Separate checks?

[SpecialK]

Always get one check and just split it evenly. Sometimes I pay more; sometimes I pay less. It all works out in the end.

 

[cluvsdisney]

I have never asked for a separate check. Only once has someone I was with asked for separate checks - in that particular circumstance I thought it was odd for several reasons most of all because we all pretty much ordered the same thing and our checks were the exact same price.

I do see where it is useful in larger groups - it's easier for everyone. No one gets stuck figuring out who owes what, no one has to guess their tax & tip. The person collecting doesn't have to worry about having enough, having extra and making change.

 

[mickyzzzzz05]

We dine out 3 to 5 times a week usually and always ask for separate checks.

We have done the "lets just split it method" multiple times and it results in this pile of money laying on the table with everyone thinking that they paid their fair share. When I or my husband count it up we see that poeple either vastly underestimated what the food and drink they had actually costs or they did not allow money for a tip or tax.

That has resulted in a situation like a previous poster mentioned where our entrees cost $25 each and we ended paying over $125 so that the food cost and tax were covered and the server got a tip.

I don't think that it was always intentionally. They may have forgotten that they had 3 glasses of wine at $8 a glass instead or 2, or that the appetizer or dessert was $12 and not $6 but it happened too many times and we were not comfortable doing meals that way.

I don't think that it is "cheap" or "tacky" to pay for what we eat and drink and not pay for part of other people's meals unless we have offered to treat.

When we order either ask the server to split the checks or if we are treating that evening we ask that the bill come to us.

We seldom have a problem doing it this way.

 

[OceanAnnie]

If you get burned a few times, separate checks look pretty good.

 

[Lanshark]

I almost always tip 20%. I don't think asking for a separate check should be an issue. Through the years, my experience has been that those that just want to "split" the check have usually consumed the most. Those that want separate checks have consumed the least. Someone is going to get screwed and it is ALWAYS the person whose check would have been the lowest.

 

[Becky2005]

One funny thing I used to go out with some friends--2 couples, me and one other female that was also single. When they split the check they split it 4 ways! One way per couple, one way for me and one way for the other girl! Since when does being married mean you morph into one single person LOL....they each got a dinner, not like they bought one and split it between the two of them---its due to people like that that people want seperate checks LOL. If they split it by 6 that would have been fine with me!

We had that happen at our family with a member who to this day doesn't get the concept of PER PERSON means you pay times 2 when you are married not once. We kept saying it let's say $5/person and she kept saying "OK, so we owe $5" and we kept going "NO..you owe $10" and she just couldn't grasp why she was paying double. It got to the point my mom & I just told my sister (who was really annoyed that this relative couldn't grasp it) to let it go & we would take care of the extra.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

I agree that sep checks is the way to go. I don't want to pay for someone else's expensive food, appies or alcohol. I rarely go out to eat with other ppl because my BFF is a cheap skate who doesn't tip. I can't go out to eat with someone who doesn't tip then says OH you tip well enough for both of us and leaves nothing or leaves $2 on a $20 check. No thank you. I go out to eat with my family only usually. Any other times I have gone out to eat with friends we tell the waitress right from the start US THREE are on one ticket and those 3 are on another ticket, etc.

 

[tlbwriter]

I have to do separate checks because it really has irritated me in the past when I ate very cheaply and ended up paying for other people's pricey meals without a thank you or anything. Separate checks helps friendships stay happy for me.

Separate checks are like good fences.

To me people can really look cheap splitting a check. Just figure your meal out as close as you can then add some to it. If you end up paying $10 or so more what's the big deal.

Let me guess... it's always someone else who ends up paying $10 more, not you, right? I can't believe anyone would call someone else "cheap" simply for refusing to subsidize your meal. Sounds like the wrong person in this scenario is being called cheap.

being a server it's a pain to separate checks. It takes time a way from your other tables, most of the time you have to have a manager break the ticket up because 99.9 percent of the time they don't tell you they are seperate checks

So you don't ask?

It always seems to be that the ones who eat or drink the most and most expensive items are the ones who want to split the split the check equally.

Yeah, it looks that way. The people I eat with tend to split checks automatically. Anyone who thinks we're "cheap" for doing so isn't likely to be invited anyway.

 

[Art 1]

Separate checks are like good fences.



