Community Chat

[beach-mom]

Thanks for the comments everyone! It's good to know you agree with me. 

@itsmagic and @Spurt - You really made it clear. I did work as a banquet server during college, but we didn't get tips. The college rented out a hall for events catered by the dining hall. The college paid us. Although DD worked as a hostess at a chain restaurant one summer, she didn't deal with tips either. DS works at a movie theatre when he's home. So I had no personal experience. @Spurt and @sunshine45  - I never knew that about other people in the kitchen, and that's really nice of them to do that!

@lovesrecess and @sunshine45 - We have been known to ask the hostess or manager if the servers get their own tips, or if they divide them. If we've had exceptional service and this is the case we take that into account.

@cactusgal - Like @gidgetgh said, at a buffet we tip 10%, always rounding up. If the person assigned to our table for water and other drinks has been extra attentive, we take that into consideration.

@SahmIam - We always round up to the next dollar, even for so-so service. If the service has been really good, we usually add a dollar or two. And if it's a server at a restaurant we frequent, and we "know" him or her, we usually round up by $5.00 (at Christmas more).

@gidgetgh - I miss O'Charley's! We don't have one around us. We're getting a bunch of new restaurants in the town near us, but three of them are going to be brew pubs. That's what the millenials want. I'd love to see O'Charley's come in! 

[NYC Susan]

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@gidgetgh wrote:

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@BirkiLady wrote:

I never take a coupon or use a senior citizen discount. I pay the price on the menu, the sales tax and add the 20% tip. If you need a discount coupon to dine out, perhaps you better eat at home. Those employees are still working just as hard for you. 

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Not me.  If I have a discount coupon.....anywhere....I’m using it. O’Charleys emailed me a 20% off coupon and we’re having lunch there today.  No “harm” to the employees.  I’ll take the 20% off thank you very much and will tip on the full amount.   I don’t “need” a discount coupon to eat out, but if I found a dollar bill sitting in a random parking lot, I’d pick that up also,  I’m not leaving that coupon unused if we’re going there anyway.  That doesn’t make sense to me. 

Corporate has built using that coupon into their numbers. 

I also use the 20% off coupons at Bed Bath and Beyond and coupons at Macy’s, Talbots, etc.  a local gift shop did an open house on Saturday, 10% off the entire store. I bought several small items. I will pay full price, but if there are coupons to be used, I’m using them. 

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Good point!  I have no problem paying full price when I go to Bed Bath & Beyond, but for sure I'm going to use my $5 and 20% coupons.  Research has shown that those coupons not only get both new and old customers into the stores, but that they choose Bed Bath & Beyond instead of other stores, AND very often they end up buying more than they had intended.  All of that is very good for BB&B.

It's the same with restaurant discounts/coupons.  It puts people in a different mindset, so a group who may never have gone to a particular restaurant will now go, and groups who are not in the habit of ordering appetizers or desserts or whatever might do so because they feel they're getting a bargain. 

These coupons/incentives create a sense of good will toward the restaurant or store.  That's another reason why they're offered.  IMO there's no reason not to use them if it's a place we want to go.

[sunshine45]

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@Isobel Archer wrote:

So what do you do when the restaurant has specials?  Do you ask what the regular price is so you can tip appropriately?

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what do you do @Isobel Archer  when you are in the two situations you described?

[sunshine45]

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@NYC Susan wrote:

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@gidgetgh wrote:

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@BirkiLady wrote:

I never take a coupon or use a senior citizen discount. I pay the price on the menu, the sales tax and add the 20% tip. If you need a discount coupon to dine out, perhaps you better eat at home. Those employees are still working just as hard for you. 

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Not me.  If I have a discount coupon.....anywhere....I’m using it. O’Charleys emailed me a 20% off coupon and we’re having lunch there today.  No “harm” to the employees.  I’ll take the 20% off thank you very much and will tip on the full amount.   I don’t “need” a discount coupon to eat out, but if I found a dollar bill sitting in a random parking lot, I’d pick that up also,  I’m not leaving that coupon unused if we’re going there anyway.  That doesn’t make sense to me. 

Corporate has built using that coupon into their numbers. 

I also use the 20% off coupons at Bed Bath and Beyond and coupons at Macy’s, Talbots, etc.  a local gift shop did an open house on Saturday, 10% off the entire store. I bought several small items. I will pay full price, but if there are coupons to be used, I’m using them. 

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Good point!  I have no problem paying full price when I go to Bed Bath & Beyond, but for sure I'm going to use my $5 and 20% coupons.  Research has shown that those coupons not only get both new and old customers into the stores, but that they choose Bed Bath & Beyond instead of other stores, AND very often they end up buying more than they had intended.  All of that is very good for BB&B.

It's the same with restaurant discounts/coupons.  It puts people in a different mindset, so a group who may never have gone to a particular restaurant will now go, and groups who are not in the habit of ordering appetizers or desserts or whatever might do so because they feel they're getting a bargain. 

These coupons/incentives create a sense of good will toward the restaurant or store.  That's another reason why they're offered.  IMO there's no reason not to use them if it's a place we want to go.

