How much to tip at buffets?

[WillCAD]

Not from me. So to you I tip too much. Big deal.

I don't care if you tip more than I do. That just means that you're generous, and can afford it.

However, I resent the few (FEW, not all) people in this thread who seem to look down on those of us whose tipping standard is lower than theirs. I have a standard that I follow, a standard which has been considered appropriate in the United States for decades (up until recently), and I resent being caleld a thief or a cheapskate for following that widely-accepted standard. I also think it's outrageous to be expected to fork over a generous gratuity regardless of the quality of service.

What I tip is based on a case-by-case evaluation of how hard a server works, how difficult a customer I am, and how much I can afford. When I get good service, I tip the standard amount of 15% for full-serve and 10% for self-serve buffets; when I get poor service, I tip less, and when I get outstanding service I tip more. Most of my tips at local places tend to be more like 20%, because I calculate based on the total (including tax), and I round up to the nearest dollar. But 15%/10% are my baselines.

If you want to be more generous, more power to you. Just don't expect everyone else to follow your lead.

 

[Laura]

I don't care if you tip more than I do. That just means that you're generous, and can afford it.

However, I resent the few (FEW, not all) people in this thread who seem to look down on those of us whose tipping standard is lower than theirs. I have a standard that I follow, a standard which has been considered appropriate in the United States for decades (up until recently), and I resent being caleld a thief or a cheapskate for following that widely-accepted standard. I also think it's outrageous to be expected to fork over a generous gratuity regardless of the quality of service.

What I tip is based on a case-by-case evaluation of how hard a server works, how difficult a customer I am, and how much I can afford. When I get good service, I tip the standard amount of 15% for full-serve and 10% for self-serve buffets; when I get poor service, I tip less, and when I get outstanding service I tip more. Most of my tips at local places tend to be more like 20%, because I calculate based on the total (including tax), and I round up to the nearest dollar. But 15%/10% are my baselines.

If you want to be more generous, more power to you. Just don't expect everyone else to follow your lead.

Well, obviously you're not referring to me, because I never said anything derogatory about you or anyone who tips 10% at any buffet. I just think the buffet servers at WDW earn 15-20%, and I have already explained my reasoning. Whatever floats your boat.

 

[bahsdad]

I don't care if you tip more than I do. That just means that you're generous, and can afford it.

However, I resent the few (FEW, not all) people in this thread who seem to look down on those of us whose tipping standard is lower than theirs. I have a standard that I follow, a standard which has been considered appropriate in the United States for decades (up until recently), and I resent being caleld a thief or a cheapskate for following that widely-accepted standard. I also think it's outrageous to be expected to fork over a generous gratuity regardless of the quality of service.

What I tip is based on a case-by-case evaluation of how hard a server works, how difficult a customer I am, and how much I can afford. When I get good service, I tip the standard amount of 15% for full-serve and 10% for self-serve buffets; when I get poor service, I tip less, and when I get outstanding service I tip more. Most of my tips at local places tend to be more like 20%, because I calculate based on the total (including tax), and I round up to the nearest dollar. But 15%/10% are my baselines.

If you want to be more generous, more power to you. Just don't expect everyone else to follow your lead.

I think I really stuck my foot in my mouth, I didn't mean to call any on cheap or call them a thief. I just wish the non service people would just understand that it's not an easy job. I also know it's their choice of jobs and they could work in a different line of work. But to be good at what you do, you really have to love your work. So I think they should be compensated accordingly.

 

[Albertan mom]

I WAS a waitress for years. I enjoyed it, and was good at it. Was I ticked at people that left 10%? Absolutely not. Sometimes I would have the same guys come in every day at lunch. They would order a meal worth $10 or so. If they left me $1.00 a meal, or $1.50 a meal, it didn't really make a big difference to me.

*To me, it is more about how they treated me.......

Were they rude, looking down on me? Were they very picky, and complained? Were they kind and understanding that if their eggs were over-medium, not over-easy, that itwasn't my fault, because I didn't cook them?
If the restaurant was busy and their coffee wasn't filled up the moment they took their last sip, were they angry with me? I would rather serve a NICE customer who leaves 10% then a demanding rude one that leaves 15%.

I usually still only leave 10-15%. I just always round it up.

Waitresses do make good money, don't fool yourselves!! I would leave after a 3 hour lunch shift with easily $50.00 CASH in my pocket, sometimes more. Pretty good!

It is very easy to sometimes tip out $25 a day while on vacation. That really adds up!!
Between waiters, bus drivers, housekeeping etc... it is costly!

Do what YOU feel you can afford, and nobody should look down on you or call you cheap because of it.

And personally, I would rather hand the lady cleaning the bathroom at the park a $5.00 tip then give more to my server, who gets tips all shift long.
JMO!!!

 

[Tigger113]

I WAS a waitress for years. I enjoyed it, and was good at it. Was I ticked at people that left 10%? Absolutely not. Sometimes I would have the same guys come in every day at lunch. They would order a meal worth $10 or so. If they left me $1.00 a meal, or $1.50 a meal, it didn't really make a big difference to me.

*To me, it is more about how they treated me.......

