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Basically when the check comes my friends & I will add everything up and divide the total by the number of folks I'm with, calculate the tip (20% minimum), and thank each other for being such great company as we head for the door.
That's the way I've always done it, and of course someone always pays a little more, and someone pays a little less, but if the friends love each other, well, everyone tries not to be abusive, and you don't really look at that stuff too much.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marv101
Basically when the check comes my friends & I will add everything up and divide the total by the number of folks I'm with, calculate the tip (20% minimum), and thank each other for being such great company as we head for the door.
The easiest way is always to carry cash--that way you can pay what you owe, plus whatever tip you want to leave, and give the cash to the person paying with a card.
If that doesn't work, splitting up front is a good way. I usually tip a little extra for that anyway.
When this has happened to me I always pipe up with, "Let's split the check, but since you had drinks (or steaks or whatever is the most obvious, simply stated overage), why don't you leave the tip?" I've never yet had anyone refuse or dump me from future dinners. I think people know they went over, they just want to avoid the ugly business of doing the math. (Have you ever been with someone who dragged out a calculator, lol.) I do, though, always peek and make sure they left enough of a tip to cover properly and if they didn't, I leave cash on the table under my place. No reason for the server to suffer.
That is smooth! And no unpleasantness about it, either.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jukesgrrl
When this has happened to me I always pipe up with, "Let's split the check, but since you had drinks (or steaks or whatever is the most obvious, simply stated overage), why don't you leave the tip?" I've never yet had anyone refuse or dump me from future dinners. I think people know they went over, they just want to avoid the ugly business of doing the math. (Have you ever been with someone who dragged out a calculator, lol.) I do, though, always peek and make sure they left enough of a tip to cover properly and if they didn't, I leave cash on the table under my place. No reason for the server to suffer.
I think it is rude to pretend to be oblivious to the fact that your share of the bill might be much larger and pretend yours is an equal share.
I totally disagree with the treatment you gave your coworker.
I agree, people who have real class will speak up and say "oh I had three drinks and an appetizer, I need to pay more".
I was in a situation once where I had a burger and a soft drink, it was about 10 people. The one who ordered several drinks, an appetizer and a steak did a "let's just split the check".
I believe my burger, soft drink, and tip cost me about $50.
That's not right. And in my experience it's always the people who really ran up the bill are the ones eager to split it...LOL.
I will split with people that i eat out with consistently, like good friends, family or co-workers. I believe in the "everything balances out" principal.
If its a larger group of people, party i'm diplomatic and will voice my concern when the check arrives, whether i order more or less than average; something like "to be fair, should we split or put in what you ate/drank, since some people may have ordered less than others." But in these situations, i'll typically order drinks, apps, etc to hedge my bets anyways.
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