While I know that many people don’t carry cash anymore (myself included - I mean I have some, but not a wad of cash like we used to!), I don’t mind the physical tip jar. Especially in places like an ice creams shop or a coffee shop. It’s a reminder of “would you like to tip?” not like the computer screen in front of you that feels like “TIP NOW”.
The tip jar felt like a place where you could drop some change or maybe a dollar bill and be done. Or not. Sort of like “rounding up” your bill. It just sometimes feels more indirect of an ask.
When I order take out, it’s always online and I use a credit card to pay. Sometimes there’s a convenience fee. During Covid I’d tip, but I’ve since stopped. I find take out orders to usually be smaller portions than eating in and so many times the order is wrong. I just got tired of tipping ahead and then being dissatisfied.
Considering tips should be for good service, smaller portions and errors in orders don’t equate to good service! Are others also seeing smaller portions in takeout orders? I noticed that with Panera, and that was pre-pandemic.
Yes, definitely seeing smaller takeout portions with Panera! (and occasionally at other restaurants). And our recent warm grain bowl takeout order came with such a tiny stub of a baguette, it was ridiculous!
Don’t let me get started on Panera. Used to be a decent alternative for a quick breakfast/lunch. Don’t know if it was just the local store, but the last (in both sense of the word) time I went I ordered a bagel with cream cheese. They tossed a bagel from the display into a brown bag with a small container of cream cheese like you would find at a Holiday Inn breakfast – no slicing, toasting or smearing of cream cheese and charged me over $4 with tax and had the tip mode turned on.
Panera used to be one of our favorite places until a few years ago. Pre-pandemic there were times where we ate in or took out from there at least once a week. Now we rarely go.
Big drop in quality, cleanliness and service.
We had a conversation about this yesterday at lunch.
One (very wealthy) friend tips a lot, just about everywhere, bc she feels like the people don’t make as much money as they should.
Another (less wealthy, but very well off) felt like tipping is totally out of control. He feels like minimum wage around here isn’t that bad.
I am a fairly generous tipper, but I was proud of myself today when getting something at a bakery, instead of going with the suggested amounts, I said custom amount and went less than 15%.
I invariably do custom and choose the amount I want to leave. I hate being recommended to leave whatever the establishment or programmed suggests. I get very irked.
