s/o tipping for carry out stuff

[SKL]

OK this is my new pet peeve.  You walk up to the counter and order something you've always ordered for years, for take-out.  (Example - Starbucks.)  You go to pay and they ask you how much tip you want to leave, including various choices.  One of the choices is $0, but the whole process makes you feel guilty if you don't tip.

Since when does take-out require tipping, and have hourly pay rates decreased to reflect this?

[mellifera33]

Around here tipping baristas is the norm, especially in local non-chain coffee shops where everyone knows everyone.  Take-out depends on the situation. Family business where the owner hands me the food? No. A few bucks for the minimum wage kid who packages the food? Sure. I wouldn't expect minimum wage to decrease because some workers get tips.  

[MEmama]

Um, always?

I used to tip for coffee as a teenager in the ‘80’s, and have always tipped for takeout food.

Customer service employees get paid next to nothing. Back in the day I made $2.13/hour as a server—when I worked in a college bar, it was not helpful to receive shots for tips. Service workers absolutely depend on tips; the system might be messed up, but that’s how it’s set up in North America. 

[Ailaena]

I think always, or at least the last 20 years that I can recall. It’s just more awkward now because instead of choosing to leave a tip, you have to choose to NOT leave a tip.

[1234]

1 minute ago, Ailaena said:

I think always, or at least the last 20 years that I can recall. It’s just more awkward now because instead of choosing to leave a tip, you have to choose to NOT leave a tip.

This! It’s always been a thing.

The only place I don’t like it is where I board my dog.  I’m already paying so much and I honestly have no idea who is getting that tip. When we add grooming services, I tip the groomer but I don’t like it to ask about a tip there otherwise. 

[Moonhawk]

I'm surprised by so many people saying this has always been a thing? Maybe tip jars, but not the expectation you will tip (if it's not a restaurant/server).

This was not a thing where I was until the touch screen check outs took over. Most coffee shops I went to didn't even have a tip jar.

I don't mind a tip jar, but I don't like the new expectation that I tip anyone I talk to if food is involved.

At coffee shops [my main experience of this] I'm given the screen to choose the tip amount. On one place in particular, to choose "No Tip" you have to go through 3 button presses instead of the 1 button to choose 20%, or 25% or 30% (there's no 10 or 15 or 18% option). So the longer you stand there pushing buttons you are signaling you aren't giving a tip. 

These aren't servers, they are not being paid with the expectation of tips to get them to minimum wage (and I don't think they make enough tips for the employer to take that into account when offering the job/compensation). And they are breaking out this tip over 3-5 people on the shift? It's not going to the person who actually took and made my order, which is the point I have in my mind of tipping a server (yes I know some restaurants require tip out, etc). 

I go to two coffee shops regularly. The one with the 20% min suggestion has awful service and hardly gets the order right. I tipped twice to see if they noticed and took that into account when making my order. No difference in quality or service, so no tipping there. 

The other coffee shop I go to I now tip about 80% of the time, because they know my name and order, and have started to bring my coffee out to me instead of calling my name at the bar. But I give a flat $1 tip per order, not the suggested system prompts; sometimes this is in their favor, sometimes not. And if I'm just picking out a scone or a sandwich, no tip, because they literally hit 3 buttons then turn the screen to me for a tip, lol.

 

[OH_Homeschooler]

From what I understand in a traditional restaurant, the back of house workers typically get a portion of service tips. If you order take out, they are still preparing the food but not getting that portion of the service tip. So it feels right to tip them. 

As far as Starbucks, IDK, I've always tipped baristas. They are performing a specialized service for me. 

I've generally been way more generous with tipping in the past year, for obvious reasons. And I'm not eating out as much so I can afford to tip more when I do.

ETA: I think people are paying with credit cards more often than cash, so these digital requests for tips are going to be more common. That is probably why there has been such an uptick in seeing these. The tip jars are still there for those paying or wanting to tip with cash.

 

Edited January 26, 2022 by OH_Homeschooler

[happi duck]

In restaurants I thought servers and bussers shared the tips not the people cooking.

