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I guess this is "relationship" oriented in that, for 45 minutes, you and your server are relating to each other.
Ok, I know the standard is 15 % for good service. It can be higher if the service was exceptional.
However, when a person goes to a brunch or a buffet where you serve yourself and your server only brings you drinks, how much should one tip?
I've always tipped 10 % under this scenario. It seems reasonable, given that they didn't go to the kitchen and handle any entree plates or create a dessert.
If I go to a buffet type place, I usually tip about $5-6 depending on how much service there is... i.e is there a server who brings drinks? Or are drinks self service too. Do the bus boys come and clear the plates often?
I normally tip whatever I feel is warranted. I've been to Amish restraunts and ask them whether tipping is appropriate, as I didn't want to offend them if it wasn't (it was OK). Anyway, I've tipped more than the bill, and I've tipped nothing. 15% is standard, but some places are better than others. To get service when it's not given, I've said "I see you aren't working for a tip, huh?" I hate to go to a place where they treat me like an intruder, then ask if I'd like to leave a tip on the receipt. I then say, "What for? The service was terrible." That should make it better for the next customer.
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Anyway, I've tipped more than the bill, and I've tipped nothing. 15% is standard, but some places are better than others.
I've gone 0% to 20%, myself, with it usually being 15%. Usually, to round up to a normal amount, it ends up being a little more than 15 % in a normal sit down restaurant.
Zero is extremely rare...they had to have been outright rude or make a maddening series of careless mistakes that I brought to their attention.
With a buffet, say it was in Reno at a casino. If it was $ 12 and I was by myself, and they just come in, say hello, shove me a Coke, I might leave a buck. I seem to be doing all the work... or am I being tacky?
I have never left a zero tip.. even if service was horrible, I would leave about 10%. A lot of stuff is not the servers fault, and as long as the server tries their best to make the best out of a bad situation, then I cannot leave them a bad tip.
If I were by myself at a buffet, I would leave $2-$3, more likely $3. For buffet, I tip on a per person basis, as opposed to a percentage of the bill.
Well if it is a buffet where I have to get the drinks too and the only thing the server does is take the dirty plates, then I leave about a buck per person. If the server gets the drinks and shows up enough where my cup isn’t dry all the time, then I add a couple more to the total.
I tip standard 15% if it is standard service at restaurants. To the two places where I am a known regular and receive the service I am used too, then I tip in the 18-25% range. But I’m only a known regular at 2 places that we frequent about 3-6 times a month and we get awesome service and it isn’t uncommon for my kids to get free deserts and for a drink or two to be missing from the bill.
If the service is poor or below par, then the tip is less than 15% and I wont hesitate to tell someone why. If the service is horrible, then I will walk away without tipping. I’ve only done it a few times and have complained to the management each time. And that was when service was bad and the server had a bad attitude. I also don’t base it on how slow the kitchen staff is on preparing the food or on the quality of the food, I base it on the contact I have with the server, bad service=not a good tip, good service=good tip.
I usually tip 15 - 20%, more if the service is outstanding, less if it's bad. For buffets, I'll leave $1 - $3, depending on how nice a place it is and how much the server had to do.
And tying this into the "relationship" theme and a recent thread -- a deal breaker for me is if a guy leaves a really cheap tip. My dad did that all the time, and it lead to frequent arguments in the car ride back home. He thought he was superior to restaurant servers, and cheap tipping says a lot someone's personality (unless the service was horrible).
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