Split Checks?

[mickeysgal]

Actually if you are on the main page where all the threads are and you click on the number of replies to a thread it gives you a list of who posted and how many times. Neat little feature.

Here is your top 10.

User Name Posts
mhsjax 50
Gumbo4x4 39
cornflake 21
sam_gordon 20
JessicaR 20
Imzadi 19
amg35 18
gina2000 17
Skip2MyLou 16
Bob NC 16

Wow - didn't know this. You guys are good.

(And glad to not be on this leader board.)

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I don't know about that. I tried a new place for lunch the other day and it was followed shortly by a royal flush.

Booooooooooooooooooo!


Okay, I admit, I chuckled

 

[Bob NC]

Well add one or 2 more for me, because I swear by all that is holy I AM DONE.

I think the 16% in the poll believe they will be proved right if they can get 71% of the posts.

 

[JessicaR]

Well add one or 2 more for me, because I swear by all that is holy I AM DONE.

So, your ready for your check?

 

[JessicaR]

Booooooooooooooooooo!


Okay, I admit, I chuckled

Me too - was funny!

 

[cornflake]

But doing that defeats the alleged convenience of the single check.



No, the response isn't meant to show you it can't work, it's to show you that it can occasionally be a PITA whereas the alternative never is. Believe it or not, I've survived my share of single checks over the course of my life.

How nice of you to show me.

How is it a pain to ask for a waiter to bring back change on ONE CHECK, ONE TIME that the person will simply take but it's NOT a pain for everyone at the table to be paying individually? How the heck long does it take for the waiter to go run X number of credit cards, come back, distribute the folders, everyone adds tips, signs, etc. That's NEVER a PITA?

Cause it sounds like nothing but, to me. We toss in money, or toss money to one person, and hand the waiter the single folder with either a card or cash. If cash, sometimes it's fine, sometimes he has to bring back change. It's one transaction.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

How nice of you to show me.

How is it a pain to ask for a waiter to bring back change on ONE CHECK, ONE TIME that the person will simply take but it's NOT a pain for everyone at the table to be paying individually? How the heck long does it take for the waiter to go run X number of credit cards, come back, distribute the folders, everyone adds tips, signs, etc. That's NEVER a PITA?

Cause it sounds like nothing but, to me. We toss in money, or toss money to one person, and hand the waiter the single folder with either a card or cash. If cash, sometimes it's fine, sometimes he has to bring back change. It's one transaction.

In theory, it probably sounds that way. In practice it's quite often the faster method.

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Carrie_Cat
Either we all get out our cards and the waiter runs them through the device at the table (it's all chip and pin so handheld device). We tell him what the amount is per card.

Or we all put down cash

It's divided between us anyway as besides one time everybody I know eats or drinks for the same amount and I'm not making a fuss for a slight difference. Life is too short

I've never had a separate bill with friends only when on business if eating out with other people from different companies as we each are putting it on expense accounts

The bolded indicates to me a single piece of paper that you all treat as "sepearate checks"


On the flip side, I have never had a separate check on a business dinner. Someone always picks up the tab. But, my business dinners have always either been a case of all coworkers on a business trip (senior person gets the bill) or someone wanting to try to sell me/us something and them picking up the tab.

I see what you mean but it's not like that honest

Say the bill is 500€ and we are 6 then we'll get out our cards, the waiter will bring the machine and we'll go put 83.33€ on each card or the waiter will do it it automatically

Which sounds mad written down here but you can't go over the total amount on the bill when you pay by card and service charge and vat being in there means that the "tip" of nearly 20% is included so it has to fall to the exact amount written on the bill.

Then you get up and go, no signing of card slips or anything involved.

 

[Bob NC]

Edited to say: Really not worth it.

Some see many ways to pay a tab, some see one way.

 

[sam_gordon]

And finally, I like the way we do things. It's not right or wrong. I just like it.

This thread has grown to immense proportions. I've forgotten who has said what. But there have been accusations from some of those wanting one check that separate checks are "cheap", "anal", or they'd be insulted if someone in their party asked for one. Now, if someone said you were "cheap" or "anal", or would be insulted by one of your actions, would you just say "oh, that's the way they think"? No, you may not have claimed any of that, I'm just trying to point out why some of us have been so adamant in our responses.

And honestly, I've never been caught in a situation where I've felt ripped off. And I've never ripped anyone else off. Others, though, have had that situation and feel that their solution alleviates it. If I had been in their situation, I might feel that same way. I do know that I would NOT be going out with a party who deliberately tries to stiff me. I'm sorry for people who are caught with family members who do this. I would not dine with them because I only dine with people who respect me. But I can see how family can screw you in situations where you have no control.

I don't think anyone goes out to eat with someone KNOWING they were going to get stiffed. Depending on the number of people in the party, let's say there are $15, everyone throws cash on the table, and you're $20 short. Granted, everyone throws in $1-2 and you're covered, but it's pretty obvious someone (whether intentionally or unintentionally) shortchanged the 'kitty'. With that big a party, unless you remember what someone had AND saw how much they put in the pot, you don't KNOW who it is. So you can't avoid them in the future.

There, I was in danger of slipping out of the Top 5 posters in this thread.

 

[traviesojmt]

We have lived in many regions of this fine country and we have always split checks. We have never had a waiter so much as bat an eye. From California to Massachusetts and many, many places in between. Until this thread, I had no idea that anyone thought it was inappropriate to pay for what you order.

