Start tipping Sonic carhops-- in cash
I just learned Sonic, apparently in an effort to avoid the minimum wage increase, will start paying newly-hired carhops (the folks who bring your food to the car) a meager $3.15 an hour, or whatever your typical server gets. You know, at places like P.F. Chang's or Nama, where they rely on tips to make a living wage. Although that is also arguable.
What isn't arguable is that Sonic is about to skirt the system and grossly underpay American citizens trying to work. When's the last time you tipped a Sonic carhop? Better yet, Sonic doesn't yet support tipping on the computers at their stores. So you'll have to bring some cash if you're going to tip. That is, if they had told you you're supposed to. From what I'm hearing, they aren't going to change the machines, either.
All this while we fret and worry about Belgium buying Budweiser.
posted by Victor Agreda, Jr. at
10:10 AM
22 Comments:
Thanks for the tip! :) I have never tipped a Sonic carhop.
What is a "living wage"? Is it $7.50/hr? Why not make it $15/hr? I'll tell you what, let's make it $25/hr. Is that a "living wage"? What if someone requires $35/hr to live? Then $25 doesn't look so good, does it? The truth is there are very, very few people in this country who actually work for minimum wage, and they're mostly part-time workers, retired seniors, and high school kids.
Why don't we just guarantee each Sonic employee $30,000 a year. Or $80,000. Who makes the decision about what they're going to work for?
Oh, yeah, it's the employee and the employer! They both willingly enter into a contract deciding before employment begins on what one will make and what one will pay. No one is being forced to work at Sonic or anywhere else.
That's called a "free market," my friend. That's what makes this country great. That Sonic employee can go start his or her own business and make $100k, $500k, $1million, or $0. It's up to them.
Just for the record, I always tip Sonic employees in cash.
Sorry, Victor, but the "douchebag" is exactly right. If Sonic wishes to restructure their pay to try to skirt the new minimum wage, they can. In turn, the carhops are also free to go find other places to work.
However, Sonic is going to find that no matter what base wages they pay, they are required to make up the difference between that + (declared) tips and minimum wage. So, if they have no system in place to allow for tipping on the ticket, the 'hops will probably under-report, so they get more pay.
Having had 3 kids work a variety of restaurant and food service jobs over the years, I have learned some of the ins, outs and tricks both sides play. The biggest one is that if the restaurant treats their employees like crap, they will leave in a heartbeat to go somewhere they are treated better. The vast majority of these employees are NOT dependent on these jobs to survive, as "douchebag" said, they are young kids, part-timers, retirees, etc. The leverage they have just by the ability to walk out when they want, is mighty.
Sonic will pay, one way or another. The kids? They'll be just fine, either there, or at a different and better job.
Lissakay is right, and this is the end of the discussion.
Stop whining and start relying on yourself instead of the government to make your life better.
It's called "personal responsibility." You should look it up when you get a moment.
I don't work at Sonic, but thanks for the tip I already knew.
I don't work at Sonic, but thanks for the tip I already knew.
Hey, no problem, Victor. Glad to help. But if you already knew it, then why all the talk about Sonic "skirting the law," and "arguably paying a living wage"?
Maybe next time you can skip the "corporations are eeevil and out to screw the worker" speech, realize there is such a thing as a free market,
and simply post a "Hey, remember to tip Sonic employees in cash because they could use it" post.
That would make much more sense than railing against capitalism and the workers' freedom to choose the place of employment.
Just a thought.
*shrug*
fair enough. One question, however: why wouldn't Sonic post a notice indicating the change in policy? That would be fair, and it would be cheap. Just a thought.
A supposedly free market doesn't excuse everything. It is absolutely an ideal that A. Has never existed and B. Assumes behaviors in people and business that may or may not be true.
Read "the Jungle" by Upton Sinclair for one example.
Um, I've read "The Jungle," and I don't know that I'd take my cues about employment from a socialist/communist like Sinclair. I mean, the man ran for Congress under the Socialist Party of America, for Pete's sake! I don't know if you know this or not, but Socialism/Communism caused the death of roughly, oh, 100 million people in the 20th century alone! That's more than all the so-called "mainstream religious" wars in the history of humanity combined.
Hey, if you think Cuba, North Korea, the former Soviet Union, and Communist China are great examples of what life could be like, by all means, keep your point of view. Let me guess, you'd love to see Barack Hussein Obama as president, right?
That's cool, but the rest of us who understand that people yearn to be free, have the right to decide the course of their lives, believe in personal responsibility and the opportunity to succeed or fail based on their own freedom to choose will decide differently.
And maybe a free market hasn't ever existed in a 100 percent pure form, but I'd prefer what we have than the socialist/communist market you seem to be advocating. Personally, I think every individual should be able to choose where, why, and for how much they will work rather than being subject to what someone like you dictates.
