To tip or not to tip? Here’s what Hawaii food industry workers suggest

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -These days, it seems like tipping options at fast food restaurants and other over-the-counter establishments are becoming more and more common. You order something to go, you get ready to pay, when a screen appears, asking for a tip.

Hawaii News Now asked a few customers at the Kuhio Food Hall in Waikiki what they would do when faced with this request.

“No, it doesn’t matter (if it’s takeout of sit down),” said Hank Ravestein. “I tip 15%.”

Ernest Lee has a different perspective.

“If I am standing ordering my meal and get my meal and going to sit down, then typically, it’s not tipped,” he said.

Mike Palmer, a board member of the Hawaii Restaurant Association and the owner of the Kuhio Food Mall in Waikiki, said tipping depends on the situation.

“So I just tell people do what you are comfortable with — if you don’t want to tip, don’t tip, if you get great service and encourage that person behind the counter, you know they are working hard for their money,” Palmer said.

Palmer added that while so many are stuck with tipping based on percentages, there are other options, especially when it comes over-the-counter service.

“On almost every tipping system that has that option, people don’t realize, they think they have to automatically put in 15 to 20, 25%, but there is usually an option on those screens like ours says you hit ‘other,’ you tip a custom amount — 50 cents, a dollar, whatever,” Palmer said.

He said that no matter the circumstance, a customer should not feel obligated to tip for mediocre or bad service.

Instead, base it on the service provided and consider this: “A lot of times, counter service people are not the highest compensated in the industry and I think personally, it’s a great way to stimulate the economy by giving people an extra buck or two.”

For Andrew Thomas, a server at the food mall, getting a tip is always appreciated but not expected.

“I just expect people to know that if they want to go ahead and, it makes my day and I just give them my service, whether they tip or not,” Thomas said.

And that’s a tip on tipping that is definitely something to think about.

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