Buffet Tipping Etiquette?

I disagree with the others for a simple reason. When you go to a buffet, the amount that you would normally pay for all that food you ate is probably about twice what you paid for it. Plus the point you non't really see those servers sitting down, do you? They are still bustin the behinds off. For that reason, I give them about 15%. Now that is higher than some of the others but I will just bet you the next time you visit them, your drink glasses will be constantly filled and your table cleared as soon as you empty a plate. z

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RE:

Buffet Tipping Etiquette?

you eat at a buffet $25 per person-bill is $50. How much tip do you leave? 20%-$10 or do you leave less since all they did was clear the table and bring you a drink or no tip at all?

Okay, these are all of the misconceptions of buffet tipping that I was afraid of. I work at a buffet, and trust me, we definitely SURVIVE on tips. We do not take your order, or bring your food out, but we do make sure that you have a satisfactory experience and have everything you need. We usually have a bigger section than servers do at full service restaurants, so we are responsible for making more people happy at once. We ask you how you are doing, make sure you were able to find everything okay, refill your drinks, keep your table cleaned off while you eat, smile for your benefit, and bus your table after you leave. Behind the scenes, we are responsible for keeping everything clean, keeping the coffee and tea made, filling the ice, cleaning the bathroom, keeping the bar clean, sweeping the floor constantly. If you throw up, we have to clean it up, too. We also sort every piece of silverware used and roll all of it. There is probably more I'm not mentioning, but believe me, our job is far from easy. And then you get that jerk that feels like he has to treat you like crap just because he doesn't want to leave a tip. ALL OF THIS, folks... is done for $2.13 per hour, which is then eaten up by taxes by the time you get your check. So, even at a buffet, it is customary to tip AT LEAST $1 per person. But honestly, with a $12 meal, 20% would be $2.40 per person. $1 is less than 10%, which could be perceived as an insult. Remember we are there to make your experience a good one, that is why we are hired, the restaurant could not run without us. But we do it for $2.13 an hour. P.S. 15-20% tip applies to big parties also. If you leave a big mess, leave more of a tip to make up for it because I don't see you asking for a broom to clean up after yourself. If your server made your day a little better, or was just very good, leave a little more to show you appreciate them. It still shocks me the times when I will have one table of two people leave me $1, while I have a person that is by themself leave me a $5 bill.

The quality of service should always come into play when determining a "proper" tip. A $25 per person buffet is not particularly expensive nor is it inexpensive. Many Chinese buffets in our area charge $6 to $7.50 per person before sales tax. If you were to tip $1 per diner, that would be in the neighborhood of 15%.

For a $25 dinner, $1 would be inadequate and most likely rude. For two diners, i would leave $7.50, once again 15%. You can adjust up or down depending on whether or not they were prompt in clearing used plates and refilling beverages. Be sure to take a peek at how large their section is too. Sometimes even slow service is not their fault but that of management.

Also, keep in mind, that the server is never responsible for the quality or quantity of food available.

They brought you a drink and cleared, thats half of being a waitress/waiter anyway. And how about when you go to a restaurant and a separate person brings your food and clears the table? You don't tip any less in that case, do you? So I'd just say, tip the same, buffet or not.

IF we get good service we leave 5% at a buffet...

At proper restaurants IF we get good service we leave 15%

There is no tipping at take-out.

All figures calculated on amount before tax of course.

For a buffet, the general guideline is $1 per person, but i usually leave more than that..

I would just leave a 5. If you made a huge mess on the floor add like 3 bucks to the 5.

I would leave $5 dollars thats good enough