When it comes to tipping, Aussies are tightwads

[Cristiano]

Now being an Aussie, even though the imported kind, I know that does not apply to me, however tipping for most Australians is a very foreign thing (pun intended).

This article appeared today in Sydney so make of it what you will .

I did not want to particularly start another dreaded thread on tipping but perhaps this article may go some way in explaining or inflaming the not so well travelled Aussie's understanding and attitude to tipping!!!

Ciao,

Cristiano.



November 2, 2010 - 12:38PM

Ben Groundwater's of the Sun-Herald. Resident Globe Trotter


When it comes to tipping service staff, Australians have a bad reputation

Go to the US or anywhere in western Europe, walk into a bar or restaurant and ask the first staff member you see. They'll tell you: Australians don't tip.

About the best tip you'll get from an Aussie is the old: "Be good to your mother."

We just don't do it; it's not part of our culture.
Some Aussies do try but we invariably get it wrong: the wrong amount, done the wrong way, given to the wrong person.

And that's the main problem. It's not that Australians don't want to tip (although that's part of it), it's that we don't really understand how the whole thing is done when we try.

I still find tipping thoroughly confusing. You're supposed to tip 10 per cent, right?

That's a good rule of thumb. OK, now go to a restaurant in New York and tip 10 per cent. Then watch what happens. I've seen the owner of a restaurant approach a table of four Australians to discuss the amount handed over.

"Was there a problem tonight, guys?" he asked. They all shook their heads.

"So everything was fine with your service?" They all nodded.

"Then I'm afraid this isn't an appropriate tip, guys, you're going have to do better than that."

So they all sheepishly reached into their wallets and dished out a few more greenbacks.

In New York, you tip 20 per cent. I know what you're thinking, too: 20 per-freakin'-cent? That's far too much!

And you're right, it is far too much. Why do New York service staff get tipped so much more than everyone else? I have no idea.

All I know is that if you ignore this rule, you're going to make yourself seriously unpopular.

At least restaurant tipping is straightforward: you calculate a percentage of the total of your bill and leave that on the table. Done.

What's harder for the rookie tipper is paying a moving target such as a barman or a hotel porter. It's not just the pain of parting with cash that you don't think you should have to.


Now you have to figure out how much bar staff or porters would normally expect for the service provided and how the hell you're going to slip it to them.

Experienced tippers become masters of the smooth monetary exchange. They're Bond-like in their casual slipping of a note between palms after a service has been performed.

I have no idea how this is done. Say you're at a bar and you order a beer. It costs $4, so you pay with a $20. You're hardly going so say, "Keep the change", are you? That's a $16 tip!

Unless you're in New York, you technically should tip the guy 40¢ but you're not going to be such a tightwad as to count out the coins on the bar, surely?

So you figure, fine, I'll just give him the $1 note from the change I'll get back. But how do you give it to him? With an awkward, "Hey, this is for you" as you flip it across the bar?

Or do you leave it on the bar and hope he picks it up later and knows it was from you?

I usually go with the latter option, which I think does the trick because no North American barman has ever given me the evil eye before and I usually get served when I go to the bar for a second round.

For hotel porters carrying your bags, how much is that service worth? One dollar? Ten dollars?

I haven't a clue.

And how do you hand over the money? Do you fold it into your palm and give him a secret handshake? Or just dangle it in front of you as he's leaving the room?

To be honest, I usually solve this one by avoiding giving a tip. So a guy brought my bag upstairs - big deal. I would have happily done it myself if someone had given me the chance. (Starting to realise where we got this reputation of ours? Thought so.)

At least in the US, when you're forced to pay for something, it's usually done well. That's not always the case elsewhere.

Most travellers have experienced the old "tipping for toilets" routine in Europe. This involves placing some spare change in front of a nice old lady as you wander into the WC.

You're thinking to yourself, "Well, I might have had to pay for it but at least that means it'll be nice and clean".

And on that point, you'd be very, very wrong.

Then there's the snooty restaurant service you're expected to shell out for, plus a little extra for the cab driver who took you on the "tourist route" and then some "baksheesh" for the guy who told you where the toilets were.

It would be enough to drive a man to drink - if you didn't have to tip the barman.

[NSWP]

Christiano, good story that, it is our culture as you know not to tip, but when in Rome. I always leave a couple of bucks in the tip jar, home or abroad.

[we2cruze]

That's funny and I'm sure very true.

[ShakyBeef]

Thanks for the very interesting read! It's nice to get another perspective on it. I guess it can be very strange if you're not familiar with it (tipping). Heck - all the subtle nuances of tipping can get confusing for Americans, too. (Should I put a tip into the jar on the counter of the ice cream shop, for instance? I mean, Really?)

But, BTW - I believe 10% is considered a low tip for restaurant wait staff anywhere in the U.S., not just in NYC. Usually 15% - 20% is the norm.:)

[Kiwi Kruzer]

We entertained friends today from the UK who are doing a non cruise tour of of Au and NZ.
We chatted about this , and they said that tipping is alive and well in Australia , and if they did not tip they were ignored.

Looks like Australia is joining the big world.

[Australian family]

We have had some friends from Canada living here in Australia, and they have been shocked as to how poor the service is in cafes/restaurants compared to Canada.

The problem with Australia is that the wages are much higher than the US and Canada, and that is why we don't have tipping.

Personally we haven't come across places here wanting tips, you do occassionally see a bowl on a counter for lose change. But we don't go to the real touristy places, or eat at places where tourists would go.

And no we are not tightwads, I tip when I travel to the US etc. But I also expect good service.

[catl331]

Here's a good article about tipping habits world-wide, under the topic By Region: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tip_(gratuity)

[Cinder Again]

It's hard to change from the culture you are raised in...We TRIED to follow the Aussie's culture while there, but it was really hard, and we found ourselves leaving "a little something" on the table, like we would in the US and Canada. I think when servers realize you are American, you get great service there!
The only time I felt bad about their no tipping culture was, once we were on the cruise ship, and they (Aussies) queued up to remove the auto tips from their shipboard acct's. I asked one of the stewards about it, and he said that their boss told them that it was part of the Aussie culture, and they shouldn't worry about it as a testament of bad service, like they would if they were serving Americans. I did feel bad for the staff. After all, they don't get to choose which ship/itinerary they are on, so those Stewards would work just as hard as their counterparts on other ships, but make considerably less money. On the ship/trip I was on fully half of the people on board were from Australia or New Zealand.

[LDVinNC]

18 to 20% is the norm these days, even in semi-rural Virginia where we live.

[sail7seas]

Great article. Thanks for posting it as it gives us a better view from the other side. Tipping is automatic for us so we can't imagine the difficulty others endure trying to figure it out.


