6 ms·

So, a question from a foreigner, if you buy something at a counter, should you tip? I would think the answer is no, but in states where minimum wage laws are di

So, a question from a foreigner, if you buy something at a counter, should you tip? I would think the answer is no, but in states where minimum wage laws are different for tipped workers, I would expect the answer to be yes, but are there other guidelines? Does it matter if you eat in vs take out? What are the damn expectations?

JackCh 8y ago
If you buy something at a counter, there is no social expectation that you tip (bartenders are the sole exception, but just give them a dollar not a percentage.) Nor for takeout, but you should definitely tip for delivery (those guys get a raw deal anyway, their pay sucks and they're almost always putting miles on their personal vehicle. Tip them with cash when possible, to make sure they get to keep it...)
- aeontech 8y ago
  Giving bartenders a dollar no matter the order amount is not cool, really. That’s how you turn invisible to them the next time you want to order a drink ;)
  - baddox 8y ago
    Hopefully GP meant a dollar per drink. That seems to be the norm.
    - walru 8y ago
      If you're headed to a craft establishment, $2 is the norm now. (aka a drink that has 4-10 ingredients, not a vodka/soda)
      - sincerely 8y ago
        Personally if the drink is sub-10$, I tip $1.
        walru 8y ago
        Then you're not going to 'craft' establishments.
        sincerely 8y ago
        Maybe I'm not. Could you link an example of one? Would you tip more than 1$ on, say, a $6 drink there?
        walru 8y ago
        You wouldn't be paying $6 for a 'craft' style cocktail anywhere in the US. A 'craft' cocktail usually has 4-10 ingredients and a garnish that compliments the flavor - usually through your orthonasal senses. It's not a vodka soda or a gin and tonic. It's a Fish House Punch or a Jungle Bird or a Champs Elysees or any number of amazing cocktails that exist in the world.
      - JackCh 8y ago
        I suppose that's where the disconnect is. I only order beers or shots of whisky. One dollar per drink keeps the bartenders attentive in my experience.
  - 40four 8y ago
    I disagree. I tip a dollar per drink no matter what it is. It's no more than 30 seconds of work to pour/ open a beer, maybe 60 seconds for a mixed drink? Then I walk away. Transaction/ service complete. Unlike a server who attends to you for the duration of a meal, while you are also sitting there occupying table space of other paying customers. Most people run tabs on plastic nowadays, so how's the bartender supposed to even know what they are earning per drink? I prefer to pay in cash & tip dollars as I go, & i find most bartenders are more than happy to get them & continue good service when they see paper coming their way on every transaction.
    - aeontech 8y ago
      Sure, that’s reasonable. I just see people who order a round of 6 drinks and then throw a single dollar in, at some places.
- smileysteve 8y ago
  > Tip them with cash when possible, to make sure they get to keep it...) Nothing like trying to help income inequality than to promote progressive income tax evasion.
  - JackCh 8y ago
    Facilitating tax evasion is one consideration (although trust me, delivery people fall into a very low tax bracket anyway...) But another consideration is the number of employers who try to keep tips for themselves. It's hard to know which businesses do this, so it's safer to just tip with cash.
- listenallyall 8y ago
  > If you buy something at a counter, there is no social expectation that you tip In the USA, plenty of counter-service restaurants/shops have tip jars. Further, many counter-service food outlets have added a tipping option to their credit card process, usually with 15% as the minimum.
  - sincerely 8y ago
    Those tip jars are basically a "if you don't want to deal with coinage or $1 dollar bills, we'll take it off your hand" option. You won't be thought poorly of for not tipping at a cafe or counter-service restaurant the same way you would be for not tipping a regular waiter.
    - listenallyall 8y ago
      Thanks Starbucks, for taking those dollar bills off my hands so I don't have to deal with them! How convenient of you! The homeless guy outside will also perform the same service, by the way, but I wouldn't be "supporting a living wage" if I gave him the money instead of your baristas.
      - JackCh 8y ago
        Starbucks isn't taking anything; they are receiving from people who give willingly. If you choose to give them your money, you've got nobody but yourself to blame. In the case of tip jars at counters you can't even blame social pressure, participating in such a scheme is completely voluntary and most people do not.
        listenallyall 8y ago
        Your argument is reductive. ALL tips are given willingly. Starbucks could, at any moment, bar individual stores from placing a tip jar at their registers. Just like McDonald's. No tips, no issue, no should I or shouldn't I?
        8y ago
habosa 8y ago
