What is an appropriate amount to tip for takeout orders?

Question

So in the US it’s been pretty standard to tip on take out orders since the pandemic began. Some restaurants even automatically add the tip now. What do you think is a fair amount to leave for a tip when you pick up food?

Answer

Nope. The people who’d get it didn’t even cook it. What am I tipping for? They aren’t servers so they have to make minimum wage at least and they aren’t doing anything excessive. Maybe they hand me a box..? I don’t tip at drive thrus, why would I tip take out or a cachirr either?

Answer

Tipping on takeout orders was standard for me pre pandemic.  I don't tip 20+% because it's not full service but I still tip.  if there's a person who's job it is only to take out  they are ensuring you're order is correct, you have cutlery, it's all packaged so nothing spills, etc.  They may be making more than the $2.13 servers make but not by much.  If it falls to the bartender to do it it's taking away from the time they should be spending attending to their guests.

Answer

I don’t tip at takeout. Only when I receive service. If I do feel kinda obligated bc they’re staring at the screen I give $2.

Answer

We start at 20% and go up or down depending on quality of service. That's for delivery, sit down, whatever. We both worked in the industry, so we know what these people deal with and how much they may or may not be making.

Answer

The lowest my grandmother tips is $5 no matter where as long as there’s a tip line but I tip based off of the service I received. If they don’t come by to check. They’re rude, or just obviously not doing the job then I’ll go lower

Answer

I have always tipped on take out even pre pandemic. It’s obvious the people in these comments have never worked in food service 🙄

Answer

If it’s something like I ordered Panera, and they bring it out to my car, the meal isn’t going to be that expensive, it’s probably $10-$15 unless I order a lot. If I order just a soup I tip a dollar, but if I order a meal I tip at least two dollars. If I order a large meal say at a Chinese restaurant, I tip more because obviously it’s not full service and worth the 20%, but obviously they are doing their job of packing your food making sure you have everything you need if you want extra rice or whatever else, I still tip depends on how much the bill is. If I’m just ordering some rice, obviously I’m not gonna tip 20%, but at least a couple of bucks. If I order a large meal then obviously I’ll tip more. If I know them I took more as well, especially if I’m a frequent visitor. ￼

Answer

I do 20%. I decided years ago to tip 30% in person. The few extra dollars is nothing to me,  but as a former sever, that could literally make my day. Why not do that for someone else?

Answer

Depends what I ordered. If it was not how the menu described or more complicated I’d add a few bucks on.
Being a hostess at a bar that also did takeout I made minimum wage (wait staff made the $2.63+ tips). Not a lot of people tipped unless it was a big order or more complicated than pizza.

What is an appropriate amount to tip for takeout orders?

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