Tipping in Australia

[JohnK]

You lock up your toiletries ??

Absolutely. That's where a toiletries bag comes in handy.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Where are you located exactly, off north terrace?

As for coffee, I feel bad that I don't tip my coffee place. But then they usually see me walking towards them and have my usual waiting when I get there.

Tip them!!! Lucky to have jobs .......

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I haven't read through all these pages of posts, but for me I tip if I get good service. I don't tip if I get poor service and I don't tip if I think the goods or services provided was overpriced to begin with or were cough. When I do tip, it's not a percentage because that would imply I can actually work out percentages, rather just an amount that I deem OK at the time. No real formula I'm afraid.

My wife gets annoyed when I tip. To her that's an almost unspeakable crime and puts me in the dog house if she catches me........which works in my favour as I often declare that she can pay the bill........win, win for me :mrgreen:!

 

[SydneySwan]

I have only just come across this thread and haven't waded through it. I tip very rarely in Australia and NZ and that would only be in cafes / restaurants for exceptional service. I never tip hotel staff or taxis. Overseas, of course it is a completely different matter. I hate the tipping culture in the US, not because of having to tip but the constant fear that you are over or under tipping.

 

[moa999]

My local restaurant in Melbourne has a new way of encouraging customers to tip. As of last week, when they hand the customer the Eftpos machine at payment time the 1st question on the screen used to be "Account?" i.e. credit or savings. Now the first question on the screen is "tip amount?"
I found this change distasteful - am I being too harsh?

That will be more common with the change to CHIP and PIN.

It used to be the case that people wrote the tip on the signature bit of paper,
then they went out the back and processed another charge.

With it moving to pin only, they now need to do this upfront.

 

[Cynicor]

Yeah, seen this in a restaurant in WA. Is a chip and pin thing, as has been mentioned.

Probably makes me less likely to tip; I'll give cash to the waiter if I feel they deserve the extra.

 

[samh004]

Finally get around to this thread... no tipping for me. Occasionally, out of pure convenience to myself, I'll place some coins in a tip jar somewhere, but that's mainly because I despise coins. I guess, if I received amazing service I'd want to recognise it, but when I'm flying I do that by leaving feedback, signalling good service out, so I don't know why I couldn't do the same for a business, through social media or a feedback form if they have it. The ball is then in the businesses court on how to recompense their staff.

 

[Dr Ralph]

You should NEVER tip in Australia.

 

[turtlemichael]

It would be interesting to hear from anyone actually knowledgeable in the hospitality industry as to how often, and how much, people do tip in Australia? I know it depends on the restaurant etc but as a general rule? My suspicion is that it is more common amongst the general public than amongst those posting here.

 

[anat0l]

My suspicion is that it is more common amongst the general public than amongst those posting here.

I would suspect you are correct and incorrect somewhat at the same time. It would depend on the social demographic of the diners surveyed as well as the restaurants selected as such.

Certainly amongst most of my friends, colleagues and family who live in Australia, I can't think of too many at all who tip in Australia. Maybe the extent of it would be putting in loose shrapnel into the tip jar when buying coffee in cash.

On top of that, I would be curious to know what actually happens to tip money. There are various methods of how it is apportioned in the USA (or any other place where tipping is socially expected). I realise that some people have specific methods of giving a tip that are designed to achieve a specific outcome.

 

[turtlemichael]

It would depend on the social demographic of the diners surveyed as well as the restaurants selected as such.

Indeed. Let's look at what would claim to be an upmarket restaurant. Let's say: "How common is tipping in a restaurant such as Glass or similar in Sydney? When it occurs is 10%+ the norm?" My guess is more than 50% would tip and 7-10% would be the norm. I don't know so it would be great to hear from someone who does.

 

[RAM]

Tip them!!! Lucky to have jobs .......

I really hope either you do not buy coffee or your coffee sellers don't know you're screen ID.

What goes in the cup hidden by the veil of the machine....

 

[RAM]

My wife gets annoyed when I tip. To her that's an almost unspeakable crime and puts me in the dog house if she catches me........which works in my favour as I often declare that she can pay the bill........win, win for me :mrgreen:!

Great to see affirmative action lives!

