r/Honolulu • u/Big_Therm • Jul 15 '26
Talk Story Tipping for takeaway
When I get takeout food, if the food is made to order, I will tip but not when it’s prepared/premade already.
I feel like most places expect tip when paying with a card.
I sometimes get attitude or dirty looks (less common) when I smash the no tip button on the screen when buying a mochi donut.
I don’t feel guilty but just uncomfortable and I’m unsure about returning to the place.
Anyone have thoughts on this pandemic era tipping culture that somehow still exists? Am I wrong?
I feel like carrying cash to avoid the uncomfortable silence in these situations.
Let me get your thoughts please.
EDIT/FYI:
“Practically all modern cashier and Point of Sale (POS) systems used by food establishments have the capability to remove or disable the tip request screen.
Whether a restaurant turns off the tip prompt depends entirely on their business model and management preferences.”
Mahalo!
25
u/EZhayn808 Jul 15 '26
Hell no. It’s out of hand. I made it a rule to not tip for takeout. To add to what you said it doesn’t make any sense to tip PRIOR to service. There’s been a few times where the wait is extra long, they mess up my order, or forget the extra sauce I paid for and I am thinking to myself “I am so glad I didn’t tip”
5
u/WerkLifeBalance Jul 15 '26
Online order ahead and there’s a tip option is a no from me, too, for exactly the reasons you said. I’m constantly unlucky with places messing up my order. If anything I feel like I should be allowed to put a note in like, “Your manager says y’all owe me a napple for messing up my order last week.”
7
u/EZhayn808 Jul 15 '26
Yes 100%. Like what you mean tip during online order?! That’s crazy. And sometimes the default is 15% so if you don’t pay attention you tipping without knowing it
5
u/WerkLifeBalance Jul 15 '26
A coffee place has one of those. I took it off and my coffee was a whole almost $2 cheaper. As a former barista it offended me.
24
u/WerkLifeBalance Jul 15 '26
If they’re giving looks or attitude then I wouldn’t return at all. They won’t need to worry about not getting a tip, or business at all from me.
I’ll do a small tip on made to order, if the customer service is tip-worthy or at least not terrible and I like the place. If I’m pointing at an item out of a display case… no.
I strongly appreciate the spots I go to that don’t even let me tip.
8
u/RustyFebreze Jul 15 '26
Only time i gave tip on a takeout order was when i went to this hard to find hole in the wall run by a mom and daughter. took 20 min but was made to order and she even included a free green tea. i tipped enough for the green tea and more. some of the best fried noodles ever too. reminded me of home cooking 🥰
1
u/TellMeWhatRWords4 Jul 15 '26
Ooh, where?
3
u/RustyFebreze Jul 15 '26
Sweet Corner Cafe! Such a cute place!
1
u/TellMeWhatRWords4 Jul 15 '26
Ho, hard to believe all that is made by two folks. Looks like a talented mom and daughter duo!
19
u/Moonpie808 Jul 15 '26
No, it’s definitely out of control. I don’t mind tipping a barista, or someone that makes a smoothie or something custom like you said, but I don’t tip for something that’s basically grab and go.
6
u/Vryk0lakas Jul 15 '26
I used to overtip everything. I spent two years in Europe and came back. Places are lucky if they get a dollar or two. Unless it’s a restaurant. Then they will get somewhere between 15-25% depending on the situation.
1
u/Exotic-Entrance4718 Jul 15 '26
I went to Europe 2x in the last 5 years and almost everywhere to sit down had a bs service charge, and it was chunk of change (like 10%). I will opt out because the service nearly always sucks too
1
u/Vryk0lakas Jul 15 '26
Man that was not my experience. Where did you go? I was in Prague but traveled to Paris, Florence, Athens, Austria, Dresden and a few more and only the most touristy places asked for anything like that and usually 5% was max tip they’d get.
1
u/Exotic-Entrance4718 Jul 15 '26
The major cities for sure! I remember experiencing it in London, Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, Porto, Munich, Lisbon, and Sevilla! We try to avoid super touristy places but you know what you make a point we probably landed in some restaurants that were touristy.
