Sonic

Here is a question for you. Do you tip at Sonic?

I was there the other day and it reminded me of the major complex I have every time I go. I know you're dying for me to explain, so I shall.

I was a waitress while in college. I know how hard the work can be and I also know full well how low your hourly wage is thus forcing you to rely on the tips to make any decent money. Because of this, I tend to be an over-tipper at restaurants. Even when I have pizza delivered, I tend to over-do it a bit.

NOTE: I am also not afraid to under-tip when it is obvious the waiter in question is lazy and not doing his/her job. But I digress.

So Sonic. What is the deal there? I mean, they DO bring your food to you, but how much work was that really? I don't want to offer up a tip to someone who spent 30 seconds bringing me food with no other service attached. Maybe if I sat there and ate, and they came by regularly to refill my drink or get me extra napkins or something, but no. I am just going to say thank you and drive away. Not a huge time commitment for these lovely employees.

Usually, out of my guilt, I just round the dollar amount up to an even amount so they don't have to go through all the trouble of pushing change out of their handy little belt-changer-thingys. But that only creates more dilemma when the dollar amount is like say . . . $4.89. Does it really do them any good for me to say, "keep the change" from a five-dollar bill? Isn't it more insulting to receive $.11 as a tip than to receive nothing? At least with nothing you can assume ignorance on the patron's part, but $.11? Now that's just rude.

And I know that many Sonic's now have a drive-thru window. You'd think that would clear up my complex. And while it does help a little, I can't help but wonder if the hourly wage is different for those working the window and those working the . . . er. . . . street. (for lack of a better way to put it). Does the window guy get more per hour because tips aren't expected?

If my poor Sonic employee is getting paid $2.00 per hour, then I DEFINITELY want to tip. But if he/she is getting regular minimum wage and tips are just icing to them, then I see no need.

So what are your thoughts? Do you tip at Sonic? Do you know whether they get paid minimum wage or less? I really want to know.

Please put my obsessive mind at ease.