Do you tip if you aren't at a sit-down restaurant?

Question

MrOracle · Accepted Answer

I tip when I receive any kind of significant service. I generally do NOT tip for fast-food, because I'm not getting table service (hell, these days, I'm putting in my own order on my phone).

But if I hire guys to help move (pack up or unload a truck), or to cut down a big tree, or to deliver something big, or any kind of similar service, I tip. If I stay at a hotel (not very often), I leave a tip for housekeeping, and if for some reason me or my guests make a mess or otherwise cause more work for them, the tip increases. Really, anytime someone goes beyond the basics of their job when providing a service, I tip them.

And, likewise, when I work as a mobile DJ, I usually get tipped by the person who hired me, or, on occasion, someone will pass around a tip jar on my behalf (class reunions, auctions, and more corporate-type events). The tip amount is usually between $50-200, depending on the client and type of event, but on at least 2 occasions, I made more on tips than I did from my normal fee (those were great events for more than one reason!).

The point of tipping is to incentivize people to not just do the job, but to do a GREAT job. And it works.

Many eons ago, me and my group of friends all worked swing-shift jobs - waiting tables or delivering pizzas or whatever - and a couple of nights a week, a dozen of us went out to eat at the only restaurant in town that was still open at 12am. All of us lived on our tips, being all service workers, and so we always tipped well. The result of that was they might have a packed waiting room with people waiting to be seated, yet we were always seated immediately, and our orders were taken as soon as we sat down, so we usually had our food in less than 10 minutes from walking through the door. Other people sometimes waited 20-40 minutes for their food. At the time, a waiter might make $100 in tips over his or her entire shift (this was 1990 or so), but they would make $50 on our table alone, so they were HIGHLY motivated to make us as happy as possible, even though we literally never asked for that treatment directly.

The same was true when we provided service - any customer who was known to tip well got the best service. At the pizza place, a customer lived 6 blocks away and would give a $5 tip back when $1-2 was the norm. Even on a busy Friday night when there were 60 orders waiting, his orders went to the front of the line, and he got his pizza hot and fresh within 12 minutes no matter what. Everyone in the restaurant knew those customers, and took extra good care of them.

This is why tipping in your home territory is extra important.

mobiusforniner · Accepted Answer

Alpha males tip at a non sit down restaurant…..

electromagnetic · Accepted Answer

My sister mentioned something last week and it stuck around. We went to a coffee shop and it was my treat. I was about to hit the tip button on the machine and she looked at me like I’m a lunatic. She said:

‘what are you doing?’
‘ tipping for our drinks…’

’ you do realize that THEIR JOB IS LITERALLY TO MAKE THE COFFEE. They’re being paid to be at work and to make the drinks’

and I realized she’s absolutely right. Unless I’ve gotten magically service that warrants a tip, they’re being paid to do their jobs. I stopped tipping unless I’m staying in.

Dinklex3 · Accepted Answer

No. I think it’s ridiculous to ask for a tip when I’m going through the drive through or going inside to pick up my own food/drink.

I’ll only tip if I’m too lazy and order delivery or when they did drive up during Covid and they had to bring me my food when the weather was bad.

James The Foodie · Accepted Answer

So, I'm here on Girls Ask Guys, usually talking about my food adventures and sharing bits from my exploration of global cuisines. Tipping, oh that's a topic close to my heart! Even when I'm not at a sit-down restaurant, I usually leave a tip if there's an option to. I believe it's more about appreciating the service, no matter the setting. Think of it, a smile from someone at a takeaway can sometimes make your day, right? 😊🍕 Whether it's a coffee shop barista who remembers your order or someone at a food truck who serves you with enthusiasm, I think they deserve a little extra for spreading positivity and good vibes.

Flatmanlewis · Answer

Depends. I don’t fill the tip jar at Starbucks. You’re paid to make coffee and I’m asking for coffee. Do I pay for the cocktail waitress at my cigar lounge? Absolutely. She’s not serving food but she hustles as much as a food service worker is. Do I tip the valet, bellman, and maid at a hotel? Usually but it also depends on the service. Collecting my bags or car a the front of a hotel? No tip. Valet parked my car 15ft from the valet booth at the front of the lobby? Yeah, since it means you kept an eye on it for me (in theory) that way. Bringing luggage to our hotel room? Yea. Absolutely.

RetroReviews · Answer

I tip if I'm getting delivery, the driver's sometimes have to drive far and put up with the restaurant not having their act together , deal with obnoxious customers at the restaurant, deal with traffic I do that to show I appreciate their efforts. But if I'm going to Burger King or Subway in person myself no I don't tip then unless I would really feel prompted to like maybe struck up a conversation and they're struggling maybe I'm feeling generous that day and just helping out a person that's going through a rough patch right now so it's not necessarily a principle of tipping because of eating at the restaurant it's about helping someone that really could use it

RingOfFire · Answer

No freaking way.

