Tipping at a Buffet -- How much is enough?

[Linux23]

if i have to get my own food, then NO TIP!

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: pyonir
for the people asking how they can work harder at a self serve buffet: it's because they usually have 2-3 times more tables than if you had a server.

DING DING DING. When i work like easter brunch, i dont stop moving for the entire time I'm working. 10-12.5% is standard tip, although plenty leave the full 15-20%.

 

[poopaskoopa]

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: pyonir
for the people asking how they can work harder at a self serve buffet: it's because they usually have 2-3 times more tables than if you had a server.

DING DING DING. When i work like easter brunch, i dont stop moving for the entire time I'm working. 10-12.5% is standard tip, although plenty leave the full 15-20%.

I normally tip about 15-18%.

 

[Kelemvor]

Tipping is simple. You tip based on the service the water provided to you.

In most buffets, there is a big table with lots of food and you go get it yourself. If that's the case, I wodln't tip anything.
In some buffets you get your own food but they bring you the drinks. In that case you could tip a small amount.
If they bring you the food, then it's not a buffet, it's just an all you can eat restaurant in which case you should tip like any other restaurant.

 

[stev0]

I've never tipped at a buffet. I was hired to my job and get paid accordingly without gratuity, people that bus dishes at buffets are hired as so, why tip? it's their job.

 

[kyparrish]

i try to tip ~15%

 

[Ranger X]

Originally posted by: stev0
I've never tipped at a buffet. I was hired to my job and get paid accordingly without gratuity, people that bus dishes at buffets are hired as so, why tip? it's their job.

Then we can argue that we shouldn't tip any waiter because they're just doing their job.

 

[Atomicus]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: Atomicus
The waitor taking your order AND seating you is a service. And it is expected of the waitor to seat you at a buffet, and at a buffet seating is all that matters. Be a dick about the tip, they'll be dicks and seat you as slowly as possible the next round. Also, if you were working a job which relied on the tip as a big portion of your pay, then you would have a different view.

Please don't rebut, STEP IN THEIR SHOES. Period.

I will rebut. None of the buffets in my area seat customers, take orders, or provide drinks. First come, first serve, grab a plate and head for the line.
And while I understand that some states allow waiters to be paid less, in Oregon, Washington, and California, waiters still receive regular minimum wage by law ($7.05/hr in Oregon).

Oh... and I've worked straight commission sales for the last 10 years, so I think I know all about the correlation between customer service and my paycheck. Earn your money or STFU.

$7.05/hr is no way to live unless you're living in a single apartment or in your parents's basement. So.... what do you sell?

Who the hell just steps into a buffet and gets a plate right on the line? Are you trying to get yourself kicked out of the buffet? Its obvious that you've been eating at Hog-trough Buffet and not at a buffet with enough common sense to NOT let customers just walk in, take food, and seat themselves. I'm not surprised that the buffets you're referring to aren't out of business.

Originally posted by: EpsiIon
Owned. I agree with you completely. Tipping is supposed to be a bonus for good service, isn't it? I don't think a person should ever feel REQUIRED to tip anything. I usually tip about 15%, but if the service is really, really crappy (i.e. waiter is extremely rude and/or negligent), I won't tip at all. Thankfully, these situations are few and far between, so there's often a decent tip.

True, if you receive bad/poor service, you don't give as much tip. Not requiring a tip is probably just one of the many causes of our socio-economic troubles. STEP IN THEIR SHOES. I'm pretty sure waiting tables won't be the highlight of your career let alone your life. However, they do deserve appreciation. If they're waiting tables, chances are they aren't making as much as they want to live a mediocre life. Throw them a bone.... oh wait, you're also anti-humanitarian right? We're not required to feed the needy nor shelter them. We're not required to say thank you after someone does us a favor/service?

So I guess we're not required to tip because we think the service they give us is WORTH NOTHING TO BEGIN WITH.

 

[Kelemvor]

Originally posted by: Ranger X

Originally posted by: stev0
I've never tipped at a buffet. I was hired to my job and get paid accordingly without gratuity, people that bus dishes at buffets are hired as so, why tip? it's their job.

Then we can argue that we shouldn't tip any waiter because they're just doing their job.

That's a true statement. You don't tip for them doing their job. You tip them for doing it well. If they just did their job and were slow, moped around, messed up the order, etc... THey wouldn't get a tip, but they are still doing their job. However if they are fast, get the order right, check in often for refills, are friendly, etc, then they get a bigger tip.

 

[Vic]

:roll:

Look, tipping is not charity, it is not welfare, it is not an entitlement. It is their job. They are not doing me a favor. They are doing their job. When I go to a restaurant, I am the customer. If anything, I am doing them a favor by patronizing their establishment. I could easily take my money and patronage elsewhere.
If they don't think they are getting paid enough, they should do what everyone else does and get another job.
If they do their job properly, and provide at least the semblance of courteous and proper service, then I will always tip generously. If they are rude, or provide improper service which they refuse to rectify or apologize for, then I will stiff. Such instances are very rare, but appropriate treatment for someone who refuses to do their job properly IMO.
What bothers me most is the common negative attitude of servers nowadays. For example, the other day I was at a bar and got a $3 pint of microbrew. I paid cash and offered a $0.50 tip (16.67%). The bartender snubbed it and said that the minimum tip should be a dollar. Excuse me? A dollar on a $3 beer is 33.33%. A bit high IMO for the quick and simple job pouring a beer. I took my 50 cents back.
When I worked restaurant a long, long time ago, I did my job quickly and properly, I treated everyone courteously, thanked each and every customer, and never counted my tips until the end of the night. Surprise, surprise! I always made more than everyone else. I wonder why?

 

[Atomicus]

Yup... lets keep complaining about tips and let the politicians complain about poverty. Is that all?