I see the coffee house tip as a thing for you helped me picked out a drink and then we chatted while you made it so I appreciate the experience sort of thing.  Or maybe tipping because I have a huge time consuming order. 

[mmasc]

I noticed a tip jar AND a tip prompt electronically when I was at Subway recently. I truly don’t remember ever tipping at a Subway, so I have no idea if this has been “new” in the past two years, or has always been there. It does seem weird to tip there because I feel certain that they’re not making server wages and therefore depending on tips to get to at least minimum wage. I did actually tip though because they consistently give good service (which we all know is rare lately!). I put my tip in the jar and the guy said thank you. I replied something along the lines of ‘thank you for always doing a good job with our order. We always get good service here.’

[SKL]

In my state, there is a different minimum wage for servers in jobs where tipping is the norm (waitress in a restaurant etc.).  AFAIK this does not include Starbucks counter employees.  (Maybe that is why in my state, it has not been the norm to tip such employees, other than the occasional cash in jar tip.)

Also, they don't ask me for a tip when I order at the drive-through.  It's the exact same amount of work (possibly more) at drive-through.  So I'm not sure how that makes sense.

So have they changed the wage category of these individuals, in which case I should start tipping regularly?  Or is this just a way of increasing the cost of already overpriced products?  (The Starbucks in question charged me $7 for a latte and then asked if I wanted to tip.  This place is just a counter - it has no tables to sit at.)

[SKL]

1 minute ago, mmasc said:

I noticed a tip jar AND a tip prompt electronically when I was at Subway recently. I truly don’t remember ever tipping at a Subway, so I have no idea if this has been “new” in the past two years, or has always been there. It does seem weird to tip there because I feel certain that they’re not making server wages and therefore depending on tips to get to at least minimum wage. I did actually tip though because they consistently give good service (which we all know is rare lately!). I put my tip in the jar and the guy said thank you. I replied something along the lines of ‘thank you for always doing a good job with our order. We always get good service here.’

Yes, this was another recent example for me also.  Didn't Subway used to have a "no tipping" policy?

[mmasc]

Just now, SKL said:

Yes, this was another recent example for me also.  Didn't Subway used to have a "no tipping" policy?

I can’t remember, but I do think it feels like a weird place to tip and don’t remember it being there in the past!

[SKL]

1 minute ago, mmasc said:

I can’t remember, but I do think it feels like a weird place to tip and don’t remember it being there in the past!

It is definitely recent.  Feels like a tax.

[SounderChick]

Coffee shops have always been tipping.  Carry out was not neither are you supposed to tip the owner if they serve you.  I never shared tips with back of house people and never heard of doing so. https://emilypost.com/advice/general-tipping-guide

[skimomma]

34 minutes ago, happi duck said:

In restaurants I thought servers and bussers shared the tips not the people cooking.

 

I spent many years as a waitress and bartender in several different businesses.  We typically "tipped out" to the host/hostess, bussers, dishwashers, and cooks.  Usually not a huge amount, but something.  Each place had some sort of system used to determine how this was done.  And yes, all of those people were paid at least minimum wage while servers/bartenders were not.  It varied widely by day and establishment, but I could walk out of a 6 hour Friday night shift with $300 in tips.  It only seemed fair to share some of that with the other workers that delivered the service.  OTOH, there would be Monday nights when I would walk out with less than what would have been minimum wage.  On those nights, I would not tip out.  

As to the new trend with take-out, yes, I do think it is "new."  I don't know how I feel about it.  Except that with how hard it is to find workers, I am willing to tip right now because I am grateful if I can get my hands on anything edible that I do not have to prepare myself.  How this will play out long-term is a mystery to me.

[MEmama]

15 minutes ago, rebcoola said:

Coffee shops have always been tipping.  Carry out was not neither are you supposed to tip the owner if they serve you.  I never shared tips with back of house people and never heard of doing so. https://emilypost.com/advice/general-tipping-guide

I once worked as a cook in a diner— the servers shared their tips which was very welcome. That was around 1990, so a long time ago. A couple years later, working a a server I shared tips with the cooks. Different states, but doing so was common.

