Not Another Tipping Thread - Default Tip Amounts at Restaurants

[southerndoc]

I'm not trying to turn this into a "what do you tip" conversation. I need to vent about the default tip amounts. Tonight I picked up a to go order from Chili's. The default tip amount was 18% with 25% and 30% options. Seriously? The other day Burger 21 defaulted to 15% with 20 and 25% amounts.

I realize business is down for nearly every restaurant and they are trying to recover some of their lost revenue/tips with the increased amount of takeout orders, but c'mon. It used to bother me to select "other" and type in the amount but now it doesn't.

Yes, southerndoc is a tightwad.

[Eye3md]

It’s gotten out of hand. I’m an oldie who remembers when tips were 10%. I was ok when they went to 15 and 18%. Nowadays, 22 and 25% just seem excessive. Truthfully, it’s part of the reason my family has quit going out to eat so much. I’m supposed to pay a 25%+ tip for “adequate” service for a family of four. I’d rather stay home and cook for the family instead. That way, no rude waiters, no annoying people speaking on their stupid cellphones on speaker, and I’m the only one to blame if the cooking stinks

[Lithium]

That just sounds like more expensive fast food. I’ve don’t think I’ve ever gotten take out from a chain restaurant.

[southerndoc]

The odd thing is that the world -- particularly the US -- allows this to continue. Tipping came about as a form of wage payment after the Civil War because plantation owners didn't want to pay wages to their hospitality staff. So they created tipping. Many years later, we allow substandard wages to be paid to hospitality staff instead of paying them a fair wage.

[nephron]

I used to never tip for carry out. I will add a few dollars to the tip amounts now, but certainly to 18-30%, that's ridiculous. I hope that this doesn't become a normal thing, tipping for carry out. Part of the appeal of carry out was avoiding the 20% tip. It's like a 20% discount on your meal if you eat it on the curb.

[southerndoc]

Unfortunately, I don't think it's going to go away. Have you ever seen a fee tacked onto something go away after a while? No, it becomes acceptable and people become used to it.

[Lithium]

Unfortunately, I don't think it's going to go away. Have you ever seen a fee tacked onto something go away after a while? No, it becomes acceptable and people become used to it.

At some point, people will realize they’re paying too much and look for substitutes. If we get a national $15 minimum wage, I doubt I’ll be eating fast food very much. I’ll just make my tacos at home once a week. It didn’t happen overnight, but cigarette smoking dropped dramatically after taxes were raised.

[CordMcNally]

Unfortunately, I don't think it's going to go away. Have you ever seen a fee tacked onto something go away after a while? No, it becomes acceptable and people become used to it.

I'll be curious to see what happens with the federal minimum wage and tipping. Too many people/service industries expect tips these days.

[GastroMastro]

I don’t tip for pick up. Should i tip the grocery bagger at the grocery store for bagging my groceries? Should i tip the cashier at the Taco Bell drive through?

[doctorbone]

I usually don’t tip carry outs but I will tip $5 if I’m doing a curbside pick up. I picked up Cheesecake Factory last night. it was raining and the guy had to dodge mall traffic to deliver my food. I thought he deserved it.

[Tim]

I usually don’t tip carry outs but I will tip $5 if I’m doing a curbside pick up. I picked up Cheesecake Factory last night. it was raining and the guy had to dodge mall traffic to deliver my food. I thought he deserved it.

I tip 15%-20% for service. During the pandemic, 25% to a few favorites, hey 5% charity is a small contribution to familiar faces.
I don’t consider a drive thru or a pickup window service.
The exception there if it is a large order a type of catering. They get tipped, that takes effort and deserves a gratuity.

I wonder if $15/hr will apply to wait staff.

[Tangler]

The quality of the food we make at home, combined with the lack of travel, and cost of takeout has made us much more likely to eat at home. A kale and spinach salad, with bacon, egg, smoked cheddar, cashews, tomatoes sweet onions home made thousand island dressing and left over duck breast. It was missing avocado

[Eye3md]

I'll be curious to see what happens with the federal minimum wage and tipping. Too many people/service industries expect tips these days.

i was talking with a young man who said the $15/hour would “screw me over”. He’s a waiter at a “fancy” restaurant in DC and said he typically clears $100k every year. Most of that is in tips, and I suspect he’s only reporting a proportion of that (thus the being screwed over if he gets $15/hr instead)

[Tangler]

i was talking with a young man who said the $15/hour would “screw me over”. He’s a waiter at a “fancy” restaurant in DC and said he typically clears $100k every year. Most of that is in tips, and I suspect he’s only reporting a proportion of that (thus the being screwed over if he gets $15/hr instead)

Interesting.

[CordMcNally]

i was talking with a young man who said the $15/hour would “screw me over”. He’s a waiter at a “fancy” restaurant in DC and said he typically clears $100k every year. Most of that is in tips, and I suspect he’s only reporting a proportion of that (thus the being screwed over if he gets $15/hr instead)

My suspicion is that those who work at fancier restaurants are going to be severely hurting if tipping goes away.