I tip when I take out from somewhere that also has seated, tipping customers. In that case I tip 10-15%. I don't tip more than a buck or two at other places (coffee, burrito, pizza, etc) and if I don't tip at all I don't feel bad.
- listenallyall 8y ago
  When you tip for takeout, who do anticipate is receiving that money? You didn't interact with a waiter, a maitre'd, a sommelier, and the owner didn't come by to ensure everything was good. The cook/chef (who is, realistically, the employee most worthy of receiving a tip) only gets a small slice of pooled tips. It's a bit absurd to tip for "service" when you received no service, and there's no employee to whom you're directing the tip. It's just like, hey, here's some extra money for whoever wants it...
ianferrel 8y ago
I'm sure you'll get as many answers as people you ask, but I personally do not. I tip waiters who come around to refill my water and ask how the meal is. I tip delivery-people (like, delivery to an off-restaurant location. Not someone who brings my plate out and that's it). I don't tip other employees at eateries.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- listenallyall 8y ago
  Delivery used to be free from most pizza places and the occasional other restaurant that delivered. Now, almost everyone charges a delivery fee. The idea of tipping on top of that just irks me to no end, although I do it so they won't spit on my food next time. I don't tip my Fedex or UPS deliveryman, why should I tip for food delivery when I've already been charged extra for that exact service?
  - acchow 8y ago
    There are people who tip the fedex or ups courier? I didn’t even consider this was a possibility.
    - adventured 8y ago
      No, there aren't people that do that, basically. The parent comment was pointing out that that would be an absurdity if it were occurring.
    - IncRnd 8y ago
      No, of course there aren't. That was the point that was being made about food delivery.
    - toomanybeersies 8y ago
      Some people tip their garbage collector: http://www.mymoneyblog.com/how-do-i-tip-the-trash-collector.html http://www.mymoneyblog.com/how-do-i-tip-the-trash-collector.... From a foreign perspective, where I don't think I've ever tipped anyone in my life, it's absolutely bizarre.
sulam 8y ago
I tip 10% for counter pickup, 20% for table service and 15-20% for delivery. At Souvla, the food is really good and I tip the 15% default IIRC.
perl4ever 8y ago
Look and see if there is a tip jar?
z6 8y ago
I wouldn't. There is no service that's being provided, but you will still see plenty of tip jars and a line item for tips if you pay by card. As a business you'd be foolish to not have that, as you see by other commenters they happily part with their money.
jedberg 8y ago
I still tip 5% - 10% depending on if they are going to run the food out to me, clean up the table after me, or have to spend a lot of time packaging up the item after they make it (to go orders or complicated stay in orders).
loco5niner 8y ago
My tipping strategy in this situation: If they simply take your order at the counter and bring your food out, no tip. I also don't tip in places where you are expected to bus (clear) your own table, unless other service has been provided.
loco5niner 8y ago
Keep in mind: Tipping is the means by which to acknowledge good service. If you did NOT receive good service, that should be reflected in the amount of your tip (or your lack of tip). If you receive exceptional service, that should also be reflected. The general rule is to tip in proportion to the service, and the quality of service being delivered.
- skoutus 8y ago
  Is the implication that if you didn't tip, then the service was bad? I'm sorry, but it should be a given that the service adequately good in the normal course of business --otherwise, why is it a restaurant? I am fine if tipping is something you do when you experience exceptional service that is above and beyond satisfactory, instead of something you are compelled to do every time. The argument that waiters might not be paid enough is a valid point, but it is separate.
  - loco5niner 8y ago
    > Is the implication that if you didn't tip, then the service was bad? Yes. That is the implication. > it should be a given that the service adequately good in the normal course of business Yes, as you say, it usually is adequately good. What about when it isn't? Not all service is good. Not all service deserves tipping and not all service is going generate repeat customers. As for myself, I'm all about the food. If the food is good and it gets out to me in a timely manner, I'm a happy camper, and I'll tip 20% (at a tipping-type location). What about the times when the service is egregiously poor? You could choose to contact management. Surely they would want to know why you won't be eating there anymore... You could tip 2 pennies to communicate to the server that their service was poor... I've heard both of those suggestions. I choose to communicate this by lowering the tip I leave, and in the absolute worst cases, leave no tip at all. Perhaps there is a better option. I don't consider leaving a 20% tip to be that better option.

