Worst Group Split Check Experiences?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve never had to split a cheque evenly in a situation of various consumptions. I grew up in Canada and it was always that you paid for what you order (or you/partner). I’m not sure why it’s so different in the US, but no, I’m not paying for your steak lobster and wine while I order a soup.

I grew up and still live in Canada and have definitely had issues with people wanting me to split the bill evenly.

I think this might be a French vs English difference in Canada. French more likely to split evenly, English more likely to itemize. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

When I go out with a group who I know will spend a lot more than me (ex lots of drinks, apps), I just make sure to bring cash in a variety of denominations and plunk down what I owe plus a little cushion of extra tip. “I think this covers me.” Otherwise, if someone suggests to split it and I’m going to majorly lose out, I’ll just say, “Oh, I think mine is $x since I wasn’t drinking.” If it’s $5-10, I don’t say anything, but when it’s a big difference it’s annoying to me to pay for other people’s food.

[Anonymous]

I went to a group dinner and someone ordered a carry out meal for their husband and added it to our bill and we had to split it. In addition to all the alcohol I did not drink. Never again!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve never had to split a cheque evenly in a situation of various consumptions. I grew up in Canada and it was always that you paid for what you order (or you/partner). I’m not sure why it’s so different in the US, but no, I’m not paying for your steak lobster and wine while I order a soup.

I grew up and still live in Canada and have definitely had issues with people wanting me to split the bill evenly.

I think this might be a French vs English difference in Canada. French more likely to split evenly, English more likely to itemize. Thoughts?

I split time between Quebec City and Toronto so I couldn’t say.

I find that thoughtful/thoughtless people are pretty evenly spread across all demographics.

[Anonymous]

Separate checks is the way to go. Most restaurants have no trouble accommodating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to a group dinner and someone ordered a carry out meal for their husband and added it to our bill and we had to split it. In addition to all the alcohol I did not drink. Never again!

She was counting on you being more polite than she is.

We need to stop letting people turn our niceness against us. They do it on purpose and think we’re chumps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One person at a large table who states she will not tip on the tax. Which is like a small amount but still will not pay the same amount as everyone else so others have to make up for it to have a full tip. And for those of you who don't tip on the tax, you're cheap.

You don't tip on the tax.

You're a brainwashed American idiot.

There shouldn't even be tips for starters.

Most people are not small enough to bother calculating the tip without the tax. And if the tip system goes so do the excellent servers who work in fine dining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First, try to see if the server will do separate checks

Second, if not, take the bill first if you can, so the "let's just split evenly" doesn't take it first and announce what everyone "owes." Add up what you owe and add thirty percent (ten percent for tax, twenty percent for tip). Easy to figure out because you figure out ten percent and triple. If tax is less than ten percent, just let the extra be a larger tip.

Yeah, but how do separate checks work when you order something like appetizers to share or a bottle of wine to share?

It just becomes a giant pain in the ass.

If you have a group of 10 and order say rib appetizers that 9 will eat and the 10th won't because the won't eat pork, how are you going to calculate it? Oh and then only 5 out of 10 ate the second app while 7 out of 10 at the 3rd app.


Splitting checks works to a limited degree.


Honestly, just stay the hell home of you're going to have a conniption about going Dutch. Or simply make life easier, go dutch, and ask people to figure it out afterwards. Sitting at the table trying to to figure out exact consumption especially when there may be shares dishes involved that the entire table didn't eat equally makes it a giant mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First, try to see if the server will do separate checks

Second, if not, take the bill first if you can, so the "let's just split evenly" doesn't take it first and announce what everyone "owes." Add up what you owe and add thirty percent (ten percent for tax, twenty percent for tip). Easy to figure out because you figure out ten percent and triple. If tax is less than ten percent, just let the extra be a larger tip.

Yeah, but how do separate checks work when you order something like appetizers to share or a bottle of wine to share?

It just becomes a giant pain in the ass.

If you have a group of 10 and order say rib appetizers that 9 will eat and the 10th won't because the won't eat pork, how are you going to calculate it? Oh and then only 5 out of 10 ate the second app while 7 out of 10 at the 3rd app.


Splitting checks works to a limited degree.


Honestly, just stay the hell home of you're going to have a conniption about going Dutch. Or simply make life easier, go dutch, and ask people to figure it out afterwards. Sitting at the table trying to to figure out exact consumption especially when there may be shares dishes involved that the entire table didn't eat equally makes it a giant mess.

The 9 split the cost of the appetizer. Simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First, try to see if the server will do separate checks

Second, if not, take the bill first if you can, so the "let's just split evenly" doesn't take it first and announce what everyone "owes." Add up what you owe and add thirty percent (ten percent for tax, twenty percent for tip). Easy to figure out because you figure out ten percent and triple. If tax is less than ten percent, just let the extra be a larger tip.

Yeah, but how do separate checks work when you order something like appetizers to share or a bottle of wine to share?

It just becomes a giant pain in the ass.

If you have a group of 10 and order say rib appetizers that 9 will eat and the 10th won't because the won't eat pork, how are you going to calculate it? Oh and then only 5 out of 10 ate the second app while 7 out of 10 at the 3rd app.


Splitting checks works to a limited degree.


Honestly, just stay the hell home of you're going to have a conniption about going Dutch. Or simply make life easier, go dutch, and ask people to figure it out afterwards. Sitting at the table trying to to figure out exact consumption especially when there may be shares dishes involved that the entire table didn't eat equally makes it a giant mess.

I had brunch with a friend yesterday and our server asked us if we wanted separate bills and then asked if we wanted the appetizer we shared split. It’s not a big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One person at a large table who states she will not tip on the tax. Which is like a small amount but still will not pay the same amount as everyone else so others have to make up for it to have a full tip. And for those of you who don't tip on the tax, you're cheap.

