Foo - do you guys tip when you get take-out?

i know that it's not required. is it expected? any restaurant workers out there who can answer this?

i know that a dollar or two is nice... but honestly, it shouldn't be a part of my expenditure. sometimes, i end up budgeting myself to make sure i have tip money when i get food. i really want to stop doing that, because i'm a poor college student. i'm a generous tipper... over 20 percent almost every time for dining in and at bars. but this tipping society is becoming a bit much.

and i guess it might be more expected the more expensive a restaurant is.. but even then.. i'm more inclined to tip at the lower end joints.. where i tend to find workers who could use the tip more.

is it bad form to go to a nice place.. get take out that's over ten bucks? over twenty? and not tip?

not to mention.. if you're served a glass of water while you wait.. that's almost certain to get at least a dollar tip.. regardless of place. but even if they served you water.. that doesn't warrant a tip, does it?

No. I never, ever, received a tip on a take out order when I worked in restaurants (takeaway was rare in the places I worked at, but still), and I'd never expect one.

Why would you even think about tipping at a takeaway place?

I get take-out from a local Chinese joint and they always have a tip jar out. I also have never left them a tip. Another tip jar that really annoys me is when you go into a bar/club and have to pay cover and they have a tip jar at the cash register. WTF why I am going to give the girl a tip when I just paid $5 or $10 to get in... She's not doing me any type of service. It's even worse when the bouncers TELL you to leave a tip, of course I still never do. Don't get me wrong though, when I'm at a restaurant and have good service I'm a very generous tipper.

I tip just because I have waited tables bunches of times.

and others peoples tips have put wheels on my bike

I tip just because I have waited tables bunches of times.

and others peoples tips have put wheels on my bike

You performed a service for your tips. What service does a carryout restaurant perform to suggest they deserve tipping?

I tip a delivery person. I tip a waitperson. But I don't tip the cook or the cashier, so I never tip for take-out.

You performed a service for your tips. What service does a carryout restaurant perform to suggest they deserve tipping?


gotcha

I tip a delivery person. I tip a waitperson. But I don't tip the cook or the cashier, so I never tip for take-out.

That would be because the delivery person and the waiter cook your food then, right?

i know that it's not required. is it expected? any restaurant workers out there who can answer this?

i know that a dollar or two is nice... but honestly, it shouldn't be a part of my expenditure. sometimes, i end up budgeting myself to make sure i have tip money when i get food. i really want to stop doing that, because i'm a poor college student. i'm a generous tipper... over 20 percent almost every time for dining in and at bars. but this tipping society is becoming a bit much.

and i guess it might be more expected the more expensive a restaurant is.. but even then.. i'm more inclined to tip at the lower end joints.. where i tend to find workers who could use the tip more.

is it bad form to go to a nice place.. get take out that's over ten bucks? over twenty? and not tip?

not to mention.. if you're served a glass of water while you wait.. that's almost certain to get at least a dollar tip.. regardless of place. but even if they served you water.. that doesn't warrant a tip, does it?

It's bad form to tip.

But then, it usually requires extricating oneself from a society drenched in tipping as the norm to appreciate that.

Here's a tip: try questioning the concept. It might be expected, but that's only because more and more people give in to it because it's expected. It's a vicious circle, are you gonna break the link?

It's bad form to tip.

But then, it usually requires extricating oneself from a society drenching in tipping as the norm to appreciate that.

Here's a tip: try questioning the concept. It might be expected, but that's only because more and more people give in to it because it's expected. It's a vicious circle, are you gonna break the link?

Tipping in the States is completely different from tipping in Europe. In Europe the wait-staff are paid a decent wage that doesn't count on tips for income. In the States wait-staff are paid well below minimum wage with the understanding that tips will make up the difference.

gotcha

Huh?

My local ice cream man has a tip jar.

Tipping in the States is completely different from tipping in Europe. In Europe the wait-staff are paid a decent wage that doesn't count on tips for income. In the States wait-staff are paid well below minimum wage with the understanding that tips will make up the difference.

Absolutely. Wait staff wages are ridiculous.

However, tip jars at the ice cream shop are a little silly.

