Okay, here's my question: does anyone tip for take-out? I don't, but I often wonder if I should. I don't live in NYC, I live in the midwest, in a large-ish city.

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I'm from the midwest, too, and a former waitress/manager. Definitely tip at places like Chinese for carry out: a lot of work goes into packing up an entire set of meals, and after a time or two, they will remember your name and preferences. Picking up a pizza? No reason.
(Specify the tip is for the packer: it often is the cashier, but if not they should know to pass it on.)

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Thanks, Cary! I suppose I should have asked "how much" as well! So, how much do you usually tip in those situations?

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I tip 10% for take-away.

I grew up in a restaurant, have worked as a pastry chef and a savory cook (the kind that gets along with the front of the house), and many of my friends are cooks, servers, and bartenders, so I'm more than sympathetic to the cause. When I walk in, the tip is at a default of 20%, and it will go up or down from there depending on the service. If it and the food are really great, I'll go up to or over 35% and maybe buy the kitchen a beer. Great restaurant service is rare and deserves, in my world view, to be lavishly rewarded.

The other side of that is that there's no way in hell I'm leaving 15% for awful service. I view tipping as a built-in rather than an extra, but nobody's getting my money just for showing up and treating me like crap, and certainly not for ruining my meal. Things have to be really, really bad for me to go to or lower than 10%, but I'll do it if it's warranted, and go to sleep with a clear conscience. If you've added nothing to my experience, that's fine, but if you make it bad, screw you.

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Suburban, I usually tip right around 10%. I have on one occasion sent a tip to the kitchen when a bunch of thoughtless co-workers put together the most complicated, "sub this, split that and pack with this" order I have aver seen. I was embaressed to pick it up!

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What should a senior citizen tip if they are on fixed income. They save to go to a nice restaurant once a year. That's all they can afford after paying for all their medication.

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Of course they remember you, because they'll expect the same next time they see you.

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Yes, please tip for take out! My best friend worked for years in a "Neighborhood Bar and Grille." Being the bartender, she frequently put together those take out meals ensuring the right order was given. So many people think just because they are coming to pick it up, no tip is necessary.

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I believe Steve Martin said it best in My Blue Heaven,"It's not so much tipping that I believe in...but over tipping." I learned this from my wife who slaved away in the sweatshop known as Applebees. Her basic rule of thumb 20% percent for everything. If your service was lousy you can tip 15%. And for all the cheapskates out their, change as a tip for your morning latte does not cut it. Basically a latte is a $5 excursion for me.

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When they remember me, I get extra care taken with my order, and sometimes an extra treat thrown in for good measure, because the managers appreciate people tipping their good employees. So of course they can expect the same next time! Win-win.

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Don't tip at Coldstone Creamery. Why? Because if you tip, the employees do this obnoxious song and dance routine (as opposed to the one they do every 15 minutes or so anyway) which is grating and makes the experience of going to a gimmicky ice cream parlour even worse.

I'm sure some people enjoy this, but I find it obnoxious. I'm there for the ice cream, not something rivaling the 'happpy happy birthday' BS that most 'casual dining' restaurants pull out if you accidentally mention what day it is.

I do *not* like the idea of tipping, but I tip pretty well usually (around 20%) often because I'm amazingly bad with math and simply can't be bothered to calculate it properly. You'd be amazed how impatient people can be if you try to pull out a calculator of some kind. By the time I do, the guy across the table has already told me what to tip and put it down anyway.

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If the service is great, 15-20%+

If the service is average, 10-15%

If the service is poor, NOTHING. NADA. ZILCH. ZEROOO!!
There is NO REASON to tip someone who has done a terrible job by their own choosing. If the restaurant is delayed and the chef is overwhelmed, tip the waiter/waitress still. If the waiter/waitress is intentionally uanttaentive or slacking off on the job, he/she does NOT deserve a tip. I am appauled that a tip of 15% is suggested for poor, unacceptable service. In fact, if the service is lousy, the matter should be taken up with a manager and patially comped.

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