If you dine out, you should read this...

[cassiesmom]

Okay, dearies, since it has been brought up, I'm going to hit you with all my questions...

Sunday brunch buffet (or any buffet). I've heard it said that it's okay to tip less at a buffet than a sit-down meal. Is that correct? The last 2 brunches I have been to, we had a gratuity added on to the check because of a party of six or more.

At a place like the Old Country Buffet, where there is not a server per se except someone who clears your plate, should a tip be left?

What do you do with your tips at the end of your shift? Do you give them to the restaurant manager in exchange for bigger bills? How do you prefer to receive a tip? Do you hate receiving change in a tip for that reason? Is it even correct to use coins for a gratuity anymore? What happens when I write the gratuity onto my credit card receipt - do you get it?

If I need to split a $20 bill, do I tip the bartender who takes care of that for me? If I'm waiting with a friend for a table in a restaurant (say, T.G.I. Friday or Applebee's), and we get soft drinks from the bar while we wait, do I tip on those?

What about Starbucks or Caribou Coffee? That jar on the end of the counter - I am never quite sure what to do.

[jazzcat]

Does this bother anyone else? I hate when I pay for a meal and the server asks if I would like change back. I think they should always bring the change back unless the told to keep it by the customer first. Sometimes they will say "I'll be back with the change" and I'll say just keep it and that is fine but to flat out ask if I want change back is a little too presumptuous.

[moosmom]

I try to be as close to 15% as possible. If the service sucks, I don't leave one.