Do you leave a tip at drive in restaurants like Sonic?

[sixdogs]

Are you supposed to leave a tip at drive in restaurants like Sonic? We have no idea and would like to go but don't understand what the protocol is and don't want to do the wrong thing. Some say yes and some say no.

A Sonic actually closed in an area near here and I know of a number of people that wanted to go but stayed away because they didn't understand the tipping thing and because of that couldn't determine the price of the product. That may sound odd to younger or some city people but rural types think that way. To not tip when required would be rude and to tip when not required would subject one to possibly being snickered at.

I have heard that Sonic kids make $9 an hour, or more but cannot verify. For a kid, that's pretty good. If not true, it's another matter.

 

[RickB]

If somebody brings me food at any type of restaurant, I tip the server. I don't care if I am sitting at a table, or in my truck.

Who is going to 'snicker' if you tip; the server? I highly doubt it.

 

[rtimgray]

I had a co-worker whose daughter worked out our local Sonic. The way he explained, the servers at this location were paid $2.25/hour and tips are appreciated. However, if the server does not receive enough tips to earn the equivalent of minimum wage ($7.25/hour, I think?), then the employer is responsible for making up the difference so that the employee does make minimum wage.

He said that his daughter almost always made more than minimum wage - usually around $10 an hour, sometimes better, from what he said.

When I go, if I am ordering a meal, or multiple meals, I usually tip. Most of the time, I pay via credit card at the stall, so when the server brings the food out, I give them a dollar. Yes, it adds cost to the meal. When I go and just get a drink (happy hour is 2-4 PM), I don't generally tip. I am usually at the same Sonic 2-3 times a week (the wife loves a grape limeade, for whatever reason), and I get the same servers. I don't think any of them take offense at a lack of a tip, but they do appreciate it when given.

It's a good question, and a common one. I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it either way.

Good luck and take care.

 

[mecan]

Way I always figured was if you come to me weather table,car etc to bring my food I tip, if I go to the counter and get my own I dont. Back in high school I had a serving job and my hourly rate was 2.13, minimum wage was around 4. The tips for the week that were claimed had to equal out to at least the minimum wage, so some days you might only make 3 an hour but usually it payed more then minimum. If not you needed a differance job.

 

[MF283]

I usually tip a dollar & loose change at Sonic, it's not much, but they're only there 45 seconds.

Ronnie

 

[rtimgray]

The only concern about tipping for bringing food is that (around here, anyway) all of the Dairy Queens, Arby's, Burger Kings, and Fazolis bring food to your table. I don't know of anyone that has ever tipped at any of those, nor have I seen it done (doesn't mean it doesn't happen, just that I haven't seen it). And at Fazolis, there is a big (plate sized) sticker on the table that tells you to leave your dishes there, but DON'T LEAVE A TIP!

I'm sure that the folks working in the DQs, BKs and Arby's would take money if you gave it to them, but in those establishments, at least in this area, it would be the exception rather than the rule. I think, for whatever reason, it is more common at Sonic.

Good luck and take care.

 

[mark02tj]

Way I always figured was if you come to me weather table,car etc to bring my food I tip, if I go to the counter and get my own I dont.

That's generally my policy too. I hate it when I order "bar food" from a couple of the local places and the bartender expects a tip for handing you your bag of carryout food. A couple of these places we eat at in the place as well, so sometimes I tip for carryout, sometimes not. Always though when eating in.

If I go somewhere that you get your own food but they have "servers" that check your drinks, etc., I will generally leave a buck or two.

While not necessarily pertaining to the OP's question - If I go meet someone somewhere for a cup of coffee or a couple of beers where the place is basically a restaurant and we're taking a table for a long period of time, I will generally tip several dollars to generally equate to what the server would make if they were bringing a meal. It's not really fair for them to have me taking a table they would otherwise be making money at. Not my buddy though - 15% of the check regardless of whether the check is $4 or $40.

 

[Looking4new]

I have never seen a sign on a table about no tipping, but if I ever do I will be sure to leave a tip anyway.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

No, not at fast food.

 

[STx]

I tip the car hop if I go that route, not if I go through the drive through window. I have a $2 minimum at Sonic, $5 minimum for pizza delivery.