Do You Tip the Person at Sonic?

Yes...I tip. I remember the waiting tables days and the tips added up, no matter how small. I know those working at Sonic need the $ - expensive for the kids these days to go on dates and pay for their activities...

I'll give $1 if ordering for myself or more than just a drink...more if we order for the family and the bill is higher...15%

I usually do if I have some change on me. I worked as a car hop at Sonic in high school (about 13 years ago - ha). We received minimum wage plus tips. Usually it was the "keep the change" tip, and I usually came home with a large cup of coins. I rarely received bills.

The change really added up! I came home with around $20+ every night.

Yes! If you know you are going to Sonic, take a dollar or some extra change with you. I always keep a dollar or so in quarters in my car for tolls and Sonic tips.

Very surprised at some of the answers. How strange. It doesn't matter if it's crappy fast food or not, or based on it being 1 burger and drink vs. 3 burgers and drinks, we're tipping because it's a service where they are going out of their kitchen, into the weather, bringing food to us, while we stay seated. My view is that one could go to a different restaurant, get out of one's car, walk in, and get one's own food if one doesn't want to tip. If I'm short on cash and don't have money to tip, I either go through the drive through window where it's not expected, or I decide "Oh, money's kinda tight" and eat whatever's at home. Obviously, Sonic is not the Reata, so you'll probably just tip 50 cents to a dollar, but it is what it is.

I didn't really used to until my son started working there 1 1/2 yrs ago. They don't a lot hourly and most of what they make is based on tips. I remember being a kid and not making a lot of money especially if you have to pay for your bills, clothes, etc. So my answer is YES.

I hope this helps.
M.

Wow. It would never have crossed my mind to tip a fast food place, even with them bringing the food out. I don't tip at any other fast food restaurant that brings my food to the counter either. Isn't that the only choice you used to have at Sonic, with the drive thru part being newer? I just thought it was a nostalgic thing, their gimmic. I would actually prefer to go in and eat inside most of the time and I would never tip them for that. Now, maybe if they cleaned inside the car afterwards and wiped down the seats from spilled drinks and fished all the french fries out from under all the seats, then I would tip them ;o)

seriously, I would have never thunkit. We had this debate in our house before and we figured if you were supposed to, they would have a sign or something somewhere (ticket) suggesting it.

Now, also, if they came out and actually took my order and then brought it to me, checked back to refill my drinks and such, came back and cleaned up (took the tray of trash like in the nostalgic days) like the service you get in a restaurant, I would tip.
That is, they actually "waited" on you.

WOW I am shocked that everyone does not tip, they are only paid just like a waitress and rely on tips for income. I always tip and yes if I use my cc I give a $1 or so cash tip.

I always tip at Sonic. We had this discussion at our playgroup and most did tip or at least thought you should :)

i've never seen any tip at Sonic. That's new to me! so my answer is obviously to not to tip.

I work at sonic and I love tips lol. :) It really helps out the car hops. I don't get offended if I'm not tipped but if everyone just tipped 25 cents then it adds up by the end of the day. Also it makes it nicer when you get something for going in and out in the cold harsh elements :) TIP :)

I worked at sonic about 5 years ago and also when I was 16 (12 years ago). Sonic carhops make minimum wage so $5.15 or so. (I haven't worked in a few years so I don't know what the minimum wage is now.) I alway tip at sonic. My parents didn't know you was supposed to tip til I worked there when I was 16 and came home with tips. A lot of people don't know that people tip at sonic. I think everyone feels different about it and it is totally up to each individual.

EDIT! I went today to sonic to get a job because my husband has been out of a job since June and I have been a stay at home mom for 3 years. Things have changed. I could be a car hop and make 3.50+tips, or I can work the drive thru and make $6.55 minimume wage. This just started not long ago.

My husband and I just had this discussion! He doesn't tip anymore since they added the credit card feature. Before he always gave them whatever change they gave back to him (coins). Personally, I always tip the ones on skates - I figure it's pretty hard to skate and not drop all the food (I know it would be impossible for me!!!).

A few of my family members have worked at Sonic: they get paid at least minimum wage or more, unlike waiters at other places. That said; if I'm paying with cash I tip but if using the cc then no. They do deserve it if bringing the food to you but I don't feel as bad now knowing that they are paid better than waitstaff.