You don't tip on the tax.

You're a brainwashed American idiot.

There shouldn't even be tips for starters.

DC sales tax on restaurants is 10%. 20% of 10% is 2%. So all of .80 on a $40 charge. Boy, some people are just stingy.

Exactly. The PP is cheap and/or just poor. It’s a pittance for the diner but adds up to a few bucks for the waiter per day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First, try to see if the server will do separate checks

Second, if not, take the bill first if you can, so the "let's just split evenly" doesn't take it first and announce what everyone "owes." Add up what you owe and add thirty percent (ten percent for tax, twenty percent for tip). Easy to figure out because you figure out ten percent and triple. If tax is less than ten percent, just let the extra be a larger tip.

Yeah, but how do separate checks work when you order something like appetizers to share or a bottle of wine to share?

It just becomes a giant pain in the ass.

If you have a group of 10 and order say rib appetizers that 9 will eat and the 10th won't because the won't eat pork, how are you going to calculate it? Oh and then only 5 out of 10 ate the second app while 7 out of 10 at the 3rd app.


Splitting checks works to a limited degree.


Honestly, just stay the hell home of you're going to have a conniption about going Dutch. Or simply make life easier, go dutch, and ask people to figure it out afterwards. Sitting at the table trying to to figure out exact consumption especially when there may be shares dishes involved that the entire table didn't eat equally makes it a giant mess.

I think we all agree that it's petty to itemize the portion you had of each shared appetizer. It's fine to split the check evenly if your fair share would be like $10 more than what you actually consumed. What people are objecting to is being asked to pay $50+ more than what they ate or when things are egregiously unequal. If I have a group of 10 and the table orders multiple meat based appetizers as well as steaks for everyone else, but I just have a small salad since I'm a vegetarian and can't eat any of the apps or other food, then no, I shouldn't be asked to split evenly. It's the same with the people getting a lot of booze. That can add up quickly, and a person could easily be asked to foot the bill for quite a lot more than they consumed.

Honestly, you're the one who should stay the hell home if you're determined to make everyone else subsidize your excesses, and if you're not even willing to try to be fair or reasonable when paying the bill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First, try to see if the server will do separate checks

Second, if not, take the bill first if you can, so the "let's just split evenly" doesn't take it first and announce what everyone "owes." Add up what you owe and add thirty percent (ten percent for tax, twenty percent for tip). Easy to figure out because you figure out ten percent and triple. If tax is less than ten percent, just let the extra be a larger tip.

Yeah, but how do separate checks work when you order something like appetizers to share or a bottle of wine to share?

It just becomes a giant pain in the ass.

If you have a group of 10 and order say rib appetizers that 9 will eat and the 10th won't because the won't eat pork, how are you going to calculate it? Oh and then only 5 out of 10 ate the second app while 7 out of 10 at the 3rd app.


Splitting checks works to a limited degree.


Honestly, just stay the hell home of you're going to have a conniption about going Dutch. Or simply make life easier, go dutch, and ask people to figure it out afterwards. Sitting at the table trying to to figure out exact consumption especially when there may be shares dishes involved that the entire table didn't eat equally makes it a giant mess.

You keep posting this and I want to assure you we heard you the first time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First, try to see if the server will do separate checks

Second, if not, take the bill first if you can, so the "let's just split evenly" doesn't take it first and announce what everyone "owes." Add up what you owe and add thirty percent (ten percent for tax, twenty percent for tip). Easy to figure out because you figure out ten percent and triple. If tax is less than ten percent, just let the extra be a larger tip.

Yeah, but how do separate checks work when you order something like appetizers to share or a bottle of wine to share?

It just becomes a giant pain in the ass.

If you have a group of 10 and order say rib appetizers that 9 will eat and the 10th won't because the won't eat pork, how are you going to calculate it? Oh and then only 5 out of 10 ate the second app while 7 out of 10 at the 3rd app.


Splitting checks works to a limited degree.


Honestly, just stay the hell home of you're going to have a conniption about going Dutch. Or simply make life easier, go dutch, and ask people to figure it out afterwards. Sitting at the table trying to to figure out exact consumption especially when there may be shares dishes involved that the entire table didn't eat equally makes it a giant mess.

I think we all agree that it's petty to itemize the portion you had of each shared appetizer. It's fine to split the check evenly if your fair share would be like $10 more than what you actually consumed. What people are objecting to is being asked to pay $50+ more than what they ate or when things are egregiously unequal. If I have a group of 10 and the table orders multiple meat based appetizers as well as steaks for everyone else, but I just have a small salad since I'm a vegetarian and can't eat any of the apps or other food, then no, I shouldn't be asked to split evenly. It's the same with the people getting a lot of booze. That can add up quickly, and a person could easily be asked to foot the bill for quite a lot more than they consumed.

Honestly, you're the one who should stay the hell home if you're determined to make everyone else subsidize your excesses, and if you're not even willing to try to be fair or reasonable when paying the bill.

The person who ordered the appetizer can pay for it, if it's an issue. $10 one time is no big deal but over time, it can easily add up to a few hundred and that can be a big deal for some.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve never had to split a cheque evenly in a situation of various consumptions. I grew up in Canada and it was always that you paid for what you order (or you/partner). I’m not sure why it’s so different in the US, but no, I’m not paying for your steak lobster and wine while I order a soup.

I grew up and still live in Canada and have definitely had issues with people wanting me to split the bill evenly.

I grew up fairly poor, so maybe we are just more used to paying for what we order as cost conscious folks