I’ll tip for that when monkey’s fly and pigs hang by their tails from trees.
There is the drive trough park and wait we’re not ready employee car delivery. McDonalds
There is the call ahead and park to pick up your order employee car delivery.
Applebee’s
I treat it like any other food service. If the server responded promptly to my toot. If I thought my wait time was reasonable. If it was handed to me in a way convenient for me (as opposed, for example, to shoving it in my car). If it was all packaged so that I didn’t have to worry about it spilling or tipping. If I was greeted pleasantly and professionally. Then yes, I tip generously.
This varies by state. In California, NOBODY can be paid less than minimum, whether or not they get tips.
Some states are still in the Dark Ages and allow servers to be paid two or three bucks an hour with the hopes that their tips will bring them up to minimum.
In SF, minimum wage is $9.14/hour and statewide, the minumum is $7.50.
IMO, I’d treat it the same way I treat a takeout order which I order at the bar of my local Chinese resturant.
I tip on the drink (or 2… sometimes 3 on a really long wait/busy night) I had, then add a small amount for the takeout order. (probably 10 %) I don’t tip like I would if I was sitting there consuming the meal.
If I do “sit down”, I tip well (20%).
FTR, I tipped him a couple bucks. Which came somewhere in between 5 and 10%. I think that’s fair, and it’s what I tip the pizza delivery guy, and he drives to my house.
I’m not trying to change the world and make a statement that I think tipping is an outrageous and antiquated practice. It would just appear that I’m an asshole and am being rude to the worker if I begrudged him a tip. I’ve worked in the retail/service area myself when I was young. It’s unappreciated grunt work. Throw 'em a bone, as lame and annoying as tipping really is.