How do you feel about automated tipping? This has increased dramatically over the past couple years?

[ChiTown33]

If you've been out Christmas shopping you're likely to have run into at least once already. I tend to order takeout pizza and opt to pick it up myself. But I get there to pay for it. And when you pay with a card it gives you the tip option.

Now don't get me wrong I'm a thrifty person. But I ALWAYS tip at least 20% at restaurants as I know that's how servers make thier money. But I watched a piece on the news where they said it's pretty customary now to tip takeout when you're a customer that's pretty regular and say they know what you order etc.

How do you feel about this? Do you agree? Do you think the whole tipping thing is going too far or no?

[NamerOfStars]

A friend brought me to a Steak and Shake the other day, and I was surprised to find they've added that functionality in to the automated checkout systems they've added in. I've never really been comfortable with the idea of tipping; the companies should pay their servers a proper wage and just charge what they need to do that- I don't like being manipulated into paying more added on after the fact. I don't even like that places get away with not including taxes in listed prices. It's not a mystery; you KNOW what the total will be. If I'm desperately poor and that last twelve cents will make the difference between my being able to eat today and my not, I'd really like to know BEFORE I get up to the counter and risk humiliation and holding up the rest of the line, thanks.

In restaurants, it's universal (here in the States, anyway) at 15-20%, so I do that without grumbling, but when the staff doesn't wait your table, clear your table, cook your food to order, or even TAKE your order, it feels kinda abusive.

[spartan55]

I think tipping has run amok a bit. Carryout is tricky, because I'm not tipping some dude for simply ringing me. However, if it's a regular restaurant that's busy on a weekend... then putting together to go orders (and all of flatware, condiments, etc...) is worthy of $3-$5. Certainly not 20% though.

[ChiTown33]

That's kind if what I'm thinking. I'll tip at a "sit dow" restaurant even if I'm just getting takeout. But tipping for a pizza place I mean they're not delivering it. And the "service is very minimal".

[spartan55]

Right? It usually involves retrieving your order off the expo or whatever.
I used to deliver pizzas part-time and pretty much knew what to expect in tips. Thankfully this was pre-UberEats, Diner Dash etc.

[ChiTown33]

Exactly. Almost no place employs thier own drivers anymore. I've been told by people who work for companies that deliver that when you consider what delivery driving gig traditionally paid half the people they hired couldn't pass a background check. Obviously I'm talking in more recent years. Than when you delivered.

[jennifer_bloom]

If I can afford to tip I will tip, and the amount I give depends on how much I have available - if it was a month where I spent less money I will tip more and if it is a month where I spent a lot of money, I will tip less. I tend to tip according to effort and not according to food distribution size, so I might leave Pizza Hut a generous percentage and an Italian restaurant a lower percentage since my order at the Italian restaurant might cost 4 times more than my order at Pizza Hut, and I believe Pizza Hut needs the money more than the Italian store that could make $30 off one person's tip for each half hour of work. While Pizza Hut might need 12 orders to make a $30 tip.

[ChiTown33]

Fair nuff.

[CindyRuns]

I agree with you totally.

I tip well when I eat at a sit down restaurant with table service. For extra special service, I'll often go as high as 30%. At the same time, I don't tip for take-out or at buffets where the only service provided is to clear the plates from the table.

[ChiTown33]

I guess I would be more inclined to tip if I KNEW they were getting g the tip. For all I know it's some kind of corporate accouting. I know it's not "charity" but since many companies will do sideline charities. Like when go to the convenience store you can automated pay donate a dollar to something. Then the company says "we raised" blah blah money for blah blah charity. When actually thier customers did. They just collected the money🤣 for all I know these companies are doing this or just pocketing it.

[MCheetah]

Nah, screw that! I would outright refuse to go to places like that. Not that I ever dined out in the US anyway, because of tipping culture. I've already gave my thoughts on the absurd tipping culture in the US and how no one wants to pay wait staff normally, when they should.

Tipping for TAKE OUT? WTF am I tipping for? FUGGGGGGGGGGG OFF with that BS!

[katiesmuff]

I'm in the restaurant business myself and we have both dining in and take out. I agree with you that for take out a tip is not required, however someone did have make that order and pack it for you so it is a bit of a catch 22. Suppose you walked up to our bar and ordered a cocktail to go, do you tip or not?

[ChiTown33]

As I said to another poster I agree for sot down restaurants even if I'm ordering takeout to tip. Because as you said someone had to pack that. And a lot of times it might be the bar tender or what have you. Something that isn't really thier job but a duty of thier job. But some place like dominos that is there whole job. I'm not sure they should be tipped for a job they're explicitly paid to do. And I'm not really making a judhement here. Just seeing what the overall consensus here is.

[katiesmuff]

Places like Domino's pays all their in house help a fair wage for their work (which does not include the delivery guy) and tips are accepted but not expected, which is different from a restaurant where the server staff is paid a slight wage with tips expected to make up the difference.

[Guy13]

Not happening. All the foods, restaurants, and bars will be shut down in next year or two thanks to Biden. I am assuming those Business Owners are diversified and can pay rent. One service employee etc.

[douride2]

IN my opinion tipping has gotten way out of hand.

[nolabels]

No tipping on takeout.

Period.

[nolabels]

I'll tip my local cigar shop when I'm interested in trying out some cigars that are new to me and I enlist the assistance of the proprietor for more than a short period of time.

Service beyond a simple purchase is appreciated and rewarded with a tip.

😊