Show of Hands

baby. She hadn't realized I was pregnant, but wanted to see her. She also made me a new shake when I ordered one that tasted awful. Just wanted to make sure it was supposed to taste that way and not spoiled. She goes above and beyond.
(But I still said no)

Why? Isn't it much the same level of service?

Do you feel like you did the same job as someone at Applebee's?

That's what I was wondering, too. It just doesn't make sense. All Sonic employees should just be paid without the expectation of a tip, because full service isn't even really a factor like it would be in a restaurant.

Isn't it full service though? What's the real difference?

And how is it different from Applebee's Car side where people do still tip and it's expected.

Not sure. I wouldn't tip for service from my car, because they aren't really doing anything. I don't feel bad about tipping at a restaurant though, because they spend the evening catering to me (even though that's their job). What would be better is

if all employees were paid a fair, level salary regardless, and tipping could be entirely optional and reserved for the occasions that someone gives exemplary service and you want to. But shrug -- maybe someday.

I'd love to see that and only the marketplace can bring about that change

If you don't tip your server at a sit down, full service restaurant you shouldn't bother coming back. The servers talk to one another and you'll quickly become persona non grata. If you have a problem with tipping you shouldn't visit them.

Ok now I'm totally confused. I want to tip when I should. We are very generous tippers at sit down restaurants: take order, bring food, offer refills, clean & bus tables. I've never heard of tipping a drive thru.

Yeah, I tip 20% at restaurants. I really have no problem with giving up my money to someone who is working for it, I just think there could be a more secure method for their earnings. I don't think anyone expects you to tip for drive-thru service --

their wages aren't based on the expectation of a tip.

Vio, that's not what a tip is supposed to be. If you're an employee you do your damn job.

Good luck. Hope no one spits in your food.

A true sign of human vindictiveness. If someone stoops to such a level then they deserve to be fired and I hope I catch them doing it because you better believe that'll happen. Like I said, I tip 10-15 only because of this imaginary rule but it's BS

I've been around the world and no other country I've been to does this. It needs to stop. And no, the prices weren't astronomically higher to pay the staff a real wage they just don't do this nonsense system.

In fact in Portugal if I had tipped at this Chinese place I used to go to THAT would have likely caused me to get a lower level of service because it's seen as saying you're so much richer than the person that you're throwing them your extra coins.

Like they're a beggar on the street. Amazing how different schools of thought exist on different pieces of dirt but of course, like typical Americans, "we're right dammit".

Whatever helps you feel better.

Haha thanks for the well thought out response.

What if you go through the Sonic drive-thru? That's strange to me.

No, shame on corporations making us pay more than listed prices for food through guilt.

AMEN MAGNUM.

Shame on the EMPLOYER. I'm not playing that game.

So should we stop tipping everybody then? No tipping say, screw the employer and in the process screw the employee? Sure. That's what we should so.

Change needs to happen somehow. The employer IS screwing the employee and maybe they need to fix it themselves or find a new job that doesn't make them rely on customers directly. This doesn't seem like it should be so hard to agree on.

I don't disagree with there needs to be change. I just don't think it needs to be taken out on the employee

Not to my knowledge. I'd guess west of the Mississippi.

They're known for the "butter burger" and their specialty is custard.
They're a fast food restaurant with an expanded menu that includes "homey" foods like pot roast and mashed potatoes.
I take the kids there about once a month for the custard.

And they make food fresh to order so they bring it to your table

It's from Wisconsin but it is very established in Indiana and Michigan as well. It's spreading all over the country. They are in the process of opening 5 in Florida

Why doesn't he? Seems inconsistent to me.

Because he's, uh, frugal. If I go by myself or am driving and paying, I tip. If he is, he doesn't tip. His argument is that the carhops get an hourly wage, so he doesn't need to tip. I just let him be at this point. Too much trouble to argue.

Wait staff get wages too.

I'm on his side

Do you tip at a sit down restaurant? Just curious.

I think that the difference is for full service.

Sonic and Culver's are 95% the same

Me neither.

You have not lived.

So you could answer hypothetically

I did answer hypothetically.

The first and last time I Culver's was 12 years ago. Clearly it was lackluster. I've had Sonic less than five times total, and it was also nothing but lackluster. You're not missing anything.

I probably would. I'd never heard of Culvers, but Google tells me that it's an ice cream store, and I always drop change in the jar if we go out to ice cream.

Sonic looks like a diner, so yes, I'd tip there too.

Culvers fries burgers in butter. It's kinda disturbing.

It's delicious

I work at Culver's. We do not fry the burgers in butter. It's just the bun is toasted and buttered - that's where it gets the name. The meat is seasoned with salt and pepper and that's it.

Thanks for the butter info. But the burger patties have some strange burger crust to them...kinda like the texture of a charred burger (almost crunchy), but not the blackened. What is it?