Let me guess... it's always someone else who ends up paying $10 more, not you, right? I can't believe anyone would call someone else "cheap" simply for refusing to subsidize your meal. Sounds like the wrong person in this scenario is being called cheap.



So you don't ask?



Yeah, it looks that way. The people I eat with tend to split checks automatically. Anyone who thinks we're "cheap" for doing so isn't likely to be invited anyway.

Wrong, I usually am expected to pick up the tab, and I do.

 

[Marymom]

For me, it is not even about doing the math and splitting the bill, but the form of payment. I might want to put the bill on a credit/debit card and don't want lots of cash from other people or they might want to pay by credit card also.

 

[nancycg56]

I have a group of friends that I go out to lunch with every month or so and we always do separate checks ~ not a big deal. We always let the server know ahead of time and we all tip more because of it

 

[stargazer2892]

As a server I learned very quickly to ask a large party while I'm taking their drink order how is the check going to be handled, that way there is no surprises at the end. If it is a smaller party it is normally pretty easy to figure out. Also unless they are regulars and I know how they are going to pay I always put every one on separate checks to begin with. If the server has any forethought when taking care of a big party separate checks should never be an issue.

That being said when we go out with friends, we get separate checks with out second thought. I don't feel it's fair to split a check when they only spent 30$ and we spent 50$.

 

[Julylady]

Always do separate checks here. And we ALWAYS let the server know at the beginning how we want checks split. I have been burned too often in the past. I don't agree that it all evens out. Since I don't drink anything besides water and rarely order (or share) any of the appetizer or desert, I was always on the losing money side of things. Now I just say "Separate checks, please" right away.

 

[brockash]

I went out to lunch today and there was a group of 8 women just finishing up. They each had separate checks. It took the poor waitress 10 minutes to ring them each up. After they left, I was talking to her and she said that last time they came in they didn't tell her to give them seperate checks and made her redo the check. Ughh. This is a little panini place where there is nothing over $12 on the menu. If I went out with a group that did that it would be the last time. I'm sure I'll get a bunch of posters who disagree with me but I hate separate checks

I don't know, for me, I feel that if I'm going somewhere to spend my money and give them business, then it should be completely acceptable if I want separate checks.

 

[FireDancer]

If you get burned a few times, separate checks look pretty good.

Exactly. I don't drink very often but there have been times when 3 or 4 people drink and then when the bill comes they want to split it equally. Um, no. If everyone is within a couple of bucks, sure. When 3 people have $200 in drinks and then want to split it equally I'm not going to pitch in.

Maybe it is a regional think but most places even with a group of 4 will ask who is on what check. That seems to be the logical thing to do. The patron should let you know ahead of time but since many don't just ask.

 

[EMHDad]

Maybe it is a regional think but most places even with a group of 4 will ask who is on what check. That seems to be the logical thing to do. The patron should let you know ahead of time but since many don't just ask.

I agree. If I am in group of 3 or more, the waiter/waitress asks about checks at the beginning like 90% of the time.

I don't know, for me, I feel that if I'm going somewhere to spend my money and give them business, then it should be completely acceptable if I want separate checks.

Also agree. I say that as a customer, you need to be polite and respectful of the server(s). Its just the right thing to do. Also, be reasonable and not arrogant and let the server know at the begging the check will be split. That said. I feel that splitting the tip is part of the service I am receiving and the 15-20% tip I am paying.

 

[VickiVM]

When I'm with my group of friends or co-workers, we do separate checks...our wait person always comes out ahead on tips than if we had one bill. We usually tip well. I would think for the minor inconvenience, it is worth it for the server.

 

[Hannathy]

When I'm with my group of friends or co-workers, we do separate checks...our wait person always comes out ahead on tips than if we had one bill. We usually tip well. I would think for the minor inconvenience, it is worth it for the server.

And even if they don't uhmm it is their job !!

 

[believe]

We always split the checks. We will go out with couples that each eat a meal, DH and I typically split a meal and have a dessert since we aren't big eaters. His brother and wife would get an appetizer, meal and dessert...why should I pay for that? I'm not cheap when it comes to what I want but I don't need someone free loading off me.

 

[lori123]

I was a waitress for many years and never minded doing separate checks. I've done it places where you hand write it all and places with high tech machines. I was all about customer service and happily did all I could to satisfy the patrons