Hey, big spender!

[Mo-Nercy]

So I was just having lunch with a friend, right? And as I pay the bill and tell the nice waitress to keep the change, my friend tells me that tipping as a custom in Australia only came about due to the 'Americanisation' (or is that -zation now?) of our society. Apparently, we shouldn't have to tip here because the people who work in the service and hospitality industries here are all covered by laws that requires them to be paid minimum wage and tipping only originated because not all states in the US require employers to pay a minimum wage.

I am quite a generous tipper. So have I been unnecessarily nice this whole time? O_O

And also, what do you tip, generally speaking?
What are the variables that can affect the size of your tip? Quality, price, sexyness?

[qwertysaur]

personality is the biggest factor. I usually go for around 15-20%

[rubah]

since they've started adding that Tip line to credit card purchases, I've started making my tips round my purchase total off to whole numbers. For example, for a meal that was $13.38, my tip would probably be $1.62

[Meat Puppet]

By desecrating freedom of speech.

[Jiro]

I don't have any money for myself let alone other people. Keep your grubby mitts off my change

[~*~Celes~*~]

I tip generously if it's good service. Bad service gets very little.

[Rye]

i tip well. A $12 dollar meal would get a $4 tip. My haircutter gets an $8 tip each time she cuts my hair but that's unusually high - I just really like the job she does.

[Mo-Nercy]

My haircutter gets an $8 tip each time she cuts my hair but that's unusually high - I just really like the job she does.

I found this custom to really strange when I first heard of it. I've never even comprehended the idea of tipping the hairdresser.

My hairdresser's charges me $18 anyway. I consider that quite high for a guy's cut anyway.

[Rye]

I think it's to ensure your hair cut is extra good. Also they don't get all of what you pay for a cut. I don't know how much of the $60 she sees each time I get a cut. Especially after my 50% discount.

[Bunny]

since they've started adding that Tip line to credit card purchases, I've started making my tips round my purchase total off to whole numbers. For example, for a meal that was $13.38, my tip would probably be $1.62

Typically this, but to a varying degree. If I think the service was good, I'll round it off to a higher number ($20 instead of $15). If the service was bad, $15 or no tip at all. If the waitress is overly attractive and flirts with me, I will give her a $20 tip.

I do not really have a problem with tipping unless the server expects a tip. If they get all pissy because the tip is low, it makes me less likely to tip anyone from the restaurant the next time around (although I will tip them every time after that). I have a problem with people expecting things that they do not otherwise deserve simply because it is the cultural norm.

[blackmage_nuke]

Tipping is not a custom in Australia, you have been wasting money. We probably have to spend more for less food anyway.

[Mo-Nercy]

Tipping is not a custom in Australia, you have been wasting money.

NEVER AGAIN!

"No, I prefer to just stand here and wait for my 5 cents change, thanks."

[Meat Puppet]

Now if only Australia would get with the times and dismiss the obsolete 5¢ piece.

[Breine]

I never tip. As far as I remember the tip is included in the paycheck here. Tipping is not common in Denmark, unless you've been to a restaurant and you think the service has been good - even then you can neglect to tip and it's still cool. In other words, you're not expected to tip.

Therefore I had a bit of a hard time remembering to tip when I was in the US last year. But hot damn, you people tip everything over there!

[Rodarian]

I'm good tipper. That's all I have to say