Been tipping all my life and grew up 'watching how and how much' but there are a few instances I pause and wonder......

When you get take out dinner from a sit down restaurant (not a fast food place), do you tip the person who puts it in a bag for you and runs your credit card?

We have several restaurants where we can call to order full dinner (salad, entree, side dishes) to eat at home and I see no need to tip when I pick it up but always think about whether I should have as I'm driving home. :o

[Hawaiidan]

Great article...
My experience in Austraila over theyears..was over the top prices in restauraunts. and super high taxes on stuff. . Service was non-existant and ho-hum... for the most part. I took a taxi once in Sydney, and asked the driver to take me somewhere... He sort of glared at me and threw me a map book.. " you want the go there... then you tell me"
Tipping is not rocket science though, you tip according the the place and the price you paid...

Australian residents need to understand they are paying huge ( much larger than 20% service charges ...pumped into the price. They just dont see it. If they had more reasonable prices and paid for service as a tip.. it would be far cheaper in the long run and result in way better service... Australian restauraunts I found were aq good 30 to 50% higher than here in Hawaii.. which is highere than much of the us !!!

I do agree with the when in Rome idea and that Aussies lining up to take tips off the bill, when they know that the tip or service charge is part of the ships crews salary.. seems a little cold. and I would write that off as to being cheap... not cultural

[Cristiano]

We had an "Aussie" telling us on our cruise last year~~ 28 TA on the Eurodam~~ that he was going to remove the auto tipping because the food and service were no good!!

I kept thinking I was on a different cruise to him but it turned out he did not get an upgrade so it was his waying of "paying" HAL back.

I did not feel very proud to be Australian that day.

I respect the tipping system that American's have in place; may not agree sometimes in the way it is implemented, but that is the way it is.

When I arrived at the cruise port at Fort Lauderdale last year we had 4 suitcases and two boxes of wine, I took them out of the car and a porter came to collect them etc.

I gave him $10 US and saw the look on his face so I handed him another 10 which made him happier.

The problem that I had was that I simply did not know what amount was appropriate.

With respect of the auto tipping system there is no way that I would ever remove that and we just factor that amount into the cost of our cruise.

The majority of the HAL staff work very hard and it is what makes our cruise even better.

Well I better earn some money so I can tip when we arrive in the US next April ;)

Ciao,

Cristiano

[Hlitner]

Aussies have told us it is their culture not to tip and in their country there is no need to tip because folks are well paid. One night we had dinner at one of the restaurants just outside the Sydney Opera House (not an inexpensive place) and after we finished our entree we were waiting for our waiter to order coffee and dessert. But alas, after more than thirty minutes we saw no waiter (same problem was happening to the table next to ours) so I finally went inside the restaurant and quietly ask to see the manager. We told him that we were not getting any service and he looked at us and said,"Oh, we are sorry but your waiter went home cause his shift was over."

Hank

[NSWP]

In Australia service staff in restaurants/hotels are paid around $20 per hour, compared to $10 in the US.

It used to be said here in OZ if you go to USA take a few $1 bills for a tip or two. Now reading Christiano's post re tipping at FL, it seems you need $10 to $20 for tipping the porters even. So taking $1 notes is a waste of time, inflation has caught up with tipping, big time.

#So I m prepared, what denomination notes are now in the USA, I know about 1's, 10's and 50's, what about 5's and 20's ?

I was last in USA in 2007.

[Cristiano]

Hi Hank,

No that is not necessarily true, we do tip at every restaurant that we go to, normally 10% and sometimes more just depends upon the type of service.

However we do not tip everyone that provides us with a service and when we come to places like the US it is difficult for us to understand whom we should tip and how much.

My DW and I must have gone to the same restaurant near the Opera House, we only live 15 mins away, but after a nice lunch I paid the bill (about $41 AUS) and waited for the change which was about $9 AUS.

I waited for 15 mins and no sign of the waiter; so we left and it was quite obvious that they had kept the remainder as a tip.

I would have left $5 or maybe the lot BUT my point is that it should be up to me to decide what I leave NOT the waiter.

Australia has started to become like the US and in particular areas like Circular Quay (Opera House Area) so those restaurants just expect a higher % of tipping.

What that waiter did to you and to us is inexcusable and consequently I will and have not returned and I assume neither would you to eat there.

People are well paid in the hospitality industry here but that does not mean that we do not tip for good service.

I travel a lot around the world and each country varies with the degree of tipping and to whom; however with respect I do find the US sytem difficult to understand.

I knew I should not have posted that article ! :)

Ciao,

Cristiano.

PS one day I should tell you about our waiter in a NY Steak House :eek:

[maxout]

In Australia service staff in restaurants/hotels are paid around $20 per hour, compared to $10 in the US.

It used to be said here in OZ if you go to USA take a few $1 bills for a tip or two. Now reading Christiano's post re tipping at FL, it seems you need $10 to $20 for tipping the porters even. So taking $1 notes is a waste of time, inflation has caught up with tipping, big time.

#So I m prepared, what denomination notes are now in the USA, I know about 1's, 10's and 50's, what about 5's and 20's ?

I was last in USA in 2007.

1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100's (there are also 2 dollar bills but they are rarely used/seen)

$2/ bag is a common tip for porters/bellmen

[Rudolph38]

A little off-topic, but if you go to Germany, as the Wikipedia article suggests, you just round of the bill and tell the waiter, "Das Stimpt". If you want to add anything extra *don't leave it on the table*. That is considered rude. Give it directly to the waiter.

[NSWP]

1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100's (there are also 2 dollar bills but they are rarely used/seen)

$2/ bag is a common tip for porters/bellmen
MAXOUT, thanks for the information re notes and tipping for porters/bellmen helps me a lot.

[serendipity1499]

<SNIP>

I respect the tipping system that American's have in place; may not agree sometimes in the way it is implemented, but that is the way it is.

When I arrived at the cruise port at Fort Lauderdale last year we had 4 suitcases and two boxes of wine, I took them out of the car and a porter came to collect them etc.

I gave him $10 US and saw the look on his face so I handed him another 10 which made him happier.

The problem that I had was that I simply did not know what amount was appropriate.

With respect of the auto tipping system there is no way that I would ever remove that and we just factor that amount into the cost of our cruise.

The majority of the HAL staff work very hard and it is what makes our cruise even better.

Well I better earn some money so I can tip when we arrive in the US next April ;)

Ciao,

Cristiano


Technically for your 4 bags & two boxes of wine the tip probably should have been $12 to $15...However we do tip more than usual at the port or airport..We drive to the Port with another couple in a rented van..The men normally drop the ladies & luggage off at the terminal & return he van to the rental Co. at the airport..

