Tips, which the Chinese have never had to deal with, are, in some countries, ceremonial minefields. If you just leave the country unfamiliar or travel abroad, a little carelessness can embarrass you and even cause you a lot of unnecessary trouble.
So, in Australia, how does the tip problem exist? When should I give it? How much?
Next, we will make a comparison between Australia and the well-known tip-giving America, and I believe you will see it at a glance.
First of all, in the United States, visitors to the United States or people living in the United States must know that for any service person who floats past your eyes, it seems that you will always be obliged to tip out a $1 bill. However, for tourists, the rule of tipping everywhere is also easy to worry about. It is not a habit to rule out the "rule" sometimes, after all, it is not a habit. This can cause embarrassment or trouble to yourself or the service provider. You'll even hear words like "if you can't afford a tip, you shouldn't eat here" or "it's not like tipping or not."
In Australia, however, you just need to remember one rule: in Australia, you never have to tip. But if you want to give it, no one will stop it! This is because tipping is not a "hard rule" in Australia. Some accept tips and some do not. To put it simply, it doesn't matter whether you give it or not, and it doesn't cause embarrassment or trouble.
Why? according to Anna Musson, a etiquette expert at goodmanners.com.au and author of the Secret Etiquette, this situation in Australia has a lot to do with Australia's minimum wage law.
In the United States, workers in the service industry are poorly paid and have to rely on tips to raise their incomes, while Australia legally sets a relatively high base wage. Australia's minimum wage is A $17.29 an hour, so the duty to tip is lower than in the United States or other countries. This affects Australians' views on tipping and tipping. Tips are not necessary here. Of course, tips are always popular in the service industry. "
So, in Australia, if you belong to the part where you have to give a tip, what time do you have to give it? How much is appropriate? Here are a few specific ways to teach you how to do it:
Taxi or travel: the golden rule of taxi is that drivers don't expect tips, but they are happy to receive tips. Ms Musson, the etiquette guru, said: "for passengers, if the vehicle is neat and the service is satisfactory, you can give a tip of 2 yuan or 2% of the fare. And the law also allows the driver to add the extra fare he has to pay for his return trip. " Of course, there are many Australians who raise their fares up to $5 or $10, not out of generosity, but to avoid the trouble of waiting for change.
Valet parking: it is basically the same as the above-mentioned method of taxi-hailing. Of course, surrogate parking itself is not as common in Australia as it is in the United States. Ms Musson suggests that a tip of $2 or $5 is appropriate if you want to; but whether or not to give it is up to you.
Tour guide: the service charge should already be included in the travel. However, if the tour guide service is good, excellent, you can symbolically give a tip, such as 10 yuan. But it's more like "thank you". Chinese tour groups often write a tip of $10 or something, which is more like a fixed fee than a tip.
Hotel: according to the rule of thumb, you don't have to tip for standard service in the hotel. Only in a few cases can you choose to tip: for example, 2 yuan for a doorman who summons a taxi in the rain, or 5 yuan for a waiter who helps you carry a large bag into your room.
For room cleaners, Ms Musson suggests: "if you stay there for a week or more, give a few bucks and attach a thank-you note when you leave, and this will be a good gesture."
Hotel front desk: no tipping is required.
Bar restaurant
Bar: tipping at a bar is very rare. But when a large group of people went to the bar, someone tipped the bartender a few dollars to follow the old British tradition of "you also have a drink."
Restaurants and cafes: for restaurants and cafes, a tipping culture has become increasingly popular: Australians are beginning to give more tips than ever before. But again, you shouldn't think it's mandatory. The tip concept mentioned earlier also applies here. If you get a very good food recommendation, you can tip, but you don't have to give it for ordinary service. If the service is good, a tip of 10% of the meal fee can be added. It is important to note that if you want to tip after checking out, ask the waiters if they will get a tip or go into the restaurant owner's pocket if you are paying by card. If the latter, please give the tip in cash.
It is also important to note that some restaurants and cafes raise prices by 10% on weekends or holidays. This seemingly dubious practice is actually intended to pay the higher statutory minimum wage on this day. Another eye-popping charge is a 2-3% surcharge paid with a card. If the restaurant adopts this approach, (usually on the menu) it must be clearly stated. It is worth weighing, however, whether adding tips to the many extra charges is an incentive to these surcharges.
other aspects
The same rules apply in other similar services, such as hairdressers. If you want to tip, welcome at any time; but don't think it's necessary.
Editor's summary: that looks like the question of whether to tip in Australia is in fact very simple, three words, that is: look! Heart! Love!