[Terabith]

I've always tipped for takeout meals from restaurants.  I don't frequent coffee shops often, but I have sometimes tipped there.  Fast food restaurants like Subway asking for tips is new to me and I don't usually tip, but once in awhile.  

[SounderChick]

Interesting I was a waitress in the late 90's early 2000's. Before that my dad was always a server or bartender and that was not a thing tips were pooled at only one place i can think of and only with people working your section.   Though these were more high end places so maybe that's the difference.  I'm in a state were everyone already is paid minimum wage or more so tipping really is an extra bonus so that may make a difference to.

1 minute ago, MEmama said:

I once worked as a cook in a diner— the servers shared their tips which was very welcome. That was around 1990, so a long time ago. A couple years later, working a a server I shared tips with the cooks. Different states, but doing so was common.

 

[annandatje]

We have always put money in tip jar or on credit card when we pick up a takeout order, so nothing new here.  However, we feel free to tip a little less than standard 20%.

[Dmmetler]

I usually only tip for fast food if it's obvious the workers are having a bad day. I do tip for carry out meals from restaurants where I would have tipped if we were eating there, because I'm rather assuming their wages didn't go up when people stopped going out. At coffee shops, I often tipped before COVID because I usually was getting coffee as an excuse to spend time, say, reading a book while my kid was in cheer practice vs sitting in the gym, and I figured a tip was giving the money directly to the employees vs buying more food I didn't need. 

 

 

[Murphy101]

Baristas and bartenders here have had tips jars my entire life.

However they were never expected of every customer to the point that customers have to choose to opt out of them like I’m seeing more often these days. 

I also noticed last week that drive through are starting to ask for tips too and I’m so done with tipping everywhere. Just nope. However I will absolutely vote for unions, realistic minimum wage per hour and doing away with “service wages” such as waitresses that make like $3 an hour plus tips, they should be paid a minimum per hour regardless of tips. 

[TechWife]

2 hours ago, SKL said:

OK this is my new pet peeve.  You walk up to the counter and order something you've always ordered for years, for take-out.  (Example - Starbucks.)  You go to pay and they ask you how much tip you want to leave, including various choices.  One of the choices is $0, but the whole process makes you feel guilty if you don't tip.

Since when does take-out require tipping, and have hourly pay rates decreased to reflect this?

Barista is a tipped job in my world. Takeout from a restaurant that has servers is also tipped. Takeout from fast food is not tipped. I would consider Subway to be fast food. However, states probably vary on their minimum wage for tipped jobs and how they define that category. Here the minimum wage for tipped jobs is the same as the federal wage - its just over $2 per hour, but the employee must make a minimum of $7.25 per hour worked, so if tips don’t make up the difference the employer is supposed to. 

[plaidpants]

For places like Panera and Starbucks, I usually do a dollar or two, but only electronically. I don't carry cash in small bills enough. I give Dunkin a tip every few visits, but it works out to about the same. They get so much nastiness that I feel like a dollar here or there and a genuine thanks can't go amiss. For takeout, it's usually a dollar and change (so 1.94 if it was 19.06). Delivery depends on distance, weather, amount of food, and the delivery charge, but something similar (10% is usually the start).

[teachermom2834]

I don't feel like a carryout order should get the same 20% tip as if we sit down to eat at a restaurant. I get that someone puts together the order and gets the condiments, etc. but that still, to me, is a lesser service than waiting on a table throughtout the time it takes to order and consume dinner. Of course, if you get takeout and it is put together poorly it can ruin your meal so I do appreciate that it takes time to do it well, but I'm still not feeling  20%.

But, I do it because the server that went in that night got stuck doing takeout and that means their tips are cut through no fault of their own. My son's girlfriend was great at takeout so they would put her there and she would really lose out on tips. So even though I think it is a faulty system, if I'm ordering takeout from a full service restaurant, I'm going play.

