What would have you done?

Question

A couple of weeks ago, my boyfriend, his brother and I went to a Chinese buffet for lunch. His brother got there before we did and started eating and when we got there, we also started eating. Anyway, his brother had to leave to go to work before we were ready to leave and he asked the lady for the bill. She brought it and it had all three meals on it and he told her that we weren't paying together and after he finally got it through to her what he was trying to say, she said $10 (which was actually more than his share of the bill) and went on to say that the $10 didn't include her tip. I personally thought that this was quite rude of her and that a tip was a gratuity and not a must. I personally would have only given her the tip of telling her not to be so rude as to ask for a tip, but he still gave her a $3 tip. What would have you done?

where we live, there is no laws about tips (I have never heard of such)

Answer 1

I would have gone to the front desk and found out exactly how much the buffet was per person including the drink and tax........then I would have taken the exact money handed it to her and told her that if she wants tips try waitressing in a real rest. I am a fine dining waitress and it drives me nuts to have to tip people in a buffet type rest...........especially when I have plates stacked on the table....I don't mind it when my plated are cleared and they fill my drink but I don't feel that I should tip my usual 20-25 percent because they are not serving me...........I usually just leave a few dollars. Its ridiculous that they expect a waitress tip.........they are no more than bussers

Answer 2

When splitting a bill, if you're going to do it by entrees, then that's what the waitress should do. It's not up to her to decide how to split the bill. Also, tipping IS NOT required. It's just considered polite. However, you have to give good service to get a good tip. If you give bad service, you get no tip and that's just that. Lastly, tipping isn't that big of a deal at a buffet restaurant, assuming you ate at the buffet. If you got an entree, by all means tip because they served you but a smaller tip if acceptable if you got the buffet since they didn't really serve you. 5% or 10% is generally good if you ate at the buffet. Ultimately though, tipping is left up to the customer. Keep in mind that sometimes restaurants include gratuity on their checks and so she might have just been informing you that it wasn't included and not necessarily gunning for a large tip.

Answer 3

First I would have taken an egg roll and rammed it down her throat for talking like that. I would have probably threatened to leave with-out paying then see if she wanted her tip. I'm not sure if there is actually a tipping law. The suggestion in the US is 15 to 18 %. I still believe it should be earned. I tip well. if the service is good. What wait service do you get at a buffet??? They bring you a drink and then never check to see if you need another? I have never tipped at a buffet style restaurant because they don't provide you with any service.

Answer 4

You should NOT be going to a restaurant if you are so tight with money that you feel like writing all the stuff and ask about it, when its been only 3 $!!!

If it had been a tip of 30$ then maybe you could have given her less than the usual 10% share of the bill.

Giving less to a waiter who is underpaid and sometimes needs the tip to get along...
well thats just cheap, no offense!

Answer 5

Something to think about==you should always be nice to people that have access to your food and drink. Servers have memories like elephants. They get paid around two dollars an hour and the taxes on what the government supposes their tips are come out of that two dollars and most servers are issued paychecks that say VOID. So if they seem to care about their tips, they should. How would you feel if your employment worked the same. That server was wrong, definitely. But most of the general dining out public treat servers like they shouldnt care about their money and livelihood. Did you ever stop to think that maybe they are wondering where the money to feed their children is coming from when they spend all day or night or both to wait on nitpickers who try to get out of paying for their meals, much less a tip?

Answer 6

A tip is a way of showing you gratitude for great service. If you are not happy with the service, don't tip! The waitress already receives a paycheck, and the restaurant already receives their money for the food, etc... So, in you not tipping, nobody is losing money. Also, I would have told the waitress she was being rude. That way she can work on her manners & maybe receive a tip next time... when she deserves it!

Answer 7

Legally, you don't have to give a tip. And the server was rude to bring it up. However, a tip is considered standard (servers in the US are paid around $2 an hour, typically, and only make a living through tips). Sorry, but if you don't tip a server in the US, you are a cretin. Tips should only be withheld for abyssmal service.

You don't typically need to tip for a buffet unless they bring you drinks throughout your meal.

Answer 8

I don't know about legally, you aren't legally obligated to tip anything. However, morally its right. Since you were at a buffet and not a regular restuarant, its custom to tip $1-$2 per person in your party. Since she was rude and requested a tip though, I wouldn't have tipped her anymore than $1 and told her to use than to buy some new manners.

Answer 9

I only tip according to the service provided. I will tip generously for great service and nothing at all for terrible service. I think rudeness deserves nothing!
Also I would have asked for the manager if the bill was incorrect!

Answer 10

first of all, I think it's the company or restaurant's responsibility to pay their employees a better salary, after all, it is also because of the service that they make money. We, as consumers, are always asked to tip for all types of services (taxis, hairdressers, supermarkets, hotels, etc...)
I always tip very well for excellent service, but I do not believe in tipping because I feel I have to. Excellent client service and manners should be important too