OT - Do you tip at carry out places?

when is the last time that restaurant gave you a handout? Tips have gotten so out of hand these days it's ridiculous.

If it's a restaurant that I order take out from but could sit down and a server was the one to put it together I usually leave a dollar on my card.  Thinking is they would be working on their tables if it wasn't for me.

It it's only take out/fast food the only time I tip is when I pay cash and don't feel like carrying around whatever coins I get as change.

I agree, I used to work at a restaurant and the carry out workers do their fair share of work to put the order together so I always tip them. But if I go pickup a pizza from Hungry Howies or something I usually do not.

Depends on the restaurant. I know at Chili's and Buffalo Wild Wings, the takeaway servers get min. wage so I don't tip. At the Outback I work at, they get paid $2.63 an hour, just like regular servers and depend on tips. Nothing big, $2-3 dollars will do.

To eat at a restaurant it should be required that you worked at one for a year so you learn that your ranch isn't that f-ing important. Yes I did steal that from Daniel Tosh.

I say you ask Mr. Pink what he thinks about this.

I typically charge the cost of the carryout and often drop a dollar or two in the tip jar.  It doesn't impact me very much and might help someone else.

If I spend say 5.53 and get 47 cents in change at a carry out place I'll usually just drop the change in the jar. If I'm using my card I'm probably not going to tip, but I do make it a point to remember if someone was extremely courteous so that if I ever do spend cash there I'd end up tipping. This means I will never leave a tip at Blimpie Burger.

I ususally do if it's a place that I eat at a lot, otherwise no.

Negging by people without the stones to say why is endemic around here. I'd guess it's because you dared utter a comment that was critical of Blimpie, and thou shalt not criticize Blimpie.

And Wendys remains superior in every way.

And I dont even like Wendys.

and i feel that the only person or people that should get tipped on a carry out order is the cooks... we did all the work and we get nothing out of it...

If it's a regular restaurant, always.  The waiters working at the bar/counter are expecting tips as part of their wages.  For fast food-type places, it's more optional. 

if she's cute, i'll tip

Here's my logic for tipping. I understand that they get paid less than $3/hour, but no one needs to be getting paid $30+/hour for waiting tables. You tip to ensure good service, you don't tip for anything else. That includes making sure your drink never runs out, getting your food quickly, making sure your drinks are strong, etc. It doesn't include writing down your order and placing it in a bag.

I generally start with 20% and go from there. If it is a small bill, I'll add $1. If it's a large bill and the tip is already $10, I'll take off $1, because they usually have 3 other tables tipping as well. even if they don't $9 plus the minimum wage is about what a waiter should be making.

I'm italian....so i have to tip....everybody.....

:(

How about at a buffet?

I don't but I know many that do.

At carryout places...I carry out all my extra cash with me too.

I'll usually drop a dollar tip.

But for places like Chiptole or Moe's that have a tip jar, hell no.

For anyone who doesn't like to tip, try overtipping by a dollar or two (or five, or ten, or twenty, depending on what kind of restaurant you are in and how much you normally spend) on a regular basis.  Get to know a person or two by name.  You might even want to talk a bit, offering a few personal details but not enough to make anyone think you want to get "too close."   You will soon get a reputation as a "great customer."  The old saw/acronym "To Insure Prompt Service" doesn't work as a single transaction; it works much better as a pattern.

You won't believe how much better you will be treated after the staff picks up on your generosity.  I have been on "both sides of the counter," and I can state with utter conviction that being treated like royalty and having the staff look forward to your visits is well worth the extra dollars you spend. 

Conversely, if you get a reputation as a PITA, don't even bother eating anything they make for you once they know you.  You don't want to know why.

Carry out is just like the bar: about 10%, but never less than a buck at a time.  It's an extra dollar or three to me, but it means a lot more to them.  
 

if any of you all have worked at a restaurant you know how to tip. Listen people its not based on min wage even if there carry out person gets min wage. theres more effort that goes into your carry out order then your order at the place of business. ill happily walk you through this if you need it. stop being stingy i up charge ppl where i work to cover the cost of carry out just because ppl like you all dont tip. Service in the dinning room is different if you have a problem then it can be fixed but, your interaction with a togo person is simple. a lot of peoples expecations are not able to be met. Tip min tip isnt  dollar its 20% not a $1. even if they suck theres a lot more work than you understand that goes into making ur night than just a dollar. and if you "get to know" someone everyone tries it be orig. grow a pair you went to michigan not ohio state act like it stop being cheep.

oh and btw i dont get a dime outta the tip i pay more in taxes but its there fucking money. not mine think about that.

btw a lot of places like outback applebees o'charleys will start upcharing for togo costs in the furture there not far behind the airlines in charing to cover there own costs.

i cant upvote myself from my phone i dont need votes im not hammered im watching my co-pilot fly im not going to edit my posts the plane is on AP but, i still dont trust it.

let me guess you order your steak mid well? no matter what the cut.

I've worked a number of jobs where my income was primarily based on gratuities, so karma dictates that I leave a buck here or there for things that I wouldn't normally think deserve a tip. But in general I don't think it's a really big deal.

I never tip at carry out places and I don't feel awkward or guilty about it. I also don't tip at buffets. Why should I? I'm the one getting up and getting my own food. If I go in and dine at a restaurant I tip 15% of the bill. For pizza delivery I tip $2-$5 dollars, depending on my total bill. I don't tip my newspaper delivery driver. I tip my barber $2 dollars. The rule of thumb I use is they have to be going out of their way to wait on me while I'm present.

Nope...but the tip jar does make me feel guilty.

If you're going out to eat, you can afford to tip.

This is something that bothers me a bit. I get the same feeling as the OP when I don't leave a tip at a buffet, but what the hell am I tipping someone for? IMHE a tip is given because you were given service that went above what you would expect. I don't think it is something that should just be given because you were served. They are in the service industry, it is their job.

I have heard the arguements that waiters/waitresses don't get paid much and all that goes along with that, but why should it be up to the customers to make up the difference? I don't see why an employer not paying an employee enough should be the customers problem.

I think that a tip is something that should be given after you have received exceptional service and I have yet to figure out at what point it changed from that to being something that is expected each time you are served.

To conclude I will say that I am a hypocrite because I can't handle the shame of not leaving a good tip when I go out, but I really don't understand why it has gotten to this point.

Tipping at carry out places is really stupid.  I don't do it.

Seriously, why should you pay someone more to do the job thier employer is already paying them to do?  And if their employer is not paying them enough, that's a problem they need to sort out with their employer, it's not my concern. 

MGoDC is (posted above me) is totally on point about how ridiculous that the food service industry gets away with passing employment costs onto the customers, over and above what the customer pays for the meal.

I would much rather food service workers be paid minimum wage, and have that cost passed on to me in a straightfoward and upfront way (through increased price in meals) than through the institution of compulsory tipping.