Each couple normally checks in 3 Suitcases & occasionally one small box of wine will be added to the 6 bags..For the two couples we give the porters $20.00 which technically is over-tipping....However, I worked in the Travel industry & have observed long-shore men, airport porters etc handle bags...Our bags are always well taken care of & we've never had a problem..One time our DH's could not get us to the front of the terminal & instead dropped us off with all 6 bags across the street..We kind of held up & waved a $20.00 bill....You would not believe how fast those porters sprinted across the street to help us...They were almost knocking each other down to get to us first...LOL

We can be sure we will always have our bags on-board safe & sound..
In Australia service staff in restaurants/hotels are paid around $20 per hour, compared to $10 in the US.

It used to be said here in OZ if you go to USA take a few $1 bills for a tip or two. Now reading Christiano's post re tipping at FL, it seems you need $10 to $20 for tipping the porters even. So taking $1 notes is a waste of time, inflation has caught up with tipping, big time.

#So I m prepared, what denomination notes are now in the USA, I know about 1's, 10's and 50's, what about 5's and 20's ?

I was last in USA in 2007.

As another poster mentioned if you have 3 bags for two of you technically it wold be $2.00 a bag, but we normally give them $10.00 as insurance that our bags will get on board & not dropped in the drink..LOL

Cheers...:)Betty

[celle]

Great article...
My experience in Austraila over theyears..was over the top prices in restauraunts. and super high taxes on stuff. . Service was non-existant and ho-hum... for the most part. I took a taxi once in Sydney, and asked the driver to take me somewhere... He sort of glared at me and threw me a map book.. " you want the go there... then you tell me"
Tipping is not rocket science though, you tip according the the place and the price you paid...

Australian residents need to understand they are paying huge ( much larger than 20% service charges ...pumped into the price. They just dont see it. If they had more reasonable prices and paid for service as a tip.. it would be far cheaper in the long run and result in way better service... Australian restauraunts I found were aq good 30 to 50% higher than here in Hawaii.. which is highere than much of the us !!!

I do agree with the when in Rome idea and that Aussies lining up to take tips off the bill, when they know that the tip or service charge is part of the ships crews salary.. seems a little cold. and I would write that off as to being cheap... not cultural


You know, I don't think it is up to someone from Hawaii to tell Australians what they "need to understand." And I don't buy your argument that your way would be "cheaper in the long run".

When you pay for something in Australia, you know exactly what the price is going to be. The price shown is what you pay - it is not one price that is then inflated by state tax, federal tax etc, and then further inflated by paying a 20% tip on top. The end price os probably very similar to what you would pay in the USA.

In Australia (and in New Zealand), people in the tourism and service industries are paid a decent living wage and are not dependent on tips. In spite of the examples posted in this thread, most of them do a good job, too.

There is a feeling in Australia, and New Zealand, that people should not have to be tipped (for that, read bribed) for doing what is their job anyway. After all, accountants, doctors, nurses, and many other occupations don't get tipped. Why should wait staff be any different?

However, a tip may be given for service "över and above" the usual standard.

I agree that removing pre-paid tips on a cruise is not the best thing to do, but what do you suggest is the better course of action if you have received substandard service (as can happen)?

Your experience with the rude taxi driver is not typical of taxi drivers in Australia. Most of them have GPS anyway. That particular driver was just plain rude, and his response had nothing to do with tipping.

I have lived in Australia and New Zealand and I have visited the USA frequently. Despite assertions that tipping improves service, in my experience this is not so and the level of service in all three countries is similar.

The topic of Australians/ English/ other nationalities being mean/ ignorant about tipping has been done to death on Cruise Critic. It's time to stop promoting cultural stereotypes and stop the Aussie-bashing.

[dragonlady2411]

Another Australian here who believes "when in Rome ...", but I do chuckle to myself when waiters in the USA first hear our accents, and then promptly explain the whys and wherefores of tipping. We're now pretty good at giving the right amount (I think we most probably give too much), so much so that when we return home waiters think we're so generous, because we're still in "American" tipping mode. But I did find it hard to know how much to tip hairdressers, as we NEVER do that here.
But believe me, the very worst place I've been for people trying it on for tips is Egypt. Not that the amounts demanded are great (it's a cheap country for most things) but it's the way it's done - very intimidating, but they picked on the wrong man with my husband.

[velotaco]

Excellent article. Tipping certainly can be a touchy issue. For me it's easy, I just don't tip. I haven't tipped in years. It's just not expected.

[RareBird]

very strange article.... where does he get 10%... aussies are obviously terrible at tipping :)


for me, 20% is customary and up to 30% if you liked the service.

[justtime]

. (Should I put a tip into the jar on the counter of the ice cream shop, for instance? I mean, Really?)

.:)

Canadian or perhaps Ontario government is passing a law that resturants
1) not charge staff a % on any credit card orders
2)Manager's and owners not be allowed to take % of waiter's tips
(it will still be normal for waiter to tip a percentage to bus staff and Bar staff)
Now in provinces with combined federal taxes, if you use put a tip on charge card, you get to pay 13% tax on the tip, as the tip is considered a service fee, but if you leave a cash tip, the tip is not a fee for service but a gratiuty or gift to your server?

For all of these reasons I tip CASH, especially if I use credit CARD

Oh the norm here in coffee shops, cafes, (Serve your self) you leave small tip in tip jar, at least the pennies, and perhaps more

[kyriecat]

In Australia service staff in restaurants/hotels are paid around $20 per hour, compared to $10 in the US.
. . . .Actually, there are few states in the US where the staff is paid close to $10/hr pre-tips. The minimum amount per hour paid by restaurants varies quite a bit with Washington being the most generous at $8.55/hr and Virginia being the least generous at $0/hr. There is an interesting table that I linked below showing the waitstaff hourly wages per state.

Tip Receivers Hourly Wage Table (http://www.paywizard.org/main/Minimumwageandovertime/MinimumWageTIPRecevers)

[sail7seas]

Canadian or perhaps Ontario government is passing a law that resturants
1) not charge staff a % on any credit card orders
2)Manager's and owners not be allowed to take % of waiter's tips
(it will still be normal for waiter to tip a percentage to bus staff and Bar staff)
Now in provinces with combined federal taxes, if you use put a tip on charge card, you get to pay 13% tax on the tip, as the tip is considered a service fee, but if you leave a cash tip, the tip is not a fee for service but a gratiuty or gift to your server?

For all of these reasons I tip CASH, especially if I use credit CARD

Oh the norm here in coffee shops, cafes, (Serve your self) you leave small tip in tip jar, at least the pennies, and perhaps more


When tipping in Canada with the very high taxes on restaurant checks, do Canadians calculate their 15 or 20% tip on the total of the food bill or the total of the bill including the tax?

