Splitting bills in restaurant

ebbsy

Usually when I go out and there are people drinking and some not, first we split evenly and then reduce share for non drinkers and increase for others.

I always watch out for people that spend an absolute age establishing what they should be paying. These people usually end up leaving the total bill short, and the staff without tips.

76544567

cajonlardo wrote: »

My son was just telling me that he has paypal linked to an app that is designed for this. So when his mates and he come to pay the bill, one of them forks out but this app allows the remainder to transfer their portion via paypal to the payer's card.....

I know. Every modern inconvenience

How much do paypal make out of those transactions?

Alun

Deleted User wrote: »

One of my favourite things about living in Canada is that it is expected that they split a bill, makes life so much easier - its the little things:o

But sometimes I am amazed how they get it bang on when it gets messy

It's the same in Germany. The waiter will always ask "Zusammen oder getrennt?" (All together or separate?) when they come to the table for people to pay, and will add up each person's bill in their head without a single mistake or making a huge song and dance about it like they do here.

Sleeper12

AngryLips wrote:

And would you still refuse those people service if they all ordered and paid separately? You're comparing apples with oranges. Just don't work in the service industry if you have a problem with it.

Most in the service industry do have a problem with it. Thats why we have this thread in the first place.
You honestly think it's ok to order 7 or 8 drinks from a lounge staff, let them come back with the order and one bill and expect him/her to work out who owes what? Would you all tip separate for the drinks so? Lounge staff start the night with a float. Any money short at the end of the night comes out of their minimum wage salary.
IMO this is a thoughtless and selfish way to go about your business.
Have to say I've never seen anyone order a round of drinks and expect the lounge staff to work out who owes what. Must be a generation thing

Sleeper12

76544567 wrote:

How much do paypal make out of those transactions?

PayPal charge me around 3% for accepting payment through their services

yesto24

This is something I miss about Canada. No problem to split a bill. Maybe they had better waitresses or better software. Either way I did not care. As a customer it was something I appreciated.
As for the former restaurant manager complaining about doing it for a big table. Well I am going to go out on a limb and guess your restaurant also put a 15% surcharge on tables of more than 6. Wanting to have your cake and eat it.
I hate this attitude, I see it in places all over the world, but it is more common in Ireland.
Waiters and restaurant managers and owners see customers as an inconvenience.

Dial Hard

As an aside, if anyone has ever read "The Meaning of Liff" they have an excellent word for the inevitable shortfall between the money pooled and the actual bill in a group dining situation; it's known as the "bodmin".

ebbsy

yesto24 wrote: »

This is something I miss about Canada. No problem to split a bill. Maybe they had better waitresses or better software. Either way I did not care. As a customer it was something I appreciated.
As for the former restaurant manager complaining about doing it for a big table. Well I am going to go out on a limb and guess your restaurant also put a 15% surcharge on tables of more than 6. Wanting to have your cake and eat it.
I hate this attitude, I see it in places all over the world, but it is more common in Ireland.
Waiters and restaurant managers and owners see customers as an inconvenience.

No, we actually had no service charge at all, and all the tips went to the staff.

No way also would I ask staff to work out ten separate bills for a table. They will clean the toilets for you and serve you as best they can. I give you the bill and you give me one payment.

riffmongous

Sleeper12 wrote: »

Most in the service industry do have a problem with it. Thats why we have this thread in the first place.
You honestly think it's ok to order 7 or 8 drinks from a lounge staff, let them come back with the order and one bill and expect him/her to work out who owes what? Would you all tip separate for the drinks so? Lounge staff start the night with a float. Any money short at the end of the night comes out of their minimum wage salary.
IMO this is a thoughtless and selfish way to go about your business.
Have to say I've never seen anyone order a round of drinks and expect the lounge staff to work out who owes what. Must be a generation thing

That is actually how it's done in Germany, everyone tips separately too

TrustedApple

ebbsy wrote: »

No, we actually had no service charge at all, and all the tips went to the staff.

No way also would I ask staff to work out ten separate bills for a table. They will clean the toilets for you and serve you as best they can. I give you the bill and you give me one payment.

Yap my place no service charge as well.

You can bring your cake that you bought in a 3rd party I will give you the plates and cut it for you. And you still won't offer a slice of cake to me.... After cutting it for you.

Then said table of 12 people won't to pay one by one for the bill.

Then you don't leave a tip as wait for it a bad review on trip adviser and a post on boards.ie saying therr angry that you would not split the bill after going out of your way for them.

dev100

ebbsy wrote: »

I always watch out for people that spend an absolute age establishing what they should be paying. These people usually end up leaving the total bill short, and the staff without tips.

That's a good point they are usually the first to look at the bill too I've been caught a few times where a few others round down and leave nothing for tip I end looking at the bill last where the rest have pegged their share in the middle and I count up what I owe and the poor waitress counts it and it's frigging short even when I've included a few Bob for tip it's still short . I hate miserable f e c K e r s

My method now when out with a certain crew is to tott up cost of meal at the start throw mine in and then let everyone else sort theirs out . I usually hand the tip direct to the waitress as I've seen some people pay by card and making a profit from it. I hate cute hoorness and meanness

I've a mate who barks at the waiting staff " separate bill " before there's even a menu been handed over it's funny when the response is no

Simple solution bring cash and pay what u owe along with a tip .

