Gratuities for buffet meals?

[cymbaldiva]

I read on a tipping etiquette forum that while tipping is discretionary, if you do choose to tip 10% is appropriate for a buffet situation.

Sounds about right to me

 

[jamstew]

This is what some posters meant by how this can become a "hot topic."

Now those of us who don't overtip are about to be called "cheap" and as one person said "shouldn't be vacationing at WDW anyway." Those people don't seem to understand it's not about what we can afford (which is really none of their business) but rather what is an appropriate tip based on the level of service provided.

I've waited tables too, and frankly was embarrased when people overtipped.

Don't worry jamstew. You are a good person and will be welcome at WDW even if you only tip 10% at a buffet.

Thanks, Pete The funny thing is that I never said I'd only tip 10% at a buffet. What I said, after hearing from quite a few people on the subject, was that I would use 10% as my baseline. I've been biting my tongue about comments to the effect that people should basically stay home if they aren't going to tip what some consider a "standard" 20%.

You are exactly right that it's about what is an appropriate tip based on the level of service. I travel extensively and consider myself to be a reasonably good tipper. I certainly don't hesitate to tip 20% in what I consider to be a fine dining establishment with very attentive service. Does a Disney buffet qualify? I always tip 20% whenever I have the grandbabies (1-1/2, 2 and 3-1/2) with me because they are a handful and leave a mess However, on my next three trips to Disney, I will be traveling and dining alone. I neither require nor especially want anything more from a buffet server at non-character meals than to keep my tea refilled. Is that really worth 20%? Seriously?

Even if a family really can't afford a small tip, let alone 20%, I can't fathom anyone thinking any child visiting Disney should be deprived of what might well be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for them. I'll just bet there are thousands of families out there, planning Disney vacations as we speak, who have no idea that they really need to plan on tipping 20% at a buffet!

BTW, my brother has multiple college degrees and taught for a couple of years. He went back to waiting tables because he could make more money at it than he was making teaching

I understand about being embarrassed by overtippers. Years ago (1970 to be exact--so keep in mind that fine dining wasn't outrageously expensive and the standard tip was probably not more than 10%), my late FIL (a retired NFL quarterback with a heart of gold, but who liked to throw money around), gave a really cute waitress a $100 tip on a $150 food bill and the sommelier $25 on a $50 bottle of wine. I was mortified, as were they.

 

[jamstew]

I'm guessing that you don't tip well..or that if you don't have it in your budget to tip well, that you just don't?
That is sad. Those servers work hard & shouldn't suffer just because their guests think they've already spent too much on a vacation, so why should they tip 20% on top of their bill?

See post #42.

 

[jamstew]

I'm guessing that you don't tip well..or that if you don't have it in your budget to tip well, that you just don't?
That is sad. Those servers work hard & shouldn't suffer just because their guests think they've already spent too much on a vacation, so why should they tip 20% on top of their bill?

Gee, and here I was thinking that we could have a discussion without resorting to personal insults...guess not huh?

 

[TaylorsDad]

This has been hashed out on many threads already, you are absolutely right no one can make someone leave a tip or a certain percent of a bill. But I am giving you the facts and that is the way its done, buffet is anywhere between 10-20 percent for good service. Table Service is 15-20 percent of the bill. Now if you get bad service then tip accordingly. When we decide to go out, if I am low on money we don't go to a table service meal unless I can tip what I am supposed to..Being a server myself I just could not do that..Anyway I hope you have a good time at Disney I know we will in almost 4 weeks..

I just object to the part where you state if you cannot tip the amt. you are supposed to you just dont go.

I always tip well unless service is lousy, but more if service is exceptional, however I dont really think it should be based upon a percentage. A gratuity should be based upon what value of service was to you regardless of percentages. I recently met an old friend and although we had already eaten we decided to stop by a local TS rest. Al we had was soda and dessert(a real world version of the chocolate wave) Our server was excellent and we enjoyed
staying and talking for probably close to an hour or more and did not feel rushed or anything. Now if we went by percentages our server would have only received about a $3 tip. I left almost as much as our meal.
On the other hand If I had been eatting at an expensive dining establishment by myself, had a bottle of $300 wine a light meal and left, would my server have really earned an $80 tip?

 

[gina2000]

Interestingly enough, if you order an expensive bottle of wine, you tip the sommelier, not the waitstaff for that portion of the tip. At least, that's what I've read. We have, on occasion, ordered expensive wine and have normally tipped the waitstaff. But we've also never used a sommelier to help us make choices except on cruises and have then, tipped him/her accordingly.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

I don't know about Disney waitstaff, but in FL, as a server, you make $2.13 an hour. Even if the waitstaff at WDW makes more per hour, I am sure whatever they are paid, it is a low amount because it is indeed a tipped position. They must pay taxes on a *percent of their sales, not their tips.* In most restaurants I have worked at, we also have to tip out a food runner, a bartender and a bus boy. These were all on percentage of sales. When I got NOTHING for a tip (which happened a lot with foreign tourists) I actually "paid money" to wait on these people, by having to still tip out a percent from their check total at the end of the night. I still had to pay taxes on the amount of their check.

