I consider myself a generous person and when I go to restaurants in the U.S., I almost always tip 20% unless the service is just flat out bad. However, since the pandemic, I’ve really limited my indoor dining. Very rarely do I eat indoors unless the restaurant is empty or I’m desperate. Fortunately, I live in Los Angeles so my family and I can dine outdoors year-round.
RELATED: How Much to Tip Housekeeping and My Trick to Make Sure They Actually Get It
Usually we just order takeout and I will go pick it up, which almost always leaves me in an awkward situation. I’m truly perplexed about whether I should be tipping on takeout that I go and physically pick up. If it’s a restaurant I frequent often and know the staff, I give a few dollars but it just seems like an unnecessary added expense. Do you agree?
I also feel like some restaurants are too aggressive with tips, too. For example, take the screenshot above. I ordered four sandwiches from a Palm Springs sandwich shop website and before checking out, they required me to enter a tip. I find that even more awkward and offensive. Maybe it’s just me but I felt if I didn’t tip, my food might be sabotaged so it’s not worth a few dollars. I know it’s silly but that’s the way it made me feel. The same goes for delivery apps, which require the tip in advance. This doesn’t seem right because isn’t a tip a reward for good service?
RELATED: The Best Pizza in New York City – Do You Agree?
I just did some research and according to Did You Know, tipping began in a London coffee shop in 1668. “It was in Lloyd’s Coffee House that a brass container for the benefit of waitrons was first inscribed with the words “To Insure Promptness”. The idea was that a patron would put an amount of money into the container before sitting down to insure promptness of service from the waitrons.”
They now say: “Whatever or wherever the origin of the word “tip”, it is now given after being served, whether the service was prompt or not.” I agree.
USA Today interviewed an expert on the subject: “Tipping on takeout orders is the right thing to do,” says H.G. Parsa, professor of lodging management at the University of Denver. “Even takeout involves some amount of service, and we should tip those employees.”
The Today Show covered the subject last month and said: “With such days in the rearview mirror and indoor dining back at full strength across the country, takeout isn’t as substantial a piece of business as it once was for José and Dear Margaret, but the generosity and goodwill of their regulars has not abated. The tipping norm for their restaurants — takeout or dine-in — remains at 20% or slightly above.”
Tipping 20% for takeout? If that’s the norm then I’ve really have not been as generous as I thought. I understand that restaurant workers during the pandemic took a huge hit, which is why I really upped my tips big time during lockdown but now that most have gone back normal, it doesn’t seem right.
Of course, none of this even touches on the fact that restaurant owners should be paying their workers fair wages and not passing that responsibility on to their customers. What do you think? And how much do you tip on takeout? KEEP READING: Are You Obligated to Switch Seats on a Plane
IN A TAKEOUT FOOD PLACE( IE-CHINESE FOOD OR PIZZA SHOP) I LEAVE A FEW $$ IF THE SERVICE IS GOOD. BUT FOR MCDONALDS OR WENDYS WHERE THERE IS NO SPECIAL FRIENDLINESS TOWARDS US, I DO NOT LEAVE ANYTHING. THE REASON WE PICKUP IN THE FIRST PLACE IS TO SAVE MONEY,
I like the European method…Service is Included.
Square has made the system worse. You buy some donuts at a small shop, and the tablet you are supposed to sign asks whether you want to leave a 15, 20 or 25% tip….What! So you feel like a curmudgeon if don’t leave a tip.
The whole concept of a tip is because the waiter/waitress at the restaurant is waiting on you, responding to your every request for service. There is no such service when you do takeout.
If the price is insufficient to profitably run the establishment, raise your price.
Tipping at fast food pickup and drive thru’s? Not happening. Menu mandatory add-on tips for cooks which you can remove only on verbal request. Not worth a fight.
With everything going on in the world and the cost of everything, gas, food, etc., if you can afford to order takeout you can afford a few dollars to the staff to help them through. We always tip 20% as gratitude for the job they are doing and on a $40 or $50 takeout order for my wife and myself, we’re only talking $8-$10 more. I’m sure that’s not going to hurt most of us that do takeout. If it does, you shouldn’t be ordering food from a restaurant.
JOHNNY, HERE IN CT, I USUALLY TIP 20 PERCENT WHEN I HAVE GOOD SERVICE(AT THE RESTAURANT) WITH TAKEOUT GIVEN RESTAURANTS ARE SHORT STAFFED AND HURTING, I TIP AT 10 PERCENT TO HELP SUPPORT RESTAURANTS STAY AFLOAT LARRY SEGALL, LCSW, IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CT.
On ANY tipping, base on SUBTOTAL (before taxes). CASH!!! To tip on a credit card allows the government to knowingly tax that amount. On taking out I usually tip custom of 10%.
(Restaraunt owner)
I tip a few dollars, as most of the time it is just packaging up the order. Not the same level of service as waiting on a table, going back and forth with drinks, water, food, etc. The salaries here have increased dramatically.
I agree, some of these fast food takeout places, for example, Jersey Mikes, are getting too aggressive in the asking for tips these days and put you in an awkward position. I don’t tip in places like that. At a full service restaurant, if I order it to go, I will, but only 10-15%. But those other places I started paying by cash because of that tipping screen that pops up when paying by credit card. The workers stare at the screen to see if you are going to tip or not. You also have to watch out, some of these restaurants automatically include a gratuity in the bill for takeout, so you might be tipping twice.
I live in a small town that has limited dining opportunities outside of fast food chains (too many). Most wait staff in this area work 2-3 part-time jobs. They do have to package the take-out orders and sometimes deliver to curbside in addition to waiting tables. I tip but usually less than 20% unless it’s a restaurant I frequent often.
I agree with you. When the tip screen comes up, I choose ‘other’ or ‘custom’. I always leave a few dollars, but certainly not 20% for them to package my food in to go containers. The argument could be made that there is a cost for the containers, but there is usually enjoyment at a sit down dinner that I pay for service. If I get a leftover box, I don’t pay for that. Tipping has gotten out of control.
I would tip a few dollars only on takeout, of course if its a super large order then you might want to tip upto 10%.
First of all, your last comment is the strongest. Don’t make me tip your employees. However, at one of my local Anchorage restaurants, I regularly order takeout. When I show up, the wait staff is packaging my sandwich, putting my soup in to-go bowls, gathering everything. That means they aren’t serving other customers. They deserve a tip … but not 20%.