Tipping in Australia

[YSSY]

Ok, a bit of a cheap question but what's the general consensus on tipping in Australia?

Tipping bellboys, bar staff, taxis, waiters, room service? When do you tip and how much?

Spending a lot of time in the US I've gotten used to tipping 10-20%, but find that hard to swallow at times in Oz.

 

[Hvr]

None of the above. Yeah I'm a cheapskate and hate the US tipping 'culture'.

Pay a proper wage and charge the real price rather than cause social upset by paying slave labour rates and demanding that the customer pay the difference.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Ok, a bit of a cheap question but what's the general consensus on tipping in Australia?

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Tipping, in Australia?

It relates to who will win the footy, or the 3rd race at Flemngton.

 

[burmans]

Ok, a bit of a cheap question but what's the general consensus on tipping in Australia?

Tipping bellboys, bar staff, taxis, waiters, room service? When do you tip and how much?

Spending a lot of time in the US I've gotten used to tipping 10-20%, but find that hard to swallow at times in Oz.

There is no consensus! We don't tip as a matter of "right" and you don't have to tip anything, unlike US where they are paid rubbish wages and rely on tips. If they are just doing their job I think many won't tip (e.g. Bellboys, taxis, room service). Some won't even tip for good service but I personally will round up 5-10% ( more likely the latter) and occasionally more but it's all about whether they really have provided great service rather than a "consensus".

 

[ashleyn]

Ok, a bit of a cheap question but what's the general consensus on tipping in Australia?

Tipping bellboys, bar staff, taxis, waiters, room service? When do you tip and how much?

Spending a lot of time in the US I've gotten used to tipping 10-20%, but find that hard to swallow at times in Oz.

Nothing, zero, zilch. They get paid well and the service is rarely up to that in the US. Just don't do it.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I will tip at restaurants if the meal and service are good. Usually 10-15%. Throw a few coins in the jar for takeaway coffee etc at any of my local haunts. Round up to the nearest dollar for cash fares in taxis providing they haven't taken me on a scenic tour. Don't tip anywhere or anyone else. My attitude is maybe a bit of a hangover from the UK.

 

[astrosly]

My rule of thumb is to round up to avoid coins in change or the nearest dollar if the amount is not very big. If I get very good service then I will add 5-10%, exceptional up to 15%. If the place I'm visiting has a relatively low standard of living (e.g. I've just returned from the Balkans) where you can get a good restaurant quality meal and wine for ~AU$20 then I will add 10-20% depending on service. Seldom get the opportunity to use a bellboy.

 

[TomVexille]

Nothing wrong with a dollar or two for above and beyond service

 

[JohnK]

I don't believe in tipping in general and I certainly do not believe in forced tipping.

I will leave some leftover loose change around if I end up going to a restaurant which isn't too often as I find restaurants overpriced.

I will round up taxi fares to nearest dollar.

I cannot think of anywhere else I need to tip.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

None of the above. Yeah I'm a cheapskate and hate the US tipping 'culture'.

Pay a proper wage and charge the real price rather than cause social upset by paying slave labour rates and demanding that the customer pay the difference.

Couldn't agree more!

And strangely, customer service in Australia, particularly in the hospitality industry, doesn't come across as " going through the motions" like it does in North America.
A particular dislike of mine is , when servers at a restaurant ask you how your meal is when you have even had a chance to swallow the first mouthful.

 

[drron]

I totally understand the need for tipping in the US.wages are low.
This is not the case in Australia so basically I rarely tip.
I do round up in taxis again like Princess Fiona only if I haven't done the scenic tour.Taxi drivers I don't think are paid enough for the risks they take.A fellow I knew well on the Sunshine Coast was a taxi driver and was murdered on the job.

 

[blackcat20]

I won't tip in Australia, and I hate when I'm given my change in coins in the hope that I'll leave it all. I make a point of taking it. Of course I always tip in the US as that's how the staff earn their living.

 

[amaroo]

I'm a good tipper. Cabs, restaurants, cafés, pubs, housekeeping etc......% value depending on quality of service.

 

[Foreigner]

I do tip, selectively. Not all cab drivers deserve tips. Some are very professional and are given tips. Others, engage in conversation and often too intrusive.


Sent from AFF Mobile Edition

 

[anat0l]

First up, there is no consensus.

That said, the predominant social convention in Australia is that tipping is at one's absolute discretion only. That's what almost every tourist guide for our fair nation says (or at least the many I have read).

I don't tip in Australia except maybe to round up a taxi fare or avoid carrying too much shrapnel. I wouldn't call that a tip, really.

I would rather write a glowing commendation to a restaurant for outstanding staff than add a tip to the final account.

"Tips" in apps like goCab would be more accurately described as "bribe" or "bounty".

I only tip to suit the local social conventions.

And now let us resume the rest of the newest debate thread on tipping, a topic which is up there with the Anthology of World Topics which could start a world war......

 

[DC3]

Nothing, zero, zilch. They get paid well and the service is rarely up to that in the US. Just don't do it.

Getting a bit O/T here, but now that USA tipping has come up, yes, the wages in the USA are generally very poor, especially in the hospitality industry, compared to ours.





Some workers don't even receive the minimum Federal wage, of $ 7.25 per hour, and they might only be required for four hours on the night.

That's right, it's not $17.00 or $27.00 per hour, and a few States have even lower levels than $7.25 per hour, and they can get split shifts with no guarantee of actual hours to be worked.

How many in Australia could survive on the minimum USA wage? Not me that's for sure.

Also, the IRS deems that the worker has received a certain amount in tips, which is assessable as income.

Regarding service in restaurants, Australia generally needs a awake. When was that last time that ice water arrived as you sat down, the food options on offer was fully and expertly explained, the wait-person had all right answers and drinks were never empty?

I've pretty much always found that most of the Yanks were right on the ball. If for no other reason that to get those tips.

If it's an allround poor experience and you aren't suitably impressed, it's a different matter.

Of a number of trips to the USA, there would only have been several average experiences in restaurants.

 

[anat0l]

When was that last time that ice water arrived as you sat down, the food options on offer was fully and expertly explained, the wait-person had all right answers and drinks were never empty?

Oh I've had that a decent number of times in Australia. Of course, you do kind of "pay for it", but that's more due to a microcosm of market dynamics at play.

 

[DC3]

Oh I've had that a decent number of times in Australia. Of course, you do kind of "pay for it", but that's more due to a microcosm of market dynamics at play.

Yes, it's definitely there.

It's just that the USA generally seems to "exude" the service side of things. Given, there will always be some exceptions.

 

[Happy Trails]

I think it was Andy Capp who once offered a cabbie sixpence as a tip.
Cabbie: "Sixpence? That's an insult."
Andy Capp: "Well, I was going to give you a shilling, but I didn't want to insult you twice."

 

[YSSY]

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Regarding service in restaurants, Australia generally needs a awake. When was that last time that ice water arrived as you sat down, the food options on offer was fully and expertly explained, the wait-person had all right answers and drinks were never empty?

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Surprisingly, this evening at Modo Mio Italian in the Crown Perth I experienced that very good service that you describe.

As I write this from my hotel room, I feel less guilty about having no change to tip the room service and wait staff.

I did hear a rumour that P&O Australia had to include the optional gratuities into the ticket price after is many Australian guests removed them on principle. Whenever we've cruised we have just accepted we need to add the gratuity charge to our expected budget. I prefer the idea of it being included from the start,