Do you tip for takeout?

[Kimba]

It's probably been asked a millionty times...My first thought is no, because there's typically not a server involved when I'm picking up a to-go order from a restaurant. But then I'm paying and I see the "gratuity" line on the receipt and I feel like a cheapskate if I don't tip.

[rageragerage]

I do. They still have to gather the order together, pack it up and bring it to you. I do about 10-15%.

[qwerty]

It depends on the place and then on how pleasant the person who brings out the food is. I never tip on takeout Chinese though. But I do tip on takeout sushi.

[raangoli]

I usually do about 10%. Like the PP said, they're still serving you by packing it etc.

[steph96]

When I was a waitress, I would have to take time away from my tables to pack up the order. I tip no less than 10% on takeout.

[cheezer]

I don't. Minimum wage in my city is high though and there's an extra fee tacked on to all meals for healthcare for the waiters & foodservice workers.

[kershnic]

Not from a place I pick up the food. For delivery yes.

[aurora]

Yes, but a smaller amount (10%ish). But, I do takeout maybe once a year.

[livinitup]

I almost always tip in cash, even if I use a credit card, so I am used to writing a big fat -0- on the gratuity line. That said, I rarely buy take-out from casual dining restaurants and usually tip about half the time when I do.

[womet]

I don't.

[Deleted]

Yes, 15-20%. I'm a chronic over tipper. I tip for everything.

If I pick up the food I'll still throw in $3-5.

[brooke77]

Yes. Usually about $2-$3.

[mbcdefg]

Usually not. But I get all panicky if I see the "gratuity" line on the receipt or the iPad app, like you said, and sometimes I toss in 10%/$1. 

I always tip at an ice cream parlor, though, since that's how I made my money while I was in school. Either $1 or the loose change. Unless the service is horrendous. 

[katie829]

If I get curbside then always.

It depends on the place and time. If it's clearly the bartender/waitress helping me out then absolutely. I

[yentl]

Always. I worked in a restaurant where the primary function of my job was take out orders, so I'm slightly biased. It's $2-3 to me, I don't care and it doesn't impact my bottom line at all. But when I was in that role, it made a real difference if I got that tip or not.

The worst was when people would place big orders... catering an office lunch or a party... and not tip. That would drive me insane.

[tacom]

Aug 28, 2015 12:15:26 GMT -5 v said:

Very rarely -- if I go somewhere a lot, I'll occasionally throw a dollar in the tip jar.

But I only really get takeout from places that are delivery/takeout only fast casual kinds of places, so the staff is not making the $2/hr that a waiter would. I don't see getting takeout at those places as any different from ordering at the counter or getting food at McDonald's really.

this is the important distinction. 

dine in restaurant? we tip $5, which can be as much as 25% of the bill. someone relying on tips ($3/hr waiter of $7/hr hostess) is prepping and coordinating all of those orders. 

delivery/takeout only? I might throw in my change every so often.

[mskitkat]

Yes. The takeout person is probably just a regular server, and you get taxed on the meal like normal. I haaaaated doing takeout orders because it was a ton of work and people rarely tipped.

[M]

10% give or take depending on the service.

I worked for my parent's take out restaurant every Christmas...it's a lot more work than most people think. Not only do you take the orders, you have to check all the orders to make sure everything is there...correctly...so that the customers aren't angry when they get home and find something missing. Then take time to pack and organize, especially larger orders. It's not really that much less work than a server taking your order, bringing your food, and refilling your drink.

[Deleted]

I do at my favorite places because I want special treatment. This is really my Thai food place.

This means we sometimes get free spring rolls, large soup when small was ordered, and one time they delivered to me when I was having a really shitty day.

[bostonmichelle]

My local pizza/sub place, I just throw the change in but there's no sit down area.

My diner that I go to, I always tip whether I sit down or not. But then again I have a relationship and they teared up when I said we were moving.

If we get Chinese we get it delivered and then I tip as well.

[calico]

When I pick-up, no.

[babsbunny]

We started tipping $2 at Chili's when we were almost always using gift cards for take-out, and that happened to be about 10%, but I usually do not tip take out. I bought 8 pizzas recently and lightly tipped when I picked them up (I had no idea if there was a standard for pizza pick up tipping).

Totally flameful but one main reason I take out and not dine in is because I want to get the food without being waited on and being obliged to tip. I take out to spend less and eat in the privacy of my own home. I don't get delivery because I know I have to tip them. I just want to avoid cooking dinner and not spend an arm and a leg dammmit!

[melmel48]

Aug 28, 2015 18:41:37 GMT -5 bostonmichelle said:

My local pizza/sub place, I just throw the change in but there's no sit down area.

My diner that I go to, I always tip whether I sit down or not. But then again I have a relationship and they teared up when I said we were moving.

If we get Chinese we get it delivered and then I tip as well.

Don't worry. I will make sure lori19 and me keep them in business.

[sfy]

Aug 28, 2015 16:42:51 GMT -5 mskitkat said:

Yes. The takeout person is probably just a regular server, and you get taxed on the meal like normal. I haaaaated doing takeout orders because it was a ton of work and people rarely tipped.

I learned this when DS worked takeout. I already tipped for takeout but I probably have bumped up the amount since learning this.

[sporky]

For delivery yes, for picking it up then no.