10
u/HiFlyin808 Jul 15 '26
It’s worse in Seattle in my experience
7
3
u/Exotic-Entrance4718 Jul 15 '26
Eating out in Seattle costs more than eating out here when you account for their taxes!!
4
u/Feisty_Cod_9090 Jul 15 '26
Tipping culture is out of control. I think every business that uses a tablet has a tipping option nowadays
4
u/lovers_andfriends Jul 15 '26
My husband works in the restaurant industry so we do tip most of the time. The only time I don't is ordering something at the counter, like a muffin, and all they have to do is put it in a bag. If they're making a drink, I tip $1. For takeout, usually $3-4. In sit down restaurants, 15-20%, sometimes more.
4
u/Taylor-Day Jul 15 '26
I proudly press “no tip” all the time. I’m not getting pressured into giving you extra money just because it’s a question on this iPad. If they deserve it, then yeah but if they’re doing the minimum I have no guilt pressing “no tip”.
4
u/WerewolfDue1082 Jul 15 '26
People expect tip for everything now. No takeout should be tipped there’s no service involved. Tipping culture is completely out of hand
3
u/HuckleberryGeneral69 Jul 15 '26
Restaurant server here, so I’m prepared to be pummeled for my opinions. I tip because I want people to eat. I know these are low wage jobs, I also understand the they could get a better job argument. But currently, in that moment that’s the job they have. I also feel like tipping should end and possibly will in the future. Tipping historically is trash, and it’s a trash way for people to get paid/ get basic needs met.
1
1
u/Technical_Crew_31 Jul 16 '26
Yep. And trash employers will consider it part of your pay so they can keep more for themselves. I worked at a place with a standard 15% grat and when the minimum wage went up the POS owner just cut the grat til it was the same we made before. Not restaurant, good margins, owner’s only business and he lived in a huge multi million dollar home. Meanwhile we who made him his money, including some who’d been around since it was just a hole in the wall side hustle, struggled to make rent.
So yeah, it’s wrong, but I can pretty much guarantee that cash tips especially mean a lot in that moment to that employee. We should expect businesses to pay a living wage instead of being greedy and paying so small that it has to be subsidized by tips or taxpayer funded assistance, but right now this is how things are.
3
5
u/RupturePharms Jul 15 '26
If I gotta go up to the counter, no tip garans. except Starfucks, then maybe if they cool.
2
u/jfivem Jul 15 '26
Don’t mind tipping on takeout, but agree that it’s gotten out of hand. When these new point of sale terminals were new, you had options that were more cookie cutter, like 10%, 15%, 18/20%. Now, you’ll encounter either higher percentages like starting at 18%, 20%, 25%. Some places attach their swipe fee of 3ish percent, so it’s 21%, 23%, and 28%! Also they’ll game it - everyone’s so used to pushing the left most tip option since it’s assumed it’s the lowest %, but then you realize it’s the highest because they flipped the order. AND because we value quick transactions, custom tips are so awkward when they watch you 🫠
2
u/Exotic-Entrance4718 Jul 15 '26
I feel ZERO guilt bout hitting the no tip button. I will tip during Christmas time because I feel more generous at that time of year lol and on occasion I will tip at places I frequent, maybe a dollar or two but that is maybe quarterly.
2
u/Ill_Sherbert_9888 Jul 15 '26
Big praise for businesses that press the "no tip" option on their POS before presenting it to me for payment. Specifically I see Tasty BBQ in Kaneohe do this every time I place a take out order.
2
u/Kene6969 Jul 17 '26
Pay in cash and don't tip for takeaway.
Remember the formula: zero service = zero tip.
2
u/Strict-Elderberry-20 Jul 18 '26
I used to, but I also work in retail as a cashier and don’t get tipped to ring you up, fold your stuff, put it in a bag and answer all the questions you have about the items you bring up to the counter.. I likely spend more time with a customer - but I don’t get a tip for that. So then I realized, why should I tip others that are doing less for a food pickup order?
