Tipping in Australia

[Deleted member 29185]

May I ask how are tips apportioned to the staff (and who, e.g. chefs, waiters, front of house, etc.), if at all?

Yes, this is a difficult one. I know of some establishments where all tips received are pooled and shared equally amongst all staff (so the back of house workers have a chance of getting a tip as well as front of house). Trouble is, often I want the person I give the tip to, to have it. I tipped for good service from a person. From time to time I've asked to convey my complements to the chef when the food has been great, but service not so. Only ever once have I been told "oh, I'll ask the chef to come out and you can thank him yourself", hence a chance to tip. Chefs are normally very busy people.

 

[Homer]

May I ask how are tips apportioned to the staff (and who, e.g. chefs, waiters, front of house, etc.), if at all?

You don't have to answer this; sorry if asking caused an offence.

No offence taken. Happy to help.

All tips are pooled, even if you leave cash for a waiter. The kitchen shares 25%; the floor team shares the rest. Again I believe this is reasonably representative of industry practice, except that in some places the business also takes a cut.

 

[Warks]

I don't know if this applies here but when I worked in pubs in England the young attractive women working behind the counter used to rake in the tips depending on the clientele but independent of whether they provided good service or not. Some were quite dreadful at getting the drinks right but still made plenty of tips. Unlike us poor blokes - tips were rare except for when Americans came into the pub. I made sure I always gave them the best possible service and they nearly always tipped. Some of the grumpy Poms, the types who would stand there waiting for their 2p change for five minutes, could well be ignored when Americans were in the pub!

 

[aaflyer]

There's a reason my personal things are locked away in a suitcase when I leave my hotel room for the day....

You may want to re-think that...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf-DGKUNffI

 

[Cruiser Elite]

aaflyer that is amazing - just tried it on 4 diff suitcases I have here at work - worked exactly like video clip on all 4 - JohnK - your screwed!

 

[anat0l]

You may want to re-think that...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf-DGKUNffI

aaflyer that is amazing - just tried it on 4 diff suitcases I have here at work - worked exactly like video clip on all 4 - JohnK - your screwed!

That's a fairly old trick that's been around the traps for a while.

I usually set up the bag in some way that even if you get into the bag, it will be very difficult or impossible for you to leave the bag remaining as it was exactly before it was tampered, so it's not possible to hide your tracks (even if from a distance it may look like the bag wasn't tampered with).

 

[medhead]

I took the post to mean the toiletry bag was put in the safe.

 

[aaflyer]

I took the post to mean the toiletry bag was put in the safe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfq_cB8F-GY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnLz1hJcbI0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=954ZIcLM7gE

etc etc. I would not put anything of value in a hotel safe ever. It is a dilemma when you have laptops etc. I treat any hotel room I am in like it's a public place, and tend to end up taking my valuables with me (even my laptop).

 

[Ausbt]

I've found that the more I've travelled in the US (and tipped there, of course) then the less likely I am to tip in Australia. I guess because I've come to see US staff as deserving and consequently Oz staff to be undeserving, due to higher wages and lower levels of service.

I've got a mate who loves to splash the cash, loudly tipping all and sundry. I've been up to Japan skiing with him a number of times - it's horribly embarrassing to watch him tip Japanese wait staff and witness their confusion.

 

[Bolthead]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfq_cB8F-GY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnLz1hJcbI0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=954ZIcLM7gE

etc etc. I would not put anything of value in a hotel safe ever. It is a dilemma when you have laptops etc. I treat any hotel room I am in like it's a public place, and tend to end up taking my valuables with me (even my laptop).

Classic, I think I will now change my career...

...and not trust those safes. However this has just reminded me of a trip to Xian China back in 2007. We always use those safes and when we go to our room at the Mercure Xian our safe was locked. We rang up the front desk and asked them to unlock it. Promptly 2 gentle turned up, one was a national and the other was a French gentlemen. The French guy asked his Chinese buddy and us to turn around while he put in the Master key. I will have second thoughts now.

How did a thread regarding 'tipping' side track about hotel safes? Back on topic now...

 

[Deleted member 29185]

How did a thread regarding 'tipping' side track about hotel safes?

Have to keep all that tip money somewhere!

 

[Warks]

Just saw this article. Tips have 'plummeted' so let's introduce a "service charge". What is this? England? We used to call it the "lack of service charge".

Good Food - Tipping plummets as credit cards convert to PINs

 

[Bolthead]

Just saw this article. Tips have 'plummeted' so let's introduce a "service charge". What is this? England? We used to call it the "lack of service charge".

Good Food - Tipping plummets as credit cards convert to PINs

The ATO will be happy with this...

 

[amaroo]

Another article about the demise of the tip.....

Waiters feeling the PIN-ch as tipping dries up, but should we care?

No Cookies | The Courier-Mail

 

[JohnK]

aaflyer that is amazing - just tried it on 4 diff suitcases I have here at work - worked exactly like video clip on all 4 - JohnK - your screwed!

Yes and no.

That would be a brave person that would open a stranger's bag that way. What if the zip breaks? Sprung. What if the lock is not returned to the exact same position? Sprung. It takes a lot of guts to risk your job. You need to make sure there is something in that bag worth stealing not just toiletries.

In saying that I have never had anything go missing from my luggage. I have lost money but that is simply stupidity. I still think locking things away is the safest option for me.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

JohnK that was a joke - your sense of humour deserted your body again?

 

[JohnK]

JohnK that was a joke - your sense of humour deserted your body again?

Oh. Apologies I missed that.

 

[harvyk]

Back on topic,

if you want a tip from me you really have needed to go above and beyond standard service. You need to have made sure my glass was never empty, that my order was taken quickly, and that my finished plate was taken virtually the second I've finished with it. It also helps if we've shared a joke, or had a bit of a conversation. Then I'll quite happily send a few dollars your way, and I do from time to time. Otherwise you're just doing your job, nothing more.

With taxi's I'll sometimes round the change upto the nearest dollar and if you've gone out of your way to help me (eg done a short trip from BNE dom to BNE int after waiting an hour at dom) I'll usually throw a few extra dollars your way provided you had the right attitude. Be a jerk about such things and I'll pay to the meter and not one cent more.

Can't think of anywhere else in AU where I'd consider tipping, since for the most part we do pay ppl fairly.

 

[DaveB]

Attitude is largely what I go on for tipping going up to 10% in Oz for good service with a smile. Also for not so attentive service when it is obvious they are understaffed. Always use cash for the tip given directly to the staff member.

 

[Buzzard]

I was chatting with a customer yesterday and genuinely forgot to give her change.
She very quickly reminded me "what about my 5 cents change"
Ooops. Obviously a non tipper.