Any Suggestions for Tipping at a Buffet

Quote: VCUSkyhawk

I disagree with a portion of Commandment 10. I won't say I am an anti-tipper. But I definitely would want the ability to make my point of view against those who say that tipping is always necessary.

Which reminded me of something that we discussed a little bit while we were in Vegas last week.

What are the "guidelines", if any, for tipping at a Buffet ?

This is probably covered somewhere on this site or at WoO, but I don't know where off-hand.

15 percent (or more) is pretty well established for a restaurant meal, right ?

And does it make any difference if the buffet has a self service drink station, so your server is only removing used dishes ?

For that matter, what should we do when confronted with "tip jars" at bakeries and other similar stores?

I think it is pure greed on their part, an unearned, unwarranted feeling of entitlement which is fueling the spread of this scourge.

We never tipped when buying bread or sweets before: why start now?

Quote: MrV

For that matter, what should we do when confronted with "tip jars" at bakeries and other similar stores?

I think it is pure greed on their part, an unearned, unwarranted feeling of entitlement which is fueling the spread of this scourge.

We never tipped when buying bread or sweets before: why start now?

I agree. I forgot what thread it was, but somebody said that tipping at places like Jersey Mike's should be expected. Sorry, it is not my place to supplement your minimum wage job.

Along the lines of tipping when gambling, if you stand there and stare at me while flipping cards you do not deserve a tip either.

I generally tip less at a buffet then a regular restaurant. The waitress is taking care of more tables because generally just getting drink orders.
I tip 1 to 2 bucks per person at a cheap 10 buck buffet.
average priced 20 buck buffet, I tip 2.
The expensive buffets, I may up it to 3 or 4 per person

$2 per person.

1-2$ per person is my standard, with bonus modifiers for service and mood.

I follow the same policy in VIP lounges, and actually tend towards the high end in there since I usually take a few drinks/snacks to go.

Quote: terapined

I generally tip less at a buffet then a regular restaurant. The waitress is taking care of more tables because generally just getting drink orders.
I tip 1 to 2 bucks per person at a cheap 10 buck buffet.
average priced 20 buck buffet, I tip 2.
The expensive buffets, I may up it to 3 or 4 per person

I tip at the buffet as well however why do you think they deserve it more then McDonalds workers who probably work harder?

I suggest tipping $1 per drink brought to you. If you get a soda, and you get five refills, that a $5 tip. If you're trying to save money and tell her "no drink just water is fine, I'm on a budget" hopefully she will understand if you leave $0.50 or $1.

I have made this point before about tipping at the craps table. It's no harder to push around a black chip than it is to push around a red chip.

You should tip according to the amount of work spent pushing chips around, not your own financial means and good fortune.

This rule works really well in a buffet scenario. $1 per drink. Easy.

Servers get pissed off when they see that you might have a couple thousand bucks and you tipped poorly. But that is not an entitlement to them (that YOU have money).

I tipped $5 for a drink at a $25 Bellagio craps table (a red bull with no ice). But this was mostly because I didn't want to ask for change after I failed to prepare ahead of time to get her a dollar. Normally, I tip $1 per drink and no exceptions. It wasn't because I wasn't using white chips and felt like $5 is no big deal. $5 is a big deal no matter how much money I have on the rail. And $1 per drink brought to me is enough, even if the buffet costs $45(!!!)

I usually tip 1-2 bucks a person at a buffet no matter what the price is

Usually $3 for 2 of us. If service was slow, $1 each. For Vegas this is probably a little below average. I'd assume the average at run of the mill buffets is $2 a person. And if drinks are self serve, $2 max for the two of us.

Quote: Ahigh

I suggest tipping $1 per drink brought to you. If you get a soda, and you get five refills, that a $5 tip.

I like this idea, which means for those buffets with self-service drink machines, no tip at all.
If you find the table yourself, get the food yourself, get the drink & refills yourself, and no one ever come taking the used dishes away,
why do you need to tip? And the real question is: tip to whom?

We always tip $4 at every buffet. Watch other
people when they leave and how many of them
never tip at all, even though they bothered the
staff multiple times to get them something.

Quote: AxelWolf

I tip at the buffet as well however why do you think they deserve it more then McDonalds workers who probably work harder?

I actually dont think they desreve it more then Mcdonalds, its more of a tradition thing and expectation thing.
Its a restaurant atmosphere rather then fast food atmosphere so I follow the tradition of tipping.
Also buffet servers have an expectation of a tip where at Mcdonalds they dont.

Funny thing, alot times when eating out I like to eat at the bar in a restaurant. Bartender doesn't have to work hard for me, I typically order a coke, easy drink, no walk. Usually its somebody else that brings my food since I'm at the bar. Bartender does less work then a buffet server and I typically tip over 15 percent. I figure out 15 percent, add it to the bill and round up to the next dollar.

Quote pokerface:

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If you find the table yourself, get the food yourself, get the drink & refills yourself, and no one ever come taking the used dishes away

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If that were the case it would probably mean......I am at home?

Funny we pay to the people whose main job being to get you to leave. If it was all self-serve I believe people would stay longer. I go about $1-2 per $10 spent for the table.

I the day at Foxwoods/Mohegan Sun I'd tip $2-$3 cash at table. The table-runners/servers are pretty low-end service jobs.

At a buffet, I generally tip about 10% if I'm paying, or 20% if it's comped.

I get mailers from the local store for buffet dinner for the family once a week, for the three of us (2 grups, 1 little), it's a $10 tip on what would be a $45 check.

I definitely notice that a lot (30-60%?) of other parties not tipping or tipping significantly less; I also notice that my drinks get refilled more quickly and my plates get bussed promptly, so I'm buying better service rather than just giving money away for nothing.

Quote: petroglyph

If that were the case it would probably mean......I am at home?

Not necessarily.
I had that kind of experience at more than one Strip buffets.
During my 30 or so minutes dinner time, never seen a waiter/waitress/service-person coming to my table.
It didn't bother me though.

Quote: Ahigh

I have made this point before about tipping at the craps table. It's no harder to push around a black chip than it is to push around a red chip.

You ignore the mass-specie-fiat equivalency, as defined by the Law of Universal Inflation.

That said, I tip more when I get a discounted or free buffet.

All this talk about tipping reminds me of a story of a big Hollywood star who was checking into his hotel suite. He asked the bell boy what was the biggest tip that you ever received?

The bell boy replied $100.

The Hollywood star said well "here's $200".

The bell boy thanked him and was ready to leave and the Hollywood actor said...."one other thing. Who was the person who gave you the $100 tip"?

The bell boy replied.....YOU!!!!

Quote: FatGeezus

All this talk about tipping reminds me of a story of a big Hollywood star who was checking into his hotel suite. He asked the bell boy what was the biggest tip that you ever received?

The bell boy replied $100.

The Hollywood star said well "here's $200".

The bell boy thanked him and was ready to leave and the Hollywood actor said...."one other thing. Who was the person who gave you the $100 tip"?

The bell boy replied.....YOU!!!!

(:

I used to know a moyel who didn't charge for circumcisions. He only took tips.

I give 20% at buffets. Always. Of course, I get the discount and the buffet is $10