Had to laugh. Your missus is definitely not the only lady I've heard of who prefers keeping a regular supply of Sonic ice.

It doesn't sound like healthy food has been a big concern to you until now. And Sonic has healthy choices available if that's what you're really interested in. I assume that you know that healthy food is not a forte for fast food places anyway and most people know that before they go there.
I suspect that if the only reason you really ever went to Sonic was for a loss leader Happy Hour drink they won't miss your business too much.

I'm in a situation where I have to eat out a lot (PM me for more info, ladies XD) but I'm a big believer in Eat This, Not That and it's helped me to understand that there are, if not healthy, then at least healthIER choices that can be made at most restaurants. Sonic, however, is not one of these restaurants. Have you ever looked at their nutritional info? Not a lot of healthy options there, and the ones that are, like the wraps and the salads, they've been doing away with in a lot of markets. Their grilled chicken sandwich isn't too bad but they serve it with mayo and I can go to the Chickfila in the same parking lot and get a much better one without mayo for less money. I liked the JFCCW because it actually wasn't too horrible for me, and because it was cheap and, most of all, DELICIOUS. But now that that's gone, there's not too much else I'll order from their menu, besides maybe their awesome new Chicago Dog every once in a while.

The drinks your still planning on buying are more unhealthy than the food Sonic serves.

Have YOU ever looked at their nutritional info? XD There are actually quite a few low- or even no-calorie drinks they serve, even in the Route 44 size. The diet sodas, or the some of the teas, like bandnerd mentioned. I actually get the same thing that BBatesokc gets pretty often, a Route 44 Diet Dr Pepper with vanilla. Only 80 calories in that, and that's all from the vanilla flavoring. And I'm all about the diet cherry limeade. 25 calories of goodness in that thing, compared with 460 in the non-diet version. But I promise the regular doesn't taste 18.4x better! Don't drink your calories, people!

And I knew someone would try to call me out on that drink thing, too. Sorry it didn't work out better for you. LOL

I like a good unsweet cranberry iced tea. Just a hint of fruit and all the caffeine :P

Sonic will happily keep their mayo in the jar if you ask them too, as will most places for that matter.

Sonic will happily keep their mayo in the jar if you ask them too, as will most places for that matter.

Be that as it may, Chickfila's grilled chicken sandwich tastes better to me, and I believe it's cheaper (but I'll have to double-check that the next time I go to both places). Also, I can get buffalo sauce for it there, which they don't have at Sonic. One of many things they don't have at Sonic.

So no, the mayo issue alone doesn't change things any.

Speaking of Chick-Fil-a we drove through there the other night on our way to a baseball game. Stopped at the one in MWC. We hadn't eaten all day so we each got our own sandwich and shared some fries and a soda. It was $13 and mediocre at best. Which is surprising because I remember them as having the best chicken sandwiches. We soon wished we'd gone in to Cheddars and split and entree for about $10.

I've never been impressed with Chick-Fil-A. I ate it in college because it was in the student union, but burned out on it before the end of my fall freshman semester. I don't see what the big hype is about it. But, that's probably for another thread!

I don't see why we should compare every place, though. Every place has its special deals. So what if Sonic doesn't have buffalo sauce? If that's what you want, then go to a place that does. If I want some chili cheese fries fast, then I'll go to Sonic. If I want buffalo chicken, then I'll go to BWW's.

El Pollo Loco would be a nice addition for this area...

Speaking of Chick-Fil-a we drove through there the other night on our way to a baseball game. Stopped at the one in MWC. We hadn't eaten all day so we each got our own sandwich and shared some fries and a soda. It was $13 and mediocre at best. Which is surprising because I remember them as having the best chicken sandwiches. We soon wished we'd gone in to Cheddars and split and entree for about $10.

I can relate. My mother LOVES Chick-Fil-A (would probably eat there daily if she had her way). I have tried them a few times but, like you, seemed mediocre (not a good value for the money). Their spicy one is an improvement, but again, overpriced. One of the best chicken sandwiches in the biz is still Wendy's (their spicy chicken is even better), but approaching $5 for a chicken sandwich, can't make it a daily thing. I like Braum's chicken biscuits but $2 for this tiny piece of chicken just doesnt cut it (add cheese and egg and it gets pricey). For the price, the chicken needs to be full sized or cut the price to a buck.

Wish KFC would do breakfast, they have some of the best biscuits around and they should do the chicken part right.

The 44oz Happy Hour drink is no 'loss leader.' They make good money on those. That's one reason virtually every restaurant gives free refills - perceived value.