 

[RAM]

I have only just come across this thread and haven't waded through it. I tip very rarely in Australia and NZ and that would only be in cafes / restaurants for exceptional service. I never tip hotel staff or taxis. Overseas, of course it is a completely different matter. I hate the tipping culture in the US, not because of having to tip but the constant fear that you are over or under tipping.

I do tip taxis if they do not turn on the meter as soon as they stop at the airport to load you & your bags. Provided the meter turns on when we're about to drive off then if they're on-the-ball and don't coast into a green light - I'll give them a tip (and then rounded up to next whole dollar.

Once I had a brilliant ride, maybe 25-30% better than normal fare at similar time of day. The driver must have had his own PTIPs device (possible but not legal) and when the journey finished I said he could keep the change. Even so he went to give me a note back (started meter as pulling away, virtually not one red light, good driver no rapid braking etc). He sure set the bar high.

 

[Homer]

Indeed. Let's look at what would claim to be an upmarket restaurant. Let's say: "How common is tipping in a restaurant such as Glass or similar in Sydney? When it occurs is 10%+ the norm?" My guess is more than 50% would tip and 7-10% would be the norm. I don't know so it would be great to hear from someone who does.

In our formal restaurant it very much depends on the guest and the day of the week.

Those having a business/working lunch on a Friday almost always tip. Similarly those dining on weeknights (i.e. Tuesday to Friday) are tippers and around 90% of bills would have a tip added by the guest. I think that's because these are the more serious/frequent/"foodie" diners; people who go out on a "school night". The average tip rate is around 15% on these occasions. However on Saturday night, which is sometimes known as "punters night" in the industry, there is considerably less tipping. On Saturdays restaurants host many more young couples than at other times of the week and I guess they are a little more careful with what they spend. Also those who have their "big night out" only a few times a year are much less likely to tip. Generalising a little more (and I am not wanting to offend any group, just pass on my observations) anecdotally those from the USA are the biggest tippers but it might surprise many here that Australians come a close second. Those from the UK and Europe tip much less often and tipping is rare among guests from Asia.

 

[turtlemichael]

In our formal restaurant it very much depends on the guest and the day of the week.

Those having a business/working lunch on a Friday almost always tip. Similarly those dining on weeknights (i.e. Tuesday to Friday) are tippers and around 90% of bills would have a tip added by the guest. I think that's because these are the more serious/frequent/"foodie" diners; people who go out on a "school night". The average tip rate is around 15% on these occasions. However on Saturday night, which is sometimes known as "punters night" in the industry, there is considerably less tipping. On Saturdays restaurants host many more young couples than at other times of the week and I guess they are a little more careful with what they spend. Also those who have their "big night out" only a few times a year are much less likely to tip. Generalising a little more (and I am not wanting to offend any group, just pass on my observations) anecdotally those from the USA are the biggest tippers but it might surprise many here that Australians come a close second. Those from the UK and Europe tip much less often and tipping is rare among guests from Asia.

Thanks Homer. Very interesting. If your example is typical the statement that tipping is not common in Australia is blatantly wrong. What is different is that it in not part of the wages system as in the US.

 

[Duffa]

I've been through a phase of tipping over the past 5 years or so - 10-20% - don't know why I did, it just happened.
Recently I've stopped. The idea that some unskilled person, who is bringing out my food on a Sunday night, is earning $36 an hour is obscene.
No tip required as far as I'm concerned.
God bless penalty rates!!

 

[Homer]

Thanks Homer. Very interesting. If your example is typical the statement that tipping is not common in Australia is blatantly wrong. What is different is that it in not part of the wages system as in the US.

Some of our staff work in other places and I am told this is typical. Of course at Quay the tips would be nudging 20%... In the US the minimum wage is something like $7.50 per hour. In Australia our floor staff are paid around $20 per hour plus super. But we should remember that groceries and energy, etc, costs about twice as much here compared with the US. And then there's the cost of housing... None of the people bringing food to your table are wealthy. None of them.

 

[Buzzard]

A lot of awards less than $20/hr eg shop assistant and I doubt that they get many tips.

 

[anat0l]

Some of our staff work in other places and I am told this is typical. Of course at Quay the tips would be nudging 20%... In the US the minimum wage is something like $7.50 per hour. In Australia our floor staff are paid around $20 per hour plus super. But we should remember that groceries and energy, etc, costs about twice as much here compared with the US. And then there's the cost of housing... None of the people bringing food to your table are wealthy. None of them.

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.