Sleeper12

riffmongous wrote:

That is actually how it's done in Germany, everyone tips separately too

That sounds fair to me

lawred2

Bebe344 wrote: »

Hi all.

Can anyone help me with a question I have on splitting a bill in a restaurant.
I was in a restaurant in Dublin recently with a friend and as we were going to pay we asked to split the bill. The waitress told us that the restaurant doesn't allow customers to split the bill.
Does any one know if this is legal?

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Why on earth wouldn't it be?

L1011

riffmongous wrote: »

That is actually how it's done in Germany, everyone tips separately too

They likely all pay cash though, as its Germany with its surreal fear of card payments.

In Ireland it turns in to multiple debit card payments - multiple fees - and always some items that get disowned on the bill and arguments amongst the table about who bought them.

You are given an itemised receipt - it is not hard to work out who owes what and pool it.

AngryLips

Sleeper12 wrote: »

Most in the service industry do have a problem with it.

Honestly, it doesn't matter to me if you have a problem with it or not, just make sure that - if you have a problem with it - the issue of what you expect from your customers is clearly set out from the beginning instead of letting it express itself through passive aggression. If you let it get to you that way then you're just courting poor customer reviews and bad word of mouth. If you don't get that then, like I've said before, you should reconsider your career choice.

Sleeper12

AngryLips wrote:

Honestly, it doesn't matter to me if you have a problem with it or not, just make sure that - if you have a problem with it - the issue of what you expect from your customers is clearly set out from the beginning instead of letting it express itself through passive aggression. If you let it get to you that way then you're just courting poor customer reviews and bad word of mouth. If you don't get that then, like I've said before, you should reconsider your career choice.

Don't you mean that the client should inform the waiter at the time of ordering that you want separate bills? This is the correct way to do this. Its very unfair to get one bill and then expect the waiter to split it up for you.
If someone doesn't know how to order food correctly they should stick to mc McDonald's.
I've already said I'm all for her right to split the bill just don't ask the waiter afterwards.when he takes the order is the correct time

AngryLips

Sleeper12 wrote: »

Don't you mean that the client should inform the waiter at the time of ordering that you want separate bills?

Why would you put your customers in that position of not having clarified what the bill splitting policy is and risking some sort of awkward and ambiguous situation of differing expectations with them though?

El_Duderino 09

Sleeper12 wrote:

Have to say I've never seen anyone order a round of drinks and expect the lounge staff to work out who owes what. Must be a generation thing

People can't afford to buy big rounds anymore. It's not like the olden days where people had nothing else to spend money on other than pints, a blanket and straw for a pillow.

If you don't split the bill then really only people on similar income or people who sent on a tight budget can eat and drink out together. Restaurants and pubs provide a service and a place for people to socialise. Its a small part if how customer demands have changed.

Some businesses keep up with customer demands and the rest aren't around to comment.

Sleeper12

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

People can't afford to buy big rounds anymore. It's not like the olden days where people had nothing else to spend money on other than pints, a blanket and straw for a pillow.

If you don't split the bill then really only people on similar income or people who sent on a tight budget can eat and drink out together. Restaurants and pubs provide a service and a place for people to socialise. Its a small part if how customer demands have changed.

Some businesses keep up with customer demands and the rest aren't around to comment.

You don't have to buy rounds but if its not a round order them separately

El_Duderino 09

TrustedApple wrote:

Then you don't leave a tip as wait for it a bad review on trip adviser and a post on boards.ie saying therr angry that you would not split the bill after going out of your way for them.

So lots of people are leaving the same feedback that they want restaurants to split the bill? Yep, sounds like it's their problem alright.

It's a culture thing. It could easily enough be addressed especially if there was some acknowledgement of how the bill will be done, before everyone orders.

Sleeper12

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

So lots of people are leaving the same feedback that they want restaurants to split the bill? Yep, sounds like it's their problem alright.

It's a culture thing. It could easily enough be addressed especially if there was some acknowledgement of how the bill will be done, before everyone orders.

Totally agree. This only works at time of ordering. Lets have Garlic bread for the table. I'm going to split my side order with john. Its who paid for these little things needs to be sorted beforehand

Nesser

Maybe not in Dublin but the convention in many mid level restaurants now is to pay for what you had at the bar or the till and leave a seperate tip on the table. Makes things a lot easier.
Think having one big bill to be paid at the table is an Irish restaurant thing and causes a lot of hassle and confusion for customers. Having to pass the single receipt around from person to person. People having problems finding and adding up what they owe and then having to have that amount in cash. Having a designated person to count up the individual payments.

Have noticed as well that if splitting the bill is going to be used to make the no seperate bill thing easier and people know beforehand they will over order. They will have starters and desserts that they wouldn't have if they were just paying for there own meal.