Of course, in general, it all averaged out, or I would not have worked there very long! I did quit from a touristy restaurant because I did get tired of getting NO tip. There are a lot of South Americans in my area, and "apparently" they don't know tiops are not included. I say "apparently" because I don't know how many of them skipped that section of their guide books that they are always carrying around, but that is just my opinion. At the time, I lived at home with my parents and it was "extra" money, but I always felt bad for the servers who were doing the job to pay their bills.

The only reason I would leave less that 20% on a table if I had a rude server. I would never leave less than 20% if the server forgot to bring a refill, or if an item came out of the kitchen incorrect, or the food took a long time. As long as the server is apologetic and has a good attitude and tries to make things right, then I feel I knew walking in there- and before ordering my dinner and drinks- I would be paying a percentage of my bill to the server. I think too many people use the tipping custom as a power trip and a punishment/reward thing.

 

[TaylorsDad]

I don't know about Disney waitstaff, but in FL, as a server, you make $2.13 an hour. Even if the waitstaff at WDW makes more per hour, I am sure whatever they are paid, it is a low amount because it is indeed a tipped position. They must pay taxes on a *percent of their sales, not their tips.* In most restaurants I have worked at, we also have to tip out a food runner, a bartender and a bus boy. These were all on percentage of sales. When I got NOTHING for a tip (which happened a lot with foreign tourists) I actually "paid money" to wait on these people, by having to still tip out a percent from their check total at the end of the night. I still had to pay taxes on the amount of their check.

Of course, in general, it all averaged out, or I would not have worked there very long! I did quit from a touristy restaurant because I did get tired of getting NO tip. There are a lot of South Americans in my area, and "apparently" they don't know tiops are not included. I say "apparently" because I don't know how many of them skipped that section of their guide books that they are always carrying around, but that is just my opinion. At the time, I lived at home with my parents and it was "extra" money, but I always felt bad for the servers who were doing the job to pay their bills.

The only reason I would leave less that 20% on a table if I had a rude server. I would never leave less than 20% if the server forgot to bring a refill, or if an item came out of the kitchen incorrect, or the food took a long time. As long as the server is apologetic and has a good attitude and tries to make things right, then I feel I knew walking in there- and before ordering my dinner and drinks- I would be paying a percentage of my bill to the server. I think too many people use the tipping custom as a power trip and a punishment/reward thing.

Yours was a very informative posting with the information on tipping out a food runner, bartender, and bus boy and sales tax item. I don't know if things differ at WDW or not but it does make one more sympathetic to the waitstaff. I do tip based upon service and not the food, I will not penalize the server for things out of his/her control. I do however take neglecting to provide drink refills into consideration unless the establishment is exceptionally busy, as I feel this is something about which a good server should be aware

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Yours was a very informative posting with the information on tipping out a food runner, bartender, and bus boy and sales tax item. I don't know if things differ at WDW or not but it does make one more sympathetic to the waitstaff. I do tip based upon service and not the food, I will not penalize the server for things out of his/her control. I do however take neglecting to provide drink refills into consideration unless the establishment is exceptionally busy, as I feel this is something about which a good server should be aware

I agree about the refills to an extent....I just cannot tell you how many times, after working an 8 hours shift, I have awoken from a deep sleep and popped up in bed and thought to myself, "OH MY GOD! Table 27 asked for a sprite refill and I never got it for them!"

So, I may be "extra" sympathetic to a busy server. I will admit that.

 

[daisyduck123]

.I just cannot tell you how many times, after working an 8 hours shift, I have awoken from a deep sleep and popped up in bed and thought to myself, "OH MY GOD! Table 27 asked for a sprite refill and I never got it for them!"

Oh my goodness!!

I waited tables for years & that used to happen to me too.
It could be the next day & all of a sudden I'd realize "Hey, I forgot to bring Table 5 more rolls," or "Darn it! I forgot Table 9 asked for a carry-out box".

 

[mom2my3kids]

Thanks, Pete The funny thing is that I never said I'd only tip 10% at a buffet. What I said, after hearing from quite a few people on the subject, was that I would use 10% as my baseline. I've been biting my tongue about comments to the effect that people should basically stay home if they aren't going to tip what some consider a "standard" 20%.

You are exactly right that it's about what is an appropriate tip based on the level of service. I travel extensively and consider myself to be a reasonably good tipper. I certainly don't hesitate to tip 20% in what I consider to be a fine dining establishment with very attentive service. Does a Disney buffet qualify? I always tip 20% whenever I have the grandbabies (1-1/2, 2 and 3-1/2) with me because they are a handful and leave a mess However, on my next three trips to Disney, I will be traveling and dining alone. I neither require nor especially want anything more from a buffet server at non-character meals than to keep my tea refilled. Is that really worth 20%? Seriously?

