Tipping at the Sydney First Class International Lounge

[Joy6328]

I guess some are better at negotiating their contracts than others. I've never had, or come across anyone that hasn't had a good wage. If there's minimal gain (and it's not your "known" profession) then why go out of the way to do it...... the mind boggles.

His new career will be an investment in our future - but this one required him to start from the bottom. There's a lot of hard work ahead of him but it will pay off. Surely you remember what it was like to start your career and start from the bottom?

 

[Joy6328]

I tip for exceptional service - because I used to work in hospitality so notice and appreciate it.

My boss tips generously before sitting down and say 9/10 it secures fantastic service... His entertainment budget is well above mine though

 

[harvyk]

I have on some occasions, left a tip when the service has been exceptional.

I understand it is not necessary in Australia, however I'm happy to do so in some instances.

And that is how tipping should be, a small acknowledgement of good service beyond the basics, even in Australia...


IMHO Someone who simply goes to the kitchen and brings me my meal and a drink is simply doing their job and thus is not deserving of a tip (how it is in AU and how it should be). Someone who makes sure my glass is never empty, takes my order \ clears away the plates quickly, and engages in some light hearted chat whilst doing so but without feeling like they are simply "hovering" over the table IMO is deserving of something a bit extra. Be that extra in the form of a tip, or when it comes to FA's a little word of praise to the airline etc...

 

[samh004]

My boss tips generously before sitting down and say 9/10 it secures fantastic service... His entertainment budget is well above mine though

Reminds me of an episode of 3rd Rock From The Sun, where D¡ck has a pool of cash on the table that changes as he gets good and bad service. Not sure if anyone else will remember that episode.

 

[Canny man]

My personal hate in the US is the 'restroom attendant' who demands a tip after you use the facilities

 

[zig]

My personal hate in the US is the 'restroom attendant' who demands a tip after you use the facilities

I really don't mind tipping in those circumstances. At least the restrooms are attended and you are generally sure of getting clean facilities, clean sink, clean hand towel etc.

 

[harvyk]

My personal hate in the US is the 'restroom attendant' who demands a tip after you use the facilities

I've only come across one once, and it made me feel a little uncomfortable that there was someone in the facilities who did not actually need to use them... This was in a nightclub and I did note he had quite an extensive collection of deodorant's and breath fresheners (so great for the guys who where there to pick up), so I sort of feel that it would be fair enough to tip if I used any of them, but I did not like the fact that I felt pressured into providing a tip to someone who's total interaction with me was a slight nod of the head when I walked in, and again as I was leaving.

 

[drewbles]

My personal hate in the US is the 'restroom attendant' who demands a tip after you use the facilities

I simply refuse to tip them. And as for the array of chocolates and other items on the counter, WTF?? I go to the bathroom to 'ablute' not buy chocolates and cologne.

I have said it before and I will say it again.

If people in the service industry in the USA were indeed struggling to make a living then I would not be seeing many of them in Thailand on a budget of 10,000+ baht a day (more than double my budget), staying 2-4 weeks, staying in better hotels etc etc.

I don't visit the USA and when I do I have no need to pay $50+ for a meal and avoid tipping where possible including my "free" drinks in the lounges.

In Thailand I tip the driver 100 baht, golf caddie 300-500 baht, tip 5-10 baht at the drink stop(s), tip 20 baht to the person handing out towels and the rest of the time I will leave loose change if I sit down for a meal. The influence the US tourists have had there is quite noticeable but if you observe the Thais you will notice they very rarely tip and if they do it will not be more than 20 baht in loose change.

What I cannot understand is people telling others they should do tip and so on. If you want to tip the go for it. It is an individual thing and there is no right or wrong....

We must visit different countries. Are there two USA's? I've known plenty of wait staff and kitchen staff in the USA (as well as hotel employees) who are making around $5-6 an hour.

Management are the fat cats in the service industry in the USA. They rake in the cash whilst the front-line staff make bugger all, and are forced to live on tips. I've said it before and i'll say it again, raise the prices slightly, increase the minimum wage, and tip for exceptional service, just like here in AU (although our government has screwed up service industry staff due to enforcing higher wages on small businesses that can't afford it; $25/hour to wait a table is a little OTT IMHO, considering I know highly skilled people earning around the same!).

I tip in the USA as it's a) expected and b) they need to earn a living. I've also witnessed people being chased down the street for failing to tip (which is poor form on the staff member admittedly but still...)

 

[Pushka]

An annoying trend I have seen is where places charge a service fee, (eg Public Holidays) and still leave the Total open and space for a tip to be written in.

 

[harvyk]

An annoying trend I have seen is where places charge a service fee, (eg Public Holidays) and still leave the Total open and space for a tip to be written in.

If you are referring to in Australia, "service fees" are illegal, and every so often a host of restaurants gets love letters from fair trading reminding them of such after public holiday's (often with a fine included). The only way a place is allowed to add a service fee is if they have a special menu printed up which has the full prices shown which includes a service fee.

Having a little footnote at the bottom of the menu stating that public holiday surcharge will be added to the total is not allowed.

It's part of our all inclusive pricing laws, it's illegal to offer something for a price, and not include all mandatory charges in that base price.

