Tipping @ a Buffet?

[sarcasticblonde]

20%

 

[SunnieRN]

Totally depends upon the service, with the average of 15% and up. So by disney standards, below normal and up.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

Hmmm...you've kind of skewed the poll from the very beginning by defining 18-20% as a "normal" tip, then defining anything below that for a buffet as "less than normal."

For many of us it is "normal" to tip servers at full service restaurants differently than at buffet restaurants. At a buffet I am getting my own food. That service would be provided by the server at a full service restaurant (as well as many other services that buffet servers do not have to worry about).

I tend to tip based on the service I received, taking customary guidelines into account. So no, what I tip at a buffet is not "less than normal." It is less than what I would tip at a full service restaurant, but not less than "normal" for a buffet.

 

[Disney8704]

10%

All they are doing is clearing your table and get your drinks and bring you your bill. How much tip do they really need for that?

At a full service TS place, they are taking your order, bringing you your drinks, bringing your food, check on you to make sure everything is OK, take your dishes (at local places, cant remember if WDW wait staff take dishes or if they actually have a buss boy), taking your desert order, bring you your desert, give you a check, bring back the slip for credit or change if your paying by cash.

See how much more a regular server has to go through then someone who works at a buffet. Im sorry for anyone who works at a buffet and not do as nearly as much as a regular waiter does, and expect a 15-20% tip or more, they just being very selfish and greedy.

Just IMHO.

 

[fey_spirit]

How is it not their fault? They chose their place of employment. If it's not their "fault" who's fault is it?

People like to say that a buffet warrants a smaller tip because the server does less. However, they still work hard clearing plates and bringing drink refills. Also they are not exactly well paid and it is not their fault they are working at a buffet. If the service is good tip them well.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

How is it not their fault? They chose their place of employment. If it's not their "fault" who's fault is it?

Exactly! There are a lot of jobs out there. I waited tables years ago and knew I didn't want to do it for my entire life so I gained skills and moved on.

Many people choose to wait tables (even at buffets) for their own personal reasons. Some like the flexible hours, some the interactions with guests, some like that they don't have to worry about messing up the guest's order, some like the income, etc.

So when I see the "oh the poor servers work so hard" posts I think of all the other people who work hard and don't get tipped, and others who choose to wait tables because they like it. And if you work at a place with a high check average, like most WDW restaurants, you can make more money than other positions that require a comparable education, and may even require working "harder."

 

[Disney8704]

Couldnt agree more. The hardest professions like doctors, nurses, teachers, military, people with REAL careers, they work VERY hard. Way harder then any waiter or waitress could ever imagine. Im a wedding planner, and even though some people might think my career is easy, I will be the 1st one to tell you, its not as easy as you think it is. Being a waiter / waitress is one of the easiest jobs out there. Sure it might have some hard aspects. But all you're dealing with someone order and making sure that the customer is happy. Not dealing with someones health, going off to Iraq to fight in this war, or teaching a bunch of kids or making sure that wedding is PERFECT. Those who go off and work as a waiter, know what the pay is like before they even take on the job. If they dont like a job where you have to make sure you get good tips to make money, then they need to go off and go and get a career, or at least work in retail. I have worked in retail before. And let me tell you, its not a cake walk. I was a cashier and customer service rep. For the most part I had good days and great customers. But there were times I had a couple customers who have yelled at me for something I could NOT control. Do I feel sorry or have any pitty towards waiters, nope! They knew what they were getting themselves into when they took on the job. I for one think Europe have the right idea. Decent wages and where tipping is NOT expected. When I go out to eat I always do tip. But shouldnt feel like I HAVE to tip. After all that is our very hard earned money as well. And we have our needs as well. So for a waiter to automatically expect a tip, especially a certain % is stepping out of line IMHO.

Exactly! There are a lot of jobs out there. I waited tables years ago and knew I didn't want to do it for my entire life so I gained skills and moved on.

Many people choose to wait tables (even at buffets) for their own personal reasons. Some like the flexible hours, some the interactions with guests, some like that they don't have to worry about messing up the guest's order, some like the income, etc.

So when I see the "oh the poor servers work so hard" posts I think of all the other people who work hard and don't get tipped, and others who choose to wait tables because they like it. And if you work at a place with a high check average, like most WDW restaurants, you can make more money than other positions that require a comparable education, and may even require working "harder."

