Just learned that a friend of mine always tips 10% on takeout. Ive never tipped on takeout unless they offered me a water/soda while I waited or something.
US biased, but I’m a little curious about other countries as well.
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No, because tipping culture isn’t a thing here.
Same. They’re trying, tho. Restaurants often ask me to punch in the total before paying. I consistently go for the sum that I actually ate for.
Some taxi drivers/companies do the same. I’ve started only using those who don’t.
Until people outside the service industry have the same opportunity to get something extra, tipping culture can fuck right off. I’ll gladly keep paying more for my meal if the waiters etc get decently paid.
No tipping culture where I live either, but there are a few places - especially in tourist heavy areas - where the EFTPOS machine will ask if you want to add a tip before you put your card in. Just about every place I’ve been the server will hit the “0%” button for you before handing the machine over if they can tell you are a local
Restaurants often ask me to punch in the total before paying.
What? That’s such a slow way of doing it!! The ones who try it here just have an extra screen like the receipt yes/no screen.
If they’re going to start making you do data entry that’s awful.
This. I’m happy with weekend surcharges, so long as that’s going to the staff being paid properly. If you want staff to get paid better, do what literally every other workforce does and bake it into your business.
Until people outside the service industry have the same opportunity to get something extra, tipping culture can fuck right off.
I think that’s called bonus pay, I’ve just never seen a job that actually gave bonus pay.
I never ever tip if I’m picking up the food myself. No service is being rendered.
I also pretty much never get takeout anymore because the grossness of being asked for a tip ruins the experience.
There’s a donut place I go to that hands you a device/keypad thing when you pay and it has like a gazillion prompts and questions, including tip. But I found that if you order ahead and pay online, you can skip all that and just pop in and pick up your order. So that’s what I always do now.
For anyone in the Chicago area, you need to try Stan’s Donuts. Everything is good but specifically the yeast-raised donuts are to die for. Best Boston Cream donut I’ve ever had.
I just assume that the tipping screen is built into the POS (cash register) software. It doesn’t know if this is a tip appropriate business, so it just asks for one.
They surely wouldn’t complain if you did, but I don’t think that any of those places are trying to manipulate people into tipping through their cash out screen prompts.
As a business owner that has used several different POS systems, I can tell you that they are choosing to have you see the tip prompt. I have never seen a system that didn’t have tipping as an option that can be turned on or off. However, it is usually set to on as default.
I have no doubt that you are completely correct.
But, as someone who has used various POS at various companies, I can tell you that nobody ever changes the defaults. 😂
Sadly this is very true haha
Never. On nothing. Fuck tips.
Fuck tips.
Please, people: continue tipping for non-takeout service!
I generally agree with you and personally think that tipping culture in the US is out-of-control and needs reform. Restaurants should pay their employees a living wage, regardless of whether or not the customer gives them extra… But until they do, workers still rely on you to survive. So please don’t stiff them in an attempt to make a point!
EDIT: Downvote all you want, but can anyone actually defend not tipping workers who rely on it at a sit-down restaurant in the US?
In the US, tip servers, they make about $3/hr. Now that you know, you’re the asshole if you don’t tip.
This is untrue. If they earn less than minimum after tips the business has to make it up. The first $5 an hour essentially go in the pocket of the owner.
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Never said anything about whether I tip. Just that there is no such thing as earning below minimum wage legally. The same argument about minimum wage stands for any employee like a cashier, burger flipper etc.
You should probably go see someone about your anger issues.
I will in the US as per your country’s unfortunate custom. But at home? Fuck no.
Won’t change the system through conformity.
I avoid places that enforce tips, but if there’s no alternative, I’m not giving away free money.
You friend is insane and making the problem worse. Tell them to stop.
Even in the US, where tipping has been out of control for a long time, nobody in their right mind tips for takeout. The employee literally didn’t do a damn thing other than a couple seconds of handing you a box and possibly cashing you out.
In my previous town there was a restaurant where I had to install an app to order. When ordering, the kitchen would make the meal and put it out on a counter where I had to go and pick it up myself. When ordering drinks, I had to walk over to the bar where a server left the drink out on a table for me to fetch. Basically no interaction with anyone.
The audacity when the app asked me to leave a tip. Luckily I live in Norway where leaving no tip is completely normal, because civilized employment laws exist.
Please continue not tipping. I do not want to pay extra so that business owners can dump wages.
Well that’s just false. Many people don’t tip for takeout (I don’t), but the customary amount in the US is 10% if you’re going to. I worked in the service industry almost 20 years ago and that amount was supposed to go to bartenders and hostesses who handled the takeout, and it was a nice supplement since takeout and busy bar times didnt normally overlap. It didn’t use to be expected (unlike post covid where tipping is out of control), but if they bring the food out to you or if you have any special orders it’s definitely common. I still bristle at the idea and did back then too, but it’s a far cry from “nobody in their right mind”.
Fuck no, they’re paid to prepare food. There’s no service, why am I tipping? People who tip like this are the reason why we have a terrible time ordering every time we go out.
Could you speak up so those in the back can hear you?
“Fuck no”
Ok great, thank you for your service.
Nope. Where I live employees’ salary is included in the food prices.
Canada here. For the very rare delivery order I make, I’ll do 10%.
For takeout orders, 0, except from my favourite shawarma place because I like them and want them to stay around. They get 10%. Their prices are very reasonable to begin with, so much that I’ve thought they could charge more.
This is the correct response. Small businesses with fair prices need support.
USA, I also tip 10% on takeout. I guess it’s my way of helping the employees have a shot at a livable wage. I used to have a job in the industry myself, and internalized the “pay it forward” culture.