Were they rude, looking down on me? Were they very picky, and complained? Were they kind and understanding that if their eggs were over-medium, not over-easy, that itwasn't my fault, because I didn't cook them?
If the restaurant was busy and their coffee wasn't filled up the moment they took their last sip, were they angry with me? I would rather serve a NICE customer who leaves 10% then a demanding rude one that leaves 15%.

I usually still only leave 10-15%. I just always round it up.

Waitresses do make good money, don't fool yourselves!! I would leave after a 3 hour lunch shift with easily $50.00 CASH in my pocket, sometimes more. Pretty good!

It is very easy to sometimes tip out $25 a day while on vacation. That really adds up!!
Between waiters, bus drivers, housekeeping etc... it is costly!

Do what YOU feel you can afford, and nobody should look down on you or call you cheap because of it.

And personally, I would rather hand the lady cleaning the bathroom at the park a $5.00 tip then give more to my server, who gets tips all shift long.
JMO!!!

 

[The Sweetness]

It is very easy to sometimes tip out $25 a day while on vacation. That really adds up!!
Between waiters, bus drivers, housekeeping etc... it is costly!

Oh boy... Have I been neglecting to tip all these years? I am supposed to tip bus drivers, and bathroom atd?

 

[Lewisc]

You're still missing the point. I agree that people who don't appropriately tip an employee in a "tipped" position aren't being fair. They're expecting someone to work for free. Thief may be a little strong but I get your point.

You're 100% wrongis with your 15% floor for buffet servers. You may not like it, and it might not even be fair for WDW buffet servers, but established tipping guidelines indicate 10% is a reasonable tip for a buffet. In fact some guides go so far as to say $1-$2 is appropriate if customers get their own drinks and plates are taken away infrequently, if at all.

I think any service that's poor enough to justify tipping less than normal standards (15% for TS and 10% for a buffet) is bad enough to justify a complaint to a manager. Customers that don't complain aren't being fair, the waiter and restaurant should be told that poor service and not ignorance is the reason for the poor tip. Customers that generally tip low are either looking for an excuse to be cheap or should be looking for other restaurants to patronize.

I think I really stuck my foot in my mouth, I didn't mean to call any on cheap or call them a thief. I just wish the non service people would just understand that it's not an easy job. I also know it's their choice of jobs and they could work in a different line of work. But to be good at what you do, you really have to love your work. So I think they should be compensated accordingly.

 

[kennancat]

I've always tipped 10%. My understanding was that the turn times at a buffet are shorter and that the servers are able to handle more tables at a time than at a traditional sit-down restaurant, so they end up with roughly the same amount of tip money at the end of the night as they would have at a similarly-priced sit-down restaurant.

 

[bahsdad]

You're still missing the point. I agree that people who don't appropriately tip an employee in a "tipped" position aren't being fair. They're expecting someone to work for free. Thief may be a little strong but I get your point.

You're 100% wrongis with your 15% floor for buffet servers. You may not like it, and it might not even be fair for WDW buffet servers, but established tipping guidelines indicate 10% is a reasonable tip for a buffet. In fact some guides go so far as to say $1-$2 is appropriate if customers get their own drinks and plates are taken away infrequently, if at all.

I think any service that's poor enough to justify tipping less than normal standards (15% for TS and 10% for a buffet) is bad enough to justify a complaint to a manager. Customers that don't complain aren't being fair, the waiter and restaurant should be told that poor service and not ignorance is the reason for the poor tip. Customers that generally tip low are either looking for an excuse to be cheap or should be looking for other restaurants to patronize.

your right thief is wrong and I did change that to inappropriate. And I agree that poor service should be brought to the attention of the management. Generally, people are too polite to complain. And I do get your point.

 

[WillCAD]

I think any service that's poor enough to justify tipping less than normal standards (15% for TS and 10% for a buffet) is bad enough to justify a complaint to a manager. Customers that don't complain aren't being fair, the waiter and restaurant should be told that poor service and not ignorance is the reason for the poor tip. Customers that generally tip low are either looking for an excuse to be cheap or should be looking for other restaurants to patronize.

I only agree with that up to a point.

I figure that everyone can have a bad day at work, and if I happen to catch a server on a day when their dog died, their car was stolen, and their kid flunked phys ed, complaining to the manager might get them into more serious trouble than a simple bad day is worth. I wouldn't want to take the chance on getting somebody fired just because they had some bad luck.

I only complain if the service gets really bad, or if the server's attitude is really poor. I am a tolerant and forgiving person, but I do expect a certain amount of courtesy and a certain minimum level of service from a retaurant. Sure, it's a hard job, and I can appreciate that, but the fact that somebody's job is hard and thankless is no excuse for not doing the job adequately.

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

Waitresses do make good money, don't fool yourselves!! I would leave after a 3 hour lunch shift with easily $50.00 CASH in my pocket, sometimes more. Pretty good!

