tipping at buffet meals

[ducklite]

What law? Where?...

The IRA requires all restaurants to track each servers receipts and they automatically figure 8% of the net receipt as taxable income which must be declared by the server, whether they actually received a tip or not.

So if a party of three has a $100 check and stiffs the server, or only leaves $1 per person as some foreign visitors feel is appropriate, the server is going to be taxed on $5-8 or income they never made. For a one time occurence it's not a big deal. Unfortunately it's not as irregular as many would think. When you end up getting taxed on a few thousand a year that you never made, it starts to add up.

This has been law for at least ten years now.

Anne

 

[goodeats]

Generally I tip 20% at Disney buffets since the service is usually stellar. But we had a horrible server at Boma Breakfast that I'm sure I tipped less than 15%. She was so slow we ended up paying in cash so we didn't have to wait for her to come back with the slip to sign!

 

[RockyMtnMaria]

For most table service we tip 20 percent of the total bill, including taxes, because we have 4 children and think they work very hard for their wages. Around here most people do not tip at buffets. I worked at a buffet for 3 years and probably made less than $10 total in tips. We typically leave about 10% at a buffet, and adjust up or down depending on how much they actually do for us.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Why does the standard tip go up when the prices of food are going up consistently faster than inflation. Therefore even at 15% the wages of servers are outpacing the gains made in other professions, and on top of that the standard is also going up?

Doesn't make sense to me. I generally tip well over 15% but I don't think anyone should expect more than that with the constant rise in the price of restaurants.

Nothing should ever be expected.

 

[JennyMominRI]

What ducklite said....I personally think 20% is standard at ALL restaurants.

I generally always give 20% myself.

 

[dlaushey]

What about counter service? Do you leave a tip for the staff who comes to clean the table before and after you eat at the table? I just ask because that seems similar to the buffets except that the server asks for drink orders where as you don't get refills at most counter service restaurants.

In general I tip 15-18% for buffet or menu but nothing for counter.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

What about counter service? Do you leave a tip for the staff who comes to clean the table before and after you eat at the table? I just ask because that seems similar to the buffets except that the server asks for drink orders where as you don't get refills at most counter service restaurants.

In general I tip 15-18% for buffet or menu but nothing for counter.

I do not tip at CS locations. Most times when I dine at a CS location, I will have to take a napkin and wipe a table down myself because occasionally crumbs, extra napkins, etc. may be left behind by inconsiderate guests. The CS CM's don't come to my table before and after I eat, they wipe them down when it fits into their busy schedule of other tasks. These CM's do not find me a table, bring me drinks, bring my food to my table, throw away my trash, etc. If a CM did this for me at Columbia Harbor House or Cosmic Ray's, I would definitely tip! In addition, the Quick Service Food and Beverage CM's are paid differently than TS waitstaff CM's and are not taxed on a percentage of my order like TS CM's are.

At TS locations, I figure out what 20% is and I may decide to tip a few dollars more (maybe 20-25%) or a few dollars less (maybe 15-20%) depending on service quality. If someone offends me or is MIA or rude, I will leave less than 15%. This has not happened to me at WDW yet, though.

I believe that service at a Disney buffet is usually more involved than most buffets. They come quickly to remove plates and glasses, take drink orders and bring drink refills, answer questions about foods, etc. While I might tip less than 20% at a buffet where I prepay at a counter, I get my drink refills, stack used plates until the end of the meal, etc. at WDW where the CM's do this, I usually tip the same as usual.

 

[ducklite]

What about counter service? Do you leave a tip for the staff who comes to clean the table before and after you eat at the table? I just ask because that seems similar to the buffets except that the server asks for drink orders where as you don't get refills at most counter service restaurants.

In general I tip 15-18% for buffet or menu but nothing for counter.

Not (yet) at WDW, but I have tipped counter service people in the past for exceptional service. I gave the girl at my local McDonalds $5 the other day because she's always smiling, never messes up the order, and is just a joy. I'll never miss $5. To her it was an extra hours pay more or less.

