Here iin Texas, you can double the tax on your restaurant check, which in most places in 8.25%, and get 16.5% and then use that as a base, either increasing or decresing from there as you see fit.

How do y'all determine the tip, if any, at a buffet?

I worked as a waiter for a while when I was young, living off my tips, so I always try to leave a good tip, but of course, what is the definition of a good tip and when should you increase/decrease from that level?

How about the teenagers who bring your food out at some drive-thrus? I go one where sometimes they bring my order out to me when I am about to pull up to the window. I usually tip, and now I have started tipping even when i get my food at the window, but only at this one place and at Sonic, not all fast food places. What is right?

I have tipped the emergency road service guys. Some have been surprised and grateful, others seem to take it as a matter of course.

I leave tips for hotel housekeeping. I don't tip bank tellers or convenience store clerks.

So who do you tip, why, and how much?

If my table gets bussed after I leave at a buffet, particularly if the kids (and mine are young) are with me, I'll tip about 10% of the bill for dealing with the mess. If I clean up, I generally don't tip (unless the kids leave a big mess to be wiped up, which I will usually at least try to clean up).

Don't do drive throughs. I will tip at hotels for the cleaning staff. Cannot think of other situations, but thought I'd add my 2 quick cents.

(09-13-2009 07:17 AM)gsloth Wrote:  If my table gets bussed after I leave at a buffet, particularly if the kids (and mine are young) are with me, I'll tip about 10% of the bill for dealing with the mess. If I clean up, I generally don't tip (unless the kids leave a big mess to be wiped up, which I will usually at least try to clean up).

I am confused as to why you are PAYING someone for a service that you aren't going to be receiving? If you leave a mess, that is a service you aren't receiving if they clean it up while you aren't there anymore. I could CARE LESS if the table is a mess when I leave, because that is NOT part of my service anymore, because I LEFT!! THAT IS THE GOD'S TRUTH!!

I am also curious WHY do you feel that them ringing you up and giving you your change or credit card receipt isn't service that you don't tip at buffets if you don't clean your mess?

I am also curious WHY do you feel if there are any refills you ask for that, that isn't counted as service to you as well?

I don't leave 10% at a buffet, I leave a dollar a person, PERIOD!! The server isn't benefitting me to even take my dirty dishes, because I stack them up anyways. It doesn't bug me any if they never take the dirty dishes. I could care less.

I really don't get WHY would anyone pay for service they aren't there anymore to receive such as the mess you left? The entire idea of a tip is for actually *SERVICE*, NOT for after you have LEFT the restaurant what happens. You aren't benefitting from them cleaning that table, because you have left. If anything, you benefit more for them cleaning up the table from the person before you than after you, but no one in their right mind would tip based on that either, because that wasn't their service either. WHY tip for something you aren't receiving? I don't feel bad about anything, because that isn't benefitting me if they leave it a mess or clean it up, WHO CARES, I AM GONE!!

On the bussing, that is a service for the next person, not the person who left the mess. It is somethang that has already occurred on your behalf when you take your seat, It is part of the overall service which includes people who are not going to get the benefit of your tip, such as the servers who put the food in the trays, the cashiers, and the general staff, some of whom may not even be on site at the time you are there.

Edit: In that long ago time when I was a waiter, we shared a percentage of tips with the busboys and kitchen staff. Not a lot - heck I only made about $6 in tips for an 8 hour shift, which was not too bad for the mid-60's - but we did share. FTR, I was paid $3 per shift (not per hour) + tips + one free meal. I worked from5:00 M to1:00 AM. The meal had to be taken before the shift started. Lots of times that was my only meal of the day. I had dropped out of school and was just waiting to be drafted.

The tip at a buffet is a balancing act. Bringing you a glass of tea and a bill is not to the level of taking your order and bringing your meal, but possibly those servers get less than minimum on the expectation that tips will bring the total up to a living wage, I usually tip $1/person, also.


The practice of tipping a percentage of the check bothers me. Does the server deserve more for bringing me a $30 meal than they deserve for bringing me a $10 meal? It's the same amount of work. I don't understand the logic there.

Some people never tip, others get incensed if the tip is, in their opinion, too small. Both can justify their stance in one way or another.

Springs1 - Do you have young kids? Do you realize how much of a mess they are potentially capable of? And I'm talking 1 or 2 year olds here. I certainly don't go to expensive places with them - we're talking CiCi's, Noodles and Company, and Moes, for example (the latter of which isn't a buffet). As my kids are becoming less messy with the eating, the tips are actually becoming a little smaller (not much, when we talking slightly more than 10% for the largest messes we left) or less frequent (like Moes).

