# Do you tip at Mcdonalds ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 23, 2005, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-at-mcdonalds/323143 "2005-09-23T23:09:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-at-mcdonalds/323143/41 "2005-09-25T22:35:32Z")
I tip at my Starbucks every so often, but it is just because the girls always start my stuff when they see me at the door and the coffee is prepared just how I like it (tall, mocha frap with no whip). They also give me discounts here and there or a free bagel :). So, when they go above and beyond, I do tip at Starbucks. ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-at-mcdonalds/323143/42 "2005-09-26T00:07:46Z")
> [@Garfield226](#): > > Of course, the law requires that if the difference is not made up in tips, the employer will. Unless the law has changed since I last waited tables, you have this backwards. Servers get paid well under the minimum wage on the assumption that tips will make up the rest of their wages. Servers must pay taxes on a percentage of the tables they wait on, based on the assumption that they are earning tips that must be taxed. I can’t remember what the percentage was, but something like 12 or 13% of the bills of your tables. The catch is, you have to pay that tax even if the people don’t tip you. So if people don’t tip, you end up paying taxes on the tip they should have left. I’ve never heard of the employer paying the tips if the customer doesn’t- if this is a law, it isn’t one that was enforced anywhere that I ever worked. Also, I don’t tip at fast food restaurants, because they are already paid (not the sub-minimum server wages), and because most fast-food places have rules that forbid them from accepting tips anyway. I’m fascinated by people arguing FOR tipping fast-food employees, because I can’t help wondering if they’ve ever actually done it. Typically, their tips would be politely rejected. ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-at-mcdonalds/323143/43 "2005-09-26T00:16:34Z")
I’ve never seen anywhere else, in my entire life, internet or otherwise, people taking the issue of tipping so seriously as we do here. It rivals witty banter as a value judgewent, with both sides so feverishly divided over the issue you would think it was a Bush thread. For the op, no I do not - that’s just weird. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-at-mcdonalds/323143/44 "2005-09-26T00:20:53Z")
Never. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-at-mcdonalds/323143/45 "2005-09-26T03:05:13Z")
> [@FisherQueen](#): > > I’ve never heard of the employer paying the tips if the customer doesn’t- if this is a law, it isn’t one that was enforced anywhere that I ever worked. Sounds like something you ought to take up with the employers. From the Department of Labor: > [@](#): > > 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. [http://www.dol.gov/elaws/faq/esa/flsa/002.htm](http://www.dol.gov/elaws/faq/esa/flsa/002.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-at-mcdonalds/323143/46 "2005-09-26T11:33:35Z")
I won’t tip anywhere I don’t get served while sitting down… this includes McDonalds, Starbucks, sandwich shops, and doughnut places. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-at-mcdonalds/323143/47 "2005-09-26T13:22:57Z")
> [@surlyprince](#): > > Maybe if they didn’t put lettuce on my friggin filet o fish… There is no lettuce on a Filet O’ Fish, just 1/2 slice of cheese and too much tartar sauce. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-at-mcdonalds/323143/48 "2005-09-26T13:36:33Z")
> [@RSSchen](#): > > Well, how about this? I worked for Grand Auto for a decade. I would, on occasion, have to install wiper blades on customers’ cars. Sometimes people would offer a tip, rarely would I accept. Don’t think we had rules about it, but I certainly appreciated the intention. But I was performing a real service, and for only the price of the item purchased. OTOH, I would also have to lug cases of oil out to cars for people who were clearly quite capable of doing it themselves. They NEVER offered a tip. > > _hijack_ What about grocery baggers who take your stuff to the car? I can’t believe that people other than little old ladies use this service. And I’m pretty sure they don’t get tipped, not positive though. _hijack_ Down south it is common and they do tip. North East and West coast I never see this happen. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-at-mcdonalds/323143/49 "2005-09-26T20:04:21Z")
> [@FatBaldGuy](#): > > I think the point being made is that restaurant servers are allowed by law to be paid considerably **less** than minimum wage because it is assumed by the employer and the IRS that the difference will be made up in tips. That reprehensible practice is called “tip credits in leiu of minumum wage” It varies by state. California, for exmple, flatly forbids paying restaurant staff less than minimum wage. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-at-mcdonalds/323143/50 "2005-09-26T20:17:25Z")
> [@Who\_me?](#): > > I won’t tip anywhere I don’t get served while sitting down… this includes McDonalds, Starbucks, sandwich shops, and doughnut places. How about buffet restaurant? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-at-mcdonalds/323143/51 "2005-09-26T20:20:59Z")
> [@adam yax](#): > > How about buffet restaurant? I leave a 10% tip at the Chinese Buffet we like. They bring drinks and clear plates. They don’t take orders or bring food. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-at-mcdonalds/323143.md?page=2)