One of the favorite fast food venues that my dad enjoyed before passing away in 2008 was to go to Sonics’ in Forsyth Missouri so we could sit in our car and enjoy a Sonic Berger and fries. This became a weekly ritual and I still carry on the tradition myself once in a while, diet permitting. The service there has always been extremely prompt and the carhops would always check back to make sure everything was satisfactory. The service they render is every bit as good as what I might receive at a sit down restaurant. So, it was with some surprise that I’ve recently learned that many people do not see fit to tip these hard working guys and gals. One server informed me that she made only three dollars in tips after working six hours. Now, it true that they do make a base wage, but I understand it’s a wage that is close to the minimum wage and so they depend on tips to make up the difference.
Now, I’m not writing about this to chide anyone on the paying of tips, but rather to ask that we take a moment to consider paying fairly for services rendered. Car-hopping is arduous at best and a plain downright challenge in nasty weather. Sonic, as matter of company policy, will not advertise that you can tip the carhops so it’s up to everyone to spread the word.