We go to Canada every summer but this year we really noticed how very high taxes have gotten. We live in "Taxachusetts" (Massachusetts) so are accustomed to lots of taxes but whoa.......

[justtime]

When tipping in Canada with the very high taxes on restaurant checks, do Canadians calculate their 15 or 20% tip on the total of the food bill or the total of the bill including the tax?


different provinces have differnet tax rates, ONT is now 13%, so Some people take the tax, and offer it as a tip, with small round up, or base on the pretax amount

offer more if service is better, or less if worse

BAD BAD service gets a pitence 1 cent or 1% as a comment on the Service,

If the food is issue then many still tip for the service, but not on value of food

Note in some places, the staff get very low wages 15% below minimum wage, (allowed by Law) other places that HAL's would not go too such as strip Joints the wait staff get almost no wage (they pay to work there according to some)

[startwin]

Canadian or perhaps Ontario government is passing a law that resturants
1) not charge staff a % on any credit card orders
2)Manager's and owners not be allowed to take % of waiter's tips
(it will still be normal for waiter to tip a percentage to bus staff and Bar staff)
Now in provinces with combined federal taxes, if you use put a tip on charge card, you get to pay 13% tax on the tip, as the tip is considered a service fee, but if you leave a cash tip, the tip is not a fee for service but a gratiuty or gift to your server?

For all of these reasons I tip CASH, especially if I use credit CARD

Oh the norm here in coffee shops, cafes, (Serve your self) you leave small tip in tip jar, at least the pennies, and perhaps more

Not so here in BC with the harmonized tax. I always use my charge card, add the tip and no tax on the tip. The tip is not taxable.

[sapper1]

Not so here in BC with the harmonized tax. I always use my charge card, add the tip and no tax on the tip. The tip is not taxable.

Same here in NB. No tax on tip with cc.

[Hawaiidan]

I used to travel a lot in business and my experience has been over the years and visiting Australia, that restauraunts and goods are priced way higher than most places where I visited. Downright expensive. And I laways heard from Austrlians how heavy they were taxed....

$20 an hour.. service staff here in Hawaii seldom make over $8 to 9...and their employer and they themselves depend on tips to make the difference that they want. It is in their own best interest to thus perform over the top to please the customer and earn the something extra. Honestly, it is in the customers best interests, is it not, to have such a highly motivated person wanting to do everything he can.

Even our income tax code assumes a service staff worker will earn a percentage more than their declared income...like %15. They, the government ,assumes that and will adjust ones taxes to the added level.
An all inclusive price, service, tax,product all rolled into one is easy to rely on and get used to. However over time there exists no motivation to grow... rather since ( in the case of waiters) to cut back to the minimum..and why not . When you get paid the same whether you do a sloppy or minimal effort or outstanding one... overtime you will slowly slack off.
Its human nature for anyone Australian American or maybe even martians too.. Wait a minute, martians are not human

Thats my point

[justtime]

Not so here in BC with the harmonized tax. I always use my charge card, add the tip and no tax on the tip. The tip is not taxable.

in many resturants when using cards and selecting a percentage, depending on how POP is set up it may be taxable, plus various gov. officals say it should be taxable

http://www.moneyville.ca/article/854992--roseman-how-some-restaurants-layer-tips-on-hst

So depending on choice of resturant it may taxable by default

[debsjc]

An English girl here, but I also believe in the 'When in Rome' way of thinking.

We just spent 10 days post cruise in Florida and left 15-20% in each restaurant, except one where the service was bad where we left about 10%

I think we might have under tipped the valet parking though, we looked a bit upset about the $3

[world~citizen]

When tipping in Canada with the very high taxes on restaurant checks, do Canadians calculate their 15 or 20% tip on the total of the food bill or the total of the bill including the tax?

We go to Canada every summer but this year we really noticed how very high taxes have gotten. We live in "Taxachusetts" (Massachusetts) so are accustomed to lots of taxes but whoa.......





There is no doubt that taxes are high. Canadians actually take it in stride. Perhaps a little too much in stride.

As to the question at hand, there are no rules just guidelines. Do what you feel comfortable with case by case. Trust me, there are many in the Great White North that tip nada.

That YOU do is a credit to you.

Smooth sailing to you...

[we2cruze]

very strange article.... where does he get 10%... aussies are obviously terrible at tipping :)


for me, 20% is customary and up to 30% if you liked the service.

I believe 10% was once considered the customary amount in the US. At least that's what I remember hearing when I was growing up. Could be the Aussies never got the memo.:)

[sapper1]

in many resturants when using cards and selecting a percentage, depending on how POP is set up it may be taxable, plus various gov. officals say it should be taxable

http://www.moneyville.ca/article/854992--roseman-how-some-restaurants-layer-tips-on-hst

So depending on choice of resturant it may taxable by default

I add a manual tip to the total presented and there is no extra added to that.

Some government officials think breathing should be taxable.

[moggi1964]

An English girl here, but I also believe in the 'When in Rome' way of thinking.

We just spent 10 days post cruise in Florida and left 15-20% in each restaurant, except one where the service was bad where we left about 10%

I think we might have under tipped the valet parking though, we looked a bit upset about the $3

This is what gets me about the pressure to tip:

".....where the service was bad where we left about 10%".

A tip of 10% for bad service is still a reward for bad service!

I am a Brit living in the USA and have succumbed to the pressure to reward poor or mediocre service on many occasions. The expectation that a tip will be forthcoming no matter what does not, in my opinion, do anything for the quality of the service.

I ate in one place where the bill had a note from the owner saying something like:

Our staff do not expect to be tipped and you should not feel any pressure to do so (if you feel you are being pressured just ask to see me).
Instead, I ask you to rate your service on the enclosed form AFTER you had paid your check; I use that information to reward my staff each month end. Should you wish to still leave a tip then that is your choice.

Now I get that some places pay better than others and this would not work everywhere but I felt like the owner cared about the service and the staff there did too.

[Hlitner]

Hi Hank,

I waited for 15 mins and no sign of the waiter; so we left and it was quite obvious that they had kept the remainder as a tip.

I would have left $5 or maybe the lot BUT my point is that it should be up to me to decide what I leave NOT the waiter.

Australia has started to become like the US and in particular areas like Circular Quay (Opera House Area) so those restaurants just expect a higher % of tipping.

What that waiter did to you and to us is inexcusable and consequently I will and have not returned and I assume neither would you to eat there.

People are well paid in the hospitality industry here but that does not mean that we do not tip for good service.

I travel a lot around the world and each country varies with the degree of tipping and to whom; however with respect I do find the US sytem difficult to understand.

I knew I should not have posted that article ! :)

Ciao,

Cristiano.

