Question on Tips

[jjllbb]

For those of you in food service I have a question:

If you order something for take-out and pick it up yourself, should you still leave a tip when you come to pay?

I'm never quite sure. Sometimes I do, and then sometimes I don't and feel guilty. I don't want to short anyone. I know how important tips are so I'm not sure if they're necessary in that situation.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

I don't. It's never occurred to me, and I think the people involved in preparing and packaging the food generally aren't being paid sub-minimum wage and thus dependent on tips on cover the gap like waitstaff is.

[jjllbb]

And if they're not necessary, when I have tipped, who has that money gone to do you think?

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Dunno. I guess the kitchen employees share it, or it goes to whoever cooked the food, or all the employees share it.

Or if the manager's a fuckdumpling, he/she pockets it and the employees don't see a dime.

[Broomjockey]

I've heard in other threads that it's usually the waitstaff who end up packaging to-go orders, and they have to take time away from their tables to do so. I think if you're really concerned, ask who packed it, and base your decisions on that, or just leave one as you feel.

[MaggieTheCat]

At my favorite bar back in Wisconsin, there were typically only two employees working at any given time: a cook, and a bartender. They shared the duty of waiting on tables. They also did a LOT of carry-out orders (my family and I ordered carry-out from them frequently) so we always tipped them just like we did if we went in to eat. Of course, I have no idea if they make waiter wages or normal wages. I guess now that I think about it, they probably make more than the average waitstaff minimum wage, since technically, none of the employees are considered servers.

Anyway, I'd go with Broom's suggestion and ask if you're unsure. I have also heard of waitstaff having to prep to-go orders so even if you don't leave the standard 15-20%, a little extra would be nice.

[El Pollo Guerrera]

Strange coincidence... Today, I 'picked-up' Vietnamese food and left a tip for the first time. I just put a couple of bucks on the counter as I left. The restaurant was pretty empty (only one table occupied), and I went to school with the owner/cook, so I decided to leave a little extra to help out.

[iradney]

It depends really. There are one or two places that don't really have a lot of sitdown space, so they specialise in take aways. Them, I generally tip if my food arrives quickly. Other places, it depends on the service and attitude. There's on restaurant where I tip without fail, as the staff know me, are friendly and helpful and good GRIEF the food is addictive

[Misanthropical]

It has never occurred to me to tip on take away. I have wondered if I should, but Mr. Mis says it's not a tipping situation, so I don't know.