Bummed about the automatic tipping on parties of six

[jewell]

I am traveling with my family and my sister and her two girls, so it will be a party of six. All the restaurants automatically charge 18% tip. Of course, in one way I can understand that, what a shame for a good server to wait on a party of six then get no tip. And it's not that I mind tipping when I have good service, but I worry that the servers know they will already get the tip and that they won't try very hard. I'm thinking that maybe we should just ask for two tables and ask them if the tables could be close together---do you think that would work?

I don't want to sound cheap, if I get great service I tip 20%, for average service 15%, but if I get poor service then my tip would reflect that. Also, if we do decide to get one table, will they still break up the bill, one for my family and one for my sister and her girls?

 

[robvia]

Tipping threads are always huge. There's even a web site called www.tipping.org

Anyway, I agree with the OP. I work with 5 programmers, and we go to lunch for birthdays. When the restaurant automatically adds the tip, we leave the EXACT amount and no more. When they don't, we round it up to 20%.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

We leave tomorrow and will be a party of 7. Usually we are a party of 5 so no tip added in. I will report back on how it all works out! We will be eating at many places that I 'guess' will be adding in their tip. To me they lose out since I always tip well. I hate the whole added tip concept.

 

[jewell]

We leave tomorrow and will be a party of 7. Usually we are a party of 5 so no tip added in. I will report back on how it all works out! We will be eating at many places that I 'guess' will be adding in their tip. To me they lose out since I always tip well. I hate the whole added tip concept.

Thanks, I can't wait for your report! I agree about the added tip concept!

robvia, thanks for the link, I'll check that out!

 

[goofy!]

Last few times we went, we travelled with a party of 8. We are usually a family of 5, but lately my mother and two neices have accompanied us.

Service has, for the most part, been excellent. Even with the automatic tip, we have not seen any difference in service for 8 from when we were seated with just our family of 5.

Naturally, there were the occasional annoying experiences. Well, only one bad enough to even consider lowering the tip - we had horrific service at Lombards Landing last time we went, but we have also had the occasional annoying experiences when just a party of 5.

With Lombards, they cut the bill by 25%, so it took care of the tip and then some. We also lodged a complaint at guest services. (Cook lost meal ticket, server did not follow up even though we kept asking, DH was served water in a glass that was 95% cracked around the middle - could have broken completely at any time, server dropped a tray of food on us not once, but twice, meal did not come out for over an hour, and many, many more)

So, if you have really bad service, I wouldn't worry too much. Just talk to management and they will usually adjust the bill. We are very, very easy going and will tip generously for even mediocre service, but the Lombards Landing experience was so over the top that we refused to compensate the waitstaff. They agreed and pulled the 25% off. Whether they gave the staff their tip or not was up to them, we were just satisfied on how it was handled and that they removed an amount over and above the tip amount.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

Hey goofy, did you tend to leave an additional tip above the added tip?

That was an awful Lombards experience. You're right though that can happen anywhere. Glad they compensated you. I find if you speak up they will always do the right thing. I once had a not up to par meal at Tchoup Chop and not only did they remove the entree from the bill they also brought everyone dessert on them.

 

[goofy!]

Hey goofy, did you tend to leave an additional tip above the added tip?

That was an awful Lombards experience. You're right though that can happen anywhere. Glad they compensated you. I find if you speak up they will always do the right thing. I once had a not up to par meal at Tchoup Chop and not only did they remove the entree from the bill they also brought everyone dessert on them.

Yes, if excellent service, we always bump it up to 20%, 25 for the rare over-the-top. I believe with our group of 8's bill, that extra 2 - 7% is still enough of an incentive for the staff to work for their tip.

Although, I can see Robvia's point too. If I were in a business group, comprised of adults, I too would leave just the 18%. You shouldn't be penalized just because you brought an extra colleague. But at Universal, since we are a family with more kids than adults (3 adults, 5 kids), we will add the extra compensation for good service.

It seems we are always bumping it up at Margaritaville since they always spend so much time entertaining the kids with the balloons, etc. We have just really lucked out that we have had great servers every time we eat there.

 

[jewell]

Last few times we went, we travelled with a party of 8. We are usually a family of 5, but lately my mother and two neices have accompanied us.

Service has, for the most part, been excellent. Even with the automatic tip, we have not seen any difference in service for 8 from when we were seated with just our family of 5.

Naturally, there were the occasional annoying experiences. Well, only one bad enough to even consider lowering the tip - we had horrific service at Lombards Landing last time we went, but we have also had the occasional annoying experiences when just a party of 5.

With Lombards, they cut the bill by 25%, so it took care of the tip and then some. We also lodged a complaint at guest services. (Cook lost meal ticket, server did not follow up even though we kept asking, DH was served water in a glass that was 95% cracked around the middle - could have broken completely at any time, server dropped a tray of food on us not once, but twice, meal did not come out for over an hour, and many, many more)

So, if you have really bad service, I wouldn't worry too much. Just talk to management and they will usually adjust the bill. We are very, very easy going and will tip generously for even mediocre service, but the Lombards Landing experience was so over the top that we refused to compensate the waitstaff. They agreed and pulled the 25% off. Whether they gave the staff their tip or not was up to them, we were just satisfied on how it was handled and that they removed an amount over and above the tip amount.

Good to know! I'll keep my fingers crossed that everything goes well.

We aren't a rich family but vacations are very important to us and we are very frugel throughout the year just so we can enjoy ourselves on vacations so sometimes I stress about things. In May of 2003 we took my mother to WDW and we had a wonderful time, it was her first time there and she was 73, and she loved it, she died two years later. but those memories are priceless. Last year we took another amazing vacation to Yellowstone, I spent months planning it and it was wonderful, this year I'm wanting our US/IOA vacation to be just as memorable as the WDW and Yellowstone vacations. I doubt that we get back to FL anytime soon, so I just want to make this the best vacation that I can. That is why I ask SO many questions on this board!!! And I just want to thank everyone for being so helpful!

 

[robvia]

If your service is slow and you had to wait for something to come out, then tell the server.
When our programmers group went to lunch, we visited Bahama Breeze at the Sawgrass Mall for lunch. I ordered the onion ring app. I didn't come out for 20 minutes. The girl and a manager came over and said sorry. Then the girl came back and said it would be free because the kitchen was running behind.

Some people visit restaurants and complain on purpose to get free food. We didn't do that, but if you're food comes out slow, or it's horrible, then say something.

On another message board, we have tipping threads all the time, and the servers ask people to tell them when something is wrong. Most people don't want to do this for fear of sending the food back and making the chef angry. It's a tuff call on whether you want to speak up or let it go.

 

[DOOM1001]

If you sit in 2 different tables,you're still a party of six sitting in 2 tables!!

 

[momof3disneyholics]

Be glad they only add it to a party of 6 or more. A place that Df and I frequent has started adding 18% gratuity in for us and we are only a party of 2!