But I'm not tipping at fast food places unless it is something special. Workers having a hard day, a holiday, special service, I have a big fussy order, I bring my demanding MIL, etc. 

[Catwoman]

4 minutes ago, TechWife said:

Barista is a tipped job in my world. Takeout from a restaurant that has servers is also tipped. Takeout from fast food is not tipped. I would consider Subway to be fast food. However, states probably vary on their minimum wage for tipped jobs and how they define that category. Here the minimum wage for tipped jobs is the same as the federal wage - its just over $2 per hour, but the employee must make a minimum of $7.25 per hour worked, so if tips don’t make up the difference the employer is supposed to. 

It’s so interesting that we live in a world where we are not expected to tip the kid at McDonald’s who is doing a lot of running around to get our order together, but we are expected to tip the guy at Dunkin who pours one regular cup of coffee into a cup and puts a lid on it. 

Edited January 26, 2022 by Catwoman
Autocorrect is the enemy

[Spryte]

I’ve always tipped at coffee shops, even in the drive through. Our drive throughs all have tip jars on the counter. We knew lots of baristas back in the day, so I feel pretty clear about what they do, how much they make, how much they depend on tips. My coffee order isn’t just “pour it in a cup and throw in some cream” anyway, so anyone who listens and gets it right probably deserves a tip. 🤣

Restaurant take out — I’ve almost always tipped. Back in the day when I traveled constantly for work, and lived on the road, I started tipping for take out, and upon learning my various travel companions did. We had many conversations about it. I wouldn’t do 20% for take out, but something. Prepping the food for take out takes some care, too, so I felt it was well deserved.

Fast food—no tipping. Subway is fast food.

Door Dash is a conundrum to me. We tip the drivers, but no tip goes to the person making the food, and getting it ready for take out. Plus, I’m not really thrilled with Door Dash’s history regarding tips. For a while, I’d meet the driver at the door and tip with cash, since DD had some shady tip stuff going on. I think possibly they have been called out and corrected it now.

[Spryte]

7 minutes ago, Catwoman said:

It’s so interesting that we live in a world where we are not expected to tip the kid at McDonald’s who is doing a lot of running around to get our order together, but we are expected to tip the guy at Dunkin who pours one regular cup of coffee into a cup and puts a lid on it. 

Yep. Truth.

[Moonhawk]

59 minutes ago, TechWife said:

Barista is a tipped job in my world. Takeout from a restaurant that has servers is also tipped. Takeout from fast food is not tipped. I would consider Subway to be fast food. However, states probably vary on their minimum wage for tipped jobs and how they define that category. Here the minimum wage for tipped jobs is the same as the federal wage - its just over $2 per hour, but the employee must make a minimum of $7.25 per hour worked, so if tips don’t make up the difference the employer is supposed to. 

I'm not sure the reason behind this rule for you, so this info may not be relevant: So when I was a server, even if I took your order on the phone and rang you out on a to-go order, it wasn't considered "my table" since I didn't "serve" anyone, and takeout tips went straight to the restaurant (ie owner).

Maybe I just worked at crummy restaurants (and, well, yeah I did) who just liked to stiff the staff (the owners loved to, actually) but I've never had a need to tip on takeout since.

You can look at your printed receipt and see if there is a server listed in some places. I can ask the guy at the counter "Is this you?" and if it is maybe put a buck if it's him (and he doesn't seem to be an owner) but yeah I don't assume that tips not tied to a table ticket go to the servers.

eta: not to say this is a bad rule, it's just not one that ever really popped into my head. Also, "a buck" makes me sound cheap, but I also rarely eat out and when I do it's usually under $10 so $1-2 is in line with somewhere between 10-20%. 