 

[maxiesmom]

Couldnt agree more. The hardest professions like doctors, nurses, teachers, military, people with REAL careers, they work VERY hard. Way harder then any waiter or waitress could ever imagine. Im a wedding planner, and even though some people might think my career is easy, I will be the 1st one to tell you, its not as easy as you think it is. Being a waiter / waitress is one of the easiest jobs out there. Sure it might have some hard aspects. But all you're dealing with someone order and making sure that the customer is happy. Not dealing with someones health, going off to Iraq to fight in this war, or teaching a bunch of kids or making sure that wedding is PERFECT. Those who go off and work as a waiter, know what the pay is like before they even take on the job. If they dont like a job where you have to make sure you get good tips to make money, then they need to go off and go and get a career, or at least work in retail. I have worked in retail before. And let me tell you, its not a cake walk. I was a cashier and customer service rep. For the most part I had good days and great customers. But there were times I had a couple customers who have yelled at me for something I could NOT control. Do I feel sorry or have any pitty towards waiters, nope! They knew what they were getting themselves into when they took on the job. I for one think Europe have the right idea. Decent wages and where tipping is NOT expected. When I go out to eat I always do tip. But shouldnt feel like I HAVE to tip. After all that is our very hard earned money as well. And we have our needs as well. So for a waiter to automatically expect a tip, especially a certain % is stepping out of line IMHO.

Wow! Way to insult a boat-load of people! Can't you find a different way to make your point?

 

[PEANUT1]

I always tip 20% at sit down restaurants..unless service is terrible.

I tip less for buffet because they do less. I usually do 10-15%.

 

[Disney8704]

What was insulting? I didnt insult anyone or stated anything insulting.

Wow! Way to insult a boat-load of people! Can't you find a different way to make your point?

 

[Disney8704]

I dont know why we must continue to have tipping threads. They never go well and ALWAYS end up closing. I think the MODS need to seriously do something about tipping threads. Like make a rule..no tipping threads allowed. And the moment they start, they get closed - no questions asked. I mean come on Im currently subscribed to 3 (including this 1) tipping threads and not to mention theres TONS and TONS of tipping threads that had started and closed. How many do we really need? Honestly, I think we dont need any tipping threads. Its plain and simple. If you arent sure on what to tip, look it up online. Theres TONS of tipping websites to look at. Or better yet. Dont worry about what everyone else is tipping, and just tip what you feel is right. If you wanna leave a 1% tip - go for it! Who are we to judge? If you wanna leave 30% - more power to ya!

 

[Stinky_Pete]

I dont know why we must continue to have tipping threads. They never go well and ALWAYS end up closing. I think the MODS need to seriously do something about tipping threads. Like make a rule..no tipping threads allowed.

There are many people on this site and who visit WDW from places where tipping is not common, like Europe. So they have no idea about the concept. While it's true that the discussions can get heated, I personally am not for "throwing the baby out with the bathwater," so to speak.

How many do we really need? Honestly, I think we dont need any tipping threads. Its plain and simple. If you arent sure on what to tip, look it up online. Theres TONS of tipping websites to look at.

How many threads are there on Crocs?

Yes, there are many people who post questions they could get answered much more quickly simply by scanning a few pages on the DIS or Googling the subject, but they don't. How many times do you see questions about "what type of food does this restaurant serve? that could be answered by simply looking at the menus on this site or others? Or how many questions do you see about park hours or other information that could be answered by simply going to the WDW website? How many times do you see people asking a question that could be answered by a quick call to CRO? Some people just can't or won't use the resources available to them.

In the past I've posted multiple links to websites that give tipping guidelines, only to be told that the information on those sites "isn't valid" or "that doesn't apply at WDW." Interestingly it was usually by a restaurant server who said these resources weren't valid. Hmmm...

But I must ask, if you hate tipping threads so much, why are you subscribed to 3 of them?

 

[Disney8704]

Which makes ZERO sense! All tipping guidelines in the US is the same. No matter where you are. Weither you be in WDW or Alaska. The standard tip is 15-20%.

Its not that I hate tipping threads, I just dont see why people have to continue starting tipping threads. Seems like when 1 ends, another 1 begins. And from what I've seen about 98% of the time, the person who started the tipping thread is from the US. How could you NOT know that tipping is common in the US, when you LIVE in the US?

Tipping threads to me is like when you see something gross or scary, you cant help but still look at it. KWIM.

There are many people on this site and who visit WDW from places where tipping is not common, like Europe. So they have no idea about the concept. While it's true that the discussions can get heated, I personally am not for "throwing the baby out with the bathwater," so to speak.