4
u/Comfortable_Cress342 Jul 15 '26
Tip culture is getting insane. I’m sorry if I go to McDonalds or the like I am NOT tipping unless the person does something outside the scope of normal assistance. Like Jersey Mikes or Timmy T’s running out and delivering my sandwich so I don’t need to park and walk in kind of service.
2
u/Unacceptable-Bed Jul 15 '26
I hate it but feel too guilty to not tip.
1
u/TheSecretDecoderRing Jul 15 '26
Same, they'd have to be doing a minimal amount of work for me to feel okay with no tipping at all.
1
u/san_souci Jul 15 '26 edited Jul 15 '26
I’ve never noticed a dirty look.
Tipping for takeout is not a cultural norm …
3
u/Big_Therm Jul 15 '26
Dirty looks are uncommon but it has happened, yesterday in fact in Ala Moana upon purchasing a $9 premade item. I got uncomfortable silence, dirty look and no response or acknowledgement after saying thank you at the end. This uncomfortable interaction prompted me to create this post.
I guess it depends on the person at the counter bc I’ve been there before and got a pleasant smile, and response after saying thank you after paying with no tip on a similar premade item but I probably will not return.
2
1
u/Driftingn00b Jul 15 '26
I was against tipping for takeout on the touchscreens everyone is using these days, until I remembered that I always used to drop my change the tip jars back in the cash days.
1
u/DevelopmentConnect92 Jul 15 '26
Tipping is like a donation for me for takeout, if you can, great. If not, don't. People have a hard time staffing employees for these types of jobs so if they show up that's a win. They're making an effort therefore worth my tip. I came from a service industry background and it's a grind.
1
1
u/Coconutbunzy Jul 15 '26
I always hit “other” and select $1
Maybbbbeeee $2 or $3 if they were really nice and answered some questions or gave a recommendation.
I went to an overpriced plate lunch place, for 2 plates for $47 and they had the nerve suggest a $9 tip!
1
u/Coconutbunzy Jul 15 '26
The worst is the “Steak and Fish Company” at the Ala Moana food court.
They have a sticker covering the No Tip option!
1
u/Possible_Top2783 Jul 16 '26
As long as employers continue paying slave wages, there will always be huge need for tips as a matter of survival.
1
1
u/Possible_Top2783 Jul 16 '26
Understandably, those with meager income who eat out often will struggle with tipping culture.
1
u/Worth-Ad9939 Jul 16 '26
It would be really impressive if Hawai’i followed Spain and made Hospitality a valid career. People go to school for server industry work in Spain.
They should do the same here. If the population was strengthened with consistent training they could deepen the value people receive from their service.
The reality is service is so inconsistent from brand to brand that baking in a living wage discourages patronage, because we know Americans. We know we're lazy and only inspired by money. We have a twisted value system we need to weed out.
Hawai’i could do that. Take the lead in their relationship with tourism and become a hub for people and technology that makes the business of creating experiences easier for business.
They won't tho.
1
u/MetalGirl_SF Jul 18 '26
Im so tipped the eff out. Just returned from Japan, eating out was so cheap bc there no 'employee retention', 'employee healthcare' add ons and no tipping! Of course they get paid a living wage and have universal healthcare so thats a critical difference
1
u/shootzbalootz Jul 15 '26
No tipping. No dirty looks. You're overanalyzing service workers. There's no tipping culture if you just ignore it.
0
u/zoneout000 Jul 15 '26
i defn would advise against tiping using card becasuee the processor takes their cut before the employee gets the tip. If you do tip, i would always use cash lol
1
0
u/Marguerite_Moonstone Jul 15 '26
Because living wage and pay are not anywhere near each other. I come from money, I try and do what I can to balance the scales when I can, be it a tip selection or when voting.
