Tipping at self service counter service

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've worked a number of counter service jobs, and have definitely had times when I bought my groceries with my tips-so I'm not anti-tipping, but it does seem out of control. Some change for a coffee or a dollar for a quick service meal is often fine with me, but places where the lowest default amount is multiple dollars for a sandwich, too much. I will tip 25 cents on square for a coffee, which may make me seem super cheap and crazy, but I'm trying to give the same amount I did before tipping was on a screen.

Yeah, I'll tip 25 cents for a coffee or a dollar for a meal, but that's pretty much it.

[Anonymous]

All the sudden this is happening at Subway. I guess the person who makes the sandwich also rings me up. I go in to the same one all the time, so now I tip. But I'd like to just leave a dollar but it always asks for 15-20%+

[Anonymous]

I choose the custom tip option and leave $1. Get it!

[Anonymous]

I never ever tip at places like subway, Panera, etc. It’s
Not the custom to tip there. If I wanted to pay a tip I would go eat at a sit down restaurant.

[Anonymous]

Tipping is optional. Get it together, people!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I choose the custom tip option and leave $1. Get it!

I'll tip a dollar when I get take out from places I go to a lot and where the staff knows me. Sometimes I feel guilty only leaving $1, but I figure it's better than nothing, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I choose the custom tip option and leave $1. Get it!

I'll tip a dollar when I get take out from places I go to a lot and where the staff knows me. Sometimes I feel guilty only leaving $1, but I figure it's better than nothing, right?

With regular takeout I tip $2-3, I am just talking about random places with counter service.
At takeout, They know me and hopefully do not spit in my food so it’s worth it. At self service places it’s not.

[Anonymous]

So here are my very own tip guidelines: takeout where I don’t control the food packaging process and go regularly- $1-3. In fact I should maybe tip more at the poke place I frequent but I just choose the lowest tipping option.
Where I make my own dish (like, get the froyo from the machine)- $1 or nothing.
Places I don’t go to regularly and they prepare the food for me- mostly $1.

[Anonymous]

I just round up to the nearest dollar like I would dropping the change into the tip jar.

[Anonymous]

I am a good tipper, always 20% minimum but I really dislike this big pressure of having to tip for every single thing. I used to still tip on those screens because I would feel bad if I didn't but they are getting so commonplace that it is getting to be a huge turnoff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I am a good tipper, always 20% minimum but I really dislike this big pressure of having to tip for every single thing. I used to still tip on those screens because I would feel bad if I didn't but they are getting so commonplace that it is getting to be a huge turnoff.

So you would tip $10 if you picked up $50 of take out from a restaurant? The same amount as if you had someone take your order, get you drinks, bring out your food, clear dishes, check if you need anything, etc?

[Anonymous]

If I’m never going back to the place it’s zero tip. If it’s take out pizza and I go there often it’s $5.

[Anonymous]

1. I think this is the software that automatically suggests tip. No way around it. Not the person making your sandwich. Don’t get unnecessarily upset at the messenger.

2. Wages have not kept up with inflation. When you eat at a subway or other chain, you are helping keep wages low. The
Person on the other counter is slugging it out for less than you are an hour (more than likely) and probably has student, or medical, or housing debt too.

3. Say no. It’s up to you.

I always tip. I used to be in the service industry and have been treated like shit for a long time and now I got mine. I’m still gonna give the people working at subway $2 a sandwich though.

[Anonymous]

It depends- some places where there is an assembly line (e.g. a Chipotle-like place), I tip 15%. If it's coffee, and I am a regular, I put money in the jar occasionally. If it's yogurt where I'm essentially doing everything myself, I don't tip.

Yes, our culture is out of control. So many costs get passed on to customers because businesses don't want to pay decent wages. I'm glad the minimum wage is being raised.

[Anonymous]

I just made a decision years ago that I was going to tip 20 percent every time because I didn't want to go through the decision making process each time I bought a pastry. I don't eat out that often, so I'm talking about maybe $50-100 per year, and I just figure that cost into whether or not I'm going to eat out/get a coffee out. If you're a business that offers a tip option when I buy an iced tea, I may not go to your store as often.

I agree that businesses use tipping to supplement low wages, but I was in the service industry for a long time, and I know an extra dollar or two from a customer could really make my day. I'm not saying this is right or wrong, but I am satisfied paying for not feeling the guilt of "no tip." If you prefer not to tip, I think your options are to be OK with that or not to go to that business anymore.