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Do you tip the carhops at Sonic?

Do you tip the carhops at Sonic?

  • Yes, I tip them -- they work hard for me make little.

    Votes: 15 31.9%

  • No, I don't tip them -- they're not waitresses, they're just carhops.

    Votes: 32 68.1%
  • Total voters
    47
Z

ziggyonice

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Mar 12, 2006
2,385
1
So I've been thinking about this a lot recently: do you tip the carhop at Sonic (or any other drive-in restaurant)? Realistically, all they're doing is giving you your food -- they don't check up on you or refill your drinks.

Sometimes, I'll pay with cash and leave the change for the carhop. But today, I paid with my debit card -- so after debating in my mind for a few moments, I decided to give the carhop a $1 tip. So, any thoughts on this? Anyone ever work at Sonic as a carhop?
 
My dad does...and he makes me do it when he's in the car with me. I don't usually do it unless I have some cash I can spare, and the person was helpful and nice. (Not often. On both counts. :p)
 
Ah, I see... looks like taken from the Flintstones outro. No, I wouldn't. You don't tip the people at McD or BK, do you? I'd make exceptions if the service it very good or the person is very nice, but not in general.
 
I do since 4 of my friends work at 2 different Sonics. I know how tough it can be there on a busy night. I'll tip maybe the change from a 5 or something like that, just to show I care/ acknowledge they try a decent bit. But if they are A__h___s, then no, no tip.
 
Sonic has the best slushes, but no I don't tip the carhops. A few of my friends have worked there over the years, and they made several dollars over minimum wage. It's not a typical tips/wage setup like a table service restaurant.
 
MattG said:
http://www.sonicdrivein.com

Not to veer too much off topic, but...there's one of these like 5 minutes from my house and I've still never been. Is it good? Any recommendations on what I should try?
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Get a Route 44 Cherry Lime-aid. Most of them have half price drinks between certain hours. Everything else is just decent fast food. I usually get a burger and cheesy tater tots. They are definitely known more for their drinks than anything else. It's like a fast food twist on the old soda shop, they will make you just about anything.
 
No, they are not waitresses that work for tips. I find it aggravating that nowadays they seem to expect tips though. Several times lately when I have ordered there and hand them the money they start to walk off without handing back the change (perhaps not much change, but still...). I tip for table service, not for fast food.
 
I love how there's a TON of commercials in my area about Sonic, but there's actually no Sonic near here.

But yeah, never been to one. And is it really a drive in? Like I could've sworn in the commercials they were at the drive-through like in certain McDonalds/Burger King, where you drive through, pick up your meal, and then keep on driving.
 
fireshot91 said:
I love how there's a TON of commercials in my area about Sonic, but there's actually no Sonic near here.

But yeah, never been to one. And is it really a drive in? Like I could've sworn in the commercials they were at the drive-through like in certain McDonalds/Burger King, where you drive through, pick up your meal, and then keep on driving.
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Both are options. You can pull your car into a spot and order the food and people bring it to your car, and you can eat there, or you can go through the drive-thru.

If I don't have the money to tip, I go drive-thru. If Im feeling generous I go to the drive up spot. :)
 
Unspoken Demise said:
Both are options. You can pull your car into a spot and order the food and people bring it to your car, and you can eat there, or you can go through the drive-thru.

If I don't have the money to tip, I go drive-thru. If Im feeling generous I go to the drive up spot. :)
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There are also a very few Sonics that have inside seating, and most also have 'picnic' tables.
 
Don't panic said:
my thoughts, exactly :D

if this is a fast food chain, i doubt they even expect to be tipped.
does anyone tip the cashiers at McDonalds? they put together your order and deliver it to you. this seems similar.
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It is fairly similar, except that they have to leave the building carrying a tray full of food out to your car, and deal with your payment and change there, then generally pick up the garbage you leave if you aren't decent enough to throw it in the can on your way out. I usually throw them a dollar or two just to be nice, and because it makes people happy. No need to be an ass just to show that you are so much better (and "you" is not referring to you, Don't Panic). I usually tip most service-industry people that have to come out from behind a counter.
 
danny_w said:
There are also a very few Sonics that have inside seating, and most also have 'picnic' tables.
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I wasn't saying inside the Sonic, I meant there, as in, in your car. I've never seen ones with inside seating. They have those? I've always seen the tables, drive up spots, and drive-thru. :confused:
 
danny_w said:
No, they are not waitresses that work for tips. I find it aggravating that nowadays they seem to expect tips though. Several times lately when I have ordered there and hand them the money they start to walk off without handing back the change (perhaps not much change, but still...). I tip for table service, not for fast food.
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As a former carhop (not at a Sonic), I disagree wholeheartedly. We are waitresses - we go to your car, we take your order, we place your order, and bring your food to you on a window tray with napkins and any other condiments you ask for. During your meal, we check in to see if you need anything else and if you're satisfied with your food. If you honk, we come over to see what you need. When you're done, we pick up your tray from your window with the mugs and trash left over. We collect your money and make change if needed. This is exactly the same process a waitress goes through if you were to go to a sit-down restaurant, albeit a lower-end one where wine isn't served and such.

Just because you stay in your car doesn't mean you're not getting service. When I was a carhop, we were paid under minimum wage, which was legal at the time. Most of our earnings came from tips. Of course, if you get bad service, tip little or nothing. If you get good service, give a commensurate tip.

It was a good job during high school in the summers and really made me appreciate how difficult it can be to wait on people and provided additional motivation to go to college. Fortunately, tipping was the norm - I'd maybe get one person a week who didn't tip at all.
 
r6girl said:
As a former carhop (not at a Sonic), I disagree wholeheartedly. We are waitresses - we go to your car, we take your order, we place your order, and bring your food to you on a window tray with napkins and any other condiments you ask for. During your meal, we check in to see if you need anything else and if you're satisfied with your food. If you honk, we come over to see what you need. When you're done, we pick up your tray from your window with the mugs and trash left over. We collect your money and make change if needed. This is exactly the same process a waitress goes through if you were to go to a sit-down restaurant, albeit a lower-end one where wine isn't served and such.

Just because you stay in your car doesn't mean you're not getting service. When I was a carhop, we were paid under minimum wage, which was legal at the time. Most of our earnings came from tips. Of course, if you get bad service, tip little or nothing. If you get good service, give a commensurate tip.

It was a good job during high school in the summers and really made me appreciate how difficult it can be to wait on people and provided additional motivation to go to college. Fortunately, tipping was the norm - I'd maybe get one person a week who didn't tip at all.
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if this is how it works, than a tip seems warranted.
i had never heard of the place, nor the term carhop, before this thread
 
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