That would be because the delivery person and the waiter cook your food then, right?

???

When I go in for take-out, the only people between me and my food are the cook and the cashier, neither of whom I'd tip in any case. There is no delivery or waitperson involved. <confused Vega look>

I tip a delivery person. I tip a waitperson. But I don't tip the cook or the cashier, so I never tip for take-out.

What she said.

However I have made the exception at this one Korean place I go to - husband/wife team --- and I alter the food and push them to make it hotter, etc - another words they've customized it - and they're nice. Have been out riding and then I realize there's this van pacing me (not crazy about that) and when I look to say something - there they were waving madly at me.

Then they tell me and another customer standing there how they saw me (saw me on tv a couple times being interviewed for my club and the crit we have in town) - they saw their "friend" on the bicycle.

Huh. Not just a customer, but a friend.

OK, so I tip them at least a buck. :D

I tip:

Valets
Waiters
Barbers*
Bellmen
Food Delivery guys

-- because their wages are tip-assumed. They get minumum wage (normally) and assume that tips will make up the difference.
*I tip my barber because I've been going to her for years. She's a friend, and giving her a $20 for a $13 haircut is worth it to me.

I don't tip:
Any restaurant with a tip jar - Subway, Starbucks, etc.
Any 'nice restaurant' take out - Chefs get paid what they're worth, and their wages are not tip-assumed. Most computer receipts will put the gratuity line on them automatically, regardless of in-house or take out dining.
Mechanics
Bike Shop wrenches


...call me crazy.

ps. Sometimes I'll tip the Cold Stone girls if there's a long line...Carpal Tunnel syndrome from mashing all that ice cream is a real hazard...and I like it when they go WOOWOO!

Tipping in the States is completely different from tipping in Europe. In Europe the wait-staff are paid a decent wage that doesn't count on tips for income. In the States wait-staff are paid well below minimum wage with the understanding that tips will make up the difference.

and? I already said, it's a vicious circle. I'm aware of the justification you give. But that doesn't make it ok. They get crappy wages because their bosses know they live on tips. So who's gonna break the link?

Fair enough, I understand people feel like they have to (as much as I disagree with it), but the worst are the people who actually defend it.

I see it time and time again, Ziemas. People who don't question this bizarre norm of their society, and furthermore so many that simply exacerbate it with increased tipping through some kind of induced guilt complex. It disgusts me.

???

When I go in for take-out, the only people between me and my food are the cook and the cashier, neither of whom I'd tip in any case. There is no delivery or waitperson involved. <confused Vega look>

So you don't tip the cook for doing their job.
You don't tip the cashier for doing their job.
But you do tip the delivery person for doing their job.

A very good friend of mine makes a habit of tipping big in all the bars he goes to - ensures he gets good service.

Doesn't anyone see the sickness of a society where you effectively need to bribe people to do their job?

and? I already said, it's a vicious circle. I'm aware of the justification you give. But that doesn't make it ok. They get crappy wages because their bosses know they live on tips. So who's gonna break the link?

Fair enough, I understand people feel like they have to (as much as I disagree with it), but the worst are the people who actually defend it.

I see it time and time again, Ziemas. People who don't question this bizarre norm of their society, and furthermore so many that simply exacerbate it with increased tipping through some kind of induced guilt complex. It disgusts me.
There is no guilt at all. That's the way the industry works in the States. No one forces anyone to eat at a restaurant.

If it wasn't that way then the cost of food on the menu would be higher and cheap people would then complain about the higher cost. If you want to be a cretin and not tip at American restaurants go ahead, but remember you are screwing someone out of part of their days wage.

How much is the pre-tip price of a dinner in Europe compared to a similar dinner in America?

A very good friend of mine makes a habit of tipping big in all the bars he goes to - ensures he gets good service.

Doesn't anyone see the sickness of a society where you effectively need to bribe people to do their job?

And I'm sure you'd whine if you had to pay the built in costs for service and got terrible service. Tipping insures that you get good service. Bad service = no tip.

At this point I'm just going to assume that you squeeze a pound so hard that the queen cries.

How much is the pre-tip price of a dinner in Europe compared to a similar dinner in America?