And speaking of "behaviors in businesses or people that may or may not be true," I'd love it if you could point out for me the place in which the economic/governmental system you advocate, socialism, has ever actually improved the quality of life for anyone.
The function that a Sonic carhop performs is exactly the same as that of a drive thru attendant at McDonalds. Only real difference is one has to walk ouside and one has to walk to a window. Other than that.. EXACT SAME. And nobody tips the McDonalds drive-thru attendant. Does the Sonic carhop come back to your car and ask if you need anything else? Do they offer to refill your drink? NO! Sonic is not a restaurant, and the carhops are not waitresses. No tipping required. Period.
that is an excellent point!
I work at a sonic as a carhop/fountain girl. We make your beverages, ice cream, shakes, help with the making of your meals, take you the order, and we ARE required to check back with you after we have given you the order to make sure you don't need anything else like napkins or another drink. Our job is a little bit different from that of a waitress due to the fact that we aren't supposed to give free refills, that we don't roll silverware, and we obviously don't have that many tables, opting instead for car service. My Sonic is about to go to the waitress wages as did one of the Sonic drive ins close to us. I can understand those wages in the summer, when you can make a decent amount of money (IF you get to carhop), but in the winter we are DEAD. No orders mean no money which means no tips and no way to support ourselves ESPECIALLY when a limited amount of people know you can tip carhops anyway.
These girls walk outside to bring your food when it's 90 plus degrees outside as well as when its below freezing. They deliver your food with a smile and if they are not even able to make minimum wage TIPPING should be required by all patrons. How can anyone even live on waitress pay without getting tips? I know plenty of Car hops that are graduated from school, struggling to make car payments and rely on the tips the GOOD customers give them. I can't believe some of you don't tip a car hop, i always have. carhops are a world different than McDonald's employees and i am astounded by the attitudes some of you have.
Do any of you even realize how difficult it is to get a new job in this current economy? YOU KEEP WHAT YOU HAVE UNTIL YOU FIND SOMETHING BETTER.
Again if you don't tip a car hop which is busting their ass for you in the dead of winter it only means you're a greedy person who doesn't care what others have to go through to make sure you get your food conveniently delivered to your car.
All it takes is a dollar, and you'll make some of these girls day.
okay let me clear things up. AS a Sonic Carhop we greatly appreciate when customers tip us, or let us "keep the change." Our pay is lower than the minimum wage, due to the fact that the company is aware with the fact we get tips. But the wage is not set in stone. At the end of our shift, we must put in, to a computer, how many dollars in tips we made that day. This is for taxing purposes and to adjust our pay check accordingly. I enjoy the pay at Sonic, I make roughly $25 dollars a day in tips, and make a nice paycheck every other Friday.
Ugh. I've worked with Sonic for over 2 years now. I'm still at 4.00 an hour, with no possibility of a raise. No one understands all the work we do.. We have to rely on tips now, and every night we come home dissapointed. My check comes to $140.00 every two weeks. That'll pay ONE bill. 70 Percent of people do not tip. I think something needs to be done about this. I would understand if we were running a full service waitstaff restraunt. But we are not. It's Sonic. I read the story about everything. And basically they said that the reason they dropped it down to 3.13-4.00 is to keep THEIR labor costs down. They said that our tips SHOULD make up the difference.
I used to love working at Sonic.. But everyday I leave work its just another dissapointment.
Our household has always tipped the Sonic carhops...sometimes we even tip the drive-thru window person (like one night when they were slammed after a concert down the street).
It's true that the employer only gets to pay the employee at the tip credit rate if the employee makes up at least the difference in tips.
One thing that hasn't been noted in this thread is that most states permit employers to reduce a tip left on a credit card by the same percent that the employer pays as a fee to the credit card company. While relatively few employers take advantage of this option, some do. We try to tip in cash, just in case.
I don't think I ever tipped the people at Pal's...though maybe at the one downtown without a drive-thru.
Mimi C. Says: Thank you SO much for your site and comments....
Greed abounds. The federal government says that “tipped” employees (even if it isn’t done by many of you very often) do not have to be paid minimum wage. Here in Texas, most Sonics pay 3.13 to carhops. And most of you think that Sonic employees don’t deserve to be tipped? You wonder why you get bad service? Try tipping. You see, McDonald’s, Hardee’s, etc. don’t have a tradition of tipping, and consequently, they DO receive the hardly adequate minimum wage. The employer takes advantage of the law, and though they know that Sonic canceled credit card tips on their new machines, they take advantage of the car hop and lower the wage, knowing many days they don’t make this minimum wage. We believe that Sonic canceled the credit card option to prevent theft, which does occur EVERYWHERE….but the solution is not to cancel the credit card tip option. You prosecute the thief. People steal everywhere. What if a clothing store shut down because they wanted to control theft. Stupid, huh? Sonic needs to bring back credit card tips, which would improve service, believe me. What kind of employees are going to stay working at Sonic for 3.13 an hour (that’s all most servers in restaurants get also). It is hot outside, and with everyone running their vehicles incessantly (why?) you can’t believe the heat. Sonic is quite a bit more difficult than you would think, that is if you do it right. Ever tried skating serving food? The other aspect to good service is a good manager. Carhops don’t have control over a poorly run store, where the manager under-hires to put more money in his pocket. You love Sonic? I do too, and was one of their top employees, but won’t go back unless they change the credit card status. I’m one of the best (been tipped 100. dollar bills, believe it or not) but now am only worth 3.13? Customers, stop taking advantage of this credit card situation, and TIP, in cash or don’t eat there. Call the company to re-engage the credit card situation to get back all of us good employees (years of experience). Your phone calls will work, eventually, and then, you will get great service at many Sonics again. Until then, stay away. Nobody wants to do their best if they are only getting this little amount. Remember, you don’t have to tip if the service is not adequate. Running in and outside is very different from working in air conditioning. Sometimes, it is almost unbearable.