Mary63

I don't drink much and am tired now of having to share the he alcohol bill.I mainly don't drink now so when the bill comes I just paid for the food and add service.I don't care if this doesn't suit the people Im with.

I was out over christmas with a group I don't know very well.The food part of the bill was twenty euros and with the alcohol included it came to sixty euros per person.If I had had a glass of wine it would have cost me forty euros for that glass so its better to just opt out completely.It isn't the wine that adds up really, its the gin and tonics, the ports, and the Irish coffee and people do tend to order without thinking of the cost when they know the bill will be split.I have never asked for separate bills though, I just bring enough cash to pay for what I have eaten and include a tip and thats what I hand over.

Turtle_

Sleeper12 wrote: »

Totally agree. This only works at time of ordering. Lets have Garlic bread for the table. I'm going to split my side order with john. Its who paid for these little things needs to be sorted beforehand

I've seen a lot of menus with "Sorry, we are unable to split bills." at the end of it.

brightspark

I see a lot of the complaints here from the restaurant side are talking about large groups, if you read the OP it was just them and a friend!

The arguments about who had what etc, hardly apply with just two.

I've eaten in several hotels with colleagues over the last year where we simply stated who had what and paid separately. None of the staff I met seemed to mind splitting the bills, I guess it's because they know they work in a "service" industry and without customers they wouldn't have jobs.

Perhaps some of the restaurant owners/workers here should open up drive thoughs to minimise the time they need to spend with customers.

Just slightly off topic, I was having breakfast in a hotel a month ago when an old man who was using a walking aid came in. When he asked what was available for breakfast the "waitress" who was going to bring the cooked breakfast and teas pointed to the juices and bread etc. behind him saying they were self service, only when he highlighted his walking aid did she reluctantly get him the juice.
Before anyone says she must have been busy, the breakfast room was still fairly empty with only about three guests present. I don't know if the old gentleman complained, but I certainly did, hopefully the "waitress" will improve her attitude.

El_Duderino 09

Sleeper12 wrote:

You don't have to buy rounds but if its not a round order them separately

I don't buy rounds if I can help it. Just drink what I want and let everyone else do the same. Then you can leave whenever you like because you don't have to get a round in before you do. Works great for couples.

Optimalprimerib

When I was on holidays in Canada, they always asked if you would like the bill to be split. It was a level of customer service that this country has not stepped up to yet.

In my opinion it should be perfectly acceptable to ask for a split bill considering that people don't carry as much cash with them now.

El_Duderino 09

Optimalprimerib wrote:

When I was on holidays in Canada, they always asked if you would like the bill to be split. It was a level of customer service that this country has not stepped up to yet.

In my opinion it should be perfectly acceptable to ask for a split bill considering that people don't carry as much cash with them now.

I don't carry cash if I can help it either. Always have 20 bob in case I need it.

Completely agree about stepping up customer service. They have the card machines, they know how much it costs hi have card machines and how much labour costs are for the 30 seconds it takes for each card transaction. Just count it among the overheads and get in with giving the customer the service they want.

They have all the resources to split the bill, they're just missing the organisation and inclination to do it.

faceman

Sleeper12 wrote: »

Most in the service industry do have a problem with it. Thats why we have this thread in the first place.
You honestly think it's ok to order 7 or 8 drinks from a lounge staff, let them come back with the order and one bill and expect him/her to work out who owes what? Would you all tip separate for the drinks so? Lounge staff start the night with a float. Any money short at the end of the night comes out of their minimum wage salary.
IMO this is a thoughtless and selfish way to go about your business.
Have to say I've never seen anyone order a round of drinks and expect the lounge staff to work out who owes what. Must be a generation thing

Maybe I'm im misunderstanding this. A table of 8 orders a round of 8 drinks. Server comes back with 1 bill. Everyone chips in individually for what they ordered. (Funny how when it's drink people will always ask how much their pint or their G&T costs so they can get their exact amount right.)

No way am I pay for a round of 8 drinks and having people give me coins or notes looking for a change from me. Plus I wouldn't drink 8 drinks so getting in to rounds is a non runners.

What's the alternative? Server comes to table 8 seperate times with 8 seperate drinks? Best of luck to that server keeping their job.

the_pen_turner

Mary63 wrote: »

I don't drink much and am tired now of having to share the he alcohol bill.I mainly don't drink now so when the bill comes I just paid for the food and add service.I don't care if this doesn't suit the people Im with.

I was out over christmas with a group I don't know very well.The food part of the bill was twenty euros and with the alcohol included it came to sixty euros per person.If I had had a glass of wine it would have cost me forty euros for that glass so its better to just opt out completely.It isn't the wine that adds up really, its the gin and tonics, the ports, and the Irish coffee and people do tend to order without thinking of the cost when they know the bill will be split.I have never asked for separate bills though, I just bring enough cash to pay for what I have eaten and include a tip and thats what I hand over.

Wow that's taking the piss. Asking you to pay 40 Euro on top for other people's drink. People need to stand up for themselves.