Tips at Sonic?????

[mranderson]

As I used to wait myself, I am always a good tipper in full service restaurants. But keep in mind that full service restaurants pay their waitstaff like $3/hour. Sonic employees are paid a regular wage. I don't want to sound like a jerk, but the carhops at sonic don't do anything a cashier at McDonalds or Taco Bell don't. Do you tip them as well? I don't tip at sonic.

However, if you ARE going to tip--leave a real tip. Leaving tips under a dollar or just saying "keep the change" when the change is 11 cents is RUDE. It is more insulting to receive a small tip than no tip at all. Leaving no tip just tells the person you don't tip. Leaving someone 11 cents is an over slap in the face. Think about that...

Question to former waitpersons. Do you tip for bad service? If so, why?

[TheLlama]

i usually give them the change... but never more than 50 cents. The way i see it. They signed up for that job and its only walking 30 steps at best to my truck. But... Im also 18 and have no money!

[larrys66cafe]

I used to work at one of the Sonic Drive-Ins in Oklahoma City when I lived there (the one at NW 122nd Street & MacArthur Blvd). Now I live in Missouri and am one of the managers at a Sonic here.

My carhops are expected to give excellent, quality service with a smile, as any other server would in a typical dine-in restaurant. If they provide this type of courteous service to you, then a tip would certainly be in order. The bottom answer is YES, they CAN accept tips, if earned.

[Patrick]

Hey larrys66cafe, just curious, do they receive full salaries? Or do they operate on a waiter/Waitress salary?

[larrys66cafe]

I cannot say if it's the sameat ALL Sonic franchisees, but our Sonic pays them minimum wage.

[Patrick]

Oh, okay...that's what I had heard, I just wanted to verify. So, do the servers pretty much expect a tip? What do they consider a good tip? What should you tip on a drink for $1.99?

And what about the "hop thru delivery". I see that as more of a drive-thru, since your food isn't being delivered out at one of the parking places.

[larrys66cafe]

I think the Drive Thru is a cop-out. I don't like them, even though we have one. To me, that is against the concept of Sonic [hence, the name] Drive-In. And people think they'll get their food faster in the Drive Thru than parking in a stall?!?! HA!! Psychological! There's no time difference -- NONE!!

And, yes, some carhops think they earn -- and EXPECT -- tips. So do some waiters and waitresses. The amount of tip you wish to leave a hop is totally discretionary.

[windowphobe]

I tip carhops the same amount I tip other waitpersons: twenty percent, more if justified.

[Patrick]

Unfortunately, I don't feel a car hop is justified the same tip as a waiter or waitress at a full service restaurant. The server at the full service restaurant is having to continuosly wait on you for half and hour, or however long you're there. In contrast, the car hop at Sonic isn't doing much more than the cashier at McDonalds....simply putting your food on a tray and giving it to you. I guess servers at Sonic take a few more steps than cashiers at McDonalds, but the concept is the same. Unless they're checking on my drink, refilling my beverages, continuously coming out and refilling my breadsticks/chips, continuously checking to see if I need anything, etc., I don't think the two jobs (car hop vs. waiter/waitress) can even be compared. Sure, I tip some at Sonic, but nowhere near what I would at a full service restaurant. I think the reason is fully explained.

I wouldn't tip at the Drive-thru at Sonic. Why? Well, would you tip at the drive thru at McDonald's? My point exactly!

[larrys66cafe]

Patrick, I agree with you 100%. Carhops should not be tipped as much as the server in a full-service restaurant. I must add that [I cannot speak for ALL Sonic Drive-Ins] at my Sonic, carhops are to provide check-backs every 10 minutes on the curb to see if patrons need anything else like ketchup, mustard, napkins, etc. That is the best one can hope for in the way of curb service, in contrast to dining room service.

Tipping at the drive-thru? PLEASE!!!! It won't happen! I won't even do it! I've left only pennies on occasions in which I don't want to mess with the change!

[prerunner1982]

yes i tip the car hops at Sonic.. only a few bucks though and thats only if they are nice.
Granted Sonic doesnt have a walk up counter or anything.. but the way i see it, if you are too lazy to get out of your car then you deserve to tip them... even alittle.
I work at a Pizza hut. Drivers make atleast minimum wage, but it is still nice to tip them.. We do carry-out as well.. so pretty much people are to lazy to come get thier orders, they want someone to put miles on thier vehicles (gas, tires, oil changes, general wear) and yet dont tip. Granted again it depends on service. After you subtract the price to keep thier vehicle maintained they certainly make close to server/waitress pay...on average my drivers put 100miles a day on their vehicle, just at work.

[Patrick]

I agree prerunner1982....I always do carry out for pizza, but if someone does do delivery, I think a tip is warranted. Afterall, it is pesonal dlivery to your house, as you mention.

[El Gato Pollo Loco!!!]

Here's a tip...Don't eat wooden nickels 'cause they'll leave splinters in your tounge...And that'll hurt if you kiss someone....