Ooops, and we DO check back at the cars, Sonic requires this. McDonald's employees get minimum wage, Sonic employees DO NOT, as "tips" are supposed to make up the difference, and if that is the case, I reiterate, why does the company not allow the employees who are getting less than minimum wage, to NOT be tipped on the credit card machine, to make up the minimum wage which is 85% of the public? Sonic IS a restaurant (not full- service), and car hops are not waitresses. They are servers. Having years of experience in all types of food service from 5-star all the way to the walk-in Dairy Queen, I will tell you that work is work and excellence is excellence, no matter what you do. We are following a tradition here that isn't going to change (just like commissioned sales). Remember, Carhops have always been tipped. And now they DON'T get minimum wage. Also, full-service restaurant employees and car hops aren't the only ones that have been traditionally tipped...don't forget your bellhop, man who washed your car, pizza delivery people, etc.
Victor is 100% right on his comment. Yes the "douche-ag" may say it's a freemarket and sonic can do what it wants, and there employees and employers enter a contract and discuss what they get paid. But hey douch-bag, we're talking about the employees who have been working there for years for at least minimum wage or more, and all of a sudden are dropped to 3.15. I dont care what anyone says, thats unfair. Sonic car-hops do a lot more then just bring your food out. The store is getting away with robbery having their car-hops clean and do the work they once did for over $7 an hour, for now 3.13 an hour without possibility for a raise. AND for those ignorant people who said it's no big deal because its a highschool job. YOUR WRONG. Many people trying to make an honest living work at sonic and are not in highschool. And the biggest point of it all is sonic is not a TIPPED restaurant. When there are still customers who ask the employees, "do ya'll accept tips?" Then you know it's not time to be paid tipped wage. how can you work for tips when your customers dont even know you accept tips??
I work at Sonic, and let me tell you that we do more than just "take it to your car". We make it, bag it, make the drink, take it to you, and are required to check back on you afterwards. For the guy down below who said we're the same as McDonald workers so why don't they get tipped.. They get paid minimum wage last time I checked buddy, Sonic girls do not. Maybe you should know your facts before you run your fingers. =)
$1 makes us happy!!
Please tip your carhop if you received good service. I live in west palm bch fl. High cost of living and I only make 5.19. Even carhops with two years here make the same. Even change helps. We may not be a full service restaurant but we are not asking for as much. You go to dennys or whatever and tip five or six bucks. If we got a dollar for each order we would be happy.
I wish corporate would advertise this.
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I am a Sonic CarHop. We get paid minimum wage just like the rest off the employees. It is not necessary to tip but it is nice. And for those people wondering y u should tip..heres a few things to think about. Could u do our job? Theres a lot of risk in CarHopping. There are many injuries that can occur due to many different reasons..tripping over small items of trah and such is a common way of falling. Also we have to avoid all of the cars in the stalls, the ones parked, and those backing up/leaving. A lot of drivers don't see us and there are many close calls. We also skate around for our whole shift, constantly moving and doing something. Not only do we serve food but we help make drinks, ice-cream, we make bags, do switchboard(taking orders), we cover drive-through when they need their breaks, and we clean constantly! We deal with harsh weather while still skating you out your food. We make sure the customers have their food correct as well as returning to the car to make sure they have enough sauces and napkins. We want our customers to have the best service possible to ensure that theyre visit at Sonic was unforgetable. Theyre arent many places who have skating CarHops anymore. We take pride in what we do and we want our customers to enjoy seeing what we do. I try to give my customers a show so they enjoy the unique experience. My customers are very pleased with my service and they all seem to love the skating moonwalk :) It isnt the safest job, bringing large trays of food (while skating) into a lot full of incoming and outgoing cars, but it is so worth it. This job is a blast! And it is nice to walk away at the end of the day with some tips. Since we do have to claim them and they do come out of our checks...
Have a SuperSonic Day! Don't forget to join us for Happy Hour 2pm-4pm everyday!
A California CarHop :)
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