I'm a sucker for the happy hour there too. I tend to get the Route 44 at least once a week (vanilla Diet Dr. Pepper, easy, easy ice). Even the Happy Hour price is crazy though considering its still higher than most c-stores and I can often buy a liter for $1.25 or even on sale for $.99 at the grocery store. There normal price is just ludicrous at over $2.

I hope you understand that when I said "loss leader" I didn't necessarily mean that I thought they were losing money on every drink. I just meant that it was a greatly reduced price offered to draw people in who would hopefully buy other higher profit items.

I'm in a situation where I have to eat out a lot (PM me for more info, ladies XD) but I'm a big believer in Eat This, Not That and it's helped me to understand that there are, if not healthy, then at least healthIER choices that can be made at most restaurants. Sonic, however, is not one of these restaurants. Have you ever looked at their nutritional info? Not a lot of healthy options there, and the ones that are, like the wraps and the salads, they've been doing away with in a lot of markets. Their grilled chicken sandwich isn't too bad but they serve it with mayo and I can go to the Chickfila in the same parking lot and get a much better one without mayo for less money. I liked the JFCCW because it actually wasn't too horrible for me, and because it was cheap and, most of all, DELICIOUS. But now that that's gone, there's not too much else I'll order from their menu, besides maybe their awesome new Chicago Dog every once in a while.

Everyone has their preferences and that's why there are numerous types of fast food places. A new Chick-Fil-A opened up not far from me a few months ago. I went once and thought it was overpriced and too bland for me. I haven't been back. For me, choosing a healthy option means it has to taste good too. I"m not going to order something just because it has zero calories. I only have fast food once or twice a week though so I can splurge a little when I do.

I hope you understand that when I said "loss leader" I didn't necessarily mean that I thought they were losing money on every drink. I just meant that it was a greatly reduced price offered to draw people in who would hopefully buy other higher profit items.

I get ya - but it doesn't work with me. I don't get an urge for a Vanilla Diet Dr. Pepper and then spontaneously decided to add cheeseburger and tots.

I get ya - but it doesn't work with me. I don't get an urge for a Vanilla Diet Dr. Pepper and then spontaneously decided to add cheeseburger and tots.

Congrats on your power of self control.

Speaking of Sonic drinks. Check out Limeades for Learning (http://www.limeadesforlearning.com/). I participated last year and its cool to see money go to a good cause.

Just wondering what everybody else does at Sonic. And if you do tip, how much, usually? I will occasionally tip, but it all depends on the carhop. If she's cute, I'll tip her a dollar bill. If she's just okay-looking, I'll let her keep the change. And if it's a guy, I don't tip at all.

What about you guys?

I tip every carhop at Sonic. I give about a .50 to a dollar every time.. Especially in the summer.

If life has treated you well...tip car hops an amount that will bring a light to their eyes. Won't break you and the smile they give you will be worth it. Lay a five-spot on them--or better if you're in the mood...

I treat them like any waiter/waitress, based on quality of service, 10--20%

I always tip, usually around a dollar but it's usually just me ordering, so that represents a good percentage of the bill.

If the weather is particularly bad, I'll tip more.

Always tip a buck

Yep! I find it hard to believe there are some who are willing to work at Sonic even if the weather is crappy and the hourly pay is not good. Sure...the carhops are appreciative for the tips...

I use the drive thru so I don't tip. I also primarily only get an overpriced drink. Occasionally we get their hot dogs and if we do use the stalls I only tip if the weather is bad. Our son worked for Sonic for awhile. He actually made more than I thought hourly (like $7-something). He cooked so he didn't get tips, but he said the car hops were tipped less than 50% of the time.

I always tip at Sonic - usually a dollar bill, no matter what I get.

To the thread starter: Are you being serious about your criteria for tipping people who are working at Sonic? I can't believe there's people who could go through life with those values and live with themselves.

Sonic carhops these days are classified as servers so they get paid less than minimum wage. I think something like three bucks and hour. I always tip them which at times means scraping for change since you can't tip on your credit/debit card.

Oklahoma follows the federal guidelines for minimum wage, including those that receive tips (see statute below). However, employers can pay more if they choose -- just can't pay less than the federal law. Not sure what Sonic does.


The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires payment of at least the federal minimum wage to covered, nonexempt employees. An employer of a tipped employee is only required to pay $2.13 an hour in direct wages if that amount plus the tips received equals at least the federal minimum wage, the employee retains all tips and the employee customarily and regularly receives more than $30 a month in tips. If an employee's tips combined with the employer's direct wages of at least $2.13 an hour do not equal the federal minimum hourly wage, the employer must make up the difference

Sonic carhops these days are classified as servers so they get paid less than minimum wage. I think something like three bucks and hour. I always tip them which at times means scraping for change since you can't tip on your credit/debit card.