My stepdaughter just took a job at Sonic. I think she said she'll make 3.30 an hour plus tips ... so YES, you should definitely tip ... they depend on it!

At Sonic, I only tip if I pay with cash because I have change available, otherwise, I don't. I might if I was given that option during the credit card process. I once got into this debate with a friend who worked at Starbucks. She complained at how few people give tips and I told her that if Starbucks wants to collect tips, there ought to be a "tip" line on the credit card charge slip. I never carry cash any more, so I only tip if given the option to.

I had to join this site just to answer your question. I have worked at sonic for a few years now and that is something that has always bothered me. Most people do not know that you tip the person at sonic. used to it wouldn't be that big of a deal because we got paid minimum wage anyways but now they have lowered our pay to 4 dollars an hour anyways so if we don't get tips then we get in trouble because the company has to pay the rest to make up for the money we were short making minimum wage. I had never been written up before and just recently got written up because i didn't get tipped enough through out the day.

Also it gets really, really hot outside during the summer and its a hard job taking orders out in 100 degree weather believe it or not. The only time I wouldn't tip at sonic is if 1) the carhop was rude. 2) you went through the drive through. Other than that I would expect a tip. and about the pause thing where you wait for a tip, I try not to look like I'm waiting on a tip or expect it. I always like for people to tip and always want to seem grateful that they tip me not like they owe it to me. So your husband is right. That's ok though most people don't know that you tip (which is why sometimes I want to put a sign on myself that says "I accept tips") and men seem to tip more than women not sure why. Oh and an average tip on a food order is about 1$ or more if its a big order. and a drink tip is like a couple cents.

R.,
I always tip there when I do the drive up because they are bringing the food out to me. If I go to a Sonic that has a drive thru and use that then I don't tip since no extra effort to come outside is necessary.

Yes, I always tip the person at Sonic! My daughter worked at Sonic for over a year. Her hourly wage (as well as the other carhops) was well under minimum wage. They rely on the tips to make a decent paycheck. Sonic takes a percentage out of their paycheck for taxes on assumed tips. She worked her tail off and would always come home with sore feet. I always remember this when going to Sonic.

We always tip if paying with cash... if its cc that I am paying with, well, no cash on me = no tip for you :)

We don't frequent Sonic often but on the occasion that we do, yes I tip. We usually just get the smoothies or slush drinks and I will tip because they are bringing it out to me.

I work at sonic. In the past it was minim wage plus tips. But now it's 3.50 an hr plus tips. We don't have to share our tips. But you don't have to if y'all don't want to. It's all up to you to tip. Even though I work at a sonic and I go to a different sonic and order food and I don't get that great of a service I won't tip. It's like going to a restaurant if you dont get that kind of service that you soppose to receive you wouldn't tip

Yes, I think you should tip at sonic if you use the carhop service...ours is set up with a drive thru as well. Of course, if we use the window we don't tip. My husband used to never tip. We have teenagers and I asked him if that was our kids working their tails off wouldn't you want others to tip them??? Of course he would so now he will tip about a dollar. Hopefully this helps.
C.

They take the add the tip to your bill, Look at the bottom of the reciept its usually not much less than a dollar. I think anyway...... maybe I'm reading it wrong since nobody on this has said anything about it.... Now I'm going to have to go buy something from sonic to make sure Lol

Yes, I always tip at sonic.

I worked at a bar/restaurant whereas I was making $2.13 plus tips. My sister in law however, worked at sonic for about 2 years and she says they atleast make $6.50/hr. She was at $7.75. So no I don't tip for someone to bring me fast food.

I do most of the times especially if it is a lot of food or Rt 44 drinks. Depends on the person. I will give a dollar most of the time. They do not have the tip line on the credit card receipt nor do they offer it with the ccrd machines. I feel bad if I have no money with them to tip. It is not the workers saying we don't want tips its the company. Now Panera Bread tells you they appreciate you just being there so no tips please.

Yes - It is a hard job. I try to be generous :-)

Yes, I tip and usually it's 15%. and I tip with credit card, too. I dig out change out of my purse or car. just think about how you would want to be treated if you had that job.

