topic Re: Tipping question, eating at Panera in Community Chat

Tipping question, eating at Panera

Daludog — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 18:55:47 GMT

I went to Panara yesterday, and ordered a salad and a drink, before swiping my card the card machine asked me, "do you want to leave a tip, Yes or No " . i was shocked, how ackward ! First i did not even get my food yet to know if it was ok, and second if i leave a tip it will be at the end if service was good. I wasn't sure what to do, are they going to give me bad service if i say no ? I do not think i will go there again it really turned me off. Any other ladies here have that happen ?

Re: Tipping question, eating at Panera

KingstonsMom — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 18:59:55 GMT

There's a deli here that does the same thing and I was taken aback by it too!

I had the same questions as you, too!

Re: Tipping question, eating at Panera

hennypenny — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 19:02:24 GMT

I think that is interesting.

I remember about a year ago eating at Panera, and trying to tip our waitress. She said they were not allowed to accept tips.

I guess they have changed the policy.

Re: Tipping question, eating at Panera

Snoopp — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 19:05:55 GMT

Don't you order and pickup your own food at Panera? Why would you need to tip?

Re: Tipping question, eating at Panera

Quse — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 19:05:56 GMT

I usually go through the drive through at Panera so I haven't encountered that. I have noticed more places with tip jars on counters...even saw one at a McDonalds.

Re: Tipping question, eating at Panera

Krimpette — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 19:06:03 GMT

Haven't been to Panera in a good while. Mine was always self-serve. You ordered at one point and got your food when your number was called. Has that changed? I don't recall any server being involved.

Re: Tipping question, eating at Panera

Mz iMac — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 19:06:34 GMT

The Panara store in my neck of the woods have a few tables where you can take your food & eat it there.

I only tip if I eat there AND my order is to my liking.

I NEVER tip if I order & go.

Re: Tipping question, eating at Panera

Serena Sue — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 19:08:20 GMT

How odd. The don't do anything for you at Panera, You order at the the counter, go up to get your order after you''re buzzed and you bus your own table!

Once I asked for my muffin to be warmed up and was told to do it myself at the microwave which was absolutely filthy.

Re: Tipping question, eating at Panera

Carmie — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 19:08:24 GMT

Just tap the No button. That's what I do. I do not tip if I have to place my own order and pick it up at the counter and clean up after I eat.

Re: Tipping question, eating at Panera

HappyDaze — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 19:13:32 GMT

Almost every restaurant I go to now does this but yes, if you have to pre-pay for your food like at Panera, I don't leave a tip at the time of payment. They've done nothing at that point but take my order and they did not come to me to take the order- I came to them. If I love the food and the service was friendly, I will leave a cash tip once I leave.

I do NOT believe in automatic tipping - I already pay alot of money for the food now and work hard for my money. I will tip generously for good service and food though.

Re: Tipping question, eating at Panera

Yahooey — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 19:10:32 GMT

A few years ago, Panera used to have boxes to collect money to fight hunger, I would dump my change there. Then the box became 'tip boxes'. I didn't like that so I don't participate. I haven't been to a Panera lately, so I haven't encounter those yet.

Many places now have those automated pads, where you sign your name after swiping your cc and your choice of tipping $1 $2 $3 dollars. I have seen those things at a upscale coffee shop (not startbucks). Since you already swiped your card and you don't have to dig into your purse for change, are they sweet by offereing you to tip whole dollars?

Re: Tipping question, eating at Panera

HappyDaze — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 19:11:25 GMT

Also wanted to add, our Panera did away with the pagers so now someone DOES come and deliver your food.

Re: Tipping question, eating at Panera

Daludog — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 19:16:10 GMT

At our Panera we order and get an electronic thing that tell them where you are seated. We have an eating area inside and outside. They bring your food to your table.

Re: Tipping question, eating at Panera

KingstonsMom — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 19:19:11 GMT

@Snoopp wrote:
Don't you order and pickup your own food at Panera? Why would you need to tip?

Yes, and at the Deli I use too, that's what's so weird, I guess they want you to tip the staff for putting your order/sandwich together.

I don't tip there, but like the OP, I wonder if that affects the quality of my order?

Re: Tipping question, eating at Panera

SahmIam — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 19:18:17 GMT

If they ask, the answer is always no. If there's a jar, the answer is always no.

If you think about it, you can see why I vote that way.

Re: Tipping question, eating at Panera

CareBears — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 19:24:44 GMT

The last time we ate at IHop, there was a 25% charge added to the bill, we asked what the charge was for, they said it was a mandatory gratuity charge, had we known that we would not have eaten there. The waitress took our order, we never saw her again, someone else delivered the food, no one came to check if our food was OK or if there was anything else we needed, never asked if we wanted a refill, nothing, toward the end of the meal yet another person quietly slid the check onto the table, never thanked us and was on their way, we NEVER have gone back to IHop again!

I know that this was a Panera thread but thought I would warn others what IHop is doing also, at least in our area!

Re: Tipping question, eating at Panera

ChynnaBlue — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 19:30:22 GMT

@Snoopp wrote:
Don't you order and pickup your own food at Panera? Why would you need to tip?

You do at the ones near me. They give you a buzzer when you order and you go get your food when the buzzer goes off. I don't tip unless the person who took my order went above and beyond, which is rare because I don't normally have too many questions or need recommendations.

Re: Tipping question, eating at Panera

3suwm5 — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 19:35:16 GMT

@Snoopp wrote:
Don't you order and pickup your own food at Panera? Why would you need to tip?

@Snoopp At our new Panera, you order in the front with an employee or at a kiosk. They bring the food to your table; they have sensors at each table and they give you a object that looks like the waitlist object. It doesn't light up, but tells them where you are sitting, they bring the food and check to see that you have everything you ordered, including any pastries from the front.

Re: Tipping question, eating at Panera

CelticCrafter — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 20:02:54 GMT

It's been a while since I've been to a Panera but the one I go to is like a cafeteria. Place your order, go onto the next line to pick it up, find a place to sit and clean up after yourself when you're done.

Re: Tipping question, eating at Panera

dfyre — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 20:10:49 GMT

CareBears wrote:

The last time we ate at IHop, there was a 25% charge added to the bill, we asked what the charge was for, they said it was a mandatory gratuity charge, had we known that we would not have eaten there. The waitress took our order, we never saw her again, someone else delivered the food, no one came to check if our food was OK or if there was anything else we needed, never asked if we wanted a refill, nothing, toward the end of the meal yet another person quietly slid the check onto the table, never thanked us and was on their way, we NEVER have gone back to IHop again!

I know that this was a Panera thread but thought I would warn others what IHop is doing also, at least in our area!

That's just crazy - I might tip 25% at Ruth's Chris, but IHop? I would have asked for the manager and disputed the tip, particularly since it was not "pre-noticed" - but I'm heavily into consumer fraud situations. And I certainly, like you, would never go back. Our granddaughter works part-time at Panera's during school vacations so I'll ask when she comes home for spring break how hers is run.