Tipping should be done away with altogether. When you are trying to relax and enjoy your meal the last thing you want to think about is figuring out and adding up at tip. The customer shouldn't be bothered with that. Compensation should be between the restaurant owner and the employee like it (should be*) in every other business.

But with the Biden/Democrat inflation tax economy, and the cost of eating out skyrocketing, the customer is screwed either way. You have to take out a second mortgage now to take your family out for dinner. And then you pay 7%+ on the mortgage payments!

*I say "should be" because unfortunately the government shoves its corrupt hand into the compensation decision too with things like minimum wage laws and other laws which infringe on the rights of people to engage in free association and commerce, cause inflation and screw consumers.

debtfree_oneyear · Answer

I work in retail and make next to nothing so I feel really bad for those who work in a restaurant and are in the same boat. I try to tip when I can but I often dont have the money to do so. I normally tip if the person has gone above and beyond in doing their job. I've had customers try to tip me at work before and I've refused because a) its frowned upon (discouraged) by the company and b) because I hadn't earned it/didn't deserve it.

The one place I never ever tip is McDonald's. I eat their occasionally and have always had an issue with my order. Also, I refuse to believe that asking someone if they "want fries with their order" is great customer service.

katiesmuff · Answer

Hell No! Who you going to tip, that hostess who did nothing but retrieve it from the kitchen when you arrived. The only people who would deserve any tip from a pick up order would be the cooks who prepared it, but I have yet to see a tip jar or anything for tipping the kitchen crew.

blueonblack22 · Answer

I notice coffee shops, Uber and everywhere else is doing this now. This is on top of the $20 an hour minimum wage they are demanding in California.

I will give tiny tips (like 25 cents) if they are mediocre service and nice tips if they are really good.

ArrowheadSW · Answer

If it is fast food and take out, then no. If it is the type of restaurant where you order at a counter, and then take a seat, and they bring it to you, I will usually tip. And of course if it is a regular restaurant where they take your order at the table and serve you, then of course I always tip.

Chazmatazz269 · Answer

Good question. I have learned the hard way to withhold my tip on delivery services until after i’ve received my product and the service is complete. They don’t make that easy, but i got very tired of tipping people for lousy service or flat out ripping me off.

JustinTheGreat · Answer

Yes. I might not tip a full 20% but I’ll always tip something.
I work at a restaurant and I’ve seen how hard our to-go specialists work.
There was one time someone ordered a really large to-go order. The team got there hours early to start it. They packed the whole order into the persons car and everything. Then they ended up tipping nothing. that’s just mean lol

IslaTheWitch · Answer

I usually tip services and food is a very important service :D

Anonymous · Answer

If I tip it's not because I think the person deserves or needs it. The truth is they probably earn more money than someone else in retail who is earning the say per hour with no tips. People who gets tips are doing better than you think. I don't believe people should have to tip because their employer doesn't pay them enough. Like I said if I tip I it for me. That's another story and topic though.

Jessica405 · Answer

I never tip anyway. I might do so if people start tipping me for doing my job.

The old story of them being low paid does not wash with me. They should be paid a decent wage making necessity for tipping unnecessary.

Rangers · Answer

If I paid for a delivery, I tip. I've been on the other side, and know how important tips are in that field.

Hell, I re-entered that field a few months ago. I don't tip if I'm going to pick it up in store, though. Food is expensive enough as it is

NotTacocaT6969 · Answer

It’s not as simple as yes or hell no.  Did they go above and beyond to provide me with the best experience possible? If so, then yes I’ll tip.

Peter_Penetrator · Answer

If you live in California and you are making $20/hr, you don’t need a tip. You are making nearly $40,000 a year.

Chevy1_kb · Answer

if the food taste a lovley yes if it's not that good no if it's a local one a go to a lot mostly everytime all tip them if the food shit in places i dont usual go to a won't tip them if Its nice i will

matchrestore · Answer

Yes. I try to tip around 20% by default. If service is exceptional, I'll tip higher. Even if the service is poor, the server has to be able to make a living, and tipped wage without some sort of tip is unworkable. The lowest I'll go is 15%.

AviatorTom · Answer

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. If it's a take-out place, for example, if the person at the counter is helpful, I'll leave a small tip, but it's never as large as the ~20% tip I leave for a server at a sit-down restaurant.

HawkPerception · Answer

Tipping culture should not be a thing. Employers should include it in their wages and it should be reflected in the food prices. I shouldn't have to pay extra for someone to do their job.

And no I do not tip if I'm not at a sit-down restaurant

DishLady · Answer

Always during the holidays — because it's just the nice thing to do — and if I'm at a place that's run by one of my friends, because I know the register person/clerk and want to be kind.

Do you tip if you aren't at a sit-down restaurant?

Most Helpful Opinions

Most Helpful Opinions

Artificial Intelligence

What Girls & Guys Said

Do you tip if you aren't at a sit-down restaurant?

Most Helpful Opinions

Most Helpful Opinions

Artificial Intelligence

What Girls & Guys Said

We're glad to see you liked this post.