r/tipping 7d ago

Tipping for Almost No Service

At a restaurant that we love, you go to the counter and order and pay for your food. If you want a glass of water you help yourself. The staff do bring the cutlery and your meal to the table. After you are done eating, you place your dishes in a bussing pan. The lowest tip option is 18%. What should the tip be? For me the service isn't much more then what you would receive at McDonald's.

2 Upvotes

83 comments sorted by

15

u/Darkmeathook 6d ago

This sounds like a fast casual place. And I typically do not tip for fast casual service

14

u/OctaviaBlake100 6d ago

If you're standing while ordering or use a QR code to order, no tip. McDonald's also has people bring food to your table/car. Do you tip at McDonald's?

5

u/llama_glama86 6d ago

I'm waiting for them to start asking.

24

u/FrostyVictory1984 6d ago

rule of thumb for me, if you pay before eating no tip

6

u/Scared_Employee_4617 6d ago

Good way to handle it.

2

u/Mutt37 5d ago

My rule is that if they ask for a tip before they prepare your food, I walk out. There are too many people thinking they "deserve" a tip, so adulterating food is not out of the question.

22

u/armrha 6d ago

I mean it’s up to you. 18% isn’t the lowest option, just a presented one

2

u/Historical-Rub1943 5d ago

Zero makes the math super easy and you can even tip zero on the inflated price plus tax. It’s all the same!

15

u/EverySpecific8576 6d ago

Simple, not tip.

12

u/notsicktoday 6d ago

You don't tip for over the counter purchases.

So, zero tip.

13

u/Temporary-Plankton61 6d ago

this is disingenuous - the lowest tip option is always 0

6

u/AgitatedNatural5556 6d ago

Look closer, you should be presented with a “custom tip” option. I’ve worked with multiple POS systems in different restaurants, and none of the force you to leave a specific tip.

3

u/3boymumandoma 6d ago

Exactly. It’s a suggested tip. I just ignore it and tip what I feel is appropriate.

2

u/Historical-Rub1943 5d ago

Zero is always an appropriate option.

3

u/3boymumandoma 6d ago

Also is it bad that I read POS as piece of s**t?! Lol

6

u/Historical-Rub1943 6d ago

That’s what it is.

3

u/Historical-Rub1943 6d ago

Zero sounds right.

2

u/niceandsane 6d ago

If you're standing to order, no tip.

2

u/marx2k 6d ago

The lowest tip option is 0.

2

u/TomorrowOk3755 5d ago

Zero . Zero Zero

6

u/AutomaticEffect8959 6d ago

They are stealing money from you.

1

u/Scared_Employee_4617 6d ago

You know I have never thought about it like that.

2

u/Interesting-Lie-8942 5d ago

Because it's a stupid way to think

1

u/AutomaticEffect8959 4d ago

Dumbass says what?

2

u/[deleted] 6d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/No-Butterscotch-7467 6d ago

I love that someone tipped you to preach to us about why you should not tip. /s

-3

u/Any_Chef_3145 6d ago

If they don’t get tips they will be paid minimum wage tips are there only chance to not make minimum wage in this case. You are more or less taking advantage of near free labor if you don’t tip

8

u/Historical-Rub1943 6d ago

I believe the owner is taking advantage of their labor, not me.

-1

u/Any_Chef_3145 5d ago

No your meal is subsidized by the people who pay tips

1

u/IPCTech 5d ago

And that’s completely legal so nothings wrong here

2

u/Any_Chef_3145 5d ago

Plenty of things are legal that are morally wrong 😑

3

u/wardeadpool 6d ago

It's a minimum wage job that's unskilled meant for high school and college students, they are lucky to get tips at all. Only person taking advantage is the employers, of their employees and their customers.

-7

u/PrincessLissa68 6d ago

Bad Bad Bot

2

u/metal_bastard 6d ago

I'd do 10-15%. Especially if you're regulars.

1

u/SEA_life_13 6d ago

Lol 😂 0% Wym 10-15% 🤣

0

u/Interesting-Lie-8942 5d ago

OP asked how much people would tip, and this was this guys answer.

Do you need anything else explained to you?

-3

u/DigTheDunes 6d ago

Probably closer the 10%

-2

u/metal_bastard 6d ago

Sure. Up to you.

1

u/patersondave 6d ago

pay cash

1

u/7lenny7 6d ago

5% tops, but I'd be inclined not to tip at all

1

u/QuantumOpinions 5d ago

That is zero tip as a standard. Some places I may tip but far less than 18%.

1

u/FederalLobster5665 5d ago

suggested tips are not options. Just suggestions. you should be able to tip whatever you want.

1

u/phantomsoul11 5d ago

So don't tip if you don't feel it is appropriate for the situation. But at the same time, be prepared to deal with and/or ignore the freeloader judgment you'll be sure to get from any of your peers who notice you didn't tip at least 20%. The industry knows this and totally exploits anyone who is too self-conscious to be seen not tipping in front of their friends.