I also tip at my local Dunkin Donuts sometimes, if the service is good, fast, and smiling.

When I lived in NJ I used to stop every morning and get coffee at DD's, and they would see me coming in and have it ready and waiting--that's worth a tip.

Anne

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

What about counter service? Do you leave a tip for the staff who comes to clean the table before and after you eat at the table? I just ask because that seems similar to the buffets except that the server asks for drink orders where as you don't get refills at most counter service restaurants.

In general I tip 15-18% for buffet or menu but nothing for counter.

Counter service workers make more money that servers. Not that they make a lot, but it is at least minimum wage, where as servers make $2.13 an hour.

 

[lady danger]

Considering the service industry has been horribly underpaid for years, that's not a bad thing.

Anne

Agreed. When I worked at a restaurant as a hostess, the servers used to joke that their paycheck was so low that it was akin to finding coins beneath their couch cushions come payday. It covered their gas and parking fees, and that's about it. Judging from what my brother tells me, that's still the case at most establishments. Servers don't live on their wages, they live on their tips so I always feel compelled to give more than 15% so long as they appear to at least make a good effort.

 

[The Sweetness]

When I go into Dunkin', or Starbucks for a latte, I do throw $1 into the jar. I am incredibly fussy about my coffee (I even know exactly how hot I like it ~ 120 degrees, if they have the equip. to measure, which my local Starbuck's do.) I also tip at Cold Stone Creamery, gotta love the cute little songs, and if you fling one, they'll sing one In addition, I once ordered a scoop of ice cream for my baby, after lunch at a Subway that serves Edy's. The server wouldnt charge me for the scoop, so I put $2 in the jar~ seemed fair to me

 

[english rose 47]

Isn't the tip included on DDP? So at Buffets trhey'd get 18% anyway.

 

[drogerstn]

The IRA requires all restaurants to track each servers receipts and they automatically figure 8% of the net receipt as taxable income which must be declared by the server, whether they actually received a tip or not.

So if a party of three has a $100 check and stiffs the server, or only leaves $1 per person as some foreign visitors feel is appropriate, the server is going to be taxed on $5-8 or income they never made. For a one time occurence it's not a big deal. Unfortunately it's not as irregular as many would think. When you end up getting taxed on a few thousand a year that you never made, it starts to add up.

This has been law for at least ten years now.

Anne

I assume you mean IRS....

I understand that the 8% is the minimum the restaurant has to report on the server's W2 form and only comes into play if the server's monthly tip reports total less than 8% of the restaurant's sales receipts for that server. Tax is not withheld on this "allocated income". The server cannot be held liable for this income when filing year end taxes if the server did not, in fact, recieve this amount of income from tips; the server needs to keep good records on tips....

 

[travelitis]

Tipping guidlines I've read say that buffet servers get a lower tip (10%) than full service (15%-20%), and I agree with that. They don't take my order, have to keep it straight, follow up on the kitchen to make sure it's ready in a timely manner, or have to carry food to my table. With buffets they generally don't have to go get you anything other than drinks, the bill, and they bus the table, which is why the deserve a tip (imho).

However, Miss Manners says that tipping is way too personal, and she REFUSES to give any recommendation. If the Grand Dame of good etiquette won't render an opinion that would most certainly be set down as the rule, then, gentle original poster, neither should any of our opinions be regarded as the "right way". Tip what you feel is appropriate regardless of what any of us say we do. This is a touchy subject, and most people who don't believe in tipping as much are likely to skip this thread rather than opening themselves up for a good flaming.

 

[*~ellagirlsmama~*]

I believe the standard for tipping is 18-20%....or more. Servers earn very little and have to share their tips with bussers and bartenders. I am pretty sure it's the same in buffet restaurants.

I was a server for years, and I really believe that most people don't undertip becouse they are "cheap" but rather they simply didn't know proper tipping standards.