Wow, I had no idea they made as much as they do. We always tip at Sonic but from what I've learned here I think we will cut back on the amount. My husband is very generous with his tipping at Sonic and will do like a dollar for a coke. that coke gets expensive, huh? I usually do like 50 cents or so for a drink and more for a full order. We always have that discussion as well. Good question R., I'm glad you brought it up.

Interesting question - I feel like I should tip at Sonic - that is expected. I typically do - but if I don't have cash and pay via debit/credit, I feel really guilty!!

Today I stopped in for a Happy hour drink and a dollar menu item - my total was $2.05 - I gave a .50 cent tip.

My 17 y/o daughter works at Sonic and when she's a car-hop, she makes LESS than minimum wage. On a really good night, she'll bring home $100 in tips - but her paychecks don't add up to anything.

Also - they make their car-hops claim their tips, a percentage of their sales. So the car hops are paying taxes on tips that the Gov't is assuming were made. DD's paycheck is next to nothing - but her earnings aren't bad for a teenager!

I will attest to the fact that she works really hard, especially when she's out in the cold/wind.

I do if they bring me a lot of food. My husband tips them for just a milk shake and gives them however much the milk shake cost in tip. The credit card thing I don't know how you tip with that, I must admit that's when I don't tip because if I'm paying with my card I don't have cash on me.
Sorry Sonic workers.

I tip every time I pay cash. But if I pay with my debit card, then I don't b/c they don't let you add it on the receipt, unless I happen to have loose change or a dollar bill. I feel guilty, though, b/c I know they don't make much hourly.

I usually don't tip if I pay with a debit card but do if I use cash. They make more than other places do without the tips. All they do is bring you the food. I think you should do what you think.

When they added the credit card feature, that clarified the tipping thing for me at Sonic. Since they don't offer an option to add a tip, I figure they don't expect one. I think they appreciate it, but that's why they don't "hesitate" when you don't give them one.

Also, at all of the Sonics I frequent, I've seen the car hops all just drop their tips in the same cup inside the kitchen. I think they may all just share the tips at the end of the shift since really, how can you judge why one car hop got more cars that gave a dollar vs. another who got more cars that gave nothing. It's not because they were better at delivering their order I bet. It's not like a "traditional" waiter or waitress in a restaurant where you should tip based on the actual service you receive.

Now, me personally, I almost always tip 50 cents when I get more than just a drink. My husband is more generous than me and usually tips a dollar, again, if it's more than just a drink. If it's just a drink, we usually don't tip. I look at it based on total cost. If I'm just getting a drink, it's not cost effective to go there if I am expected to tip. Their drinks aren't cheaper than anyplace else, and it's not like they are coming back out to your car to give you refills like a waiter in a restaurant would do. But if I spread the cost of a tip over a larger bill, it's not as cost prohibitive. I'm guessing the people who look at the revenue models feel the same way. They'd probably do away with the tip all together if they thought it was keeping people from going there just to buy a drink, which is usually the highest profit producing item on any fast food menu.

If I use cash then yes I do tip, when I use the cc no. My parents tip them all the time. (I like reading the others response)

I recently just got hired at sonic. I make $4.50 dollars an hour + tips. Thats below minimum wage...So YES you should tip.

We tip when they bring it to the car. More and more sonics seem to be adding drive thrus, in which case we do not tip.

Hello R.,
Great question. Whether I pay cash or debit, I usually tip $1.00 for all food orders/car hop service. If I just order drinks I find it quicker (sometimes)to buzz into the drive-thru. where no tip is expected.
P.S. I wish all Sonic customers, who have large food orders, would use car hop service and leave smaller orders for the drive-thru.Just a simple wish(no harm intended):-}
DS

I always tip if I drive-in and usually tip if I'm driving through

I don't usually, but sometimes they have groups working for charities or students organizations working there on weekends to raise money for their organizations. I usually give them a small tip. There are always signs up telling you when this is the case. You can't miss it.

Hi R.. I worked at Sonic for two years while in high school. Unless things have changed, the carhops make minimum wage and customers are not required to tip. Now, we did get tipped and of course that was appreciated greatly, but it was not like we were waitresses RELYING on our tips. I do tip when I go to Sonic, just because. The choice is up to you. Good luck with your debate with your hubbie!