PS one day I should tell you about our waiter in a NY Steak House :eek:



You made us smile. As to the NY Steak House most of the waiters expect a 20% tip these days and are usually not even grateful :)

[debsjc]

This is what gets me about the pressure to tip:

".....where the service was bad where we left about 10%".

A tip of 10% for bad service is still a reward for bad service!

I am a Brit living in the USA and have succumbed to the pressure to reward poor or mediocre service on many occasions. The expectation that a tip will be forthcoming no matter what does not, in my opinion, do anything for the quality of the service.

I ate in one place where the bill had a note from the owner saying something like:

Our staff do not expect to be tipped and you should not feel any pressure to do so (if you feel you are being pressured just ask to see me).
Instead, I ask you to rate your service on the enclosed form AFTER you had paid your check; I use that information to reward my staff each month end. Should you wish to still leave a tip then that is your choice.

Now I get that some places pay better than others and this would not work everywhere but I felt like the owner cared about the service and the staff there did too.

Good point. I hoped that leaving 10% would give her the message we were not impressed, but actually she probably just thought it was because we were British. :mad:

[we2cruze]

Here's another can of worms for you: What about the restaurants that automatically add the tip onto your bill? :(

[celle]

very strange article.... where does he get 10%... aussies are obviously terrible at tipping :)


for me, 20% is customary and up to 30% if you liked the service.

Let's just drop the Aussie-bashing please!

Australians are used to having the full price for something stated up front, not to having the posted price inflated by state tax, federal tax and tips (you'd inflate it by a further 30%?). They are not mean or tightfisted. They are just used to a different system.

Most Aussies try to follow the principle of "when in Rome" when they travel abroad and they do tip.

Some get confused and do find the system of tipping difficult. That's no good reason for perpetuating a cultural stereotype and saying that all Aussies are terrible at tipping.

Some people perceive Americans abroad as loud, demanding, and thinking that they can buy additional privileges by throwing their money around. That's just as slanted a stereotype as the one about Aussies and tipping. See what I mean?

[m steve]

When I was in basic training I had a roommate from central Pa. and when we went out to dinner he never left a tip saying that they don't tip where he comes from. The rest of the group always put a little extra in to make up for him even though we weren't making much at the time. A few years later my family went to a wedding in Altoona and ate in a lovely Italian restaurant near by. When my dad left his usual tip for the check amount, the owner came over to the table and handed him some back as he said it was too much. My American friends now living in NZ complained when I left a tip saying that we were spoiling things for the Kiwis.

[celle]

Now here's the thing. I'm a New Zealander and here I am, sticking up for Australians. That's got to be a first! ;)

Kiwis share an almost non-tipping culture with Australians. We like it that way. We like to know going in what something will cost. In shops, the price listed includes GST (VAT). It is illegal to show the price any other way.

It's not like in the US or Canada, where a cup of coffee may be listed at (say) $4 and then you pay $4 plus, plus.

People in OZ and NZ are paid a decent living wage and are not dependent on tips. We only tip for exceptional service. We don't see why people should be tipped for just doing the job they are already paid to do.

When we travel abroad, most Aussies and Kiwis try to do what the "locals" do, so we tip. But it takes a while to learn the ins and outs of tipping and so some of us make mistakes. That doesn't mean we are tightwads.

I recently did a South American cruise that ended in Fort Lauderdale. We'd been to the US before and were prepared to tip, but . . .

. . . after getting off the ship, we did a tour that took us to the Everglades and included an air-boat ride. I have never before encountered such blatant pressure to tip.


The woman with a foghorn who was directing us to the boats finished her spiel with ". . and don't forget to tip, folks."
There was a sign on the boat, telling us that tipping is expected.
The driver of the boat told us. "As you disembark the vessel, I will be standing on the dock and you can tip me as you exit."
As we walked back up the dock, someone else directing passengers told us all, "Thank you for coming and thank you for your tips."

We almost felt as though we should have tipped the alligator that surfaced near our boat! :D

And, for the record, not one of the people pressuring for tips gave anything but average service.

[Australian family]

Why was this thread started anyway, why should us Aussies be picked on about tipping? Tipping is not part of our culture here in Australia. And yes I do tip in appropriate countries eg US, Canada, cruise ships.

I don't see any other threads about picking on other countries. I think this thread should be put to rest. I am sure other countries would be offended if a thread was started up by then.

[RuthC]

Why was this thread started anyway, why should us Aussies be picked on about tipping?

I am sure other countries would be offended if a thread was started up by then.
The thread was started by an Aussie.

[maxout]

It’s in reference to the somewhat humorous article written by an Australian quoted in the first post.

This article appeared today in Sydney so make of it what you will .

[celle]

It’s in reference to the somewhat humorous article written by an Australian quoted in the first post.

The problem is that some posters took the article (or the title of the thread) seriously and started trying to impose their culture of tipping onto the Aussie scene. Aussies and Kiwis are not Americans, and probably don't want to be. ;)

I agree that the title of the thread does denigrate the Aussies.

[Cristiano]

Hi Famiglia Australiana,

It was I that started the thread and it was meant as a light hearted view from an Aussie journalist about the issue of tipping that we as aussie's face abroad.

I agree that the title is somewhat inflamatory but what the heck as real aussies we have thick skins and can see the funny side or can't we ?

I also do not feel that anyone is picking on us; perhaps the guy from Hawaii :); but then again he lives in the middle of nowhere and does not really count ;) (PS Aussie sence of humour:eek:)

Just pity the poor 'yanks' we pinched their beloved America's Cup!!!!! No there's another thread!!!!!!

I actually think that tipping is part of our culture but not to the extent that it is in the States.

I always tip at a restaurant and have for years (just did so about 1 hour after our Yum Cha here locally; its was only 10% of the bill but good service; good food so tip!)

Come on Australian Family lighten up; life is far too short; I can send you a hug if you like :)

Ciao,

Cristiano.

[Himself]

It would be more apropos to say the Austrailians were thrifty when it comes to tipping.

[Cristiano]

For Australian Family

[salty56]

I've read with some amusement peoples comments but the only one I will make is the comment about the less than well travelled aussies. As a percentage of our population we are one of the worlds biggest travellers to Foreign countries, which isn't bad considering the amount of time we have to spend in boring aircraft to get anywhere.
Lastly it's interesting the six star cruise lines also have abolished tipping because they pay their staff adequately, maybe us aussies are onto something!!

[Hlitner]

I've read with some amusement peoples comments but the only one I will make is the comment about the less than well travelled aussies. As a percentage of our population we are one of the worlds biggest travellers to Foreign countries, which isn't bad considering the amount of time we have to spend in boring aircraft to get anywhere.
Lastly it's interesting the six star cruise lines also have abolished tipping because they pay their staff adequately, maybe us aussies are onto something!!