Even if a family really can't afford a small tip, let alone 20%, I can't fathom anyone thinking any child visiting Disney should be deprived of what might well be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for them. I'll just bet there are thousands of families out there, planning Disney vacations as we speak, who have no idea that they really need to plan on tipping 20% at a buffet!

BTW, my brother has multiple college degrees and taught for a couple of years. He went back to waiting tables because he could make more money at it than he was making teaching

I understand about being embarrassed by overtippers. Years ago (1970 to be exact--so keep in mind that fine dining wasn't outrageously expensive and the standard tip was probably not more than 10%), my late FIL (a retired NFL quarterback with a heart of gold, but who liked to throw money around), gave a really cute waitress a $100 tip on a $150 food bill and the sommelier $25 on a $50 bottle of wine. I was mortified, as were they.

I would never be embarassed when someone overtips me, I actually feel good because they appreciate my service..

 

[lynninpa]

I would never be embarassed when someone overtips me, I actually feel good because they appreciate my service..

I agree. That statement confused me, too!

 

[bethb912]

I agree. I have never been embarassed or offended by someone tipping extra. Furthermore I have never embarrassed or offended anyone by tipping extra when I felt the service was above and beyond what I expected.

 

[Mermaid_Ariel]

jamstew, I'm sorry that people had to launch personal attacks at you. I just don't understand this sense of entitlement for servers. I agree that they should be compensated for their hard work - but to say that someone shouldn't be vacationing at Disney if they can't afford the tip is downright awful.

Someone earlier stated that tips are an incentive for good service - and that's exactly how it should be. I'm shocked that people would judge others for tipping less.

I don't tip less or take it out on the server if the food is bad, or the restaurant is busy - there's just some things that can't be helped. I'm very sympathetic toward the server. Heck, I think it's a hard job just to get the job done, nevermind going above and beyond. I always tip 15-18% or sometimes more at non-Disney establishments and I have no problems tipping less than the average for subpar, inattentive service.

Thankfully, it doesn't happen often because I don't leave with a good feeling when I do it, but it's the loudest way to get the message across.

 

[pmiranda]

I know that at home, I don't tip and buffet places since there are no servers.

I'm not sure there's any such thing as a "customary" tip at a the local Golden Corral, but we'll say $1.00 for a solo diner.

I thought you said you leave nothing? Are you trying to look less frugal now? The wait staff at my Golden Corral work harder than at most normal TS restaurants. If I knew one would stiff me or give a frugal buck, I'd let their plates pile up, let them go to the cashier to get drink refills, let them get their own dinner rolls, let them get your own after dinner coffee, let them clean their own table, and so on....I've said this too often, if you can't afford to tip your server, eat at home.

 

[daisyduck123]

but to say that someone shouldn't be vacationing at Disney if they can't afford the tip is downright awful.

I said that about myself & my family.
If we're that short of cash that we can't even tip properly, then my family shouldn't be blowing money on a trip to WDW. I never said that applies to other families, just mine.

 

[Mermaid_Ariel]

I would say you should tip at least 10% at buffets. If you really can't afford to leave that much than you should eat elsewhere, leaving the table open for someone who will tip the customary amount.

 

[jamstew]

I thought you said you leave nothing? Are you trying to look less frugal now? The wait staff at my Golden Corral work harder than at most normal TS restaurants. If I knew one would stiff me or give a frugal buck, I'd let their plates pile up, let them go to the cashier to get drink refills, let them get their own dinner rolls, let them get your own after dinner coffee, let them clean their own table, and so on....I've said this too often, if you can't afford to tip your server, eat at home.

I'm going to try this one more time and remain civil, for whatever reason. After my first post, in which I thought I was asking a reasonable question about an appropriate tip for buffet service, I came back a little later in the thread and said that I could count on one hand the buffet establishments where I had eaten in the last 20 years and that I honestly didn't remember leaving a tip (post #28) (and by the way, your Golden Corral must be a heck of a lot better than most). I was simply trying to get information.

After that point, I never said that I would not tip at a buffet, nor that I could not afford to do so. Although it's absolutely none of your business what I or anyone else can afford to do, the suggestion that someone should stay home if they can't afford to tip is ludicrous and insulting. I later said, based on quite a few responses, that I'd use 10% as a baseline. (post #17)

Here's another similar thread if you'd like to go insult some more people: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1125149&referrerid=&highlight=gratuity+buffet. You might specifically note posts #1, 3 and 6 (#6 being from someone with over 26,000 posts).

 

[pta-mom]

Wow! Another example of how a thread can go from a simple question to some sort of heated debate!! I'm not sure why some people feel the need to rebuke & correct the OP...she was merely making an inquiry!

It's great that so many different people have so many different opinions....it makes the world-go-round...but can we try to remember they are just that, opinions! Really, whether you give nothing or 50% or somewhere in-between, let's agree to disagree without being rude about it.