Do you tip for carry out?

[Aleta]

No. A tip is given for service rendered as in sitting you at a table, taking your order, bringing water and basically waiting on you. It's ridiculous to tip when it's coming straight from the kitchen into a bag or box.

[M-squared]

The only take out we ever get is pizza once in a while. We call ahead and pick it up on our way home from work. The bartender usually reaches in the window and hands us the food as he's talking to the regulars. We don't tip. If the food isn't ready when we get there and we wait and have a beer while it's coming out, we tip for the beer.

[tomhank17]

Giving out tip for carry outs not only depends from person to person, but also depend on the situation we face. There are some situation where we don't want to give tip because the behavior of the person may not be good. Some time we feel that the service is not good which can also be factor of not giving tip. Now, at times we may situation that the person at the carry-outs is to pollite and also serving you best. With this kind of service you yourself will feel like giving out tips. By giving out tips you can make the person's day.

[LuxLiving]

take out? No.
delivery? Yes.

[sweeps]

I don't tip for carryout, but at some places the employees think you should because they shake or point to the tip jar.

What about a buffet-style restaurant? A waiter brings you plates and drinks, but you get the food?

[LuxLiving]

sweeps, if they shook or pointed, I'd not tip as that seems rather on the rude & pushy side to me and I'd probably report anyone who did this to the owner.

At a buffet, Hubster and I tip.

[pjmama]

Having worked at a restaurant, I know what a phenomenal pain it is sometimes to stop what you are doing (amidst many tables of impatient people needing more sauce, another drink, a towel to wipe up the softdrink thier toddler has just flooded the table with, etc) to take care of a carryout customer-- who, by the way, is just as impatient because they called in the order half an hour ago. Actually, take-out customers in some cases require just as much attention, because not only do we have to bring the food to you, but many times we have to put it in to-go containers for you as well.

So there's still service for sure. That being said, I never tip as much for a take-out order. Maybe a buck or two. And it really depends on the place.

[LuxLiving]

I see what you are saying pjmama, but where we get take-out there is a host/hostess that gets the food from the kitchen's window already in the take-out cartons. At this place the host/hostess are the owners themselves. They aren't looking for tips, but happy customers who are buying their food.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by sweeps

What about a buffet-style restaurant? A waiter brings you plates and drinks, but you get the food?

I'll tip about $1/person for a buffet, more if it is a more upscale expensive buffet like in Atlantic City.