While picking up a takeout order I was short changed $18 on a $52 order and had to return to collect. The counter person said she thought it was a tip. I did tip during my first visit... Just not 40%+. The food was delicious!

To the counter person: Return change and wait to be tipped. Don't tip yourself the amount you feel appropriate. Especially on takeout service. I tip better than 30% when I dine out and even more for exceptional service. Take out service tips are significantly less in most cases. Furthermore, be sure your employer separates dine in and take out for tax purposes. The cost of failing to run a business correctly should not be passed on to employees...or customers. ***In response to your reply... Dine in checks are subject to an assumed tip tax, to be paid by the wait staff. Take out checks are subject to a meal tax, to be paid by the patron. No tip should be income taxed to the employee on a take out bill. My point being, you should not have assumed you were receiving a forty percent tip on a take out order. If your employer is indeed taxing you unfairly on take out orders you should do something about it other than short changing customers. Give change and wait for the tip is standard practice. In fact, I tipped you separately on this order, before I paid the bill. I explained that my boss paid for meals on Fridays and I covered the tip. I always figured it wouldn't be a big deal if I left a dollar at say, Great Western Deli, to which they always said thank you . I must offer my most sincerest gratitude for your response as it only serves to illustrate the validity of my initial post. I'm sure the 'meals tax' is not forty percent. The amount I was charged included tax and the amount I was shorted was $18 above that. Your mention of the meals tax (6.25%+ .75%) is an ineffective diversion. Once again, I referenced the tip tax on dine in meals which does not apply to take out. Furthermore, when you used the phrase ' I thought it was a tip' that takes away the possibility of a mistake. It was an intentional short change and I'm sure this was not the first nor last time. I might also point out the six hundred views of this post. Integrity can only be possessed once.