Are you supposed to leave a tip for takeout? How much to tip on takeout? No worries, I will help you figure it out. In this article, I will explain everything you need to know about leaving a tip when you order food to go.
So, whether you’re grabbing a quick bite or having a big meal, you can make sure you’re always being polite by following the right tipping rules. Let’s get started!
To Tip or Not to Tip?
Now let’s get straight to answering this question, “Should you tip for a takeout order?” The answer is certainly “yes”. If you go to a restaurant that is a traditional dine-in establishment and servers wait on tables to serve you, you should tip the waitstaff there for your takeout orders. You should do this because taking your orders to pack food to provide that to you requires some sort of activity from the waitstaff. And it will be somehow rude if you do not tip for that takeout order. So always consider tipping a reasonable amount for your takeouts.
How Pandemic Has Changed Tipping Practices for Takeout
It has already been seen that Americans have long been fatigued by tipping. And the pandemic just has pushed everyone to such a state that people have got very much reluctant to tip restaurant workers, especially for takeouts. During the pandemic, it would have been seen that more tip jars were placed in front of the counters as there were social distancing rules to take the foods out at home that limited the restaurants’ seating capacity.
Only a handful of essential workers were working very hard to keep things moving at a time and put themselves at additional risk in order to provide comfort and convenience to the customers. So, during that time, tipping became more common even in non-traditional tipping situations.
But now that things have got back to normal, people get confused deciding whether to tip and how much to tip when getting takeout. Many of them are now thinking that tipping is not a requirement or mandatory option for takeouts now.
In many cases, tipping a fairly large amount, say for example 20%, at a sit-down restaurant is still the standard. However, there is less consensus when it comes to takeout orders like a carry-out coffee or takeaway snack, according to etiquette experts.
How Much to Tip on Takeout Orders
So let us take a look into the discussion of how much you should tip for your takeout orders. Frankly speaking, it depends on several factors. When you go to a restaurant for a takeaway, you need to keep in mind that the restaurant staff relies on tips largely to make both ends meet. Waitstaff who take orders is generally paid a minimal salary and depend on tips so that they can make up the difference in their paychecks to reach minimum wage for their livelihood. So just like your tip for a sit-down restaurant, you should consider tipping for takeaways from there as well.
You Must Take These Facts into Consideration!
When you order takeout, the time it takes to prepare your order is much less than waiting at your table in the restaurant. Thus it often does not require a customary higher tip. In the other picture, even though you do not see the servers packing your food and placing your order, they still had to take time away from the other customers, package your meal, and prepare your bag for takeout. The core difference here is that – the servers are not actually serving your meals, getting your drink refilled, clearing your table, and doing all the other things that a dine-in experience can bring you.
Is 10% Tip Good for Takeout?
A 10% tip for takeout can be considered a good amount. On the other hand, the appropriate amount to tip for takeout can vary based on factors such as the size of the order, the quality of the service, and the individual’s own financial situation.
In general, a 10% tip can be considered a generous amount for takeout orders, as it is often easier to provide good service when customers are dining in a restaurant. However, if you received exceptional service or if you had a particularly large order, you may choose to tip more.
The Recommendation?
According to etiquette expert Gottsman, there are some scenarios that you should take into consideration –
If you take a large takeout order where the staff goes above and beyond, it is recommended to tip about 15 percent of the total bill, which is less than the usual tipping percentage for the dine-in experience.
However, if you are ordering takeout from any fast-food restaurant or coffee shop, tips are really not mandatory there, but they certainly will be appreciated.
For the above situation, you can drop your change and round up the total bill as long as it is more than just a couple of cents. Or if you see any tip jar, you can simply drop $1 or $2 for the order into the tip jar.
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The case against tipping for takeout: what travelers have to say?
In reality, there are situations when travelers are baffled by the way restaurants demand a tip when they place their takeout orders. They are finding it awkward when in some places they are being asked to tip before their takeout order arrives. According to some etiquette experts, this type of norm on tipping for takeout is a bad idea.
Sometimes, when travelers travel around, they get offended by the payment systems that do not accept cash. Even in some cases, they have found out that the tipping percentages have been set as – 12%, 15%, and 20% – programmed on the tablet. They find it pretty embarrassing when they have to push the button in front of the server. Moreover, they get a sense of feeling that they are forced to tip an amount that they do not want to pay.
So how can a traveler look into this picture? Some etiquette experts say that tipping a restaurant worker for good service can still be a polite gesture. If they find the behavior to be polite, they can consider that. However, the payment systems that try to extract a tip from the travelers before the takeout arrives should not be considered as a tip. Because anything charged before people get the food is actually a service fee.
How to handle the request for an advance takeout order tip?
So what to do when you are offended by the payment system that demands an advance gratuity before you receive your food? You may still want to consider a takeout tip in many cases, right? One reason behind this is that the compensation system for many servers makes the tip an essential part of their wages. You can take a look at the following measures –
Consider adjusting the tipping amount. If something goes wrong and you get offended by any advanced tipping system like many travelers have faced before, there are some systems that allow you to increase or decrease the gratuity. A tip can surely be adjusted if there is any legit issue.
You need to follow your instinct. You need to do what you feel is right. When you feel the percentages are there for force tipping, simply hit the ‘custom tip’ or ‘no tip’ in the tablet even if you feel uncomfortable doing it in front of the waitstaff. After all, you should not be forced to stick to a fixed amount for tipping.
Is It Customary to Tip on Takeout Orders?
Tipping on takeout orders is a common practice in the USA. The amount of the tip can vary depending on the size of the order and the amount of effort required by the staff. Some people choose to leave a small tip for takeout orders as a way to show appreciation for the effort involved in preparing and packaging the food. However, it is not expected or required.
Why Should I Tip for Takeout?
Tipping for takeout orders is a way to show your appreciation for the staff who prepared your meal and brought it to you. It is also a way to compensate for the lack of service that you would receive if you were dining in the restaurant. In many cases, restaurant staff are paid less than minimum wage, so tips are an important part of their income.
Additionally, tipping for takeout orders is a way to show your support for the restaurant and help them keep their staff employed.
Is It Rude to Not Tip for Takeout?
Sometimes not tipping for takeout is considered rude. If you received good service and would like to show your appreciation, leaving a small tip can be a nice gesture.
Tipping for takeout orders may be common practice in the USA. It’s not expected as it is for dining in a restaurant, but it is a way to show appreciation for good service and to acknowledge the effort that went into preparing and fulfilling your order.
If you choose not to tip for takeout, it is important to be respectful and polite when picking up your order and interacting with the staff. Providing clear communication, being courteous, and following the company’s policies are ways to ensure that the service is performed to your satisfaction.
To Conclude
So in conclusion, it can be said that adding a tip — no matter if it is your leftover change or a couple of dollars — is a nice way to show your appreciation for service workers, and takeout is a service after all.
When you feel you are being treated appropriately in the whole process, just hit the tip button, except for a few special circumstances. You may often be pissed off with the restaurant industry’s compensation system for its employees, it never hurts to tip. In fact, you are probably helping others to get their ends meet effectively.
