now i work at olive garden as a to-go specialist (always remember to tip your to-go specialist, cause 90% of people don't)
OK, I'm going to be a total bitch here, maybe -- but why tip the to-go specialist?
If they are extra friendly or have done something special, I always do.
Otherwise, they didn't bring my food, refill a drink, clean up the table or answer questions/make recommendations about menu items. . . so to me, it's the equivalent of tipping a fast food or grocery cashier (except the food is more expensive.)
Educate me, please?
- Mere "I know this is a hot button for Dalya and her friend Stephanie, too, who REALLY got pissed off when the customer only tipped spare change or a dollar" 1975
you obviously have had shitty to-go specialists.
they should be offering you appetizers, explaining your meal, making sure the to-go area is neat, clean, and orderly. where i work, we bring the food to the guest and handle the cash/credit/gift card procedure as well. we handle the order from beginning to end, except we don't physically make the food. we take the order over the phone, and belieeeeeeve me, there are plenty of people who just want to shoot the shit and ask you about every item on the menu. the good thing is that the job at my restaurant is generally so slow that i actually have time to chat. if the person comes in to place the to-go order (or their order is not ready when they come in), that is the time to chat about wine, beer or mixed drink menu.
and if someone is tipping only spare change or a dollar, that is buuuuuuullshit. i don't know about TX, but up here in MA, waiter/esses get $2.63 an hour, so you are actually living off your tips. i tip 20% if the service is normal, 15% if it's a little subpar, and will only go to 10% if the waiter has been a dick or completely inattentive and, like, peed in my food. i've worked in food service long enough to know that shit happens and sometimes you don't have time to be up your table's ass with refills or whatever. anything above 20% is for super-dee-duper waiter/esses.
and i am SUPER FRIENDLY (when i'm with a customer, anyway). you would have no choice but to tip me!
and p.s., if you didn't gather from this post, a "to-go specialist" is just a fancy way to say the waiter/ess assigned to to-go orders.