American Reacts To Why Tipping Is So Out Of Control In The U.S. #qantas #australia #travel

We do tip in Australia in restaurants for exceptional service but its not compulsory, the waiters are paid at least the minimum wage of $ 23-23 per hr and any restaurant who wants exceptional staff pays much more than the minimum . We are spoiled for choice in our cities for restaurants so anyone offering bad service would soon be out of business, this is why Americans think that visiting Australia is expensive, for a start they usually don't convert the Aussie dollar back to the American dollar which currently is around 30% in your favour then if you are not having to tip your not paying an extra 15/20%on top of your bill your actually paying around the same for your meal the,alcohol portion of your bill is a different matter we do get charged more to compensate for the huge tobacco and alcohol taxes we pay to discourage us from exess and addiction, but we have a lot of restaurants that are BYO (bring your own )where you only get charged for the use of their glasses .

In Australia we normally round up to the nearest $5 or $10. You may order a drink or coffee & leave the change. With $2 & $1 coins - I usually tip the silver change in the shared tip jar. At the 5 star restaurant in the 90's we were expecting $150 in wage for our7 hours & $50 - $100 in tips. We worked extremely hard & provided excellent service for these uniquie clients. 10 years I returned to a 3 star eatery & was happy to offer the same service. I noted the $30 - $40 a night in tips with $200 a night in wages. I get groceries delivered & as we don't tip just hand over a cold can of drink as a thank you.

How come the "tipped minimum wage" hasn't gone up with inflation? That's what people need to look at.

I don't necessarily agree that you always get better service because of tips. Different cultures have different ways in terms of how you approach customers. In some cultures constantly checking on people during meals and chatting away isn't considered polite and it's more customary to leave people alone during their meal. (Obviously rude is just rude and that happens too, everywhere). I generally have good/decent and friendly service in Australia but not always, that's life. It can depend on the area (big city crowded restaurant where staff are run off their feet during service might be less chatty or attentive). I've travelled through Europe and had good decent and yes some pretty bad experiences. Some countries have a less friendly attitudes than Aussies or Americans... but that's more of cultural thing than a service thing. As they also are like that outside of restaurants.... Like in Paris for example people were arrogant and rude to me in general. I don't think tips would change that lol. In Australia minimum wage is $23.23AUD per hour. However the average wait staff/bar staff etc earn around $30-$35 an hour and even more depending on their experience. And get penalty rates for public holidays and Sundays and over time. (Rates are Double time, time and half etc). In my opinion it's better to have the security of knowing you are making a regular livable amount each week without relying on strangers. Let's face it, if a boss doesn't like you as much as others, you might not get the shifts during times that give you the best options for the most tips. The people raking it in like crazy with tips would be a small percentage I think. Someone working in a basic small town cafe won't be raking it in. A lot of foreigners who travel around Australia on a 12 months working holiday visa, do wait/bar work as it's flexible and pay for their travels. I've had terrible service in Hawaii at at least 2 restaurants. I also had some good experiences too. Both experiences I was expected to leave a tip. For me as a consumer and especially given the costs of living for most of us....I think it's wrong having to pay/make up somebody else's employees wages. They don't work for me, they work for that business. It's their responsibility to pay them properly, not mine. I think the service industry there should have a higher minimum wage that's livable, set by federal government. As costs of living blows out more. More n more people will reduce eating out or just revert to take outs. Some already are. By all means if people want to leave a tip, anywhere for above and beyond service go ahead, I've done so on occasion. But it's should not be expected and it should not be in place of a liveable base wage. Of course always check when travelling re too as in some countries it is considered offensive. And in terms of tipping people outside the restaurant industry like hairdressers , Uber drivers/taxis and whoever else, nope. Most people simply can't afford to be throwing money at everyone they encounter.

I can't remember when I last gave a tip it is not necessary in Australia When I travelled to Arizona in 2019 I got some instructions on tipping culture so as not to offend. I gave out a few Australian $5 notes. The Americans like our pretty notes

In a circular train of logic, it's the consumers' fault. The majority believe the "tipped minimum wage" is a joke, regardless of inflation; to change it requires politicians to legislate; to get politicians to do so requires them being elected; to be elected (allegedly) requires enormously amounts of money; which involves quid pro quo support for the financier's interests; otherwise they'll support the other guy; then it's virtually a two party duocracy; and a seriously messed up opt-in voting system complicated by the electoral college system. * if you haven't investigate the Australian Electoral system. * And ultimately, everyone wants a bargain, so if they're paid more, the purchase price increases.

Phezz, you mentioned not tipping the mechanic.... just wondering if you've got an issue, like replacement battery or cracked radiator hose, and they expedited the repairs, eg. 1hr rather than the next day, would you tip? Even round up to the nearest dollar, or five/ten. Eg. Repairs are $163.70, would you give them $165 or $170?

In Australia if you do online dominos delivery when you pay it asks if you want to tip the driver.

Blame Prohibition, tipping in the US was optional prior to the18th Amendment and the Volsted act, before that Restaurants paid living wages to Staff out of the profits they made from selling Booze, after the 18th they slashed wages to stay open and put wait staff on tips, when the 21st passed they choose not to go back, some because of keeping prices down to stay competitive, others because they couldn't get back their liquor licenses so couldn't reinstate the wages, others where just greedy.

if the paid workers better then they need not to tip also whom should be paying the workers, their employer or the customer. Also tips should be voluntary

Pay your staff a good wage then no need to tip. No tipping in Aust.

Could you define 'good service' ? You WANT to be interrupted every five minutes while you're spending time with friends or family!? No thanks. Go away, leave me alone. If I want or need help, etc - I'll ask for it.

If I ever get to America I will not be tipping