That really depends on where you waitress. I've known some of the best waitresses in the world to only be walking out with around 40 dollars in tips for a 6 or 8 hour shift. If you're in a bad area of town, or in a cheaper resturant... chances are you aren't going to make 50 dollars in 3 hours. Of course, this doesn't apply to WDW, but don't assume all waitresses make good money because bottom line is, there are many many out there that don't :/

 

[shellybaxter]

I think I really stuck my foot in my mouth, I didn't mean to call any on cheap or call them a thief. I just wish the non service people would just understand that it's not an easy job. I also know it's their choice of jobs and they could work in a different line of work. But to be good at what you do, you really have to love your work. So I think they should be compensated accordingly.

I tip well - at least 20% per adequate service - more for good to excellant service. I do that not because someone - or a tip card - says that I should. I do it so I can say thank you to the server and the other restaurant personnel for making my meal enjoyable.

However, it is statements and attitudes like the one above that make me not want to tip at all. Lots of other people have hard jobs and no one tips them. I understand that in Florida and other states tipped positions get paid less and I disagree with that practice; I also take it into account when I tip. But in my state, California, servers get regular minimum wage or above plus tips. They make decent money and I appreciate what they do - but hearing them say I "need" to appreciate them and they are entitled to my "appreciation" makes me crazy.

I have worked in child care for almost twenty years. If you don't think that's a tough job then you try feeding, changing, cleaning, entertaining, teaching, and generally taking care of eight two year olds and see how tired you are after a day of work. The people who use my services rarely even say thank you and would never think to tip me - even though as a child care worker I was making minimum wage and I had to have college units to boot.

There are other jobs where people work really hard and don't get paid very much money. Servers, especially in states like California, should be pleased that customers appreciate them enough to leave a tip at all.

 

[familydisney]

I used to work at resorts in Teton and Glacier National Parks and the standard was 10 percent. If I get exceptional service (table always bussed, drinks filled) I will go up to 15-20percent. Also-- if my family (kids) create a HUGE mess, I will tip more.

waiters at buffets generally have more covers (seats filled) per shift, so it works out. Also -- Table service I tip 20-25 percent based upon level of service. If table service is lousy, I will go down to 10 percent, but never stiff a server.

Also, kitchen errors should not affect your tips as long as the server handles the problem for you. It's not their fault if the kitchen overcooks a steak or screws up special requests.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

I tip well - at least 20% per adequate service - more for good to excellant service. I do that not because someone - or a tip card - says that I should. I do it so I can say thank you to the server and the other restaurant personnel for making my meal enjoyable.

However, it is statements and attitudes like the one above that make me not want to tip at all. Lots of other people have hard jobs and no one tips them. I understand that in Florida and other states tipped positions get paid less and I disagree with that practice; I also take it into account when I tip. But in my state, California, servers get regular minimum wage or above plus tips. They make decent money and I appreciate what they do - but hearing them say I "need" to appreciate them and they are entitled to my "appreciation" makes me crazy.

I have worked in child care for almost twenty years. If you don't think that's a tough job then you try feeding, changing, cleaning, entertaining, teaching, and generally taking care of eight two year olds and see how tired you are after a day of work. The people who use my services rarely even say thank you and would never think to tip me - even though as a child care worker I was making minimum wage and I had to have college units to boot.

There are other jobs where people work really hard and don't get paid very much money. Servers, especially in states like California, should be pleased that customers appreciate them enough to leave a tip at all.

Amen, sister. I'm a high school teacher now, but I worked with 3-6 year olds for 8 years during high school and college. Teachers and child care workers are among the most underappreciated professions I know. I wish people would know how much difference a sincere "Thank you" or a 30 second note could make.

 

[Albertan mom]

However, it is statements and attitudes like the one above that make me not want to tip at all. Lots of other people have hard jobs and no one tips them. I understand that in Florida and other states tipped positions get paid less and I disagree with that practice; I also take it into account when I tip. But in my state, California, servers get regular minimum wage or above plus tips. They make decent money and I appreciate what they do - but hearing them say I "need" to appreciate them and they are entitled to my "appreciation" makes me crazy.
There are other jobs where people work really hard and don't get paid very much money. Servers, especially in states like California, should be pleased that customers appreciate them enough to leave a tip at all.

I agree, there are tons of other jobs where the workers only make minimum wage and there are no tips at all.

Think of all the people you see on your vacation--bus drivers, housekeeping, people sweeping the street, emptying the garbages, loading kids on rides, cleaning the bathroom, it goes on and on. When I see someone doing these jobs, I smile at them, and thank them for the work they are doing.
They don't EXPECT any tips, which makes me happy to slip them a few bucks for the job they are doing.

On our last vacation in California, we ate breakfast at our hotel every morning. We had a few different servers, but there was one man who was there every morning. He would clear dishes, clean up tables, re-fill drinks. He was always smiling, and did a great job. At the end of our week, we were paying the manager, and told him that man did an excellent job, and could we tip him extra. Manager said, well, he is not a server, just a bus-boy. We said, we know, but he was always happy, and was more attentative to us then our servers were. We left him a good tip, and hope that our input maybe helped him get promoted to server, because he deserved it!

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

I don't think those 10% tipping charts were referring to buffets where people go up and get four or five plates of food or more per person as in seen in many Disney Buffets. LOL!!!!! It is a lot of work to clear all those plates!!!!

We tip at least 20%!