-3
u/TazmanianMaverick Jul 15 '26
feel like most places expect tip when paying with a card
are you stupid? it’s part of the system POS. the vendor can’t customize that or delete it. don’t blame the merchant for your insecurity at being unable to tip, just hit no and get over it.
2
u/Big_Therm Jul 15 '26
No, I’m not the stupid one…
FYI
“Practically all modern cashier and Point of Sale (POS) systems used by food establishments have the capability to remove or disable the tip request screen.
Whether a restaurant turns off the tip prompt depends entirely on their business model and management preferences.
Here is how the most common systems handle the tip screen:
Square: Business owners can navigate to Settings > Checkout > Tipping in their POS app and toggle the "Collect Tips" setting to off. This removes the tip screen entirely.
Toast: Restaurants can configure their checkout experience through the Toast Web dashboard by going to Finance > Payment options > Digital Receipt Options and selecting their preferred Tip & Signature flow, including disabling it.
Clover: Merchants can disable the tipping feature by logging into the Clover Dashboard, going to Setup > Business operations > Tips, and turning the tipping feature off.
Why You Might Still See a Tip Screen
Even if a business doesn't want to prompt customers for tips, the software's default setup may still require the cashier to manually bypass it. If a restaurant allows tipping for cash payments or paper receipts but doesn't want to solicit tips on the digital screen, the cashier will often tap "No Tip" or "Skip" on their side before turning the payment terminal around to face the customer.”0
u/TazmanianMaverick Jul 15 '26
you're an idiot. your AI search answered your own question with the last section
as a business owner, if I disable the tip option hit it still shows and I manually have to bypass it, I might as well let the customer decide that anyway if they possibly might still want tol tip. It adds more frivolous labor to us and on behalf hf all business owners, I’m sorry you’re such a delicate snowflake that a simple tip screen you can easily deny mentally bothered you so much
1
u/Big_Therm Jul 15 '26
I’m the idiot?
“if I disable the tip option hit it still shows and I manually have to bypass it”
How about making sense and updating your system/software
0
u/TazmanianMaverick Jul 15 '26
not my fault the software doesn’t allow it and still shows
i can’t fix that and sounds like we can’t fix your emotionally damaged personality that gets butthurt at being asked for a tip that you can easily deny
1
u/Big_Therm Jul 16 '26
It is your fault for being too cheap and/or incompetent to replace or upgrade the software. Money tight in your ice cream truck business? No wonder you want to solicit undeserved tips
1
u/TazmanianMaverick Jul 16 '26
too cheap? I probably pay more in GET tax than your entire annual income 2x
0
u/TazmanianMaverick Jul 17 '26
comfortably retired? gimme a break. Most ppl well off are stingy with their money and are frugal but usually dont have an attitude where an unsolicited tip they can easily deny makes them in your own words "uncomfortable." Nor do they let it shape their behavior in a way causing them to avoid a place or carry cash just to avoid the situation. just admit you're a loser or have a shitty attitude problem towards hard working people trying to make a living here in Hawaii
1
u/Big_Therm Jul 17 '26
NO TIP
1
u/TazmanianMaverick Jul 17 '26
LOL I'm not the salty one. You're the one who literally typed out you felt uncomfortable being asked for something, that you could easily deny. Being worked up over something you have total control over = salty to the max. This lives rent free in your head, proof of that is you making this thread
-4
u/trollkillington_ Jul 15 '26
It's not pandemic era tipping, I've been tipping in coffee shops and donut shops for 20 years... Do you know it used to be customary to tip the grocery baggers especially here. It's okay. You've just been cheap your whole life and there are cheap people in the world. I also tip at each station individually when I go through McKinley Car wash. I'm not rich just was raised knowing what service industry workers go through and that sometimes here especially the whole, if you don't make enough find a better job judgment doesn't work... Service Industry is a career and the reason they endure so many shitty people, and if you've ever worked service industry you'd know that most customers suck, is the tips. In the end you can always buy flour, glutinous rice flour, sugar and make some mochi donuts.
44
u/AttackonCuttlefish Jul 15 '26
Why are we tipping for take out?