Edited January 26, 2022 by Moonhawk

[Bootsie]

More and more places seems to be using Ipad/electronic payment screens with a built in tip recommendation.  I traditionally tipped at a sit-down restaurant where I am being served and I am paying the tip AFTER the service has been provided.  Using these electronic systems often are used before the person has provided a service.  I have even had a touchscreen where I am placing the order myself ask me if I wanted to leave a tip.  (And when the recommended levels are tied to a "Fantastic Service--30%", "Great Service 25%", Good Service 18--%" or something you are in a situation of leaving an amount that does not necessarily tie to the words someone has attributed to the levels).  If a tip is supposed to be thanks for a good service--how can I leave a tip before I know if you got my order correct, if I had to wait 30 minutes for my order, if it is the wrong temperature, etc.  

Do you tip at Starbucks?  Subway? McDonalds? What about the person slicing deli meat at the grocery store?  The person who prepared the premade sandwich in the grocery store?  The rotisserie chicken cook?  

[Catwoman]

5 minutes ago, Bootsie said:

More and more places seems to be using Ipad/electronic payment screens with a built in tip recommendation.  I traditionally tipped at a sit-down restaurant where I am being served and I am paying the tip AFTER the service has been provided.  Using these electronic systems often are used before the person has provided a service.  I have even had a touchscreen where I am placing the order myself ask me if I wanted to leave a tip.  (And when the recommended levels are tied to a "Fantastic Service--30%", "Great Service 25%", Good Service 18--%" or something you are in a situation of leaving an amount that does not necessarily tie to the words someone has attributed to the levels).  If a tip is supposed to be thanks for a good service--how can I leave a tip before I know if you got my order correct, if I had to wait 30 minutes for my order, if it is the wrong temperature, etc.  

Do you tip at Starbucks?  Subway? McDonalds? What about the person slicing deli meat at the grocery store?  The person who prepared the premade sandwich in the grocery store?  The rotisserie chicken cook?  

Tipping can be confusing. There are so many underpaid people who work hard to serve customers every day, yet we not only don’t tip them, we expect them to tip everyone else, too. 

[Spryte]

Adding that I usually go with Emily Post re: tipping. And I detest being prompted to tip before receiving service. That feels more like a bribe for good service than a thanks for good service! 🤣

I also wonder if perhaps there is more pressure to tip now because more people are getting take out. Not everywhere, obviously, but in some areas a lot of people have shifted from eating in a restaurant to getting take out. Some servers who are used to receiving tips and probably receiving less, since not everyone tips for take out. Or maybe it’s just a function of the applications being used for the electronic payments.
 

 

[SKL]

3 minutes ago, Spryte said:

Adding that I usually go with Emily Post re: tipping. And I detest being prompted to tip before receiving service. That feels more like a bribe for good service than a thanks for good service! 🤣
 

Yeah, I feel like they see whether I tipped before they even make the coffee ... if they're feeling vindictive they could do something nasty ... so all in all, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

[Arcadia]

Hourly rates for fast food like Panda Express, In-n-Out Burger has stayed the same or gone up. We do take out a few times a year from Panda Express and they have a donation box at the cashier area for children charities. 

I have ordered Stabucks through the phone app from pre-pandemic times and just pick it up. I could tip through the app after I already finished my coffee, there is a two hour window to tip.

[Catwoman]

26 minutes ago, SKL said:

Yeah, I feel like they see whether I tipped before they even make the coffee ... if they're feeling vindictive they could do something nasty ... so all in all, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Possibly literally, if you're not a good tipper... 😉

[Annie G]

I dislike tipping culture. Pay people what they’re worth and charge me accordingly.  
It’s so confusing. We had trees removed over the weekend and it involved 3 small businesses, with their three owners and two workers who weren’t owners. Were we supposed to tip? Who knows. 
The guy who treats our lawn came by yesterday and serviced the yard, and left a bill. Yeah, he’s the owner and he’s a one man operation. Do we tip?  Why is he any different than the Starbucks barista who makes $12+ an hour (hourly wage my Dd made as a Starbucks barista 5 years ago, not including tips)? Why is a Chick fil A worker not tipped but Dunkin’ has a tip jar out? 
Ds works back of house at a sit down restaurant and front of house doesn’t share tips w back of house. Because he’s paid more than they are. Just raise the wait staff pay and make tips an added bonus for great service instead of most of their pay. 

