I need a ruling on this

[willeyeam]

Re: tipping on take out. What's the rule if it's a buffet? At the local Chinese place I grab my own container, fill it, then take it to the cashier who rings it up and puts it in the bag. I usually round up to the nearest $5. Just wondering if I'm being cheap.

I don't tip in this situation. I usually do tip 10-15% on takeout, but not for a takeout buffet. The guy gave me a look last time and I was like hey pal I literally did everything. You don't tip the Sheetz cashier right?

[count2infinity]

I’m gonna go full blown Dr. Cox and carry around a tip jar everywhere I go.

[mikey]

We've had this discussion a few times about takeout/carry out and tipping...I think tipping is a little out of control at this point, but I'm at a better point in my life and not every place necessarily has min wage...so, I'll throw something...but there's got to be some element of work. A buffet? $0. Get lost.

Meow was being asked about feeding a family for $X. I mean, our regular ass quesadilla place near us - it's $18 for chicken quesadilla. Find the cash in there, pum'kin. You think you're getting an $8 tip (20%) tip on a two-quesadilla/$40 meal...? No chance on a takeout order. Dine in? Yes, no question (barring the craziest awful service and food combination) you're getting a tip on the inflation...but let's get serious here. It's not covid anymore, I'm not gonna keep going 30, 35, 40% on top of everything...

[faftorial]

Is she hot?

She might be my age so I'm expressing interest in this question too.

[faftorial]

Who are you tipping on takeout? The people at the counter handing you your food?

[tifosi77]

I believe the generally accepted cutoff line is whether or not the restaurant offers table service, which is why that dictates tipping for takeout and/or delivery as well. If they do, tip. If they do not, there's no 'need' to tip.

As I understand it, the general run is that someone from waitstaff is dedicated to expo takeout orders, which means they are losing tables during that shift. In other words, say a typical shift for that day of the week, they may normally turn 8 tables 3x for 24 tip opportunities; on a shift where they're working takeouts they may be expediting the same amount of orders, but only 10% of them are tipping. But they are still paid at the same sub-minimum hourly wage for that shift.

About the only exception I routinely make for tipping with no table service is Jersey Mike's. I'll tip because I get lunch there pretty much once a week, and I'm happy to build the good will. I may do the round up thing at a fast casual place (Mendocino Farms, Panda Express, Cafe Rio, etc), but that's more to simplify my personal bookkeeping.

[count2infinity]

There are no rules, do what you want.

[tifosi77]

Nothing is true, everything is permitted.

[King Colby]

I'm with the tip being dictated by whether or not it's a full service restaurant.

I'm not tipping at Jersey Mike's for example. I mean I've probably thrown a dollar or two out of guilt but that's a no-tip situation in my rulebook

[Orlando Penguin]

Other than you’re standing there watching them make what you want to eat. Next time you fail to tip, they might add a dash of spit to that #34.

[Joegap]

Speaking of tipping.. the last few years I have always tipped my trash guys for xmas. This year we got new cans and they don't even have to leave the truck now. I am thinking no tip now.. thoughts?

[blackjack68]

No tip

[meecrofilm]

Feels like it was more of a general gesture thing anyway, so, I'd continue the habit. But I don't know if it's too much of a logistical issue with not leaving the truck and would be too awkward.

[mikey]

Tipping trash folks? Come on...

[meecrofilm]

Yeah to clarify, I wouldn't do it to begin with, but if you're already doing it, I don't see how that would change much.

Unless you're looking for a reason to get out of it, which is fine.

[Joegap]

my apologies guess I wouldn't consider it a tip and more of an xmas gift. my cans would always be put back nicely and they would always take anything i threw out. found it to be a worthy investment

[tifosi77]

I've never met our trash haulers. But we give holiday gifts to the yard and pool guys; I've actually spoken to those folks and know their names, and the names of their spouses and kids and all that jazz. There's more of a personal relationship that goes a bit beyond the transactional element. But that's a one-time thing every December.

[DigitalGypsy66]

Our trash people come at 0400. I have met them. At least they got rid of the backup beeper on their truck. That sucked.

We used to give fast food gift cards for our letter carrier and trash company where we used to live. It was my kid's idea when he was about four. Living in a small town, it made sense to us. Letter carrier had kids at my wife's school, kids played on sports teams with the trash service people's kids etc.

[nocera]

We give our trash collectors some cash every Christmas. They take literally everything we put out. Couches, old toilets, busted lawnmowers. They earn that extra bit.

[skullman80]

Yep our trash people are great. We also put out treats for delivery people during the holidays cause we get tons of packages.

[shafnutz05]

Yep our trash people are great. We also put out treats for delivery people during the holidays cause we get tons of packages.

Same.

[dodint]

My wife is very into decorating for holidays. She has crates and crates of stuff and Christmas is the big show. She rotates stock in and out year to year and meticulously manages the setup and inventory.

I enjoy it, but my input and effort is minimal. It's very much her thing.

After the 10th or so "Hey, does this look better here...or here...?" I said it's her hobby and she can make those choices.

She replied, "It's not a hobby."

Is it a hobby? If not, I struggle to put a label on the practice.

[Lemon Berry Lobster]

It is a lifestyle.

[King Colby]

Yep our trash people are great. We also put out treats for delivery people during the holidays cause we get tons of packages.

What kind of treats

[King Colby]

After the 10th or so "Hey, does this look better here...or here...?" I said it's her hobby and she can make those choices.

As I'm sure you know, the choice is already made well before it was run by you. Your job is to provide validation.