Tipping During a Pandemic: Should You Tip More for Takeout?

After I finished giving my take out order over the phone to a local restaurant, the voice on the other end asked, “Do you want to add a tip for the team?” I normally add 10% for takeout orders, which I viewed as an acceptable amount. But I wondered in the age of COVID-19, if and how the rules have changed for tipping during a pandemic. Before the pandemic, many viewed the social norm was tipping for takeout was appreciated but not necessarily expected. Readying an order for pickup isn’t as time consuming as checking in periodically with a table […] Read more »

Can You Tip With A Gift Card?

Picture this scenario: You’ve just finished a great meal at a restaurant, and you’re planning to pay with a gift card that you either got as a gift, or you purchased for yourself. The gift card is worth more than your bill, so you instinctively write the remaining value on the tip line. But you second guess yourself wondering if you really can use the remaining gift card value as a tip. Can you use gift card value as a tip? The answer is, maybe. It really depends upon the policy of the restaurant. Here are some tips to making […] Read more »

Gift Cards & Tipping – What’s Your Opinion?

Photo Credit: y2bk Gift cards have become increasingly popular year after year! It’s an easy way to send someone you love a nice gift that they can use at their convenience. This post is specifically about gift cards to restaurants, but it’s not about the actual gift card as much as it is about how you tip when you pay with one. Recently we used a $25 gift card for a local restaurant and during this process it got me thinking. Do people generally tip more or less when their bill is reduced because of a gift card? Our meal […] Read more »