 

[kbutton]

Where DH grew up, it was common to tip for things like hair cuts, but I had literally never heard of it.

I think tipping varied regionally but has become an expectation even in areas that are not traditionally tipped lines of work.

Where I grew up, local people tipped for very few things--basically just sit down restaurants. It is not a high wealth area--it's very dependent on tourism. Tourists tended to give bigger tips. 

Wait staff when I was a teenager and young adult, at least at a sit-down restaurant, were primarily people who did this full-time as their means of making a living, not as a part-time job. Some still made enough that it wasn't worth trying to get an office or factory job, but this was still probably due to tourist tips. 

Tipping was 10% or 15% if you were feeling generous and the service was fantastic.

I wish we'd do away with tipping and just pay people a decent wage. 

[Bootsie]

I dislike the culture of tipping, also.  I would much prefer businesses charge what they need to charge to cover their costs and then I decide if I want to purchase the product or not.  I think I would prefer that system if I were an owner also; the tipping system can split the worker's loyalty between employer and customer.  I wonder if when the wait staff accidentally brings a dessert or extra glass of wine to the table (and, of course, does not charge me for it), if they are hoping for a larger tip (to compensate for the free item), but that is at the expense of the owner whose item is being given away.  

The issue of tipping comes up in my MBA classes and my students generally side on the "As a manager I want the customer to tip because it encourages my employees to do a good job and provide a good service."  But, then when I ask if they allow customers to reward their employees for a job well done, they invariably reply "No, that would be bribery!" unless it is the restaurant industry (or some other industry in which tipping has been the norm in the US).  I have not been able to have one explain why it is bribery if it is computer services, delivering paper goods, or other industries but not in restaurants and I have not gotten any answer except, "well because it's different".  

[J-rap]

Well, tipping has gone on forever, but I think the touch screen thing at coffee shops where you have to pass through the tipping question just to get to the signature line has only been going on a few years, at the most.  

I have mixed thoughts on that because my dd worked at a place like that for a couple years, before digital tipping was a thing.  She was a hard worker and was kind of expected to do everything -- including cleaning up all the messes, cleaning the bathroom, serving food to tables because it wasn't ready when they first ordered it, etc.  But given that it was mostly counter service, people often didn't think to tip.  Her wages were so low ($6.00 I think? That was 10 years ago), that tipping really did make a difference.  They had a tip jar out and people could tip if they wanted to.

I'd much rather they just get paid more in the first place!  I do leave a tip at those places, usually 10% if I'm standing in line and ordering at the counter and then picking it up myself at the counter.  But 10% is not a choice so that means you have to take more time to enter it in yourself.  I guess you just have to get comfortable taking more time!  Although, during the pandemic when those places were especially hurting, I often tipped more.

[AnneGG]

I don’t tip at fast casual places and I don’t tip for chain coffee. If I paid in cash and get change back, (like a dollar or two) sure I’ll put it in the jar. More than happy to tip our locally owned coffee shops and restaurants. They are few and far between. 

 

I tip the drive thru car wash guy. I tip the DS’s barber. I can’t think of any other services we partake in regularly that might need to be tipped. 
 

I don’t know how I feel about tipping for curbside  takeout. I’ll do it but not happily. 

Edited January 26, 2022 by AnneGG

[prairiewindmomma]

If you don’t like it, don’t go there, or hit $0 without guilt.

Food carts, coffee shops, hair salons and even doughnut shops have Square payment systems with auto tipping set up. If employees are happy with their job, service is better. If employees aren’t happy, they are leaving their jobs here and we end up with situations like our Wendy’s, which has had to close its dining room entirely and which is often only open from 11-7 due to staffing issues. 
 

Sometimes we see perks from tipping—dh goes to a discount chain hair place that typically charges $20 for a haircut. He pays $20 and tips $20 and because he is a regular gets a really good hair cut when he goes in, which is still well below the more typical $80 salon price here for a men’s cut. 
 