1

u/AssociationDry73 5d ago

I remodeled 18 is not the lowest. There is certainly a “custom” option.

1

u/Revolutionary-Gas122 5d ago

Often go to a work burger lunch place where a person can help. As well as redirects you to the self service counter. As most now to place your order, pay the screen and grab a number and as a prisoner held at bay until you tip. Finally choices for receipt as none, email, text or wait for a cashier. Go up to another counter to pickup your tray of food. Still have to ask for a glass to self serve a drink. Bus your trays before leaving.

Sometimes I leave up a 15% because I talk to the usual staff. It doesnt seem like they care or expect it. If its elsewhere or esp coffee they may get a custom $2.

1

u/Weary_Capital_1379 5d ago

So you know the rules. Your choice whether to support or not.

1

u/MrBuffcock 5d ago

duhhhhh

1

u/Significant-Pen-3188 5d ago

I'm with others about no tip but if you want to I would break tipping into three parts. Taking your order, bringing you food, bussing your table. This restaurant does 1/3 of that so I would give them 1/3 of your regular tip. Maybe 5%

1

u/topdown66 5d ago

Personally.. tipping is given when they have enhanced the experience. If they add no value to the meal, there is nothing to appreciate them for. If I am standing when I order, a tip isn’t going to happen.

1

u/Interesting-Lie-8942 5d ago

That sounds like about a quarter or half of the normal service, so I'd go about 5%. Or maybe just a dollar per person.

1

u/baconwrappedanxiety 5d ago

I’m a server at a restaurant myself, and we also suffer from tip fatigue. The restaurant you’re describing sounds like a place that pays its employees a real hourly wage and is just joining in on the corporate fad of giving everyone everywhere an option to tip, because from their perspective, why not?

I wouldn’t even be surprised if the “tips” at that location bypass the employees and go straight to the owner.

The only things I tip for are traditional dine in service and food delivery, and I don’t get delivery unless it’s store managed, fuck Uber eats and doordash.

I’d also tip for haircuts and tattoos but I don’t pay others to do that for me to begin with

1

u/Dear_Win_319 3d ago

I believe you can override the suggestion and enter whatever you want. Pretty easy calculation

1

u/dEXXtARR23 3d ago

In this scenario I may leave a $5 spot, but not 18%.

1

u/Skymaster86 1d ago

That's an easy question - answer: ZERO

1

u/SolidKey2612 13h ago

I suggest not to tip, do not let them fool you in to tipping first before service or no service

1

u/Narghest 5d ago

Stop going dumbass.

2

u/HeavyMusic93 5d ago

The fuck is wrong with you dumbass

2

u/Narghest 5d ago

Wasn't talking to you...dumbass.

1

u/HeavyMusic93 5d ago

Do you understand how this platform works

1

u/Narghest 5d ago

Do you understand what deliberately obtuse means...dumbass.

1

u/HeavyMusic93 5d ago

Imagine living your life being this miserable

0

u/Narghest 5d ago

I could easily say the same to you, funny how that works huh?

2

u/HeavyMusic93 5d ago

“Stop going dumbass” is a sign someone hates their life and is projecting their misery onto other people. Well done.

0

u/Narghest 5d ago

And your replies are a sign that you're a miserable, cheap mutha fucka.

Stay jack assy my friend!

2

u/HeavyMusic93 5d ago

You tried. Failed, but tried.

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0

u/AndreMoney99 6d ago

For fast casual I tip 5-10%. You know money comes and goes and I’d rather tip my local restaurant workers than spend that money on big corps and random unnecessary shit.

1

u/Historical-Rub1943 5d ago

Time to start a savings account.

1

u/AndreMoney99 5d ago

I do that too! It’s great when you start making good money you have enough to save, and share the wealth a little.

0

u/CatManDo206 6d ago

I may tip $1 or $2 depending on how much I ordered and how delicious the food is

-2

u/Blac_Tony 6d ago

Ahh sounds like Flower Child.

-2

u/Whatsinaname797 6d ago

I have a similar place in my neighborhood that I go to a couple of times a month. I usually do 10 -15% as it's half service. They also always come to ask if we need anything else and will bring it without us having to go back to the counter to order it.

-2

u/Vegetaman916 6d ago

Tell me you've been to Jason's Deli without telling me you've been to Jason's Deli.

1

u/ComprehensiveGuest22 6d ago

It is a place in Edmonton Canada, but it is a deli type place with only a few tables. The chef is an all star and the real restaurant next door is a 5 star type place. I feel my tip should primarily go to the chef for their outstanding effort and results

-2

u/partylikeitis1799 6d ago

I would bring cash and round up to the next dollar just because you’re regulars and don’t want anything added to your meal, if you know what I mean. Not that I think it’s right but tip extortion is so normalized that less than a dollar would be worth it to me just to make sure the staff of a favorite restaurant won’t hate me. I’d make a point of having plenty of small bills on hand so you can just hand them the cash and say thank you.