How much would you tip in this situation?

[disneysteve]

We are currently staying at a bed and breakfast-type place in rural Kentucky. Breakfast is included in the room price. A server takes your order for the hot part of the meal (eggs, hotcakes, oatmeal, etc.) and brings it to you, as well as busing the table. There's also a small buffet for cold items (cereal, yogurt, fruit) that you get yourself.

While we were eating this morning, I was thinking that we really ought to tip the server. Toward the end of the meal, he came by with a card that basically said the cost of the meal is included with your stay but if you'd like to add a gratuity you could do so by writing it in on that card. I thought it was done very tastefully.

The question then became how much to tip. Normally, one tips based on the cost of the meal, but we weren't given that info, so we couldn't give 18 or 20% of the check since there was no check.

We decided that $5 for the 2 of us was fair for breakfast, thinking the meal probably would have run about $10-12/person had we been paying for it and the service was very good.

[Jluke]

$5 came to mind before I saw that's what you did.



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[Nutria]

Deleted.

[Jluke]

That would be a pretty hefty 42-50% tip.

5/20 or 5/24

[~bs]

I'd do 15-20% of the value of the meal had you paid for it. So if you estimate a breakfast would run $10 each, then $3-4.

I tip for service. If no service was provided, like at a fast food restaurant or takeout I'd tip zero

[disneysteve]

I'd do 15-20% of the value of the meal had you paid for it. So if you estimate a breakfast would run $10 each, then $3-4.

Yep. We figured it probably would have been about $12 if not more given the venue (a somewhat pricey B&B). $5 seemed about right.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

$5 is good to go. I'd throw it down.

[rob62521]

I think you did well and I'm sure the server was pleased you even left a tip. It is shocking how few folks really think of the underemployed.

We sometimes eat out with a couple and he is notorious for leaving small tips. We recently went to a buffet but the server brings drinks, dessert, and bread. My husband appreciates good service and often goes beyond the 20%. He left a nice tip. His friend wanted to be the last one at the table and I am nosy so I watched. He wanted to be last because he left no tip. He used to leave Christian tracts instead of tips saying their salvation is more important than a tip. I countered that with that might be true, but the server has to live in today's world and won't have time to think of their salvation if they have to work more than one job because someone was too cheap to leave a tip.

[bjl584]

$5 sounds about right.

[Polymyth]

We are currently staying at a bed and breakfast-type place in rural Kentucky. Breakfast is included in the room price. A server takes your order for the hot part of the meal (eggs, hotcakes, oatmeal, etc.) and brings it to you, as well as busing the table. There's also a small buffet for cold items (cereal, yogurt, fruit) that you get yourself.

While we were eating this morning, I was thinking that we really ought to tip the server. Toward the end of the meal, he came by with a card that basically said the cost of the meal is included with your stay but if you'd like to add a gratuity you could do so by writing it in on that card. I thought it was done very tastefully.

The question then became how much to tip. Normally, one tips based on the cost of the meal, but we weren't given that info, so we couldn't give 18 or 20% of the check since there was no check.

We decided that $5 for the 2 of us was fair for breakfast, thinking the meal probably would have run about $10-12/person had we been paying for it and the service was very good.

If the service was good then I think a $5 dollar tip will be a great deal.