Sometimes we don’t see perks from typically directly, but it feeds back to employee satisfaction. I would prefer that employer’s managed that themselves and were actually decent employers providing living wages and benefits but not many do.

[kirstenhill]

3 hours ago, Moonhawk said:

I'm not sure the reason behind this rule for you, so this info may not be relevant: So when I was a server, even if I took your order on the phone and rang you out on a to-go order, it wasn't considered "my table" since I didn't "serve" anyone, and takeout tips went straight to the restaurant (ie owner).

Maybe I just worked at crummy restaurants (and, well, yeah I did) who just liked to stiff the staff (the owners loved to, actually) but I've never had a need to tip on takeout since.

You can look at your printed receipt and see if there is a server listed in some places. I can ask the guy at the counter "Is this you?" and if it is maybe put a buck if it's him (and he doesn't seem to be an owner) but yeah I don't assume that tips not tied to a table ticket go to the servers.

eta: not to say this is a bad rule, it's just not one that ever really popped into my head. Also, "a buck" makes me sound cheap, but I also rarely eat out and when I do it's usually under $10 so $1-2 is in line with somewhere between 10-20%. 

It's a little disheartening to know that my tip on a take out order may not benefit the staff who have to box up my meal and possibly carry it out to my car if it is curbside.  On the other hand, sometimes when I tip on a bigger take out meal it is to support small/local places so I guess I am supporting the local economy in some way if it is going to a local restaurant owner or to the staff.  

I usually only tip at a fast food/coffee/counter service type place if I am rounding up on a cash payment, or if I felt like they did something especially nice or "above and beyond."   My DD17 works at Dairy Queen, and she gets tips occasionally.  I think her first summer working she said it added up to about $40 over the whole summer working 30 hrs a week.    She said that she more often gets tips from someone if they gave her a really large order (needing to make 8 blizzards or something like that) or if someone comes minutes before closing time.  She says she thinks that people tip more often right before close because they can see the staff are busy cleaning up for the night and feel bad that they are causing new messes to be made that will need to be cleaned. 

[mathnerd]

I think that the electronic payment systems that they all use have changed to include this feature. I picked up donuts to go at my local donut shop and it prompted the tip screen, same with local bakery for cupcakes, pizza by the slice places etc. Just put a $0 if you are picking up something from the display or counter and paying for it.

[EKS]

We have a bakery here that has a tip step when paying with a credit card.  I mean, they put the bread in a bag.

Having tipping be the norm is as idiotic as giving out participation trophies.

[Spryte]

48 minutes ago, EKS said:

We have a bakery here that has a tip step when paying with a credit card.  I mean, they put the bread in a bag.

Having tipping be the norm is as idiotic as giving out participation trophies.

I don’t care about the tipping part, just curious: they don’t bake the bread at the bakery? Is it a chain?

(My bakery experience is extraordinarily low due to allergies. We literally *just* had a Top 9 Allergen Free bakery open near us. It’s the family and like two teenage family friends, so they are all up before dawn, bake everything, sell out of it all by 3 pm, clean, and do it all. Previously, we couldn’t even walk inside a bakery without anaphylaxis. So I really have no idea. Genuine question.)

[Amethyst]

I agree with OP. I hate those things that want a tip for just handing over the box of pizza I paid for. I click NO TIP without guilt. 

[Frances]

7 hours ago, MEmama said:

Um, always?

I used to tip for coffee as a teenager in the ‘80’s, and have always tipped for takeout food.

Customer service employees get paid next to nothing. Back in the day I made $2.13/hour as a server—when I worked in a college bar, it was not helpful to receive shots for tips. Service workers absolutely depend on tips; the system might be messed up, but that’s how it’s set up in North America. 

This really does vary by state. It took me many years after moving here to realize there was not a different minimum wage for tipped workers. Not only that, we have one of the highest minimum wages in the country and there are three tiers in my state so it is highest in urban, higher COL areas and lower in rural areas. 
 