It depends where you are, but as a whole Europe is more expensive.

There is no guilt at all.
Yeah, right. :rolleyes: The number of times I've seen people tip for mediocre or even poor service just because they feel they have to...

Get real man.


If it wasn't that way then the cost of food on the menu would be higher and cheap people would then complain about the higher cost.
Yes, it's reflective of a society that values quantity above quality.


If you want to be a cretin and not tip at American restaurants go ahead, but remember you are screwing someone out of part of their days wage.
And for the yanks, if you want to be an ignoramus and tip in countries where it's not the norm go ahead, but remember that you're ruining the foreign cultures that you infect with that behaviour. Trust me on this, it DOES have an impact, and it's not good.

And I'm sure you'd whine if you had to pay the built in costs for service and got terrible service. Tipping insures that you get good service. Bad service = no tip.
That's kind of where I was going with my previous post. If you include the cost of service and don't tip, you'll probably wind up spending the same amount as you would with the lower wage + tip. Add on top of that the quality of service that is somewhat ensured by tipping. But, as mentioned before, this completely breaks down when people tip for anything but good service.

Yeah, right. :rolleyes: The number of times I've seen people tip for mediocre or even poor service just because they feel they have to...

Get real man.


Yes, it's reflective of a society that values quantity above quality.


And for the yanks, if you want to be an ignoramus and tip in countries where it's not the norm go ahead, but remember that you're ruining the foreign cultures that you infect with that behaviour. Trust me on this, it DOES have an impact, and it's not good.

You must have a really difficult life if little things concerning small amounts of money in a country you don't live in bother you so much. It must truly suck.

This should have a poll. ;)

No. I don't.

And I'm sure you'd whine if you had to pay the built in costs for service and got terrible service. Tipping insures that you get good service. Bad service = no tip.
You're playing right into the warped psychology that perpetuates this sickness. "If there were no tip incentive, service would be bad". wtf.

I also am personally disgusted to think of the kinds of money waiters and waitresses make when I remember my days at McDonald's.

**** this double-standard bull****.


At this point I'm just going to assume that you squeeze a pound so hard that the queen cries.
:lol:

That's kind of where I was going with my previous post. If you include the cost of service and don't tip, you'll probably wind up spending the same amount as you would with the lower wage + tip. Add on top of that the quality of service that is somewhat ensured by tipping. But, as mentioned before, this completely breaks down when people tip for anything but good service.

Under the tipping system service is quite good 99% of the time, unlike in places where tipping is not the custom.

You're playing right into the warped psychology that perpetuates this sickness. "If there were no tip incentive, service would be bad". wtf.

I also am personally disgusted to think of the kinds of money waiters and waitresses make when I remember my days at McDonald's.

**** this double-standard bull****.


:lol:
And it is! service in the States is far better than service in Europe in general.

So it all comes down to sour grapes because you chose to work at McDonalds instead of a better paying restaurant. :rolleyes:

You must have a really difficult life if little things concerning small amounts of money in a country you don't live in bother you so much. It must truly suck.
Running away then, are you?

That response seems to be a favourite cop-out of yours.

oh btw, in case you haven't read a recent point I posted, this kind of stuff DOES affect other countries. Aren't you getting the message? Americans are awful when they go abroad and can't get this stupid habit out of their systems.

And it is! service in the States is far better than service in Europe in general.

So it all comes down to sour grapes because you chose to work at McDonalds instead of a better paying restaurant. :rolleyes:

:rolleyes: yourself.

You seem incapable of actually contending my points, or even getting them without twisting them into some bizarre ad hominem.

Under the tipping system service is quite good 99% of the time, unlike in places where tipping is not the custom.

Yeah, I digest my food so much better knowing that the person serving me is smiling out of fear rather than out of a genuine interest in taking pride in their job :rolleyes:

Running away then, are you?

That response seems to be a favourite cop-out of yours.

oh btw, in case you haven't read a recent point I posted, this kind of stuff DOES affect other countries. Aren't you getting the message? Americans are awful when they go abroad and can't get this stupid habit out of their systems.