How many threads are there on Crocs?

Yes, there are many people who post questions they could get answered much more quickly simply by scanning a few pages on the DIS or Googling the subject, but they don't. How many times do you see questions about "what type of food does this restaurant serve? that could be answered by simply looking at the menus on this site or others? Or how many questions do you see about park hours or other information that could be answered by simply going to the WDW website? How many times do you see people asking a question that could be answered by a quick call to CRO? Some people just can't or won't use the resources available to them.

In the past I've posted multiple links to websites that give tipping guidelines, only to be told that the information on those sites "isn't valid" or "that doesn't apply at WDW." Interestingly it was usually by a restaurant server who said these resources weren't valid. Hmmm...

But I must ask, if you hate tipping threads so much, why are you subscribed to 3 of them?

 

[milmore104]

Which makes ZERO sense! All tipping guidelines in the US is the same. No matter where you are. Weither you be in WDW or Alaska. The standard tip is 15-20%.

Its not that I hate tipping threads, I just dont see why people have to continue starting tipping threads. Seems like when 1 ends, another 1 begins. And from what I've seen about 98% of the time, the person who started the tipping thread is from the US. How could you NOT know that tipping is common in the US, when you LIVE in the US?

Tipping threads to me is like when you see something gross or scary, you cant help but still look at it. KWIM.

I guess being the OP of this one I will have to step in and say something. Yes I am from the US. However around here the staff at a buffet get paid min. wage or more. So my only thought on posting this thread was to find out some info on tipping at a buffet in WDW. I didn't want to stiff our waiter on making a good tip if he was only paid a waiters salary. I just wanted to get the opinion of my fellow Disers on how they handled tipping at a buffet. I dind't want to be the person that walked out of the buffet and have the waiter saying no they only left me ... for a tip. I just wanted to be fair to them.

And if you don't like tipping threads don't read them! This is a place we come to get information. And I wanted information on this. Sorry if it upsets you but I personally don't read threads I know will get my blood boiling.

 

[sarcasticblonde]

Off topic but...

I would hate to be a server at WDW. You have to deal with whiny, crying children, sloppy adults, people who don't know how to tip and elitist snobs who think they deserve to be treated like kings because they can afford a trip to WDW.

That's why I tip 20%. Just because they chose to be servers doesn't mean they have to be treated like pieces of crap.


JMHO

EDITED TO ADD: That's not aimed at anyone in particular, just a generalization of some of the comments I have heard on these boards.

 

[HonnyDipp]

I always tip 15%, so if 18-20% is what's being considered "normal" now, I guess I tip less than normal.

Same here

 

[delmar411]

we tip $1-$2 per person. Irrelevant of the bill. It actually works in their favor depending on the buffet. There are a few at home that don't charge for the little ones or only charge $1 per year so $1-2 works out to a large % of the bill. But little kids make a lot of mess at buffets w/ a bunch of extra plates.

 

[just another guy]

Generally speaking, I see my server more often at a buffet than I do for regular table service.

Exactly!

 

[Katiebell]

Wow! Way to insult a boat-load of people! Can't you find a different way to make your point?

Wow, I agree.

What was insulting? I didnt insult anyone or stated anything insulting.

You may not have intended it, but yes, your post did come off as very insulting to people that work hard as restaurant servers. And please remember, there are some who would seriously question you comparing your job as a wedding planner to being a doctor or nurse who save people's lives, or "going off to Iraq to fight in this war"??? My son is stationed in Qatar right now, and I can guarantee you his job is 1000 times more difficult than planning a wedding. Nobody is shooting at you while you help a bride pick out her cake topper.

 

[Katiebell]

I've read a lot of posts that explain why folks tip the standard 18% to buffet servers, and I can see the point that a good buffet server works hard, but all of the standard etiquette guidelines for buffet tipping say 10%: Good Housekeeping, Emily Post, Dear Abby, etc. Even tipping.org says 5%-10% I personally feel 5% is too low -- I'd tip 10% for adequate service (just ok), and 15% for good service (quick bussing, on top of drink refills, friendly, checking to see if we need anything, etc.)

http://tipping.org/tips/buffet.html
http://www.soundmoneytips.com/article/3441-tip-for-tipping-at-buffet-restaurants
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food/manners/buffet-tipping-oct01
http://monster-blue.blogspot.com/2008/02/buffet-tipping.html