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@NYC Susan 

i have an entire folder wih BBB coupons.

i take it with me when i go. i save all of the expired ones since they are still valid in store.  i will even pass some out to someone in front of me or behind me in line if they dont have any. dont know anyone who DOESNT want or appreciate discounts.

[viva923]

dh and I tip according to the bill. DH gives 20% tip and then some each time.

[NYC Susan]

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@sunshine45 wrote:

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@NYC Susan wrote:

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@gidgetgh wrote:

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@BirkiLady wrote:

I never take a coupon or use a senior citizen discount. I pay the price on the menu, the sales tax and add the 20% tip. If you need a discount coupon to dine out, perhaps you better eat at home. Those employees are still working just as hard for you. 

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Not me.  If I have a discount coupon.....anywhere....I’m using it. O’Charleys emailed me a 20% off coupon and we’re having lunch there today.  No “harm” to the employees.  I’ll take the 20% off thank you very much and will tip on the full amount.   I don’t “need” a discount coupon to eat out, but if I found a dollar bill sitting in a random parking lot, I’d pick that up also,  I’m not leaving that coupon unused if we’re going there anyway.  That doesn’t make sense to me. 

Corporate has built using that coupon into their numbers. 

I also use the 20% off coupons at Bed Bath and Beyond and coupons at Macy’s, Talbots, etc.  a local gift shop did an open house on Saturday, 10% off the entire store. I bought several small items. I will pay full price, but if there are coupons to be used, I’m using them. 

---

Good point!  I have no problem paying full price when I go to Bed Bath & Beyond, but for sure I'm going to use my $5 and 20% coupons.  Research has shown that those coupons not only get both new and old customers into the stores, but that they choose Bed Bath & Beyond instead of other stores, AND very often they end up buying more than they had intended.  All of that is very good for BB&B.

It's the same with restaurant discounts/coupons.  It puts people in a different mindset, so a group who may never have gone to a particular restaurant will now go, and groups who are not in the habit of ordering appetizers or desserts or whatever might do so because they feel they're getting a bargain. 

These coupons/incentives create a sense of good will toward the restaurant or store.  That's another reason why they're offered.  IMO there's no reason not to use them if it's a place we want to go.

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@NYC Susan 

i have an entire folder wih BBB coupons.

i take it with me when i go. i save all of the expired ones since they are still valid in store.  i will even pass some out to someone in front of me or behind me in line if they dont have any. dont know anyone who DOESNT want or appreciate discounts.

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Yes, BB&B is happy to accept expired coupons, and I think that says a lot.  Clearly, they want customers to receive them and to use them.  I've been a regular customer for many years, and I get them in the mail and in emails all the time.  They don't need to lure me in anymore, but the coupons keep coming!  :-)

I keep them in a little fabric envelope in my car.  It seems that pretty much everyone uses coupons and they've come to expect that.  I've given away many too!  Once there was a man doing work in my house and he asked me about my Soda Stream.  I told him I got it at BB&B, and he said he would go there to get one.  Along with his tip, I included a couple of BB&B coupons. :-)

[BirkiLady]

@Venezia  Nope, I hate coupons and never take them into a store or restaurant or any place else. Once there, if the store offers this discount I'll take it. But I'm not about to carry a bunch of coupons around with me. 

ETA: FOR ALL POSTERS - Be prepared for food prices to rise. Nebraska is #1 and #2 in agriculature and beef. We're been hit very hard by flooding. Our farmers have lost huge numbers of cattle and their farmland is destroyed. Sounds like the beautiful, fertile black soil has been washed away and sand has taken its place. Doubt many family farms will survive this disaster and our state may never return to its once beautiful landscape and bountiful harvests or grazing pastures. It's so painful for families who have worked 24/7 on once-rich, black soil for many generations to see them searching for livestock, silos of grain, their homes, and a bit of tilable cropland.

Please don't complain when grocery prices rise. It isn't the farmer who is at fault; Mother Nature and the "perfect storm" had an unbelievable fury in Nebraska and surrounding states.

[123 Jewelry]

If I have a coupon or a discount of any kind I tip on the pre discount total and pre-tax total.  

The server performs the same amount of work regardless of discounts, gift cards etc.  

I have no issue with using a discount, why not if it is avaiable  Trust me, I know wealthy people who not dream of paying full price for anything unless absolutely necessary.  

[suzyQ3]

@BirkiLady, you don't need to haul a bunch of coupons around to avail yourself of discount somewhere. If you receive one for a restaurant you like or might want to try, just slip that coupon into your handbag.

I'm old enought to still remember and use paper coupons at my supermarket along with digital (ha...those you don't have to carry!). I generally have two or three in a little flat velcro-closing pouch that takes up no room at all. I save tons.

And I can't even begin to imagine how much money I've saved in my life just from taking advantage of such offers.

But hey, if you demand full price, that's the way for you to go.

[sunshine45]

@suzyQ3 

in addition to restaurant coupons found in mailers and magazines and newspapers, i a am a fan of restaurant.com, groupon, living social, and media outlets that offer dining certificates for deals at local restaurants.

its a win/win. the restaurants get my business and i enjoy an evening out supporting our local establishments.