How do you handle paying when eating out in a group?

[MrSquished]

It's interesting how lot of people even split, first time I ever hear of that TBH.

I'm a little new to it as well. Splitting the bill can be such a pain, depending on how many people and payment methods. Eventually it got to the point that I started doing the math and often enough an even split is close enough. It should all even out in the end for you after doing it multiple times.

 

[IronWing]

Generally separate checks. The reason is two fold; 1) the folks buying alcohol tend to buy a lot and I ain't subsidizing someone else's problem (how's that for being a self righteous prick?), and 2) there is always a someone or two (always women) who don't factor tip and tax into their share.

 

[louis redfoot]

pre-full-time working, usually went dutch. then usually split evenly. now, i don't pay (umm, i have food at home)

 

[Capt Caveman]

How do you pay if everyone has a credit card?

90% of the places I've gone they'll evenly split the bill across as many credit cards you provide them.

 

[nutxo]

If I invite someone I pay. If someone invites me I expect them to pay but if they do the separate check thing I don't complain. I just make fun of them later. Lunch is different though.

We are talking about dinner, right?

 

[turtile]

I usually just have one person pay and everyone splits up with cash/Paypal etc. As someone who works as a server part of the year, it's really annoying to run a million separate checks. It takes longer to ring in, and swiping the cards and setting up the books takes a few minutes which not only backs up your service to other guests but stops other servers from using the POS (you can't speed it up since you have to wait for processing, especially with chips).

The two most annoying things about multiple checks are when people order 3+ drinks, apps and entree and expect you to remember everything for all eight people (they never say they want separate checks until the end) and when they ask for separate checks and decide to continually switch seats to make it extremely confusing.

I've also noticed that most people can barely do math, even though they have a phone (calculator) to use...

 

[tynopik]

avoid groups

problem solved

 

[Spacehead]

It's very common around here that the wait staff asks upfront if it'll be one or separate checks. If it's all on one then usually even split.

 

[Ackmed]

WTF is this even a question? They give separate bills for each person/couple. I pay for what I eat/drink and not anyone else. Bringing a few ticket books is not that hard, and done all the time. Seems like common sense.

I will say that in Italy, it was like pulling teeth and most of the time they wouldn't do it. We'd just have to pay in one lump sum, which was annoying. Not everyone had the Euro's on hand, or wanted to put the entire bill on their card.

 

[Thebobo]

 

[Chaotic42]

I don't like doing even split because I usually order the pricier things. I'd rather pay my own way.

 

[MrSquished]

WTF is this even a question? They give separate bills for each person/couple. I pay for what I eat/drink and not anyone else. Bringing a few ticket books is not that hard, and done all the time. Seems like common sense.

I will say that in Italy, it was like pulling teeth and most of the time they wouldn't do it. We'd just have to pay in one lump sum, which was annoying. Not everyone had the Euro's on hand, or wanted to put the entire bill on their card.

If you go to another country, get a guidebook which tells you the traditions there for dining and tipping so you can be prepared with cash in this case of Italy. When you travel, you need to respect the local customs, not be the ugly American.

Not all restaurants do separated checks on large parties. It could take a server quite a bit of time to run separate checks and then run all those separate cards/cash for a party of 8-10, depending upon their computer system. That amount of time in the waiter business is huge and will for sure adversely affect their service to their other tables, hurting their bottom line bigly.

 

[Ackmed]

If you go to another country, get a guidebook which tells you the traditions there for dining and tipping so you can be prepared with cash in this case of Italy. When you travel, you need to respect the local customs, not be the ugly American.

Not all restaurants do separated checks on large parties. It could take a server quite a bit of time to run separate checks and then run all those separate cards/cash for a party of 8-10, depending upon their computer system. That amount of time in the waiter business is huge and will for sure adversely affect their service to their other tables, hurting their bottom line bigly.

I do try to blend in, I don't try to make them bend to me. Some countries is easier. While in Nigeria for about a month I didn't see another white person other that the four of us. Hard to blend in. In Germany, easier to blend in and they had no issues splitting checks. I did read up, but I didn't even think of check splitting. I did read that they don't tip. Felt weird, but I didn't. I always try to blend in, I try to abide by the countries customs, its just respectful.

I understand the time of getting separate checks, but feel like the inconvenience should be on them and not the customer. Its really not that hard though, from what I have seen when they do it. Hit some keys, get print outs. I know tipping around is here is frowned upon, but I do. I tip well if they serve well, so I feel like its worth it for them. Paying evenly when not everyone ordered the same is silly to me. They even split apps easily onto two checks, its not that hard.

I don't like doing even split because I usually order the pricier things. I'd rather pay my own way.

That is how I feel. I almost always get steak when going out to eat, unless it's a wing place or something. I don't get sirloin, I get higher end steaks. If I don't get steak, its seafood. I don't drink beer, so if I am drinking its liquor. Not cheap stuff, I prefer higher end. My meals are usually expensive and I don't feel like splitting even is fair.

 

[louis redfoot]

in asia, there are hot dog stands where you can roll the dice and either pay more, or eat for free

 

[UncleWai]

in asia, there are hot dog stands where you can roll the dice and either pay more, or eat for free

Asian hot dog is the real deal, it's hot and it's dog.

 

[Wuzup101]

Not all restaurants do separated checks on large parties. It could take a server quite a bit of time to run separate checks and then run all those separate cards/cash for a party of 8-10, depending upon their computer system. That amount of time in the waiter business is huge and will for sure adversely affect their service to their other tables, hurting their bottom line bigly.

