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We’ve all been there: after ordering food or a drink at the counter of a local café orfast-food chain, it’s time to pay, but the touchscreen gets flipped around just as you’re pulling out your card. The screen lights up, asking for a tip with suggestions ranging from 15% to 20% of your purchase.
It feels like everyone behind you in line can see your decision, and the cashier will be able to tell what you choose. When I’m ordering from a local, small business, I do like to give a tip as a token of my support. But lately, especially when I’m picking up takeout or getting counter service, I almost feel guilt-tripped into tipping.
OK, I’ll admit it—if I’m just picking up something small (like a grab-and-go snack or coffee), I tend to skip the tip. But is that appropriate, or expected, or both? Neither?
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To put the confusion to rest, I spoke with chef Bruce Mattel, senior associate dean of restaurant education and high-volume production at The Culinary Institute of America. We asked him the questions that have been on everyone’s minds lately: why does it seem like I get prompted to tip everywhere I go? And how much should I tip?
EatingWell: So I’m in a local store, let’s say a café, and the touchscreen at the counter asks how much I would like to tip after ordering a coffee. Am I expected to tip? Should I be tipping at the counter?
EW: What if I’m at a fast-food chain? The screen asks if I’d like to tip, but I don’t usually tip when ordering fast food. Should I start tipping whenever I’m receiving food service, including fast food?
EW: How much should I be tipping at the counter: a full 20% to 25% like I would at a restaurant, or just change/rounding up to the dollar, or somewhere in between?
Mattel:My rule is about 10%. In my opinion, larger percentages should stay in proportion to what to tip when full service is provided.
The Bottom Line
While the touchscreen may suggest a higher tip percentage, Mattel uses the custom tip option for a lower, reasonable counter-service tip. At the end of the day, it’s up to you, the consumer, to determine how much you want to tip for counter service (that is, if you want to tip at all). Tips in these instances aren’t necessarily expected, but they are appreciated and, in some cases, can help workers make ends meet. So when you have the extra cash, consider tipping—it could help out a food-service worker more than you’d assume.
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