I've been inconsistent on this. I didn't tip at Cici's Pizza but I did at Ruby Tuesday, even if I was only having salad bar. At Old Country Buffet, I wasn't sure but never left more than $1 if I did tip.
Can't think of a dollar amount off the top of my head, but because I have children, although they are polite, quiet (Ted makes weird noises but they are at conversational level), and relatively neat, they're still less neat than adults and sometimes a bit more work. So I make sure to tip a bit. Rounding up a bit, a few bucks, etc.
And if they ever actually spill anything or make a mess that is beyond a few crumbs, then a nice sized one (and of course I do my best to assist in cleaning).
So my answer reflects my attitude towards all that.
For me leaving any tip at a buffet is rare. I prefer getting a fountain soda myself at them. But if they bring drinks without charging for refills, and take plates then I might. I don't have a set formula.
On the subject of tipping there was a holiday news special about how much to tip people a couple years ago. They were crazy talking about how much to tip your garbage pickup and mail delivery people and a dozen other groups. The talking head rattled off hundreds of dollars of tips to make for Christmas. I'm not made of money to do that nonsense.
As with any tipping at a restaurant, things are always flexible, and a little politeness can go a long way. Something as simple as a courteous "Is everything okay tonight?" from the waitstaff while they're removing dirty dishes will usually result in my leaving a dollar or two as a tip, even at a place where I'm getting my own drink. On the other hand, I will sometimes leave a deliberately bad tip for especially bad service, like the dime I left for the staff at one buffet that not only removed the dirty dishes from my table when I was going through the buffet again, they cleaned the table and sat a family of 5 at it. :-P
My first job was working at Home Town Buffet ie Old Country. The fact that people actually tipped kinda irked me. Here I am making $7 an hour (made about $700 a month if good hours), cooking food, bringing hot food to the line, constantly cleaning spills off the bar from the slobs, cleaning the floor, stocking cups, cleaning and filling the soda dispencer, milk, oj, all so these people could have a pleasant dining experience, AND the chicks working the floor who's only job was to clear plates, were making $800 every month in tips alone. They do not share. All they have to do is shake their asses at old men. I will never tip in a friggin' buffet. I won't even eat at buffets anymore after the way food is made and employees are treated.
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And if they ever actually spill anything or make a mess that is beyond a few crumbs, then a nice sized one (and of course I do my best to assist in cleaning).
So my answer reflects my attitude towards all that.
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On the subject of tipping there was a holiday news special about how much to tip people a couple years ago. They were crazy talking about how much to tip your garbage pickup and mail delivery people and a dozen other groups. The talking head rattled off hundreds of dollars of tips to make for Christmas. I'm not made of money to do that nonsense.
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