A question about tipping

[GKC]

Recently, I picked up a take-out order from a restaurant...not one with a drive through. A waiter took my order at the bar, took the order to the kitchen, offered me a drink while I waited, and then when he brought the order out, he unpacked it and showed me each item to make sure it was as I had ordered. I paid the check and tipped 10%. (Normally I tip 20% when we eat in, unless the service is either particularly good or bad, and then I adjust the tip accordingly.)

When I got home, my wife was unpacking our order from the sack, and she saw the receipt. She asked me why I had added a tip, and I told her that the waiter had to do some work on the order, and while it wasn't a full serve, sit down meal, I felt like he deserved something for the time he spend doing it. She disagreed and felt that a takeout order didn't warrant a tip. (This was a male waiter, so it wasn't a "boobs" thing, either...which my wife has accused me of allowing to influence my tipping. )

What do you think?

 

[DeathGrip]

I think you did the right thing and I would have done the same. Your Waiter went beyond what he had to do and works for his tips.

 

[keith44spl]

If the young man went above and beyond to make sure my
order was correct before I left the restrant...I too would have left a gratuity.

When dining at an 'set-down' estamlishment....I also try to tip well for good to outstanding service, as well as professionalism and appearance.

Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[Mustang51]

I would have done exactly as you did. I tipped a girl recently in a similar situation where it was apparent that she was the only one who felt like working. The manager was too busy chatting-up the waitresses. I made a point of telling her that I appreciated her effort. Many years ago I was a waiter, so maybe I'm a little more aware of that kind of thing than some.

 

[The Tourist]

Tipping is for service, not just a transaction. There have been times when I tipped equal to the cost of the meal because the wait-staff busted their hump.

If you felt the guy did indeed go that extra mile, then your gratuity was the right thing to do, and you'll most likely go back there and be a steady customer.

 

[Pop's2]

I sometimes tip a small amount (like 10%) for take out; especially if a waitress/waiter is pulled off table duty to fill my order

 

[roarindan]

you did the right thing...it shows the waiter his efforts at customer service are noticed and appreciated.

 

[627 city hunter]

As someone in the service industry, I tip 25-30%
for bar tabs or table service, if its excellent.

10% is bad service
15% is mediocre
20% is good

I hardly ever at takeout I guess 15%...

 

[GKC]

One thing I didn't know until recently is that some drive-in places, like Sonic, pay their employees the "waiter" rate which is like $3 per hour, since they get tips. I had never given the car hops a tip until I found that out, and now I always do. I think it's a shame, since everyone knows that a waiter in a restaurant works at a lower wage and depends on tips, but I don't think that everyone knows that some (if not all) of these drive in places with car hops pay their employees the same way. (I don't tip if I just go through a drive through and pick up at the window.)

 

[bricker]

Do you ever tip your barber, or other service folks, say your plumber or HVAC guy?

 

[keith44spl]

One thing I didn't know until recently is that some drive-in places, like Sonic, pay their employees the "waiter" rate which is like $3 per hour, since they get tips. I had never given the car hops a tip until I found that out, and now I always do. I think it's a shame, since everyone knows that a waiter in a restaurant works at a lower wage and depends on tips, but I don't think that everyone knows that some (if not all) of these drive in places with car hops pay their employees the same way. (I don't tip if I just go through a drive through and pick up at the window.)

I alway tip 'Car Hops', young folks that want to work...Can use the encouragement as well as the pay.

Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[GKC]

Do you ever tip your barber, or other service folks, say your plumber or HVAC guy?

I do add a tip when I get a haircut...I don't tip service workers that come to the house, like plumbers or sundry repairmen, nor do I add a tip when I have my oil changed, or other repairs done to my car, etc. I guess the difference to me is the personal nature of the service being rendered...feed me, cut my hair, or do something else personal to me, and get a tip!

I used to give a small gratuity at Christmas for our mail person, but the last two years the service has been horrible. We live in a very small, rural community a few miles outside of the closest incorporated town...about 25 homes, and we all know each other more or less. It is routine for us to get each other's mail, so we just go take it to the correct address. That shouldn't happen, and it could have some serious issues, but we all seem to be honest....so far.