Not unless that has changed VERY recently. Sonic employees get paid a buck or so over minimum. They had a couple of carhops on some morning radio show awhile back too that said tips are not expected, and as such they are paid as well or better than other comparable fast food joints. Which jives with what I know my son was paid.

Long long ago in what seems another life time, I used to be in the casual food industry, back of house, jack of all trades, then mgmt.
I tip servers, in house and car hops alike. Even at buffet places. I do not tend to tip counter only or drive through window servers, but I do at times. No, I don't really have a strong explanation for that. It just is.

A bit off topic, but NPR did a feature the other day on the psychology of tipping and how studies show that there is very little significance between the quality of service and the % tipped. They found most people tipped out of guilt.

Not unless that has changed VERY recently. Sonic employees get paid a buck or so over minimum. They had a couple of carhops on some morning radio show awhile back too that said tips are not expected, and as such they are paid as well or better than other comparable fast food joints. Which jives with what I know my son was paid.

I'm told that's the case in the OKC metro area but I don't work there so I don't know. I do remember though at the time it came up as news for Sonic at Yahoo.

http://www.cattlenetwork.com/templates/newsarchive.html?sid=cn&cid=562455

Remember most Sonics are owned by independent franchisees so the pay could be left up to the franchise owner.

You betcha. I also love to see the their eyes light up and a karma tip never goes unnoticed by the universe. I figure they can use the cash more than I can.

You betcha. I also love to see the their eyes light up and a karma tip never goes unnoticed by the universe. I figure they can use the cash more than I can.

I never gave 'karma tip' much mind until I read it on Okctalk. Now I routinely do it. Sonic for example if my total is two bucks its not unusual for me to hand out a five and say keep it. At sit down restaurants I started doing the min 5 dollar tip as somebody on Okctalk suggested. I've been beyond fortunate in my life. I certainly don't miss the money and it has far more value to me as a 'Karma Tip' than as a ledger balance I wouldn't notice the difference one way or the other.

I usually tip the change and an extra buck. There have been occasions where I didn't have the cash on me and was paying by check card though. I feel bad when that happens, but I try to make it up next time.

I have a friend whose son currently works at a Sonic in Edmond. I don't know if they all have the same policy, but he gets $2.13 an hour plus tips. If, for some reason, he does not make enough tips to make minimum wage during his entire shift, Sonic picks up the difference between the $2.13 and minimum wage.

You betcha. I also love to see the their eyes light up and a karma tip never goes unnoticed by the universe. I figure they can use the cash more than I can.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^that^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

nice kickstart to an ambition in an unsure young person who needs some recognition--cash--IS recognition

I always tip at Sonic - usually a dollar bill, no matter what I get.

To the thread starter: Are you being serious about your criteria for tipping people who are working at Sonic? I can't believe there's people who could go through life with those values and live with themselves. LOL! Talk about a "cheap" shot (pardon the pun).

Remember most Sonics are owned by independent franchisees so the pay could be left up to the franchise owner.

Didn't think about that. All this talk about Sonic and I made a Pickle-O's run last night. Asked the car hop and she said there they car hops start at five something and the inside staff start higher since they don't share tips.

I always tip at Sonic. No guilt, just good will. I appreciate the fact that some people are actually working! Young ones and sometimes not so young ones.

Anymore it seems the carhops are in a hurry to get away from the car. If I paid with a card they pretty much drop the food/drink(s) and leave. If I blink I dont have time to offer a tip.

Hasn't been my experience. Friendly car hops each time I stop. Occasional drive-thru grump here and there, but still rather rare

I do during happy hour.

Two of my granddaughters worked their way through college (in Tennessee) car hopping at Sonic. Both brought in $85 to $100 per week, mostly from tips. Knowing that got me in the habit of tipping a buck every time -- mostly on $2.06 orders of Route 44 Diet Cokes during happy hour!

Always a buck...tips are the best thing about being a carhop and why wouldn't you tip someone who works in all weather conditions? For same reason I also tip the pizza delivery driver.

I usually tip at Sonic, although I didn't until a few years ago, when my dad said something about it. Honestly, it had just never crossed my mind to tip at a fast food place. I still do not tip at the drive through or just counter help.

