From Snopes.com

Tip is an old word and actually refers to monetary rewards to servants, dating back to the 1700's. The use of "tip" to describe the act of giving something to another (which could include small sums of money) dates back to 1610.
Although the acronyms appear to fit, they aren't actually the true meaning. It's just a catchy phrase.

When my son and his friends worked fast casual restaurants they lived for and LOVED the couple of dollars they would go home with from "tips". He's now a server at a casual sit-down restaurant, but he also rotates into the lineup for helping with the to-go orders. When we go out he always tips or asks that I do (As I usually pay. Some things never change!), where ever we are because he says the staff isn't just college kids but actual working adults to whom a few dollars will make all the difference. To go orders, sit down orders, whatever orders.
Someone who didn't tip in the to-go scenario wouldn't stand out though (at least not in his establishment) as he says to go orders don't usually get tipped. They actually stand out when they do get tipped, and I can guess that 15-20% would stand out even more.

I'm personally an "over-tipper" according to my husband, and he laughs at my stash of $1 bills for things like Baskin-Robbins, Subway or Panera.

I'm curious what Subway, Baskin-Robbins, or Panera employees do to earn a tip? I'm just curious because none of those people do anything that I would tip on.

^ bgriffin beat me to it. Espresso is different.

I love Starbucks and am willing to pay the $4.28 for venti skinny latte' on a daily basis. It tastes better than using the Starbucks k-cups on my Keurig machine. I don't eat breakfast or lunch, coffee is my first "meal" of the day. I am actually saving money.

Since b and I had this argument already this week

"Espresso is coffee brewed by forcing a small amount of nearly boiling water under pressure through finely ground coffee beans."

All I know is that coffee is BLECH and lattes are YUM.

bgriffin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm curious what Subway, Baskin-Robbins, or Panera
> employees do to earn a tip? I'm just curious
> because none of those people do anything that I
> would tip on.


Do they do less work than putting together a take-out order? When I worked at Baskin-Robbins as a teenager my right arm was considerably larger than that of my left just from the activity of scooping the ice cream to their required shape and size. It was a ton of work!! and don't get me started on the person who orders a shake. lol.

At Panera the food is brought to your table, the question is asked do I need anything else, which I invariably do and that too is brought out. They clean up after me and my clan.

Subway they make a sandwich with my specifications right in front of me, and put whatever extras or on the side items I may have requested.

All of these things earn something in my opinion, and based on what my son and his friends thought of the dollar or 2 they would get every now and then it's worth it to me to give them something.

This is not to suggest that I in any way think that tipping of these types of services is in the least bit expected, nor am I directing anyone to do the same. I was sharing my experience and that of my son. Period.

I also give the postman a Christmas present, leave gifts for the volunteers at the hospital I work at and hand the bus boy a $5 bill when I feel like he's doing more than the waitstaff. So sue me.

cellphonebarbie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> bgriffin Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> Do they do less work than putting together a
> take-out order?

I didn't ask that question. I don't think people putting together a take out order deserve a tip either. I asked what those people did to earn a tip above their duties as employees.


> When I worked at Baskin-Robbins as
> a teenager my right arm was considerably larger
> than that of my left just from the activity of
> scooping the ice cream to their required shape and
> size. It was a ton of work!! and don't get me
> started on the person who orders a shake. lol.

I'm confused. Isn't scooping my ice cream part of what I'm paying for?



> At Panera the food is brought to your table, the
> question is asked do I need anything else, which I
> invariably do and that too is brought out. They
> clean up after me and my clan.

I wanna go to your Panera. I've eaten in Panera locations in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. In none of those locations did I have someone bring me food. They always gave me a little buzzer thing and I had to go up to the counter and get it. And I throw my own trash away there.


> Subway they make a sandwich with my specifications
> right in front of me, and put whatever extras or
> on the side items I may have requested.

Again isn't that kind of part of buying the sandwich. Someone has to, you know, MAKE the sandwich for you?



> All of these things earn something in my opinion,
> and based on what my son and his friends thought
> of the dollar or 2 they would get every now and
> then it's worth it to me to give them something.

So your simple answer is you wanna just give some people extra money because it makes them happy? I'm fine with that. That's awesome. More people in this world should share with people who have less. I was just confused that you thought they did something to EARN a tip, which apparently isn't the case.

