I have been to Sonic approximately 456,789 times. I always tell the car hop to keep the change if the change is a couple dollars or less, but I don't give them extra even if the change is minimal. If I pay with a credit card, I might hand them a $1 tip, but usually not. Most people I know follow a similar approach, and everyone I know who was a car hop in high school says it is appropriate.
I have been to Sonic approximately 456,789 times. I always tell the car hop to keep the change if the change is a couple dollars or less, but I don't give them extra even if the change is minimal. If I pay with a credit card, I might hand them a $1 tip, but usually not. Most people I know follow a similar approach, and everyone I know who was a car hop in high school says it is appropriate.
Okay "keep the change" makes sense - I've just always paid with a card
You're fine and following standard Sonic protocol. I buy $0.99 large diet cokes from Sonic more than I care to admit. The total with tax is $1.07. If I pay with two $1 bills, the car hop gets like a 90% tip. If I pay with a card, the car hop gets nothing. Such is life. In my case, I go to my closest Sonic enough that I get the same couple of car hops frequently, so it kind of evens out. Now that I am thinking about it, I should probably get them a Christmas bonus...
Post by teengirlsquad on Oct 23, 2014 12:04:51 GMT -5
It can depend on the location as well. Some Sonic's might pay their carhops a normal wage, but I had friends who were carhops and they made less per hour - not quite as little as a waiter, but still less than minimum wage, because of tips. So I always tip - even if it is just keep the change. But if I pay with a card I would give them something, just in case they really aren't making minimum wage.
I always get an extra large drink (soda, limeade, or anything really) and a large order of tots. All of their milk shakes are really good too. I'm not sure that I've ever had an actual meal there.
It can depend on the location as well. Some Sonic's might pay their carhops a normal wage, but I had friends who were carhops and they made less per hour - not quite as little as a waiter, but still less than minimum wage, because of tips. So I always tip - even if it is just keep the change. But if I pay with a card I would give them something, just in case they really aren't making minimum wage.
This is my experience too. It is up to the owner of that location. Where I grew up, there are 2 Sonic's within a couple of miles of each other--one pays minimum wage and the other pays a little bit more than server's wages. I used to think it was busy city (server wages) vs small town or slow location (min wage), but that's not always the case.
If I pay with cash, I let them keep the coins and I might throw in an extra dollar. If I pay with my card, I don't tip.
Post by ellipses84 on Oct 23, 2014 22:04:18 GMT -5
I have an awesome sonic story from today. Works been crazy and I've had to do all daycare dropoff and pickup this week because DH's work is busy too, so I decided to be lazy tonight and get sonic on the way home. DS loves grilled cheese and apple slices. The sonic near daycare is totally ghetto, had a 1 star review and took forever to bring my food.
I forgot to ask for sauce for my chicken, so when the teen guy car hop came I asked if he had any sauce in his tray. He said no but asked what kind and I said honey mustard. He acted so happy and said honey mustard buddy because that's his favorite kind and gave me a high five. He went and got me sauce and continued to call me his honey mustard buddy for the rest of our interaction. I kind of wondered if he wanted a tip, but I've never tipped the car hops and he didn't act like he was waiting for one.