Opinions: Do you tip for take-out?

[StoneMtn]

Most sit-down restaurants do take-out, and I sometimes go to one and grab lunch, which I bring back to my office. Of course, the same person who hands you the take-out would otherwise be your server if you sat down.

I was once told, in no uncertain terms, by a waitress-friend that "you do not tip for take-out" when she saw me do so.

Since then, I've wondered if this is really the rule. On one hand these people are taking a couple minutes to hand the food to you, but on the other hand they are not pouring water for you or running back and forth to the kitchen (etc.), so I just don't know.

What are your thoughts? Do people here tip a server who hands you take-out?

[Schwa.]

the tip is for the service. no service, no tip.

[bouche]

I don't think you should tip for take-out. I don't even know why I tip for most things. We're over-tipped!

There have been times, where they've tossed a little bit extra this or that, and I'll leave a couple extra bucks. But otherwise....if I'm going to tip, I'd better seated and served like a god.

[Tooly]

last night i went to get takeout, and i left the girl a buck, it didnt feel right not tipping, but mainly because they had a tip jar right there where you pick up your takeout, kinda implying that you should.

[Jaimoe]

Sometimes, but it isn't necessary. My wife is a server and she doesn't expect a tip when she deals with take-out orders.

[slavetothegroove]

I worked at a restaurant for years that was dine-in and take out. Some people tipped in take out, some didn't. I guess it's your choice, if you think the service was good and your feeling generous go ahead. Sometimes we'd have one person on take out the whole night if it was busy and the waiters/waitresses would give a tip pool at the end of the night to the take out person. So if they made extra tips from customers, certainly not a bad thing, but I don't think you'd look bad if you didn't, definitely not required.

[Basher]

I tip for take-out. I worked in the service industry for a bit, and while I agree that it is not expected, it is certainly appreciated.

[Ms.Huxtable]

It has never even occured to me to tip for take-out. Now that it's in my subconscience though I probably will feel guilty if I don't.

Damn it.

[Big Wooly Mammoth]

i don't tip for take out. it buigs me that when paying by credit card that they still have the line for the tip on the cheque.

if there is a tip jar, and I'm getting back change, I will sometimes throw some in.

[Northern Wish]

No tips for take out, although I way over tip breakfast waiters/ waitresses as a rule.....

[jaybone]

Tipping is not necessary for take-out orders.

However, when I used to be a server, many places made you tip out the kitchen on a portion of your sales. So doing take-out orders sucked b/c you would have to tip out on something that you didn't make money on. That being said, servers usually make enough that it more then balances out in the long run.

I usually tip $1.00 to keep the karma flowing.

[ollie]

Depends. If I get take-out from a restaurant I'll leave a tip on the assumption that the portion system jaybone describes is in place.

If I'm grabbing a coffee at the Second Cup -- no.

[Freak By Night]

I never leave a tip for take out. If you're giving me my food or drink from behind the cash register, you're not waiting on me - I'm waiting on you.

(plagiarized from Bill Maher)

[YearsAlongTheSea]

...while I agree that it is not expected, it is certainly appreciated.

It's a grey area. I don't think it's necessary but if something above and beyond the call of duty occurs during the transaction I'll leave a little something...

[AWeeJig]

The first time I go to a restaurant to grab take-out I generally do not tip. If the food is worthy of a return trip, I will leave a tip on future visits. Albeit, not a large tip for take out, but a tip nonetheless.

[phishtaper]

whenever I pick up swiss chalet, i also give the counter girl a tip, "psssst, burger king pays better."

[NewRider]

whenever I pick up swiss chalet, i also give the counter girl a tip, "psssst, burger king pays better."

LOL!

[Thorgnor]

I tip if I'm paying with someone else's debit card

[zero]

As someone who works at a restaurant that does a ton of take out at the expense of dine-in customers on occasion I will say we need to be tipped a little on take out. Just %5 or something nominal like a buck or two adds up for the server and makes working a less than minimum wage job a liveable wage at least.

Typically the server has taken the order, often packed it up, taken payment and a modest tip is appropriate but often not forthcoming. That said many of my customers routinely tip as much as five bucks on take out realizing I've taken their order, filled it etc. and also that they probably would have been dining in otherwise.

[zero]

... and yes there's the whole tipping out on a portion of sales factor.

[AD]

i don't tip for take-out. it's take-out.

[Velvet]

Tips are for the business owners.

The whole concept of tipping allows employers to get away with paying workers unwieldly low wages. If society as a whole stopped tipping, these people would make an honest wage as they should - through their paycheque, (that would be fully taxed, I might add), and the price we see on the menu would be the price we paid (again, with the tax). Why should a waiter's hourly wage be determined by the random tipping habits of their customers when most jobs offer a firm regular paycheque?

Sorry to be redundant, but I despise tipping, and yes, I have worked several jobs where I would get tips. Hated it then too (though to a much lesser degree I'll admit).

[StoneMtn]

There are millions of Aussies who would agree with you.

[SolarGarlic]

If it is a place I go to and am "known" by the staff/owners then, yeah, I tip 'em for sure. I think it comes back to me in good service, good food and a booger free meal.

Edited March 5, 2009 by Guest

[Velvet]

I should say that I really appreciated tipping when I moved furniture. Tips were irregular and indicated true appreciation for a tough job done above expectations.