 

[Pushka]

If you are referring to in Australia, "service fees" are illegal, and every so often a host of restaurants gets love letters from fair trading reminding them of such after public holiday's (often with a fine included). The only way a place is allowed to add a service fee is if they have a special menu printed up which has the full prices shown which includes a service fee.

Having a little footnote at the bottom of the menu stating that public holiday surcharge will be added to the total is not allowed.

It's part of our all inclusive pricing laws, it's illegal to offer something for a price, and not include all mandatory charges in that base price.

Hmm, I see that sign on many restaurant menus. Saw it last Friday - Good Friday.

 

[mannej]

I agree with Pushka - I don't think I have seen a restaurant without the standard 10% Public Holiday surcharge.
In fact, I did see one charge a 10% weekend surcharge. Won't be going back there any time soon.

 

[yohy?!]

I post on a cruise forum and tipping is a real hot button. I agree, people from the USA simply must tip. They regard it as offensive not to do so. And people from the UK simply won't tip. I was recently on the Queen Mary 2 and they have an auto tip feature, even whilst cruising in Australia. There was quite a line up of people from the UK or with British accents queuing up to get it removed from their account. I left it on, I figured it was little enough and the staff pay is not exactly high. All the guy in front of me wanted to know was whether his room steward would know he had retracted it.

That is particularly stingy as I imagine that like the cruises I have been on the majority of staff are from countries like India or the Phillipines and are paid very low wages comparatively whilst being expected to work 14 hour days for 3 months at a stretch.

 

[amaroo]

Hmm, I see that sign on many restaurant menus. Saw it last Friday - Good Friday.

Also very prolific up here in paradise!

 

[JetLagged]

I have always left five or ten dollars for the spa massage but nothing else in the Flounge

Same here!

 

[harvyk]

Hmm, I see that sign on many restaurant menus. Saw it last Friday - Good Friday.

and they are breaking the law and likely to get ACCC to come and have a nice little chat

http://www.accc.gov.au/content/item.phtml?itemId=898953&nodeId=ea34eda117df6b560b1150b468c6518d&fn=216%20BS%20Component%20pricing%20restaurants%20cafes%20_12-10__44164_FA%20web.pdf

Page 3 has an example of such a surcharge which is very common and yet not allowed, and the ACCC does look for businesses which do not comply, every so often a newspaper article comes out reminding people that surcharges can not be added like that, and listing businesses which have been done for it...

 

[oz_mark]

Having a little footnote at the bottom of the menu stating that public holiday surcharge will be added to the total is not allowed.

It's part of our all inclusive pricing laws, it's illegal to offer something for a price, and not include all mandatory charges in that base price.

My understanding is that is true where they add a percentage on. If they add a flat dollar amount then it is acceptable.

Sent from my HTC Legend using AustFreqFly

 

[dajop]

IManagement are the fat cats in the service industry in the USA. They rake in the cash whilst the front-line staff make bugger all, and are forced to live on tips. I've said it before and i'll say it again, raise the prices slightly, increase the minimum wage, and tip for exceptional service, just like here in AU (although our government has screwed up service industry staff due to enforcing higher wages on small businesses that can't afford it; $25/hour to wait a table is a little OTT IMHO, considering I know highly skilled people earning around the same!).

I agree, just include it in the price. But that is highly controversial in the US, where people are so used to component pricing, that businesses get killed if they do simply because people add on the extras in their heads

Whilst I think tipping is OK where people are being paid sub-par, when you do the math in your head it's often the % amount that's the issue. One night eating alone ... I observed .... My bill $25 plus $5 tip . The waiter was also attending other tables maybe 30 people all up. Restaurant fast turnover, so people at table perhaps an hour - let's say 90 mins. So $25x 30 = $750 x going tip rate (18%) = $135. Not bad for 90 minutes work. OK there's more to it that, but even with only 15 diners, that's still not a bad rate of pay.

 

[JohnK]

I've said it before and i'll say it again, raise the prices slightly, increase the minimum wage, and tip for exceptional service, just like here in AU (although our government has screwed up service industry staff due to enforcing higher wages on small businesses that can't afford it; $25/hour to wait a table is a little OTT IMHO, considering I know highly skilled people earning around the same!).

Fine by me. In fact I have mentioned this as well in the past. Raise prices and raise wages in line.

And I am one of those highly skilled people (I think I am anyway) who earns only marginally over $25/hour so if waiters are earning that amount then are grossly overpaid.

 

[harvyk]

My understanding is that is true where they add a percentage on. If they add a flat dollar amount then it is acceptable.

Sent from my HTC Legend using AustFreqFly

According to the PDF I posted up, this is correct provided that the surcharge is flat rate, and is shown at the same time the prices are shown...

I agree, just include it in the price. But that is highly controversial in the US, where people are so used to component pricing, that businesses get killed if they do simply because people add on the extras in their heads

I remember talking to a friend of mine in SF once, she couldn't believe that all inclusive pricing existed. When I explained to her that back home if something on the menu said it costs $10, that's all you'll pay she nearly fell off her chair... She was just so used to adding 25% to every price she saw, that the thought of only paying what was advertised was completely foreign to her. (pardon the pun).

I expect that if the US ever changed they're system to actually pay wait staff a decent wage the tips won't stop, it's just so engrained in US society. It's likely the size of the tips would go up, considering it's usually a percentage of the total amount.