Hmm. Lets think about this. We can pay $1000 per day for Seabourn and pay no tips or we can $100 for Princess plus $12.50 in tips. That being said we do also enjoy the 6 star line but guess what?.... Many passengers on those lines tip despite the no tipping policy.

But for what its worth (probably not much) we have advocated for years (and on CC in many posts) that the cruise lines simply increase their price a few dollars per day and do away with so-called gratuities which have long stopped being "gratuities" and are now a marketing ploy where they can advertise faux low prices and add-in all the "tips," taxes and fees later.

As to your country (which we really enjoy) we can only say, "Aussie Aussie Aussie!

Hank

[erewhon]

Celle,
Agreed, people here are paid a decent living wage and do not have to depend on extra tips. Actually I find it's quite offensive that visitors to our country tip, even though they know it's not necessary.

[we2cruze]

Celle,
Agreed, people here are paid a decent living wage and do not have to depend on extra tips. Actually I find it's quite offensive that visitors to our country tip, even though they know it's not necessary.

Perhaps they don't know it is not necessary. I wouldn't have before reading this thread.

[celle]

Perhaps they don't know it is not necessary. I wouldn't have before reading this thread.

And maybe, in similar vein, Aussies might not know that tipping is required in your country! :D

[we2cruze]

And maybe, in similar vein, Aussies might not know that tipping is required in your country! :D

I agree and for the record I think it is wrong for establishments and individual servers to try to force tips.

[iancal]

We reduce the tip or eliminate it entirely for bad service. We do not feel compelled to tip even a minimum amount. We overtip for great service. We do not tip, or tip accordingly in countries where tipping is not customary or where tipping consists of 'rounding' up. I have seen people leave tips for incredibly bad or rude service and I just shake my head. That behavior just encourages more of the same. It can also be claimed that tipping is encouraged by management....it serves to reduce their wage costs.

[sail7seas]

We cherish diversity in people, we cherish diversity between cruise lines, why can't we cherish diversity in cultures and each country's way of doing things?

If you don't like the way a particular culture does things, avoid traveling with them and to their country. Don't try to remake their culture and habits.

There is nothing to be gained in constant criticism in how one culture does something that varies from another. It isn't going to change because someone from 10,000 miles away doesn't approve...... of course, that distance applies in both directions. No one here is telling Aussie's they should adopt U.S./Canadian methods of tipping into their culture and country so the same in reverse would be appropriate. Tipping is a part of our culture. You certainly are free to do things your way but so are we.

[iancal]

sail7seas.....exactly. It is the same when we get the old question '...can we use American currency in this country or that country'. It comes down to respect. And just try using a Euro, a GBP in a retail establishment in the US.

[world~citizen]

We cherish diversity in people, we cherish diversity between cruise lines, why can't we cherish diversity in cultures and each country's way of doing things?

If you don't like the way a particular culture does things, avoid traveling with them and to their country. Don't try to remake their culture and habits.

There is nothing to be gained in constant criticism in how one culture does something that varies from another. It isn't going to change because someone from 10,000 miles away doesn't approve...... of course, that distance applies in both directions. No one here is telling Aussie's they should adopt U.S./Canadian methods of tipping into their culture and country so the same in reverse would be appropriate. Tipping is a part of our culture. You certainly are free to do things your way but so are we.



Some people can say it and get away with it. :)

Of course you are quite correct...

Smooth sailing...

[Taxguy77]

Hi Famiglia Australiana,

It was I that started the thread and it was meant as a light hearted view from an Aussie journalist about the issue of tipping that we as aussie's face abroad.

I agree that the title is somewhat inflamatory but what the heck as real aussies we have thick skins and can see the funny side or can't we ?

I also do not feel that anyone is picking on us; perhaps the guy from Hawaii :); but then again he lives in the middle of nowhere and does not really count ;) (PS Aussie sence of humour:eek:)
Our taxi driver when leaving Hawaii splased a Japonese couple walking, explaining "They don't tip". We tipped him.:o

Just pity the poor 'yanks' we pinched their beloved America's Cup!!!!! No there's another thread!!!!!!
@#$%^&*()_OIUFDS
I actually think that tipping is part of our culture but not to the extent that it is in the States.

I always tip at a restaurant and have for years (just did so about 1 hour after our Yum Cha here locally; its was only 10% of the bill but good service; good food so tip!)
]Being a USA person with the TIP mentality, I almost always tip, EXCEPT for the horrible service I received a couple of weeks ago! Service that bad deserves the tip I gave, $0.05 just to let her know I didn't forget!:eek: First time in 20+ years I did that.

Come on Australian Family lighten up; life is far too short; I can send you a hug if you like :)

Ciao,

Cristiano.[/COLOR]

Was at a bar in Las Vegas watching Australian Rules football (why does it look so much more physical and we have the most injuries?) I was talking to the man next to me. He told me he was a kiwi and aussie rules were for girls!

For the record, Mexicans tip very poorly also.

[manbehindthecurtain]

And maybe, in similar vein, Aussies might not know that tipping is required in your country! :D

Then maybe its time to stop calling it a tip, but label it a service charge....:rolleyes:

[HAZMAT]

aaa

[sapper1]

I just got back from a 14 day Panama Canal Cruise on HAL. We noticed that the Americans on board were so tight that the only time they would buy a drink was during two for one happy hour. The bars were empty except for one hour per day the rest of the time. The only thing that they would order was glasses of water that were free. The line up at the front desk on the last day with American passengers getting their automatic gratuities of $11 dollars a day refunded went as far as the eye could see. These people treat the crew like slaves and are amongst the rudest people I have ever met they do not tip,they do not spend money on board and they complain about everything. When I cruise I pay the gratuity and I tip the room stewards, barmen etc. In Australia we pay people a decent wage so they don"t have to beg for tips and when we get good service we tip accordingly. Take a look at yourself before you start throwing stones you may not like what you see!.
Well that certainly throws the cat in among the pigeons.:)

[newfarmers]

Great article...
My experience in Austraila over theyears..was over the top prices in restauraunts. and super high taxes on stuff. . Service was non-existant and ho-hum... for the most part. I took a taxi once in Sydney, and asked the driver to take me somewhere... He sort of glared at me and threw me a map book.. " you want the go there... then you tell me"
Tipping is not rocket science though, you tip according the the place and the price you paid...

Australian residents need to understand they are paying huge ( much larger than 20% service charges ...pumped into the price. They just dont see it. If they had more reasonable prices and paid for service as a tip.. it would be far cheaper in the long run and result in way better service... Australian restauraunts I found were aq good 30 to 50% higher than here in Hawaii.. which is highere than much of the us !!!