It is great if all of your friends are on the same socio-economic run of the ladder as you, but that is the not case in our lives. We have friends and family who make considerably less than we do. We still enjoy eating dinner with them. They would never expect us to pick up the "financial slack" (for lack of better term) for them. They would prefer to pay for what they order. As would I. When my parents invite us all to dinner and pick up the tab, I feel the need to control what I order. I do not want to take advantage of their generous invitation. I would much prefer paying for my own and ordering what I really want.

As far as appetizers go, if my DH and I would like one, we order it on our tab and share with the table. We aren't drinkers (I have read on several threads that many of you would not be friends with me over that one. LOL) so that is never really an issue for us.

I think that bottom line is that whatever works for you and your friends is fine. In every state we have lived, all of our friends have always preferred separate checks.

 

[Planogirl]

I ate lunch today with two friends and we split checks. I like doing this with these ladies partially because they are lousy tippers. I can quietly tip a lot to make up for it. It sounds silly but it seems like the right thing to do.

 

[mhsjax]

I ate lunch today with two friends and we split checks. I like doing this with these ladies partially because they are lousy tippers. I can quietly tip a lot to make up for it. It sounds silly but it seems like the right thing to do.

That was a nice thing to do, and an understandable one. I would do the same thing.

 

[SaraJayne]

I ate lunch today with two friends and we split checks. I like doing this with these ladies partially because they are lousy tippers. I can quietly tip a lot to make up for it. It sounds silly but it seems like the right thing to do.

That's nice of you. I'd do the same thing.

 

[okeydokey]

How nice of you to show me.

How is it a pain to ask for a waiter to bring back change on ONE CHECK, ONE TIME that the person will simply take but it's NOT a pain for everyone at the table to be paying individually? How the heck long does it take for the waiter to go run X number of credit cards, come back, distribute the folders, everyone adds tips, signs, etc. That's NEVER a PITA?

Cause it sounds like nothing but, to me. We toss in money, or toss money to one person, and hand the waiter the single folder with either a card or cash. If cash, sometimes it's fine, sometimes he has to bring back change. It's one transaction.

Not that much time at all. It happens in thousands of restaurants every day and the world continues to spin, so I guess it is no big deal.

 

[gina2000]

This thread has grown to immense proportions. I've forgotten who has said what. But there have been accusations from some of those wanting one check that separate checks are "cheap", "anal", or they'd be insulted if someone in their party asked for one. Now, if someone said you were "cheap" or "anal", or would be insulted by one of your actions, would you just say "oh, that's the way they think"? No, you may not have claimed any of that, I'm just trying to point out why some of us have been so adamant in our responses.

Well, that wasn't me. I really don't care how people pay as long as they throw in a reasonable amount of money relative to their choices. But we've been over this a million times so there is no use rehashing.

I don't think anyone goes out to eat with someone KNOWING they were going to get stiffed. Depending on the number of people in the party, let's say there are $15, everyone throws cash on the table, and you're $20 short. Granted, everyone throws in $1-2 and you're covered, but it's pretty obvious someone (whether intentionally or unintentionally) shortchanged the 'kitty'. With that big a party, unless you remember what someone had AND saw how much they put in the pot, you don't KNOW who it is. So you can't avoid them in the future.

There, I was in danger of slipping out of the Top 5 posters in this thread.

Actually there were a couple of posters who stated that they would be out to dinner with extended family who routinely stiffed them so separate bills became de rigueur. Personally, I'd be so annoyed that I'd try to avoid dinner with them at all costs. I'm one of those people who only want to break bread with people I care about and who care about me. There's a certain level of respect inherent in that notion. I would never disrespect another person I was dining with by stiffing them on a tab.

I have to admit, when we screw up the bill (and it's happened on more than one occasion when we've had a few drinks and do the math in our heads - and it is never done via calculator - don't ask me why cus I don't know), we usually laugh and giggle and throw in a few extra bucks each. It's a silly, joyous way to end a dinner with friends or family. Maybe it's the ritual we love - I don't know but that's the way we do it.

I guess I should check my post tally. I think I'm out of the top 10.

 

[sam_gordon]

I guess I should check my post tally. I think I'm out of the top 10.

Nope, you're still in #8... all good.

 

[Bob NC]

But we've been over this a million times so there is no use rehashing.

Funniest post yet.

 

[beaucoup]

Separate checks or pitch in our portion of cash for our food on the total bill. Massachusetts.
We often go out with large groups & its easier to do separate checks as people are coming & going at all different times of the evening.

I learned young when just starting work that it seems the people who want to split the check evenly are the people ordering the expensive food & doing a lot of drinking. I don't want to pay for their food, appetizers & all their beverages. Learned that fast. I don't fall for that any more.

Luckily, its been about 20 yrs since I have been in a situation where people wanted to split a bill evenly. Everyone we have been out to eat with in past 20 yrs just automatically knows or assumes everyone will be paying their own. Or someone picks up the entire bill for some reason. Like when going out to eat with my elderly parents, we just automatically pay for them. Tight budget for them & they don't eat much.

 

[java]

My friends and I are split the check people. If someone drinks way more than others( lik in AC) that person kicks in a few buck extra. But rarely that happens. It works for our group.

We all went out for breakfast last week, 10 of us. It is always $11. Always no matter who goes how many or whatever. This time it was $13. I dont kno who over ordered and I don't care. We go out enough that I bet it evens out.

And when we go out with couples generally one pays on time, other pays next time. That's how we roll.