Tipping

[orange]

A few weeks back, my friend and I went out to lunch while we were both on holiday. Not a fancy place, but not a diner either. So the check comes, and usually I'm a pretty good tipper (20-25% in a restaraunt, upwards of 30% for delivery) so I leave a nice tip because the waitress was nice and pleasant...

then I go into my pocket like I always do and pull out my spare quarters and dimes - you know, the stuff that's left over from breaking a dollar. I put it down with the tip and my friend goes "uh, that's an insult"

Now, apparently it's an insult to leave your spare change with the tip? I figure - money's money, and I don't really have a use for it...not only that, spare change adds up PLUS I've already given her more than the standard 15%....

so I ask, in your opinion/experience, is it insulting or just not appreciated when someone leaves their spare change with the tip?

[chequita guevara]

As a former waiter, spare change adds up, quickly. Leaving a few pennies is an insult, but not a pocket full of change. Of course, if you're dining at Le Snootier, spare change may be considered insulting.

[Alexander's Horse]

We Australians don't tip so we don't have this little dilemna

[chequita guevara]

We don't pay out service personel enough, so we need to tip.

[Alexander's Horse]

I tip when I'm abroad but I always find it hard to work out what is tippable and how much is appropriate. Its a real nightmare.

On my trip to the airport out of Paris I got the world's oldest taxi driver and tipped him. He was so happy he got out of the cab to wave me farewell!

[Drake Tungsten]

As another former waiter, I think that it is perfectly alright to leave change as a tip (as long as you don't leave something ridiculous like 100 pennies or something). Waiters only care about how much you tip, not the type of money you use to tip. That's how it was where I worked. Don't know about the fancier restaurants though.

[notyoueither]

Emptying your pocket for the server should never be taken as an insult. Be insulted if it is taken so.

Aussies should learn to appreciate the efforts of others on their behalf. No tipping? Criminal.

[Skanky Burns]

We pay, thats enough.

[Paul Hanson]

In other countries we appreciate the efforts of service personnel by paying them a decent wage in the first place.

That was a light-hearted juoke, BTW. Don't get all serious about it.

[Alexander's Horse]

Originally posted by notyoueither
Aussies should learn to appreciate the efforts of others on their behalf. No tipping? Criminal.

Many service staff consider tipping an insult here. Try and offer a tip and see the reaction for yourself.

[notyoueither]

No amount could be enough to wait on the needs of this rabble.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse


Many service staff consider tipping an insult here. Try and offer a tip and see the reaction for yourself.

Really? Different strokes for different folks. Very different.

[Alexander's Horse]

We're egalitarian - people who do menial jobs don't think they are inferior - that's why they don't like being tipped. Its not a hard and fast rule - I usually leave something at restaurants. But it isn't expected.

I've seen many occasions where Australians have been offered money for services and they wave it away because they didn't help you for money and they don't want to feel inferior.

[notyoueither]

Hmmm. I know many young people here who are paying their way through post secondary educations on tips. I assure you, they do not look down on them.

But I can see the point of view of the Aussies I guess. If I stand on my head, or if I were paid an electricians wage to do the job.

[The Mad Monk]

Being paid for services rendered makes you inferior?