I do agree with the when in Rome idea and that Aussies lining up to take tips off the bill, when they know that the tip or service charge is part of the ships crews salary.. seems a little cold. and I would write that off as to being cheap... not cultural

Gotta disagree.

We don't pay huge prices nor pay huge taxes. Only our federal govt can even charge taxes. In the US there are state taxes and federal taxes (local taxes?). On the whole service isn't that bad. Sometimes it is so so, sometimes it's fantastic, sometimes I wonder why the person even got out of bad but I'm sure that happens everyone, even in the land of the tip. That's just human nature.

Everyone says how cheap stuff is in the States and if we are talking consumer goods - clothing especially, then you'd be right. But in no way is 'sit down' food cheap. Maybe if I came over now, seeing as our dollar is now worth more than the US$ (since two days ago), I might change my mind but it ws 75c last time we were over there.

I do not begrudge US hospitality staff getting tips at all -they are paid wages that defy comprehension. I do begrudge the fact that their bosses don't pay them enough. I still can't get my head around how restaurants and bars in the states aren't money printing machines - they pay their staff peanuts and charge top dollar, bizarre.

But, when we travel, we tip the expected amount because it's the expected amount.

Aussies and Kiwis aren't tightwads, we just live in nations where workers get paid a fair wage for a fair day's work, and no matter how much the Oz/Kiwi business world moans about high wages, we have an economy that pretty much breezed through the GFC.

Cruising is a different thing altogether. We have been amazed how little money the North Americans we travel with spend on board ships. They are similarly amazed at the amount we do spend on board. We are a bottle of wine a night with dinner kinda guys, not water or iced tea. We are bucket of beer by the pool guys, close the nightclub guys, as are so many Oz and Kiwi cruisers. We are constantly amazed at how little some people can spend on a cruise, especially considering how little cruises can cost for US travellers. We would never dream of redusing the daily service charge (as we know some Aussies do) and we also pay additional tips for good service.

Our recent NCL cruise left us with a 1400 bill for twelve days. Not bad going when that included no NCL shorex, no photos, no casino, just restaurant and bar charges. They, and their staff did very well out of us, as have the staff on our Celebrity, HAL and NCCL cruises.

my two cents worth

pete

[shandryl]

Reminds me of the very first cruise I went on and my first time visiting the USA. It was the first time I ever heard the word "gratuity"

Near the end of my 7 day cruise, I get my statement. I had been charged a % an extra amount. I was mad and shocked :eek: went to the guest services counter and wanted an explaination of these charges. :confused: :mad: Lets just say...... I did not end up paying the gratuities for week. I felt justified and was very happy about that.

You see In my mind I had paid alot of money for this cruise. I assumed the servies received were just part of the cruisefare. I was still trying to figure out why I was be charged 15% everytime I ordered a drink.........LOL

Very big Culture Shock me............. I was brought up thinking that the only time you would ever tip/or give a gratuity was if the service you received was very good/excellent.

The "Expecting a Tip" whether service you received was good or bad. I did not understand that.

My thinking was these working people get paid hourly wages... what the problem? I am in the service industry too. I do not get tipped and I don't expect too. The odd occasion that being tipped did happen was special thing but not common practice.

Anyway, Now that I know the American Culture and understand alot more about why gratuities/tips are expected. I have no problem with tipping/gratuities. (Just saying)

A note: I see alittle more tipping these days, its still not common practice in Canada.

[Cristiano]

Hey HazMat,

OUCH!!!!!! This was not meant to be tit for tat!!!! :)

I am sitting here in my office / home looking at the rain and onto Ku-ring-gai National Park and thinking at least we should not have a bad bush fire season this year ! What do you think ?

We have very close American friends arriving on the Amstedam the following weekend and I wonder what Anne & Dick would think of the tipping issue.

I totally agree with whomever said that the cruise lines should just increase the fares and remove the automatic "service charge"!!!

Better do some work~~~

Ciao,

Cristiano.

[sapper1]

Reminds me of the very first cruise I went on and my first time visiting the USA. It was the first time I ever heard the word "gratuity"

Near the end of my 7 day cruise, I get my statement. I had been charged a % an extra amount. I was mad and shocked :eek: went to the guest services counter and wanted an explaination of these charges. :confused: :mad: Lets just say...... I did not end up paying the gratuities for week. I felt justified and was very happy about that.

You see In my mind I had paid alot of money for this cruise. I assumed the servies received were just part of the cruisefare. I was still trying to figure out why I was be charged 15% everytime I ordered a drink.........LOL

Very big Culture Shock me............. I was brought up thinking that the only time you would ever tip/or give a gratuity was if the service you received was very good/excellent.

The "Expecting a Tip" whether service you received was good or bad. I did not understand that.

My thinking was these working people get paid hourly wages... what the problem? I am in the service industry too. I do not get tipped and I don't expect too. The odd occasion that being tipped did happen was special thing but not common practice.

Anyway, Now that I know the American Culture and understand alot more about why gratuities/tips are expected. I have no problem with tipping/gratuities. (Just saying)
I am very curious as to what part of Canada you live in. Tipping is certainly alive and well here in the Maritimes.

[NSWP]

Talk about Aussies spending up big on drinks etc. On Sun Princess around Australia, ship had 95% Aussies on board, just about every restaurant table had purchased bottles of wine and when you went in for the show, most tables had drinks. However on Crown Princess last year in Med and British Isles, 95% American pax, very few bottles of wine on the tables and at the show, hardly a drink to be seen, just the waiters up and down the steps, bored.

Yes, Aussies contribute well to the economy on board, maybe we are drunks? LOL.
I reckon the shortfall in the auto tip pool is made up by huge booze revenue on ships with loads of Aussies on board.

[Cinder Again]

I reckon the shortfall in the auto tip pool is made up by huge booze revenue on ships with loads of Aussies on board.
You could be right. On my Oz/NZ cruise a few years ago, the Aussies I met on board were amazed when they saw my boyfriend and I carrying wine and beer back on board at every port. They had no idea you could bring wine (and beer at that time) back on board, and once they realized it, they were in line at the grocery stores with us! I am sure the bar bills went down after that!

I like cultural differences. Why travel, if everywhere/everyone looks and acts the same? I used to have exchange students living with me every year, and when they found something different from their culture, we would remind them that both cultures had valued reasons for how they do things. Different, but not wrong.

[iancal]

We find tipping in Western Canada-Calgary and Vancouver-to be exactly the same as in any other North American city.

[justtime]

The "Expecting a Tip" whether service you received was good or bad. I did not understand that.

My thinking was these working people get paid hourly wages... what the problem? I am in the service industry too. I do not get tipped and I don't expect too. The odd occasion that being tipped did happen was special thing but not common practice.

