funny!  I recall on my first trip to Aus, leaving a tip for a waiter. He gave it back to me politely and told me it was uneccesary because he was paid a decent wage.

By contrast, I recall having dinner in a NYC restaurant with an Australian work colleague who reluctantly left a 15% tip. The waitress chased us down the sidewalk and told him off. He took the tip back and just walked away with the waitress screaming abuse at him.

mathlete

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2070
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #32 on: March 31, 2021, 08:41:20 AM »
I hate the concept of tipping. Just pay people what they need to get paid and charge me as part of the total price if you have to.

That said, I'm unwilling to die on this hill, so I tip basically every time there's a line to add a tip.

nessness

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1026
Re: Tipping on Take-Out, Grab-and-Go and limited service
« Reply #33 on: March 31, 2021, 08:47:05 AM »
Pre-pandemic, I usually just tipped a token $1-2 for takeout. Maybe a little more if they went out of their way, like if my order wasn't ready and they brought me water while I waited. Lately, I've been tipping 15%+ at local places to help them out.