This.
Was in both front and back of the house positions, in the service industry in the US and while yeah, it may be allowing employers to skate a little longer on paying their people a REAL wage, that’s their karma accruing.
I’ll help the person in front of me.
Zero tips for takeout.
I’ll tip like a buck sometimes, but only if I’m feeling like it. Certainly no obligation. USA
Yup, in the US you shouldn’t tip on takeout orders
Scotland. As much as they are trying tipping isn’t. Thing here but back in the days when we payed by cash I’d usually just round it up to the next £5 or £10
As much as they are trying
Ha ha ha same here (NZ), I’m assuming gullible tourists must be keeping that misguided dream alive.
Went to Greece last year and they’re trying the “Would you like to leave a tip” message on the card machine
It’s your fucking civic duty to click “NO” then immediately get on Google leaving a 1-star review saying why
Fuck right off, I’ll decide whether to tip or not, NEVER ask for it
@Mr_Blott those are popping up a lot in tourist spots here. I just laugh, they’re trying it on.
Since I’m not from a tipping culture I like being reminded in countries where they need it as part of their wage, though. Didn’t realise it’s offensive.
One resteraunt I went to shoved on 10% with a note saying opt out. Nowhere was this mentioned until the bill.
Here’s yhe annoying thing if the food cost 10% more I’d still have happily paid for the meal recommended the place and come back for more as the food was good and cheap for what you got.
That 1 thing has annoyed me enough I’m never returning and recommending to others to avoid.
Nope.
For pickup? No tip. There’s no service provided. You are paying the listed price for the goods (food) you are receiving.
Delivery? 20% with a cap of $5
At a bar? 20% with a cap of $10
Sit down restaurant? 20% with a cap of $20
I hope you’re not capping your sit down restaurant tips in America. Most more expensive places have waiters working far fewer tables so they can be more attentive, and they’re also usually the cream of the crop waiter wise. The higher total tips but still a normal percentage are definitely what they need/deserve to make the longer meals and fewer tables make sense financially (assuming the service actually was good of course).
Note I’m not advocating for any of this “20% is the new baseline” bullshit, but you definitely shouldn’t be capping your tips. Same goes for capping your bar tips unless you’re talking about only pouring wine/drafts or opening beers, and then I’d still advocate a per drink cap of like a buck per - definitely not a total cap.
I absolutely am capping my tip in America. Even at an expensive restaurant. If there’s a big party, or we’ve stayed longer than usual, then yes I’ll pay more. But fuck anyone who thinks $20 is a bad tip for less than an hour of service. That’s 20% on a $100 bill. I don’t feel the server at a steakhouse is magically working harder to refill my water glass than a waitress at IHOP is. The premium is already factored into the price of the food. Paying strictly on a percentage basis is a completely fucked line of thinking that’s led to the tipping nightmare we’re in. Wake the fuck up and realize what you’re advocating.
It’s a question of opportunity cost. In order to be really attentive they work fewer tables, so they need to have higher margins to make up for lack of volume. If you can’t afford a 15% tip, or 20% for good service, you shouldn’t be eating at an expensive restaurant to begin with. That’s the social compact in America, that’s how it works. Until servers start being paid a living wage, you’re not the arbiter of what constitutes paying “enough”, you’re just rejecting cultural norms and hurting servers so you can save a few bucks.
An alternative way to view this: if I order three sodas at a fancy restaurant vs three top shelf alcohols, the service is functionally the same but the bill is wildly different. Would you still say I should tip on pure percentage in the latter scenario?
You should because that’s how tipping works. No one likes tipping (as a customer anyway, plenty of servers and owners do), but until servers are provided with a living wage that’s how it works. You’re not changing the system by tipping less - you’re just being a dick.
And not for nothing, but there is a slight difference between soda service and a simple pour service. Actual liquor service usually comes with someone asking how you like it (e.g. on the rocks vs straight vs three drops of water) whereas a soda is just a soda. Sitting at a bar, no one is gonna get pissy if you’re not tipping 15-20% on opening beers or straight pours, but that’s just how table service works.
If they’re working at a fancy restaurant, they’re being paid a living wage.
I’ve heard legend of places that pay servers up to $5/hr!
You have clearly never worked in the service industry. They make the same sub minimum wage as every server unless there’s a local ordinance otherwise.
There’s no service provided.
And furthermore, takeout workers are not defined as a tipped position legally and therefore their employer should be paying them an actual wage, not “waiter’s wage,” which is federally $2.13/hr. (“Should” and “is” obviously not always being the same thing.)
I am always wary of touch screens and other gizmoes popping up everywhere begging for tips in non-tipped counter situations. It is possible, indeed likely, that the tips are not going to the employees anyway and are just being pocketed by the management.
I’m in the usa and I tip at least 20% no matter what. the food service industry is shit and I want to help the workers in a way that I can.
Then you should also campaign to get them better wages and to get rid of tipping, get to a better healthcare system to so the money they do get isn’t sunk into that, as well as for doing something about crazy rents in some places.
How do we know that goes to the workers and not the head honcho?
Now we’re discussing tipping for takeout? What’s next tipping in drive thru? I’m so tired of the tipping culture in the US, so very tired.
Have you not been tipping the machine for taking your tip? I was told we should leave 2% next to the machine because VISA/MasterCard will go out of business if we don’t afford the life we have to sacrifice to it every day?
I checked with Futurama by the way, we can sacrifice the embryos for 1.76 days of extension.
I went to a Sonic recently because I was constipated and sure enough, they were asking for tips at the checkout screen. Same thing at a liquor store I went to.