How does someone in the States tipping for a takeaway effect you? Are they going to suddenly start ordering tika masala from London and tip the guy at the curry shop? Are you afraid that one day someone might try to extract a coin from your tight little fist or something?

Yeah, I digest my food so much better knowing that the person serving me is smiling out of fear rather than out of a genuine interest in taking pride in their job :rolleyes:
Fear is what makes the meal.

Yeah, I digest my food so much better knowing that the person serving me is smiling out of fear rather than out of a genuine interest in taking pride in their job :rolleyes:

I could careless if the waitstaff is smiling. What I do care about is getting my order taken, receiving drinks, receiving my food in a timely fashion from the kitchen, and someone being attentive to other needs that I may have such as the need for a sauce, a new fork if one is dropped, or whatever else might come up.

Uh oh....:eek:

Nico...go easy on me, please :cry:

I tip out of empathy more than service. In the 80's when I had to get
my first crappo, 'real' job after living the life of a bohemain artist type
it was because my Wife got pregnant somehow. I took the first job I
could get that would augment my low-paying art career. I really, really
appreciated it when someone volunteered a tip. When my Wife went
back to school, she waitressed and the tips really meant alot then, too...
In the USA we are stuck with a 'system' that thrives on worker exploitation.
I tip more because I remember how it was when I was forced to work
for a total purple knob for ridiculously low pay and how much I appreciated
getting something from a benevolent customer. Its the reciprication factor....
I got when I had nothing so now I give because I can.
That being said, I dont think I would tip for take-out.....Delivery, yes.

I tip almost everyone who does a good job serving me. It could be the girl at the deli counter, the Butcher, the woman who does my laundry, or the Host/Hostess that gets me a table before the others that have reservations.

Even if it's not customary to tip that persons position, if they do a service for me, they'll get a tip of some sort. I live in a small town, and see the same people every week. They know how I like my things, and the get a toke from me for making sure things are perfect for me.

A few dollars here and there isn't much for me, and it makes my life a lot easier.

BTW I'm a Marine Mechanic(a non-tipped position) and people tip me all the time . It makes me happy when I bring home $30-$40 a day in tips, so I do the same to others.

Well, usually the food is rushed out while you're waiting. I think it'd be appreciated if you tip the host/ess if for busting their ass while they pack up your food quickly.

How does someone in the State tipping for a takeaway effect you? Are they going to suddenly start ordering tika masala from London and tip the guy at the curry shop? Are you afraid that one day someone might try to extract a coin from your tight little fist or something?

Are you trying to be thick? My points are just flying over your head one after the other here, and now all you can come up with is personal snipes. I give up, Ziemas. Go pick a fight with FXjohn or something, he seems more on your level.



I could careless if the waitstaff is smiling.
You could?



I really, really appreciated it when someone volunteered a tip.
Well that's part of the problem isn't it? When it's the norm it defeats the whole purpose of a tip - that you appreciated it makes you stand out from most.


I tip out of empathy more than service. In the 80's when I had to get
my first crappo, 'real' job after living the life of a bohemain artist type
it was because my Wife got pregnant somehow. I took the first job I
could get that would augment my low-paying art career. I really, really
appreciated it when someone volunteered a tip. When my Wife went
back to school, she waitressed and the tips really meant alot then, too...
In the USA we are stuck with a 'system' that thrives on worker exploitation.
I tip more because I remember how it was when I was forced to work
for a total purple knob for ridiculously low pay and how much I appreciated
getting something from a benevolent customer. Its the reciprication factor....
I got when I had nothing so now I give because I can.
That being said, I dont think I would tip for take-out.....Delivery, yes.

My beef isn't with your attitude, it's with those who don't even have the intellectual fortitude to question this system. It's with those who happily support it. It's with those who tip more and more and more as time goes on, fuelling higher and higher expectations. It's with double standards of tipping for some services and not others where there is no discernible difference other than tradition. It's with those who choose to wallow in blissful ignorance of any kind of guilt factor.

As I have already stated (and what Ziemas seems to bent on ignoring in his quest for another squabble without listening), I am already aware of how many feel "stuck with the system". You are at least aware of that problem. Most aren't.