To me, the service doesn't end when I leave. The fact that I leave a bigger mess on the table than might normally be expected that someone else has to clean up leaves me feeling like I am expecting more of them than normal. Less in the kid situation, if I felt service was subpar, they won't get as much, if anything. But I am blessed with an okay income (though hardly rich). It's up to me to decide if someone's service is worthy of a tip.

And interesting stridency to the first post on here. What exactly have I done to you to warrant that?

OO - I don't know why a percentage is the standard. In your example, especially if eating alone, I will tend to leave a higher percentage if the service was solid. Again, my choice as to how I want to dispense with my income.

As for current standards for sharing tips, I've never worked as a waiter. However, one of my sisters has, and in every case she was sharing her tips. And that's another reason why I often tip at buffets, knowing that it will get spread around.

Dated a waitress for a while, and after seeing/hearing what she went through I started leaving 20% tips. That's my standard, good job tip. Mediocre (not quite good but passable) gets 15%. The few times I've had significant problems, I've left a very small tip. Small enough for them to know that I'm not just a cheap tipper, and I supplemented with an explanation on the back of the bill. I'm not a jerk - this has happened only 3 times in the last 20 years or so. And I don't have a problem leaving 25% or more for extraordinary service. This has happened more than 3 times. Buffets get about 10% depending on the level of service provided. Dim sum gets 15% but I worry about how they divvy up the tips.

A few others: Barber gets 20%; bell gets $1/bag - $2 if heavy; concierge gets $5 (more if it's a difficult job). Food delivery gets $2 or $3, I think (can't remember the last time I ordered delivery).

I tip waiters 20%. My local Luby's now has someone to go table to table checking on customers. I leave a dollar for him (same for buffets). My local donut shop has set up a tip jar by the cash register. I take the quarters out of my change and put whatever's left in the jar.

20% on a served meal (yes, OO, I wonder the same thing about the fairness of a percentage, but I have accepted it as the rule).
Usually $1/person at a buffet (sometimes, I confess, only $2 total for family of four).
$2-3 for barber.
$1 per night for hotel housekeeper. (Sometimes they never pick it up.)
$1 per order at a bar (if it's only 1 to 3 drinks).
$0.50 to 1.00 at counter service, e.g., ice cream parlor (but not fast food joints).
$1 or so for Sonic service at car.
$1/bag for curbside check-in or hotel luggage storage.
$2 for pizza delivery.

My general reasoning is that, in most of these cases, they've performed OK (or better) in a low-paying job I would not want. In other cases (luggage), tipping just makes me feel good. And, of course, for waiters/waitresses, I know they depend on tips.

If restaurant service was sub-par, I will rarely go down to 15% or so...I don't really know all the reasons behind the poor service. I don't remember being angry enough to leave no tip at all - but it would have to be anger, not just annoyance.

My first job was sacker at a Piggly Wiggly, back in the day (late 70s) when, by default, we would take the bags to the car. 25 cents was the standard. You can be sure we all memorized the face of the nice gentleman who always pulled out a dollar bill.

(09-14-2009 01:03 PM)S.A. Owl Wrote:  20% on a served meal (yes, OO, I wonder the same thing about the fairness of a percentage, but I have accepted it as the rule).
Usually $1/person at a buffet (sometimes, I confess, only $2 total for family of four).
$2-3 for barber.
$1 per night for hotel housekeeper. (Sometimes they never pick it up.)
$1 per order at a bar (if it's only 1 to 3 drinks).
$0.50 to 1.00 at counter service, e.g., ice cream parlor (but not fast food joints).
$1 or so for Sonic service at car.
$1/bag for curbside check-in or hotel luggage storage.
$2 for pizza delivery.

My general reasoning is that, in most of these cases, they've performed OK (or better) in a low-paying job I would not want. In other cases (luggage), tipping just makes me feel good. And, of course, for waiters/waitresses, I know they depend on tips.
If restaurant service was sub-par, I will rarely go down to 15% or so...I don't really know all the reasons behind the poor service. I don't remember being angry enough to leave no tip at all - but it would have to be anger, not just annoyance.
My first job was sacker at a Piggly Wiggly, back in the day (late 70s) when, by default, we would take the bags to the car. 25 cents was the standard. You can be sure we all memorized the face of the nice gentleman who always pulled out a dollar bill.

Those look pretty reasonable to me.
It is a pleasure to travel to places where you aren't expected to tip every time you turn around.