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Tipping Before or After at LV Buffets

Discussion in 'Restaurants & Buffets' started by QueenAngie, Oct 4, 2014.

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  1. QueenAngie

    QueenAngie Tourist

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    Just returned from Vegas last night. Had a great trip. We are very good tippers. Lesson to be learned here. Do not tip while paying for the buffet at the start. It is a very easy option to pay ahead of time. Never do this! Tip afterwards for the service.....or lack there of.... after the meal. We received much better service when we did not tip ahead.:licklips:
     
  2. ardee

    ardee It's only money.

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    I'm wondering why one would tip for a buffet at the start of the meal?
     
  3. tominiowa

    tominiowa High-Roller

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    sometimes when I use a buffet I set glasses and cigs on my table so wife can find it again and also will lay change and a bill or two there so waitress sees a tip will be coming and I think helps service sometimes. But I mainly do it so wife isn't wandering around finding the table :)
     
  4. QueenAngie

    QueenAngie Tourist

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    You are a smart hubby! LOL!
     
  5. tom.mckenzie

    tom.mckenzie Low-Roller

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    I generally tip ahead of time when I use my debit card to pay (this is typically not in Vegas). What is the worst that could happen? I add 2 or 3 dollars upfront, and then if the service is sorry, I keep it in my wallet. And if this actually happened to me, I'll go ahead and tip anyway, then say something to the manager, especially if the sorry service is caused by the restaurant being understaffed. The exception to that would be if the waiter was downright rude.
     
  6. Ty

    Ty ?

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    I think I'll give this a try.
     
  7. 44inarow

    44inarow VIP Whale

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    Because you pay at the beginning. If you're tipping cash then it doesn't matter, but if you want to charge it to your room or a card, the only time to do so is up front.
     
  8. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

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    One of our local casinos here (Ameristar) always asks if you want to include a tip on the credit card when you pay for the buffet. I guess it's for convenience, and so you won't forget to tip.

    Our breakfast group always declines, and we now tip based on how many glasses of champagne we are offered. :) :) :) We think a couple of servers have figured this out, or else we have them well trained. :) :) :)
     
  9. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    Exactly! Staff gets your drinks and clears the plates.
     
  10. worldtraveler661

    worldtraveler661 VIP Whale

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    I've been to vegas over a 100 times. I've had some buffet at least a average of one time during those stays and I dont think I have ever had a bad experience with a waiter/waitress at any buffet.
    They have all been attentive and very quick with refilling drinks, etc. Actually I think even better than a regular waiter/waiterss at a restaurant. Majority have been the better buffets of the time.
     
  11. Electroguy563

    Electroguy563 Vegas Joker

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    Yeah, I prefer to use cash as a tip if charging to the room or using a credit card. I'm the type that tips strictly on service so this way I can tip according to how I'm treated. I politely decline adding the tip upfront.
     
  12. LV_Bound

    LV_Bound VIP Whale

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    Tip before the service???
    Do you wipe your butt before you poop?:wink2::evillaugh

    All buffet service is not the same especially if its at a peak time and very crowded.
     
  13. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    Now I have to wipe.....


    wipe the beer off my screen. Thanks alot!
     
  14. valsdad

    valsdad Tourist

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    In my experience it doesn't matter when you tip, just make sure you do tip.
     
  15. C0usineddie

    C0usineddie VIP Whale

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    I agree with this. its one of the reasons i dont care for regular restaurants. i drink alot of liquids and need to have it refilled more then the average joes does and at buffets they seems to come around much more frequently. i always tip them well because I appreciate that service.

    Champagne brunch of course, even the crummiest one in town, will get the drink bearer a $20 every time as long as my glass stays full!! If I am at one of these i will tell them upfront I am tipping the $20 and that i want our glasses full all the time and they never let me down.
     
  16. breanna61

    breanna61 Super Moderator

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    Very considerate; I tend to wander aimlessly trying to locate the table so now I try to pick out "landmarks"
     
  17. leo21

    leo21 VIP Whale

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    I get the opposite. At buffets, it's been rare that I get a server that offers one refill let alone multiple. I generally don't charge buffets but I would save the tip to the end either way. I prefer to tip in cash and I really don't have consistently positive experiences at buffets with servers to feel like I can tip in advance with confidence that I will be well taken care of.
     
  18. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    I have had a number of bad experiences when visiting some vegas buffets. I won't name them but I have had some experiences that make you roll your eyes. Once I was seated in a section that the waiter left for dinner. The greeter/seater didn't know that so seated a couple of us in the area. I waited 10 minutes before I had to flag down another waiter. That waiter at first said that it wasn't his table and loudly complained (out in public) to the greeter and other waiters, eventually that waiter agreed to wait on us since it was the section next to his area but he was far from being cordial and helpful.

    At another buffet one waiter found others of his race (sorry for bringing in the race card), he spent most of his time talking with that table and neglected to wait on the rest of us. We had to wait for our drinks and he never came around to ask for refills or if we needed anything. When we did flag him down he was perturbed that we interrupted his conversation with the group.

    Other buffets I visited the level of service was below par. I mean, how much can you screw up waiting tables at a buffet, but I found that it does happen.

    Because of previous problems I never ever tip in advance. And in the first instance (waiter didn't want to wait tables in our section) I didn't leave any tip since the guy had so much of an attitude problem.
     
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2014
  19. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    Many of the vegas buffets I visit, the waiters usually only come around to refill when my glass is half or near empty. Many of them don't come around to "top" off my water.

    I have had some nice restaurants in vegas (non buffet) continue to fill up my water glass, my water glass never went down more than half an inch before it was filled up. It kind of irritated me once, the waiter filled it my glass to the brim. I drank some water to get it down (didn't want it spilling) but he refilled it to the brim until I told him that I didn't want it filled to the brim.
     
  20. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    Boy... some of you folks have had some bad experiences... when I go to a buffet, and I go 7-10 times a year I guess, I've always had a nice person walk over, smile and ask what they can get us to drink. We then proceed to get our food and when we return the drinks are there. We eat, drink and go up and get some more... we come back... some of us need a refill and the person takes care of it. Seems to have worked very well for me (us). Also, when I come back from reloading, usually the dirty plate is gone... if not, I don't get my shorts in a knot, I just move it out of the way or put it under the one I'm working on.
     
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