I’m not saying people shouldn’t still tip. But at least pre-pandemic, some wait staff here could make very good wages with minimum wage plus tips. My son had more than one friend that made six figures working full-time in the hospitality industry in tipped positions. Now this of course is different than fast food or fast casual where people are not directly waiting on you. But I do still find the whole tipping thing confounding. For example, why isn’t it the norm here to tip those who fill our gas tanks (self serve only allowed in limited circumstances) when they are working outside in all sorts of weather, but it is the norm to tip the person who makes your latte?

[EKS]

13 hours ago, Spryte said:

I don’t care about the tipping part, just curious: they don’t bake the bread at the bakery? Is it a chain?

They do bake bread.  It's a traditional bakery, not a bakery cafe.  Literally all they do is bake bread and the like.  Then they put it in a bag and give it to you when you buy it.  Why would anyone ever tip for such a thing?

Edited January 27, 2022 by EKS

[Tap]

I refuse to tip for things that require minimal work on the effort of the person handing me the item. In my state, everyone is paid at least minimum wage, which is currently $14.49. Nope, I'm not tipping an extra dollar or two for a $5 coffee, couple of tacos or slice of pizza. 

My friend's 17yo daughter used to make $20-30hr to be the hostess and seat people in a restaurant. This was due to her wage plus tips (they were distributed by a certain ratio to all staff). Most of the time, she made more per hour than I did (she was offered benefits but declined them b/c she was on her parents policy). I am a journeyman level pharmacy technician and made $23hr. She left that job, to work in a coffee shop, where her friends were making more(!) than that per hour. These aren't just prime time hours (so other times they made less), this is the average over entire days. 

 

[Brittany1116]

My biggest gripe is that the presets are 18, 20, 25%, as if those are standard now. No, I'm not tipping anyone 18-25% to put some donuts in a box. Sorry, not sorry. 

 

Also, the McDonalds/Dunkin comparison made me laugh. Here, we have 7 people working in McDonanlds, all working different lines, and none look you in the face, but the Dunkin girl knows my voice on the speaker and my peach green tea is always perfect. She gets tipped.

[katilac]

11 hours ago, SKL said:

In my state, there is a different minimum wage for servers in jobs where tipping is the norm (waitress in a restaurant etc.).  AFAIK this does not include Starbucks counter employees.  (Maybe that is why in my state, it has not been the norm to tip such employees, other than the occasional cash in jar tip.)

Also, they don't ask me for a tip when I order at the drive-through.  It's the exact same amount of work (possibly more) at drive-through.  So I'm not sure how that makes sense.

It's harder to ask for a tip at the drive-through (there's no screen for you to view/sign and it's hard to have a tip jar at some of them), but they will happily accept tips. 

11 hours ago, rebcoola said:

Coffee shops have always been tipping.  Carry out was not neither are you supposed to tip the owner if they serve you.  I never shared tips with back of house people and never heard of doing so. https://emilypost.com/advice/general-tipping-guide

Sharing tips with back of house is very common in my area. When tips aren't shared, then back of house usually has added benefits in addition to a higher hourly wage. At one place dd worked at, the server discount for food was 50% off, but BOH got free meals and drinks. 

8 hours ago, Annie G said:

I dislike tipping culture. Pay people what they’re worth and charge me accordingly.  
 

Agreed. Like if a 15% tip is expected as the minimum or I am a monster, then my cost is not $50, it is $57.50. 

4 hours ago, Spryte said:

I don’t care about the tipping part, just curious: they don’t bake the bread at the bakery? Is it a chain?

Somebody bakes it, but not the person putting it in the bag and ringing you up. Very different skill set, if it's an actual bakery. 

Tipping culture can be annoying to begin with, but even more so because the establishments like to standardize the amount of tips, but there's no standard for how workers are paid or how tips are given out. People talk about tipping extra when they are particularly please with a certain worker, but that worker may be pooling tips. At Starbucks, tips are pooled and divvied out based on how much you worked that week. Which is more fair in some ways, but not what customers are expecting when they tip extra because a particular worker pleased them.