We always tell them in advance if we want separate checks (honestly most of the time they ask when we first are seated). In all honesty, they are doing the same amount of work that they would be doing if we were broken into smaller parties, so I don't see what the big deal is. Would most waiters rather wait on 5 2tops or a single 10 top?

In the end, if they refuse to split the bill, I'll happily leave 0 tip or just walk out. Not going to pretend that I'm the one performing the service in this situation. If you want your tip, feel free to put in that extra effort.

With close groups of friends one of us just usually pays and we settle up with venmo or paypal. This is what we usually do for group vacations... just make a spreadsheet and get it all squared away after the trip is over.

 

[Cappuccino]

Asian hot dog is the real deal, it's hot and it's dog.

its xpensive and its not even called hot dog its called lat chern or what ever its called and its fatty as hell dunno why granny hunt for xpensive Asian sausages its bad for their health

 

[turtile]

I understand the time of getting separate checks, but feel like the inconvenience should be on them and not the customer. Its really not that hard though, from what I have seen when they do it. Hit some keys, get print outs. I know tipping around is here is frowned upon, but I do. I tip well if they serve well, so I feel like its worth it for them. Paying evenly when not everyone ordered the same is silly to me. They even split apps easily onto two checks, its not that hard.

Sure, it's not that hard but it's time consuming service wise. When I serve, I have 30-40 covers when it's busy. So when I have to spend extra splitting up 8 checks for 25% of my covers, it hurts service. Our systems are easier for a bunch of single checks on bars (use a tab system) rather than table service. And you just don't hit a few keys once, you have to spit them all, click on each one to print, then when the cards come back, you have to select each one, run the card - wait for it to process and repeat - and when they finish, you have to enter the tip amount in each check before you close out the check for the next table that is sat.

The question is, how long do you expect to wait for a server to return with something simple? An extra napkin - but I have to ring in eight cards that will take 2 minutes no matter haw fast I go. So that customer is just going to be waiting extra long - 1 card takes 15 seconds.

Yes, some POS systems are much better but not every restaurant has a good system. Most still run Windows XP Embedded...

 

[Ackmed]

in asia, there are hot dog stands where you can roll the dice and either pay more, or eat for free

No idea what they were cooking, but I ate it. Street food in Nigeria;

Buddy who ate with me got liquid shit for 3 days. Said he could feel his pulse in his lower back when shitting. I was ok, lucky I guess. They said not to eat the street food, but had to try? No idea what it was.

Sure, it's not that hard but it's time consuming service wise. When I serve, I have 30-40 covers when it's busy. So when I have to spend extra splitting up 8 checks for 25% of my covers, it hurts service. Our systems are easier for a bunch of single checks on bars (use a tab system) rather than table service. And you just don't hit a few keys once, you have to spit them all, click on each one to print, then when the cards come back, you have to select each one, run the card - wait for it to process and repeat - and when they finish, you have to enter the tip amount in each check before you close out the check for the next table that is sat.

The question is, how long do you expect to wait for a server to return with something simple? An extra napkin - but I have to ring in eight cards that will take 2 minutes no matter haw fast I go. So that customer is just going to be waiting extra long - 1 card takes 15 seconds.

Yes, some POS systems are much better but not every restaurant has a good system. Most still run Windows XP Embedded...

Sorry, but I am the customer. I don't want to pay in a lump sum, it shouldn't be expected. I never mind to wait for anything if the sever is trying, hustling along. When they're chatting with other servers or on their phone, then I mind. Their tip suffers. I do always tip t though, and if the person does well, I tip well. I don't go by percentage of the check. I tip on how good they were.

 

[turtile]

Sorry, but I am the customer. I don't want to pay in a lump sum, it shouldn't be expected. I never mind to wait for anything if the sever is trying, hustling along. When they're chatting with other servers or on their phone, then I mind. Their tip suffers. I do always tip t though, and if the person does well, I tip well. I don't go by percentage of the check. I tip on how good they were.

I always take care of the customer, I'm just explaining that it does take up a lot of time - and although the minority, some customers get upset when they can't get an extra side of dressing in less than two minutes.

There are a good amount of servers who just don't care. This especially annoys me when they don't restock what they use (ice, cups, syrup, trash).

 

[Ackmed]

I don't doubt there are people who are jackasses in regards to customers. I'm sure there are in servers too, have had my share. I understand what you are saying, I do. I have never been a server myself, have friends who have. Closest thing was working at Little Caesars during high school. I just don't want to burden the guys I am out with if sharing a tab. Sorry to say, I'd rather burden the server. That and I never carry cash unless I know I am going out to eat. I try to leave tip in cash because no tax and they get it immediately. I feel like I am helping them, not getting a tip on check. Maybe I am wrong.

 

[turtile]

I don't doubt there are people who are jackasses in regards to customers. I'm sure there are in servers too, have had my share. I understand what you are saying, I do. I have never been a server myself, have friends who have. Closest thing was working at Little Caesars during high school. I just don't want to burden the guys I am out with if sharing a tab. Sorry to say, I'd rather burden the server. That and I never carry cash unless I know I am going out to eat. I try to leave tip in cash because no tax and they get it immediately. I feel like I am helping them, not getting a tip on check. Maybe I am wrong.

It's only difficult when a server is busy. But most of the problem is due to bad software, chip cards and lack of hardware (two computers used by five people). Cash definitely helps (if it's over 15%). The system will log 9% of sales as taxes regardless. It assumes that the minimum you'll get is 15% and 6% is gone from tipping out food runners, bartenders and bussers.