JackCh 8y ago

If you buy something at a counter, there is no social expectation that you tip (bartenders are the sole exception, but just give them a dollar not a percentage.) Nor for takeout, but you should definitely tip for delivery (those guys get a raw deal anyway, their pay sucks and they're almost always putting miles on their personal vehicle. Tip them with cash when possible, to make sure they get to keep it...)

aeontech 8y ago
Giving bartenders a dollar no matter the order amount is not cool, really. That’s how you turn invisible to them the next time you want to order a drink ;)
- baddox 8y ago
  Hopefully GP meant a dollar per drink. That seems to be the norm.
  - walru 8y ago
    If you're headed to a craft establishment, $2 is the norm now. (aka a drink that has 4-10 ingredients, not a vodka/soda)
    - sincerely 8y ago
      Personally if the drink is sub-10$, I tip $1.
      - walru 8y ago
        Then you're not going to 'craft' establishments.
        sincerely 8y ago
        Maybe I'm not. Could you link an example of one? Would you tip more than 1$ on, say, a $6 drink there?
        walru 8y ago
        You wouldn't be paying $6 for a 'craft' style cocktail anywhere in the US. A 'craft' cocktail usually has 4-10 ingredients and a garnish that compliments the flavor - usually through your orthonasal senses. It's not a vodka soda or a gin and tonic. It's a Fish House Punch or a Jungle Bird or a Champs Elysees or any number of amazing cocktails that exist in the world.
    - JackCh 8y ago
      I suppose that's where the disconnect is. I only order beers or shots of whisky. One dollar per drink keeps the bartenders attentive in my experience.
- 40four 8y ago
  I disagree. I tip a dollar per drink no matter what it is. It's no more than 30 seconds of work to pour/ open a beer, maybe 60 seconds for a mixed drink? Then I walk away. Transaction/ service complete. Unlike a server who attends to you for the duration of a meal, while you are also sitting there occupying table space of other paying customers. Most people run tabs on plastic nowadays, so how's the bartender supposed to even know what they are earning per drink? I prefer to pay in cash & tip dollars as I go, & i find most bartenders are more than happy to get them & continue good service when they see paper coming their way on every transaction.
  - aeontech 8y ago
    Sure, that’s reasonable. I just see people who order a round of 6 drinks and then throw a single dollar in, at some places.
smileysteve 8y ago
> Tip them with cash when possible, to make sure they get to keep it...) Nothing like trying to help income inequality than to promote progressive income tax evasion.
- JackCh 8y ago
  Facilitating tax evasion is one consideration (although trust me, delivery people fall into a very low tax bracket anyway...) But another consideration is the number of employers who try to keep tips for themselves. It's hard to know which businesses do this, so it's safer to just tip with cash.
listenallyall 8y ago
> If you buy something at a counter, there is no social expectation that you tip In the USA, plenty of counter-service restaurants/shops have tip jars. Further, many counter-service food outlets have added a tipping option to their credit card process, usually with 15% as the minimum.
- sincerely 8y ago
  Those tip jars are basically a "if you don't want to deal with coinage or $1 dollar bills, we'll take it off your hand" option. You won't be thought poorly of for not tipping at a cafe or counter-service restaurant the same way you would be for not tipping a regular waiter.
  - listenallyall 8y ago
    Thanks Starbucks, for taking those dollar bills off my hands so I don't have to deal with them! How convenient of you! The homeless guy outside will also perform the same service, by the way, but I wouldn't be "supporting a living wage" if I gave him the money instead of your baristas.
    - JackCh 8y ago
      Starbucks isn't taking anything; they are receiving from people who give willingly. If you choose to give them your money, you've got nobody but yourself to blame. In the case of tip jars at counters you can't even blame social pressure, participating in such a scheme is completely voluntary and most people do not.
      - listenallyall 8y ago
        Your argument is reductive. ALL tips are given willingly. Starbucks could, at any moment, bar individual stores from placing a tip jar at their registers. Just like McDonald's. No tips, no issue, no should I or shouldn't I?
        8y ago

habosa 8y ago

I tip when I take out from somewhere that also has seated, tipping customers. In that case I tip 10-15%. I don't tip more than a buck or two at other places (coffee, burrito, pizza, etc) and if I don't tip at all I don't feel bad.

