Tipping at Fast Food Places

[Pablo]

Almost every store with a counter and a clerk here in WA has a swivel screen.

I tip well. I am a generous Christian. I have zero problem tipping for service. That said, mandatory tipping at a counter when just making a straight purchase is wrong. Period. I asked for item A, you handed me item A and I pay for said item and applicable local use/sales tax. Transaction complete. Don't give me a screen with 15-20-25% tip selections and just a small "other" bar toward the bottom. I am now doing more than the person who handed me item A!

 

[DwightFrye]

I pretty much stopped going to fast food places here in California after the minimum wage increase (currently $15.50) caused those businesses to raise their prices enough to cover paying people that much to do a $5 per hour job.

But last weekend I stopped at a Mexican food chain location. I ordered two chicken tacos and a soft drink. The soft drink choice was only medium and large sizes. The tacos had an amount of chicken about equal to the size of my little finger and the rest was shredded lettuce. No beans or rice were included. The total with tax was $10.74. They had a tip jar on the counter. I guess for the guy who ran the cash register and the guy that made the food. No other services were provided.

I didn't give them a dime and don't feel guilty since the State has already decreed that they should be paid 3X what the work is worth anyway.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Possibly, until they could get the self-serve kiosks in place to fully replace any human interaction.

They have those here. They still ask to tip. 18% starting.

 

[goingplacesanddoingstuff]

Excessive tipping is being (ab)used by corporations as a mechanism to help lower what they have to pay to keep employees.

It’s a perfect setup. The employee likes the “extra” income. Nobody blames the employer. If a patron doesn’t tip on the screen, they’re the a-hole.

Some of the worst offenders are Uber and other online delivery services. Some of them make you tip before the service is complete.

 

[ATex7239]

I enjoy tipping well. The professions were tipping is expected or acceptable are likely the people who need it the most. However I only tip when I’m being fully or mostly serviced. If I have to drive there, stand in line, order for myself, stand there and wait for the food, then seat myself, get my own beverage, and clean up after myself - what’s the tip for?

There are three kinds of tip categories: the rightfully earned and expected, the blanket or net cast (doesn’t hurt to ask), and makes zero sense and is arbitrarily… I think fast food falls in the blanket or net cast category.

 

[Pablo]

Never once tipped a mechanic.

Tip an auto dealership mechanic?

No!

 

[Rmay635703]

Is it just me, or are you guys tired of the "tipping" thing everywhere when you pay for fast food?

I've found the best way to avoid the "turn around the screen to me" intimidation tactic is to pay cash.

Anyone else?

I've noticed Subway and places like that are asking for tips now. I sometimes tip $1 or so but I don't actually know if it's going to the employees since it's just added to the total on the card machine.

What’s worse is many of the electronic payment options do not allow you to enter your own tip. If I want to leave a buck I can’t unless I pay cash for my fast food takeout

 

[alarmguy]

For reasons I can't really justify or explain, I tip the ice cream person. But not at (other) fast food places.

I bet because it’s a “she” and sweet

 

[#18FAN]

Never once tipped a mechanic.

Tip an auto dealership mechanic?

No!

No not tipped cash but have dropped off 6 or 12 packs of beer.

 

[Pablo]

I don’t mind this place they actually had 0.00 as choice

 

[ArrestMeRedZ]

I don’t mind this place they actually had 0.00 as choice

View attachment 176571

No problem with a 10% tip on takeout, but I do have a problem with tipping on tax. The ex math teacher in me wants to call for jihad against tax being included in the total for tip.

 

[Pablo]

No problem with a 10% tip on takeout, but I do have a problem with tipping on tax. The ex math teacher in me wants to call for jihad against tax being included in the total for tip.

Just another component of tip inflation.

This wasn't take out. You order a pizza and/or salad from wall menu or just have them construct it for you as you move down the line. Then pay and you pick it up yourself, eat at a table, then bus your table. 10% is about right for the people doing the line. More seemed over the top.

My main point was their screen 0%, 10%, 15%, 20%. Methinks if they had 5% it would be a popular choice.

 

[SC Maintenance]

This was for 2 pieces of takeout cheesecake at the walk up takeout counter - ie they never serve tables so they can’t use that excuse. It took quite a bit of clicking to find the no tip option.

I used to be a fairly generous tipper but this crap has me not wanting to tip anyone. I realize I should not paint with a broad brush but the industry needs to be punished.

 

[SaberOne]

This was for 2 pieces of takeout cheesecake at the walk up takeout counter - ie they never serve tables so they can’t use that excuse. It took quite a bit of clicking to find the no tip option.

I used to be a fairly generous tipper but this crap has me not wanting to tip anyone. I realize I should not paint with a broad brush but the industry needs to be punished.

View attachment 176623

Suggesting’ how impressed I am with the service would definitely turn me off.
Fortunately, I wouldn’t have to worry about it too much because these days I wouldn’t spend $10 for a slice of pie.

 

[97K15004WD]

This was for 2 pieces of takeout cheesecake at the walk up takeout counter - ie they never serve tables so they can’t use that excuse. It took quite a bit of clicking to find the no tip option.

I used to be a fairly generous tipper but this crap has me not wanting to tip anyone. I realize I should not paint with a broad brush but the industry needs to be punished.

View attachment 176623

This is exactly what I was talking about in the OP.

It's unreal to me that a "gratuity" is "suggested" for doing nothing but the job that they are being paid to do (which is no "value add" to the final product or service provided).

I know the cashier didn't program in the receipt "adder", but the owner sure did.

I find this practice of asking for tips everywhere annoying and gratuitous.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gratuity

I think this request for "gratuity" is a break down in normal social customs and that's why it rubs me the wrong way.

Nonetheless, I will not "normalize" this behavior by giving a tip to someone who doesn't provide a real service in a true sense of that word; at least IMO.

 

[Pablo]

This was for 2 pieces of takeout cheesecake at the walk up takeout counter - ie they never serve tables so they can’t use that excuse. It took quite a bit of clicking to find the no tip option.

I used to be a fairly generous tipper but this crap has me not wanting to tip anyone. I realize I should not paint with a broad brush but the industry needs to be punished.

View attachment 176623

Three tips (to insure promptness suggestions) less than a buck apart is pretty weak

 

[Zee09]

Walmart grocery delivery does the listed tip amounts and I always pick 0....
I thought about it and I don't know if uncle Wally will give it to the drivers so I tip them in cash at the door. That's a better tip anyways..

 

[Zee09]

Suggesting’ how impressed I am with the service would definitely turn me off.
Fortunately, I wouldn’t have to worry about it too much because these days I wouldn’t spend $10 for a slice of pie.

That is ridiculous and I'm not a cheapskate..

 

[PimTac]

At this rate the store cashiers will be asking for tips.

 

[Pablo]

At this rate the store cashiers will be asking for tips.

Read my post above

They are