No. I never, ever, received a tip on a take out order when I worked in restaurants (takeaway was rare in the places I worked at, but still), and I'd never expect one.



Indeed, whenever someone tipped me i felt awkward. There were of course exceptions, one time a customer i new well came in and i was on the phone taking an order, i got their food and told them how much, while still on the line another phone rang, i put them on hold...all went flawless. He left me a five. We were understaffed and i was doing more work then one usually would.

But, someone just getting food for you and taking your money? Why tip for that?

Are you trying to be thick? My points are just flying over your head one after the other here, and now all you can come up with is personal snipes. I give up, Ziemas. Go pick a fight with FXjohn or something, he seems more on your level.



You could?



Well that's part of the problem isn't it? When it's the norm it defeats the whole purpose of a tip - that you appreciated it makes you stand out from most.



My beef isn't with your attitude, it's with those who don't even have the intellectual fortitude to question this system. It's with those who happily support it. It's with those who tip more and more and more as time goes on, fuelling higher and higher expectations. It's with double standards of tipping for some services and not others where there is no discernible difference other than tradition. It's with those who choose to wallow in blissful ignorance of any kind of guilt factor.

As I have already stated (and what Ziemas seems to bent on ignoring in his quest for another squabble without listening), I am already aware of how many feel "stuck with the system". You are at least aware of that problem. Most aren't.

You really aren't making much sense. You live in the UK, yet you are all bent out of shape because America has a tipping culture and fear that this will be exported to the UK. Um, okay.

With all your 'those who don't even have the intellectual fortitude to question this system' you come off as an arrogant prat. People aren't nearly as dumb as you make them out to be. Keep on with that superior attitude, I'm sure it'll get you far and win you many friends.....:rolleyes:

As for smiling, I don't care if waitstaff smile or not, as long as they are clean and pleasant.

I said I'm done with you here, Ziemas. Respond all you want, maybe some other flunkie will take you up on your bizarre ramblings.

I said I'm done with you here, Ziemas. Respond all you want, maybe some other flunkie will take you up on your bizarre ramblings.

Bizarre ramblings? You truly make no sense. Your argument is akin to me getting bent out of shape about the closing times of the bars in India.

Oh, and good luck trying to change the world to fit how you think it should be.

I'm still trying to decipher exactly what Nicodemus is upset about...let alone what he's proposing as a solution.


American's tip in certain circumstances. Doing so accomplishes a couple of things: Keeps sticker prices for things like food at restaurants down because the prices don't reflect what is actually paid to the waitstaff. It also instills a performanced-based incentive program to the waitstaff. Presumably, if (example) Heather is making more in tips than Julie, it's because Heather is providing better service. If both Heather and Julie were making the same wages, in no tipping culture, Heather would have no incentive to provide better service, and Julie's service would be the norm. Regardless of how you run your restaurant, verbal motivation to do better only goes so far.

Bear in mind that there are some people that aim to please, and don't need monetary compensation to do so. It's just difficult to find and hire those people. Many will do the minimum...that's just how they roll...in any society.

Nicodemus, you'll never win an argument with an irrational person. :D

Just what have I said that's irrational?

Just what have I said that's irrational?I mean't to say Ziemas, not Nicodemus. Sorry

I mean't to say Ziemas, not Nicodemus. Sorry

Thanks for clearing that up! :)

I'm not going to join in this pissing match about whether or not we should tip. I tip good service better than most and I tip poor service poorly enough to let the person know the service wasn't great. I like many have found that when you become a 'regular' at a given establishment, tipping well will pay off for you in the future. For instance, at my favorite restaurant, on Wednesday nights they serve $1 draft beers and 1/2 price wings. I'm able to go in and have 4 beers and wings for under $10. On any other night this would cost me closer to $20. I like the service and I like the special, so I generally will pay my bill and leave a very large tip, usually enough to make up the difference for what I would have had to pay if the food were full price (works out to almost 100% tip a lot of the time). It pays off though, b/c every worker in that place knows me, including the managers and owners. I do not have to say a thing when I walk in, they automatically pour my beer and it's not unusual for me to get free beers, shots, and food.