listenallyall 8y ago
When you tip for takeout, who do anticipate is receiving that money? You didn't interact with a waiter, a maitre'd, a sommelier, and the owner didn't come by to ensure everything was good. The cook/chef (who is, realistically, the employee most worthy of receiving a tip) only gets a small slice of pooled tips. It's a bit absurd to tip for "service" when you received no service, and there's no employee to whom you're directing the tip. It's just like, hey, here's some extra money for whoever wants it...

ianferrel 8y ago

I'm sure you'll get as many answers as people you ask, but I personally do not. I tip waiters who come around to refill my water and ask how the meal is. I tip delivery-people (like, delivery to an off-restaurant location. Not someone who brings my plate out and that's it). I don't tip other employees at eateries.

deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
listenallyall 8y ago
Delivery used to be free from most pizza places and the occasional other restaurant that delivered. Now, almost everyone charges a delivery fee. The idea of tipping on top of that just irks me to no end, although I do it so they won't spit on my food next time. I don't tip my Fedex or UPS deliveryman, why should I tip for food delivery when I've already been charged extra for that exact service?
- acchow 8y ago
  There are people who tip the fedex or ups courier? I didn’t even consider this was a possibility.
  - adventured 8y ago
    No, there aren't people that do that, basically. The parent comment was pointing out that that would be an absurdity if it were occurring.
  - IncRnd 8y ago
    No, of course there aren't. That was the point that was being made about food delivery.
  - toomanybeersies 8y ago
    Some people tip their garbage collector: http://www.mymoneyblog.com/how-do-i-tip-the-trash-collector.html http://www.mymoneyblog.com/how-do-i-tip-the-trash-collector.... From a foreign perspective, where I don't think I've ever tipped anyone in my life, it's absolutely bizarre.

sulam 8y ago

I tip 10% for counter pickup, 20% for table service and 15-20% for delivery. At Souvla, the food is really good and I tip the 15% default IIRC.

perl4ever 8y ago

Look and see if there is a tip jar?

z6 8y ago

I wouldn't. There is no service that's being provided, but you will still see plenty of tip jars and a line item for tips if you pay by card. As a business you'd be foolish to not have that, as you see by other commenters they happily part with their money.

jedberg 8y ago

I still tip 5% - 10% depending on if they are going to run the food out to me, clean up the table after me, or have to spend a lot of time packaging up the item after they make it (to go orders or complicated stay in orders).

loco5niner 8y ago

My tipping strategy in this situation: If they simply take your order at the counter and bring your food out, no tip. I also don't tip in places where you are expected to bus (clear) your own table, unless other service has been provided.

loco5niner 8y ago

Keep in mind: Tipping is the means by which to acknowledge good service. If you did NOT receive good service, that should be reflected in the amount of your tip (or your lack of tip). If you receive exceptional service, that should also be reflected. The general rule is to tip in proportion to the service, and the quality of service being delivered.

skoutus 8y ago
Is the implication that if you didn't tip, then the service was bad? I'm sorry, but it should be a given that the service adequately good in the normal course of business --otherwise, why is it a restaurant? I am fine if tipping is something you do when you experience exceptional service that is above and beyond satisfactory, instead of something you are compelled to do every time. The argument that waiters might not be paid enough is a valid point, but it is separate.
- loco5niner 8y ago
  > Is the implication that if you didn't tip, then the service was bad? Yes. That is the implication. > it should be a given that the service adequately good in the normal course of business Yes, as you say, it usually is adequately good. What about when it isn't? Not all service is good. Not all service deserves tipping and not all service is going generate repeat customers. As for myself, I'm all about the food. If the food is good and it gets out to me in a timely manner, I'm a happy camper, and I'll tip 20% (at a tipping-type location). What about the times when the service is egregiously poor? You could choose to contact management. Surely they would want to know why you won't be eating there anymore... You could tip 2 pennies to communicate to the server that their service was poor... I've heard both of those suggestions. I choose to communicate this by lowering the tip I leave, and in the absolute worst cases, leave no tip at all. Perhaps there is a better option. I don't consider leaving a 20% tip to be that better option.