Panera has been adding in table delivery of food. Obviously they did not roll it out nationwide and even here, the home of Panera, I've only seen it at one restaurant so far.

bgriffin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> cellphonebarbie Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > bgriffin Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > Do they do less work than putting together a
> > take-out order?
>
> I didn't ask that question. I don't think people
> putting together a take out order deserve a tip
> either. I asked what those people did to earn a
> tip above their duties as employees.
**Ouch Grumpy. I didn't respond to your "question" it was a statement, posed in question form. The original question of the forum was about tipping take out or not. Having answered "yes" previously to that, I merely expanded on my opinion.
>
>
> > When I worked at Baskin-Robbins as
> > a teenager my right arm was considerably larger
> > than that of my left just from the activity of
> > scooping the ice cream to their required shape
> and
> > size. It was a ton of work!! and don't get me
> > started on the person who orders a shake. lol.
>
> I'm confused. Isn't scooping my ice cream part of
> what I'm paying for?
Sure. As is serving your food, as is taking up your luggage for bell staff, as is driving a taxi for a taxi driver. Someone at some point in service decided that giving a little extra is deserved, which has turned into required for some industries. Again, I did not suggest that you or anyone else tip at Baskin-Robbins. I was again giving the perspective of how much work that job just might be.
>
>
>
> > At Panera the food is brought to your table,
> the
> > question is asked do I need anything else, which
> I
> > invariably do and that too is brought out. They
> > clean up after me and my clan.
>
> I wanna go to your Panera. I've eaten in Panera
> locations in Florida, Georgia, Alabama,
> Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Tennessee,
> Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio,
> Michigan, and Indiana. In none of those locations
> did I have someone bring me food. They always
> gave me a little buzzer thing and I had to go up
> to the counter and get it. And I throw my own
> trash away there.
** I love my Panera. I get a little number that I place in a metal ring on my table. They bring me out my food, and they most definitely clean up after me. They are fantastic and the owner of the two (2) stores that I would frequent is definitely doing something right. The staff also seems happy and they are always gracious and seem to appreciate the tip I leave them.
>
>
> > Subway they make a sandwich with my
> specifications
> > right in front of me, and put whatever extras
> or
> > on the side items I may have requested.
>
> Again isn't that kind of part of buying the
> sandwich. Someone has to, you know, MAKE the
> sandwich for you?
Sure. See answer above.
>
>
>
> > All of these things earn something in my
> opinion,
> > and based on what my son and his friends
> thought
> > of the dollar or 2 they would get every now and
> > then it's worth it to me to give them
> something.
>
> So your simple answer is you wanna just give some
> people extra money because it makes them happy?
> I'm fine with that. That's awesome. More people
> in this world should share with people who have
> less. I was just confused that you thought they
> did something to EARN a tip, which apparently
> isn't the case.

They do something to EARN a tip in my OPINION, which when it comes to my money is truly all that matters. I was sharing it with the board, but you chose to pick it apart and challenge every sentence. I'm ok with that. I don't mind a little healthy debate and I can and will defend my answers and opinions. I give them extra money not because it makes them happy but because it makes ME happy. Their happiness is just the bonus.
And yes, I agree with you that more people who have should share with those that don't. I'm in the absolutely fortunate position that my small gestures serve both my happiness and my desire to reward those that I feel do a fantastic job and go above and beyond what is the minimum expectations at a service centered business.

P.s. I tip the paper delivery guy too. Drives my husband nuts.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/11/2014 11:26PM by cellphonebarbie.

I wasn't picking your post apart and challenging every sentence, it's just easier to quote bit by bit than quote the whole thing and stick one big paragraph at the end, which makes it very confusing to figure out what I'm addressing when.

Here's my thing with tipping. To me, when you go to a restaurant you are paying for someone to prepare a meal for you. The server is in business for themselves. They get paid a small amount by the restaurant but to me they are a separate business, one of delivering the food from the restaurant you paid for the food at, to your table, and to make sure your meal is enjoyable. Similar to the person who cuts your hair. The price is set by the owner but they are in business for themselves. The reason you tip the stylist but not if they're the owner. All of these other people who seem to be getting tipped these days do not have that type of relationship. They are employees of the business. I just trying to understand the mindset of "this person deserves a tip even though they're doing what they're already paid to do" and it makes no sense to me.

