Katiebell
Seriously *Ahem*
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2007
- Messages
- 1,823
Good Housekeeping, Peggy Post: "At a buffet, ten percent of the bill is customary. But as with tipping in general, stick to the formula only if the waiter is attentive, appearing promptly when you need him. If he provides extra-good service, then you could tip him more. But if he neglects to refill your water glass or is missing in action when you're ready for the check, feel free to give less."
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food/manners/buffet-tipping-oct01
Tipping.org: "5% to 10% of the total bill is suggested. This depends heavily on exactly how much work is done by the waitstaff. In some restaurants, the waitstaff does very little. Usually is simply bringing fresh linen and/or utensils. In some other restaurants, the staff brings drinks, and some orders from the kitchen directly."
http://www.tipping.org/tips/buffet.html
Dear Abby: "DEAR ABBY: If I go to a buffet restaurant, how much of a tip should I leave at the table? I want to do it right. My friends have told me that because this is a kind of "self-serve" restaurant, we can leave whatever amount we like. I am ... CONFUSED IN WESTMINSTER, CALIF.
DEAR CONFUSED: If you want to "do it right," leave 10 percent."
http://www.tipping.org/discus4/messages/9/3080.html
Robin Gifford: "There is no need to tip the traditional 15 - 20 percent at a buffet. However, it is appropriate and optimal to tip something. The waitress is still serving and some of the tip probably is shared with the bussing staff. I suggest 10 percent."
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Social-Etiquette-Good-2570/Buffet-Tipping.htm
Peter Post: (quoted from an article in today's Wall Street Journal) The appropriate tip is 10%, says Peter Post, a director of the Emily Post Institute. That's less than the 15% to 20% you would tip a server during a typical restaurant meal because the buffet server isn't doing all the work involved in serving you, including bringing you your food. Still, he says, a tip is necessary because the server during a buffet is still generally providing some service such as clearing your plates, bringing water and taking drink orders. The tip also should always be calculated off the pretax amount regardless of whether you're dining at a buffet or a full service meal. "You don't want to pay a tip on the tax," says Mr. Post.
http://soundmoneytips.com/article/3441-tip-for-tipping-at-buffet-restaurants
CNN.com: "Breakfasts and buffets. Even if it's a self-service meal, you need to tip. If the help is just pouring tea, you still tip. However, this can be 10 percent. Leave something at a buffet, even if it's a small amount -- just not coins."
http://archives.cnn.com/2001/CAREER/corporateclass/07/13/tipping/
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I am providing these citations specifically to answer your question about what experts suggest 10%. For the record, I tip 10% only for the most basic service, and if the server is attentive, quick to bus dirty dishes, quick to refill drinks, friendly, knowledgeable about the food, etc, I will increase the tip accordingly. But that's my personal choice; I would not dictate to others how to tip at a buffet.
Miss Manners feels you should tip whatever you tip at a full service restaurant -- 15%-20%. She is the only well-known etiquette expert that does not agree with the 10% guideline.
Disney indicates that 18% is the appropriate tip -- that's what it was when the tip was included on the DDP, and that's what the automatic gratuity charge is for parties of 6 or more, even at a buffet.
The 18% was included but we were always leaving extra at every meal 10 - $20 so they were getting a very good tip, but in this instance we didnt leave extra, if the tip had not been included i would have left 5$ just to make a point- one dollar for each person in our party....