I have a friend whose daughter works at a pizza place as a waitress/counter help. She said something about people tipping her daughter when they come in to pick up a phone in order. I'm not doing that. I'm sorry, taking my money and handing me a box is just not something I'm going to tip for. My biggest gripe has been with the last couple of pizza delivery people we've had. The last 2 times we've ordered a pizza, I've had the driver round up on my change. I always tip the drivers well, but the last couple of times we ordered pizzas our order came to something like $23.20. When the kid came to the door, I was trying to hold the dog back, take the pizza and hand him the money for the food. I had the tip sitting by the door. He looks at the ticket and says "$24.00" I didn't really pay much attention, handed him $30 and took the pizza. While he was getting my change, I got the tip and handed it to him, as he handed me my change, $6.00 and was off. After he left, it dawned on me what had just happened. I looked at the ticket and where I had written down the amount when I placed the order, and realized, that he had just rounded the amount up and had given himself an additional tip. That makes me furious. I understand they need tips, and we try to always be generous, but in my mind, what the kid did was the same as stealing. A tip is mine to give, not his to take.

has sonic changed their card machines? i usually pay by card and the only reason i don't tip there is because the machine doesn't have an option to do so. -M

has sonic changed their card machines? i usually pay by card and the only reason i don't tip there is because the machine doesn't have an option to do so. -M

It depends on the franchise. I always put my tip on the debit card at the Sonic I usually go to in Plano, but I can't in OKC on NWX west of May. We have a "Sonic Tip Tray" instead of a cigarette tray in our car. We keep it stuffed with stray one dollar bills just for Sonic tips.

has sonic changed their card machines? i usually pay by card and the only reason i don't tip there is because the machine doesn't have an option to do so. -M

If I pay by card, I give them a cash tip.

has sonic changed their card machines? i usually pay by card and the only reason i don't tip there is because the machine doesn't have an option to do so. -M

I'm in the same boat. I never carry cash, so if the card machine doesn't let me add a tip, the carhop gets no tip.

If I use my card for payment I don't tip. If I pay cash, I always leave a small tip.

I usually tip a car hop a dollar or let them keep the change depending on the cost of the order. The car hops always seem appreciative when I tip them.

Bigray in Ok

I tip like I tip any other waitress, + - 15%. I'd like to use my credit card and add the tip on so I don't have to fumble with money. They should fix that.

Didn't think about that. All this talk about Sonic and I made a Pickle-O's run last night. Asked the car hop and she said there they car hops start at five something and the inside staff start higher since they don't share tips.

How could they startat 5 something if they don't share tips, minimum wage is like $7.25 I believe

How could they startat 5 something if they don't share tips, minimum wage is like $7.25 I believe

Brian wrote: "...she said the car hops start at five something and the inside staff start higher since they don't share tips.

Yes, I tip every time. I learned how important tips are as soon I started working at Crest.



Just wondering what everybody else does at Sonic. And if you do tip, how much, usually? I will occasionally tip, but it all depends on the carhop. If she's cute, I'll tip her a dollar bill. If she's just okay-looking, I'll let her keep the change. And if it's a guy, I don't tip at all.

What about you guys?

I just want to say to everyone... Please do not tip a person base on gender and appearance. Not now, not ever! Tip them for whatever reasons appropriate to their job, but not personal preference.

I've had thousands of straight guys generously tipping me. I've tipped both, males and females. Seriously, gender is not important. Appearance is not important. Boobs definitely are not important.

Those girls are lucky I tip them anything at all considering all they're doing is carrying a drink from the building to the car and then I never see them again. Just barely tipworthy, and not at all like what a server does at a sit-down restaurant.

Yes, I tip every time. I learned how important tips are as soon I started working at Crest.




I just want to say to everyone... Please do not tip a person base on gender and appearance. Not now, not ever! Tip them for whatever reasons appropriate to their job, but not personal preference.

I've had thousands of straight guys generously tipping me. I've tipped both, males and females. Seriously, gender is not important. Appearance is not important. Boobs definitely are not important.

Straight guys are known for being better tippers than women. I don't know how they stack up against gay people. And old people of any orientation are the WORST.

Those girls are lucky I tip them anything at all considering all they're doing is carrying a drink from the building to the car and then I never see them again. Just barely tipworthy, and not at all like what a server does at a sit-down restaurant.

Do you enjoy being single!!!

Twice, I've had carhops walk away with my change without counting it back to me. It is my decision whether to tip or not. I have tipped carhops in the past but after this experience, I won't make that mistake again. This is the reason why I never go to Sonic.

I do not tip. I don't treat them any differently than the folks at McDonalds, Burger King, Whataburger, etc. It's fast food, not a restaurant. They get full pay, it's not reduced pay because of tips, so why do they need one? Yes they walk around all day to deliver food, but that's part of the job. If they didn't like that part of the job, they could have worked at any of the other fast food options out there.

Besides, the place is usually so slow, if they were going to get a tip at the beginning, it would have been gone by the time i get my food.