 

[WuzzFuzz]

Do you ever tip your barber, or other service folks, say your plumber or HVAC guy?

Barber yes..(Even though I'm almost all bald). Plumber..Haven't needed one:....HVAC...haven't needed him either....A automotive type shop, the mech went above and beyond, I tipped him, not the mgr/owner...Same for a tire buster years back..Those kids don't make much of a salary either. Almost any that take my order for something and give good service will get something.

Those that have their hand out stretched, or have one of those "tip Jars" probably not...

I prefer to tip in cash to the waiter, and not add it to my card. That way I know the waiter gets it, not the owner/mgr.


But I will protest a place that automatically adds a tip to my bill.

WuzzFuzz

 

[feralmerril]

I could hardly belive it when I heard the waitress`s in our town get $2.13 a hour in our town! You couldnt feed a cat on that without tips.

 

[WuzzFuzz]

As far a waitresses go. Years back at a casino I believe it was, there was an elderly lady waitressing, to supplement her Soc Sec just to get by.

She was someone's grandmother, who should have been at home baking cookies and pies for her Grandkids, instead of waiting tables.

You bet she got a tip.

WuzzFuzz

 

[GKC]

But I will protest a place that automatically adds a tip to my bill.

I do too, if the service is bad...most of the restaurants I have been to add a 15% tip to parties over a certain number. If the service is good, I just add to the 15%. If the service isn't good, I talk to the manager and ask that the 15% either be removed or reduced. So far, I've only had to do that a couple of times, and the manager didn't refuse.

I once asked a restaurant manager why the 15% was added, and he told me that large parties take more work and time, reducing the waiter's time and ability to serve more parties, and thus earn more tips...it usually does take more effort and time to serve one large table, than it does several regular tables. You'd think the opposite would be true, or at least the same, but having been involved with hosting a number of large parties when I was in the corporate world, I can certainly agree. So, they add a reasonable gratuity in case the party doesn't think to add one.

 

[Poodle Soup]

For take out... above and beyound like your experince deserves an extra something. Normally I wouldnt bother since they did nothing besides take my money and hand me something. I dont tip a certain percent instead I tip based on service. Today at lunch our waitress's shift got over and the new guy only had to refill my glass so he got a smaller tip than the waitress would have gotten had she been there until I finished eating. On holidays or when I notice someone being really nasty to a waitress who is actually trying I will leave more than I can probably afford : p

 

[Arik]

Definitely tip. My sister works in the restaurant business and they dont make a lot. Something like $2/h Mostly rely on tips.

I always tip 20% unless its was bad

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[WuzzFuzz]

.
. You'd think the opposite would be true, or at least the same, but having been involved with hosting a number of large parties when I was in the corporate world, I can certainly agree. So, they add a reasonable gratuity in case the party doesn't think to add one.[/QUOTE]


Yes, But, Ken...Was that a Corporate sponsored function? Then yes I would go that the Corporate bill should reflect, by paying the additional tip.

However, if it is a non-functioning gathering, a large farewell party or birthday party...the gatherings I attended, we all contributed to the pot and left it on the table, either in front of our plate, or added to one large pot at the table. Are not those type of gatherings of more than 25 a Dutch Treat affair, where in each pays their own tab? Usually one person does not pick up the whole tab. Some pay by cash, some by credit card.

Also, I have been known to send $ to the kitchen if the chef/cook has done an outstanding job of preparing the meal.

They usually don't get anything.

Same goes for the clean up ladies in a motel. You'd be surprised how well your room will be made up, especially if you're staying over for more than one day.

WuzzFuzz

 

[Hillbilly77]

Do you ever tip your barber, or other service folks, say your plumber or HVAC guy?

I slipped a $20 bill to a techie at the Apple Store once when he went above and beyond, and he actually saved me a couple hundred bucks.

At the auto parts store I use, the owner always discounts my purchases at a "preferred customer" rate (I've been doing business with him since he opened).
Even though I know the profit is all his money anyway, I've been known to hand him an extra $5 and tell him to get himself a beer later.
Another time my wife and I tipped a very pregnant, very tired waitress $15 on a $12 bill (all we had was coffee and dessert).
Good service = good tips.