Tipping at buffets

[katybugsmom]

What is customary for a tip when you eat buffet style? I know normally your tip needs to 15%,18%, or 20% depending on where you eat. Any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[EverythingDisney]

I always tip 20%

 

[TaraPA]

We never tip 20% on a buffet...and it depends on the level of service for us. We've had buffets that were completely self-serve - drinks & all - never even saw the waitstaff or attendants - we tip zero on that. If there is a waitstaff to bring & fill drinks & to explain the buffet, clear the table, etc. then we just leave a few bucks depending on how many of us there are & how much the meal cost. Maybe 10%. If they are exceptional then more.

You're going to get a lot of varying answers on this one!

 

[Dopey420]

20%- the buffet servers make many more trips to the table than a regular servers.

plus they have to handle all those gross dishes.

 

[ZoZo]

We never tip 20% on a buffet...and it depends on the level of service for us. We've had buffets that were completely self-serve - drinks & all - never even saw the waitstaff or attendants - we tip zero on that. If there is a waitstaff to bring & fill drinks & to explain the buffet, clear the table, etc. then we just leave a few bucks depending on how many of us there are & how much the meal cost. Maybe 10%. If they are exceptional then more.

You're going to get a lot of varying answers on this one!

I agree - you'll probably get wildly varying answers on this!

Generally for a buffet, I tip between 10% and 15%. As this poster said, it depends on the level of service. If you have to chase down your server for refills on your beverages and hardly ever see them, I'd say 10% (or less). But if they're attentive and bring drink refills and clear plates regularly, 15%.

 

[mikehn]

In my opinion, the whole tipping thing is outta control. But to answer your question directly, between 15-20% depending on the service.

 

[eam]

Depends on the service I get. But usually 15%-18%.

 

[katybugsmom]

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate it!!!

 

[srwarden1928]

I leave 10% for buffets and 15% for sit-down service. Unless they did something special or the service was unusually poor.

 

[patti_jim_peanut]

I actually tend to leave 20-25% at a buffet. If only for the main fact that the one I regularly go to, I see our waitress get stiffed by at least one table everytime we go. And she's always there and always attentive. Stands to reason, that that is just an example of what happens in buffets everywhere so I tip that way at every buffet.

So I like to leave a little extra to make up for the jerks that think they can leave nothing(or cr*p) cause they picked out their own food and think that's all the waitress does. And no i'm not rich or well to do, but I believe that if you have enough money to go out to eat, then you should also theoretically, have enough money to leave a decent tip...if it is warranted of course!

And like a poster said ealier, she does more work than a regular waitress does. She has to get the order, get the drinks, take away your dozens of dirty plates, refill your drinks, refill the buffet with hot food, come get more dirty plates, you get the idea....lol

I'm very passionate about this subject....I should just avoid any post in the restaurant boards lol

And apparently i'm a thread hijacker, too There was a thread about strollers and somehow(I can't remember how!) the thread is now a bunch of crazy people calling each other ig'nant about views on tipping...

*Sigh*

 

[DOOM1001]

If they do their job well at least 18% for table service and 10% for buffet unless it's a cheap breakfast buffet like at a Ponderosa that costs $5 so the total bill comes out to like $30-$33 with drinks and tax,then instead of leaving 10% just leave $1 a head,so $4.

 

[TaraPA]

So I like to leave a little extra to make up for the jerks that think they can leave nothing(or cr*p) cause they picked out their own food and think that's all the waitress does.


And apparently i'm a thread hijacker, too There was a thread about strollers and somehow(I can't remember how!) the thread is now a bunch of crazy people calling each other ig'nant about views on tipping...

*Sigh*

I don't think you're a hijaker - you're entitled to your opinion & have every right to post it here - it's when you start calling us "jerks that leave nothing or crap" because we have a different opinion that people start throwing flames. To each their own!

And to the OP who said tipping is way out of control - you are so right!

 

[kaytieeldr]

And apparently i'm a thread hijacker, too There was a thread about strollers and somehow(I can't remember how!) the thread is now a bunch of crazy people calling each other ig'nant about views on tipping...

Oh, goody! Could you PM me the link, please? That's my kind of thread!

 

[patti_jim_peanut]

I don't think you're a hijaker - you're entitled to your opinion & have every right to post it here - it's when you start calling us "jerks that leave nothing or crap" because we have a different opinion that people start throwing flames. To each their own!

And to the OP who said tipping is way out of control - you are so right!

I wasn't calling anyone on here jerks, I was speaking from experience at buffets. And everyone has the right to have their own opinion whether they be generous or cheap. That's just how I happen to feel about people who leave nothing for a waitress that works hard.

Notice how nowhere in my post did i say that YOU had to tip 20-25%...I said I did...don't get so sensitive

Somebody needs a hug... or some tye-die cheesecake

 

[amwhitaker]

Depends on level of service. The buffets that I have been to have 2 different kinds of people, one who refills the buffet and then the waitress who brings drinks and takes plates. If we never see the waitress again after she brings our drinks, she gets less of a tip, but still gets one.

 

[TaraPA]

I wasn't calling anyone on here jerks, I was speaking from experience at buffets. And everyone has the right to have their own opinion whether they be generous or cheap. That's just how I happen to feel about people who leave nothing for a waitress that works hard.

Notice how nowhere in my post did i say that YOU had to tip 20-25%...I said I did...don't get so sensitive

Somebody needs a hug... or some tye-die cheesecake

Sorry, I thought you were referencing me directly because above I said that if there's no attendant I leave nothing, and if they don't do more than bring my drink I leave crap !! I'd never leave "nothing" if there was an attendant or waitress who was doing their job.

We can all agree to disagree !

 

[logansmummy]

We tip the standard 15-18%. Those servers make like $2.50 an hour. They have to pay tax on their sales, whether they get a tip or not. That is the law. I was a server for 6 years. It was brutal, I had times that I busted my butt and still got stiffed. Oh and one little extra "tip" cash tips are always better than credit card tips, they have to claim ALL the c.c. tips, they don't have to w/ cash they just have to claim the standard %.

 

[bcuinohio]

If you are on the DDP, 18% is the recommended tip on your receipt.

 

[marypoppinswannabe]

I usually try to tip about 18%. It goes up or down depending on the service and attitude of the server.

 

[smidgy]

I used to think 20%, for regular dining, 10% for buffets.... until... I recently worked buffets. if there is no bus boy and you have to refill drinks, clear away plates (and people OFTEN leave out plates with barely eaten food), and bus your own tables, you often are running yourself ragged. yes, you are not taking orders for food, but they take that into account when assigning tables. you have more tables assigned you, in normal dining, you take away one or two plates per person. buffets... you are constantly taking away plates full of uneaten food. and you have more tables assigned to you. and you still have to check on tables for drinks.
I rethink my philosophy.. I was WRONG (mea culpa to past servers) 20% for regular dining 15% for buffets. (more, of course, for exceptional service!)