Anyway, Now that I know the American Culture and understand alot more about why gratuities/tips are expected. I have no problem with tipping/gratuities. (Just saying)

A note: I see alittle more tipping these days, its still not common practice in Canada.

I assume you are joking, I assume, crew staff are NOT PAID an hourly wage
They typically are paid a wage relative to the company they are hired from i.e. Asia
Tips make a good portion of thier income

If anyone has better knowledge please correct my mistake or assumptions

[Hlitner]

Children children, lets please stop throwing stones! We are Americans and will attest that the Aussies love to drink (I first learned this when serving with Aussies in Vietnam back in the 70s) and we personally find it is a lot of fun drinking with Aussies (Aussie, Aussie, Aussie). As to the tipping culture, we think it has gotten our of control in the states and we now see more and more restaurants using "service charges" in a similar way as in Europe except that in the states we add 18% whereas in Europe they might add a max of 10%. As to the cruise lines, they have created their own culture of tipping which is total bologna (vegemite for u Aussies). It is not a "tip" or "gratuitiy" when it is added to your account (mandatory on some lines) but rather a way to "low ball" the real cost of a cruise. We agree with most Aussies that the cruise lines should simply pay their crew properly and stop all this tip hooey! Tips were fine when we gave them directly to certain staff who gave us good service (such as our steward) but now they are put into a pot a split up so even the supervisors get their cut. How many leave tips for the chamber maid's boss in a hotel, the dishwasher in a restaurant, etc.

We recently booked a Celebrity cruise and discovered that if we wanted their anytime dining option we were required to prepay "gratuities" at the time we paid for the cruise. Instead of charging $1000 for the cruise its now $1000 for the cruise and $200 for gratuities? Geez! It's no wonder our Aussie friends feel the need for lots of booze when on American ships! :)

Hank

P.S. Through the lips and over the gums, look out tummy here it comes!

[moggi1964]

I worked on board the Sun Princess back in 81-83 and then went on to the Canberra for a time. Shortly after the crew wages were renegotiated DOWN as the company said we did very well in tips and they wanted to save some money.

They were right, sometimes we did do very well in tips and then, sometimes we didn't. As a 16 year old I was earning a lot of money and spending even more :D but the tips were never expected and a hand did not linger at any point when service had been provided.

I decided soon after it was time for me to go shoreside and find a job that had a salary (it was a lot less than I had previously earned but more than my base salary was when I left sea).

The Aussies are great travelers, brilliant people and in my top tier of nations I would wanna share a beer with. I drink coffee with an Aussie every day during the week; I had one to stay last Christmas and have another coming this year with his girlfriend. I have yet to meet an Aussie who hasn't had a warm heart and a friendly demeanor.

I agree that the prices should rise a bit, a fair wage should be paid and the culture of 'almost compulsory' tipping should be sent to Davy Jones' locker for good.

[kyriecat]

Maybe it's just me, but this thread is starting to look like the cast of "My Life in Ruins" (anyone else seen it?). We've got the loud Americans, the heavy-drinking Aussies, the uptight Americans, etc. So, are we all going to be friends at the end of this? :p

We recently booked a Celebrity cruise and discovered that if we wanted their anytime dining option we were required to prepay "gratuities" at the time we paid for the cruise. Instead of charging $1000 for the cruise its now $1000 for the cruise and $200 for gratuities? Geez! It's no wonder our Aussie friends feel the need for lots of booze when on American ships! :) Not to switch subjects, but that is the reason that I WILL NEVER sign up for "My Time Dining" on a Royal Caribbean owned ship again. I prepaid my gratuities and got the WORST cabin steward ever. She didn't even come to our cabin 5 days of the 13. I'm normally a very easy-going person and do not require much from a steward. She wouldn't even bring ice or change the towels unless I left a note specifically asking for those things every time. If I forget to leave a note, she wouldn't bring ice or towels or even empty the trash. I complained several times at the customer service desk and to the head of housekeeping, but the service didn't get any better. I asked to have the cabin steward gratuities refunded because of the poor job. I have never asked to have gratuities reduced or removed before, but I did not feel that the steward deserved anything. I was told that prepaid gratuities are non-refundable. Once you pay, it doesn't matter how bad the service is, you are out the money.

I used to like the idea of including the expected gratuities as part of the cruise fare and doing away with the tipping concept. However, after dealing with that steward for almost two weeks, I changed my mind. She knew that we had prepaid our gratuities and that she was getting her share whether she actually did anything or not. She chose not to do anything unless we complained to her supervisor. Even then, her effort would only last a day or two then she'd "forget" about us again. :mad:

[world~citizen]

I am very curious as to what part of Canada you live in. Tipping is certainly alive and well here in the Maritimes.

Tipping is alive and well where ever I have travelled in Canada.

In fact, when I was in high school, the money I made in tips far exceeded my official remuneration.

I have no problems with tips.:D

Smooth sailing...

[smalldog]

Aussie Aussie Aussie
Oi Oi Oi
:D

Disclaimer: What follows is meant to be humorous

We pay a lotta tax here, but we can also front up at a public hospital and get free treatment, including surgery, whatever you need. (yes, fellow Aussies, let me forestall your "yes but what about the queues and loony doctors" response... in the US they have queues and loony doctors in hospital emergency rooms too, I know this is true because I've seen it on telly)

Australia's higher basic wages are due to a very strong union movement (love it or hate it) in the formative parts of the 20th Century. (and are why we don't need tipping here and therefore despite good intentions are often quite bewildered when trying to figure out the system in other countries) (also sometimes we are a bit cheap) (but mostly we are just too drunk to add up the bill)

The same union movement means we all have four weeks annual leave each year, sometimes five or six weeks for some jobs that have to work public holidays and weird hours etc.

More time for cruising.
:D
Rest of the world, eat your heart out.

Disclaimer: The above was meant to be humorous.

[Juanita462]

Tippping is alive and well out here on the West Coast too.

Now that the tax on eating out has gone from 5% to 12% we still tip but
just don't eat out as often - especially since our favourite restaurant raised the prices a few dollars per meal just before the new tax came in.
It has become expensive when you add up the meal, tax and tip.

[sapper1]

Tippping is alive and well out here on the West Coast too.

Now that the tax on eating out has gone from 5% to 12% we still tip but
just don't eat out as often - especially since our favourite restaurant raised the prices a few dollars per meal just before the new tax came in.
It has become expensive when you add up the meal, tax and tip.
Welcome to the world of HST---we have had it for so long I forget when it was introduced. It used to be 15% but now is 13%. At least when it was 15% it was easy to calculate the tip because you just took tax total and made it your tip amount. Now we're back to doing the math.