I do take out regularly for a Casual establishment. They advise a $2 tip and that's what I tip. I have ordered once in a blue moon from a fine dining restaurant and do not tip for carry-out. I do not tip for any establishment where I am personally picking up from.

If I have pizza or Chinese food delivered, I will tip anywhere from $2-$5.

I don't understand the full 18-20% tip for a buffet that I've done. The server brings our drinks and removes our used plates that are virtually none as we usually remove them ourselves. Everything else is self-serve.

I have eaten at Paneras all over Florida, and I have never gotten table service. We order, get a buzzer (sometimes, most times they just shout out our names), pick up our food and buss our own table. There's a tub for plates with a smaller section in front for utensils. Trays go on top and trash goes to the trash receptacle.

When I was working a corporate managerial job and making $60,000 a year, I tipped a lot of people who didn't expect it, and tipped heavier than average a lot of the times.

I'm making a third of that since the economy crash. I'm a lot more frugal with my tips these days -- and rarely even eat out. I indulge myself with the take-out steak about once every couple of months and pick up a $7 pizza from our best pizza restaurant once or twice a month. But most of the people I would be tipping make more than I do both on a per-hour and total per month basis.

bgriffin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I never understood tipping a taxi driver either.
> Ummm. Isn't that what your job is? To drive me?
> Isn't that why I'm paying you $40 to begin with?


Many, many years ago, I drove a taxi. Back then, we rented the cab for a certain amount and paid for gas which we had to buy from the company. We were not guaranteed a certain amount of income, but the cab rental and the gas had to be paid no matter how much we made. There were days when I made very little, but most of the time, I made much more than minimum wage. All the drivers depended on tips to make money. I don't know if the system is the same now since all my cab driver friends have moved on, and it seems as though the fares have increased substantially.

I haven't taken a taxi in the US since I quit driving--I did take a few when I was in Europe with a bunch of teenagers a few years back. I tipped the drivers well--I was so glad to be free if just for an hour.

cubbiecat Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have eaten at Paneras all over Florida, and I
> have never gotten table service. We order, get a
> buzzer (sometimes, most times they just shout out
> our names), pick up our food and buss our own
> table. There's a tub for plates with a smaller
> section in front for utensils. Trays go on top and
> trash goes to the trash receptacle.


That's not the case here in the locations I go to in Southern California. The only time they have asked my name was if I said my order was to go.
They have table service, and they come by at least once during the visit and ask if we need anything else. They also clear any dishes away and bring to go containers for leftovers.
I think someone else (Lisa?) indicated on here that certain locations were rolling out table service, but perhaps it just hasn't reached your area. Hopefully soon! It's a nice experience all around.

bgriffin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I wasn't picking your post apart and challenging
> every sentence, it's just easier to quote bit by
> bit than quote the whole thing and stick one big
> paragraph at the end, which makes it very
> confusing to figure out what I'm addressing when.
>
> Here's my thing with tipping. To me, when you go
> to a restaurant you are paying for someone to
> prepare a meal for you. The server is in business
> for themselves. They get paid a small amount by
> the restaurant but to me they are a separate
> business, one of delivering the food from the
> restaurant you paid for the food at, to your
> table, and to make sure your meal is enjoyable.
> Similar to the person who cuts your hair. The
> price is set by the owner but they are in business
> for themselves. The reason you tip the stylist
> but not if they're the owner. All of these other
> people who seem to be getting tipped these days do
> not have that type of relationship. They are
> employees of the business. I just trying to
> understand the mindset of "this person deserves a
> tip even though they're doing what they're already
> paid to do" and it makes no sense to me.

Well said and thank you for the clarification. You're absolutely right that the quoting does help in keeping the reader aligned with what you're addressing. I understand your point completely, even if I don't agree with it. It is nice to hear that you were trying to understand instead of the possible alternatives.

And to clarify further, I don't suggest that the tipping that I do is the norm or even encourage it for others. I actually believe that if it became the norm, then it would become an expectation instead of being treated with gratitude and surprise.

You can put me in the category of not tipping for pickup orders or fast food stores. Restaurants like Sizzler where you order at a counter, fill your own drink, get your own salad from the salad bar and someone brings your entree from the kitchen I usually tip a dollar. If it's not a full-service sit-down eating experience, why should I be tipping as if it were?