Why does everyone have an opinion on how much I tip for takeout?
By @paigeactually · Money
I posted a story of my sushi order and someone DMed me to say that my 10% tip on a pickup order was 'insulting' to the staff. It was a $40 order, so I tipped $4. I didn't think you had to tip the full 20% when you're not even sitting down and getting service.
The full story
Ok i need a reality check. I ordered sushi from my favorite local place last night. It's a small restaurant, i go there probably twice a month. I always order online and go pick it up. My total was like $41 and change, so i put a $4 tip on the card when I paid online. I posted a pic of my food on my instagram story later, just the food, but the receipt was kinda visible in the corner of the box. you could see the total and the tip amount if you really zoomed in. Someone i know from college, not even a close friend, DMs me like an hour later. He goes 'not to be that guy but a 10% tip on a pickup order is kinda insulting to the service staff'. I was so taken aback. I asked him what he meant and he said that restaurant staff live on tips and not tipping at least 18-20% is basically wage theft, even for takeout. His argument was that they still have to take the order, put it all together, bag it up, and hand it to me. so they're providing a service. My whole thing is... isn't the tip supposed to be for the service you receive at the table? like refilling drinks, checking on you, bringing the food out, cleaning up after. for a pickup order, they're just bagging it. that's part of their job, isn't it? the same way a cashier at a grocery store bags your groceries. I don't tip them. I feel like this pressure to tip 20% on literally everything is getting out of control. It feels like every coffee shop, every counter-service place, flips the screen around and it defaults to 20% or 25%. I'm happy to tip for good service but for a 30-second interaction to grab my food? a 10% tip felt fine, maybe even a little generous. Now I feel like I'm a horrible person and this guy is telling all our mutuals i'm a cheapskate.
How people voted
- Bad Move — 26% (12 votes)
- Needs Context — 41% (19 votes)
- Reasonable — 33% (15 votes)
Readers are split: “Needs Context” leads with 41% — 46 votes and 4 comments so far.
What people are saying
@ashforsure — omg i wouldve posted his dm to your story
@sagemm — Wild that someone zoomed in on a receipt in your food pic.
@noelmm — This is a classic case of tipflation, everyone feels entitled to 25% for doing the bare minimum.
@sashaok — A tip is for service, not for handing me a bag.
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