Trouble in Paradise
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Lunch with coworkers

When you go out to lunch with a group of coworkers, how do you handle the check?

I just went out with coworkers and it was assumed that we'd all split it evenly.  That meant that my $7.50 wrap and water ended up costing me $18.  I don't mind because despite be practical joke poor while we save for a house, $10.50 isn't going to break me.  But there was a guy there who seemed really really pissed that he was paying that much.  I'm curious as to whether other people get so fumed about this.

Do you always do separate checks?  Do you try to do that juggling act at the end to figure out what people owe?  Or, do you split it evenly among all parties?

Edited to make the title make sense

Re: Lunch with coworkers

  • We always do separate checks.

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  • We usually do separate bills.
  • We do separate checks. 

    I think it's okay to split it, but then everyone should know that before they order so that someone who buys an $8 lunch doesn't pay twice as much for it when the check is split.

    Honestly, I wouldn't be very happy about that myself and can understand why your co-worker was pissed. Although, I probably wouldn't say anything and just never go out to lunch with that group again.  

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  • If it's clear there is a big price difference, we each pay what we think we owe for our share. 

    If the cost is going to be pretty close, save for maybe one person got a soda where someone else didn't, we might split evenly. 

    But this is also thinking of CW's who are more friends than anything.  If I'm going out w/ people who I wouldn't really call friends, I would want to pay what I owe and not much more.

    "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
    ~Benjamin Franklin

    Lilypie Third Birthday tickers
    DS dx with celiac disease 5/28/10

  • We always do separate checks, and honestly, I'd be a little annoyed that my $8 lunch cost me $18. I probably would have said right away that I wanted a separate check. ETA: if I were the guy who got so upset, I mean.

  • I do see where he's coming from.  I think a lot of my apathy comes from the fact that this is the second time I've gone out for lunch in the eight months I've worked here, the first being my first day.  If it happened regularly I'd be pissed, but I assumed it was more of an, "everyone knew but me" thing.

    Probably not going to be going out again without discussing that ahead of time, but wasn't going to make a fuss.

  • What was the reaction from the group when the one guy was pissed?
    "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
    ~Benjamin Franklin

    Lilypie Third Birthday tickers
    DS dx with celiac disease 5/28/10

  • With coworkers, I always pay for what I got.

    With friends, we generally end up splitting the check. However, it is rare that someone doesn't say something like, "oh, but I had 1 more drink than you" and someone else says, "don't worry about it." Of course, that's generally only 2 couples. If it's more people, it tends to get a little fuzzier.

    I agree with everything that muddled said. You should listen to her. -ESDReturns
  • imageEastCoastBride:
    What was the reaction from the group when the one guy was pissed?

    Well, he ordered something that was about $11, add on the tip and the fact that we were covering for another coworker's meal since we were tacking her out to celebrate her recent graduation and he was really on paying about $1 or $2 less than he "should have been".  He wasn't ranting and raving, just was noticably peeved.  So they ignored him.

  • I seriously have deep-seated issues about this topic.

    I think I was like 12 and we went to NYC on a school trip - we went to some famous deli and the sandwiches were $20-$25 each. I hated sandwiches as a kid and I was HORRIFIED at the idea of paying $20 to take apart a sandwich just to eat the deli meat, so I ordered the cheapest thing on the menu - a side of mashed potatoes ($11, btw). At the end, my teacher INSISTED that we had to split the check evenly. I tried to fight it but she insisted and I had to pay $30 for my $11 mashed potatoes and a water. I went home to my mom and cried that I was so sorry I had to spend all the money she gave me and I tried so hard not to, etc etc. She was SO royally pissed at my teacher. OMG it's making me upset just to think about it.

    Anyway, that got really me-centric. Sorry. I think splitting the check is stupid unless everyone's total comes out mostly equal (like, within a couple bucks) and if someone suggests it, I just say "oh you know what let's see, mine was $20...here's $25 and that covers tax and tip for me!"  Then check out of the money dithering conversation.

    A lot of times we split the check evenly when we go out with friends, and then if someone got the rib eye and the rest of us got chicken, that person makes up the difference in the tip. That's always fine with me too.

    - namaste mothafockaaaas - image
  • imagefeinicstine:

    Well, he ordered something that was about $11, add on the tip and the fact that we were covering for another coworker's meal since we were tacking her out to celebrate her recent graduation and he was really on paying about $1 or $2 less than he "should have been".  He wasn't ranting and raving, just was noticably peeved.  So they ignored him.

    Eh, when you add in taking someone out, that complicates things and I would actually expect to just split it evenly.  I don't know if others have a better way to do it. 
    "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
    ~Benjamin Franklin

    Lilypie Third Birthday tickers
    DS dx with celiac disease 5/28/10

  • Beebee - what is Carnegie Deli?  We went there once and I was SHOCKED at the prices!! 

     

    "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
    ~Benjamin Franklin

    Lilypie Third Birthday tickers
    DS dx with celiac disease 5/28/10

  • We always do separate checks.
  • srgwsrgw member
    1000 Comments Third Anniversary 5 Love Its Combo Breaker
    I would be really peeved about paying $18 for my $7.50 wrap. I'm really frugal and paying $10 more than I owed would piss me off.
  • imageEastCoastBride:

    Beebee - what is Carnegie Deli?  We went there once and I was SHOCKED at the prices!! 

     

    It may have been! I just remember being SO upset about that whole thing. As I was typing it I felt all my insecurity bubbling up about being a kid and having to kowtow to adults who were clearly being asinine. Geez!

    - namaste mothafockaaaas - image
  • With friends we usually divide evenly. If I'm out with coworkers who are also friends, same thing. With just coworkers, separate checks or we split it at the table (yay smartphones).
    image
  • No way am I paying 18 dollars for a 7 dollar wrap. Separate checks all the way.
    SO SINGS MY SOUL *WHAM!* MY SAVIOR GOD TO THEE *WHAM!* HOW GREAT THOU ART *WHAM!* HOW GREAT THOU ART *WHAM!*
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