What is a fair amount to give as "voluntary contribution" at the end of the Sydney "Free" Bus Tour, outside of the $17 fee to cover fuel?
I'm working out a budget for my trip for my family (2 adults, 1 child) and I have no idea how much to prepare for this.
http://www.freetourssydney.com.au/free-bus-tours/index.html
Thank you.
I mean the tip to give them outside of the $17 which covers only fuel cost.
I don't get how its free?
It says the walking tours are free and the bus tours at $17 CASH
My guess the free are the attractions they take you to. You are realy paying for them to bus you around for $17.
From the website "We charge you only the cost of running the bus. Our tour guides are not paid for their job. That is why we ask for some voluntary contribution at the end of the tour to cover their time. "
I think maybe $5-$10 a person?
What if there is a major breakdown and the engine blows… are patrons committed to paying for repairs as this is part of "We charge you only the cost of running the bus"… sort of like Bali's Jet-Ski scams.
They are not getting paid to drive the bus? Something is not adding up here.
If all 57 patrons pay $10 each as an additional voluntary contribution then the total profit will be $570 divided lets say amongst 2 tour guides and a bus driver.
Now this tour has been advertised on ozbargain the tour operators might get a shock as to why nobody is giving anything more than 20c voluntary contributions.
Plus, $17 x 57 = $969…I can't see them using almost a thousand dollars worth of fuel in a day, let alone per single run.
Using voluntary labour, even without contributions, this enterprise could actually be quite profitable for the operators…
Maybe the $17 covers that.
Looks like a innovative way to avoid tax, minimum salary, workplace regulations by saying it's free and then asking for tips or voluntary contributions!….
That is what i was alluding to.
57×$17=$969 per run each bus. Assuming 2 per day as it is a 3 hour trip.
Plus whatever tips they get.
Agreed.
I'd also be concerned about appropriate insurances & the necessary background/safety checks for "staff".
It's illegal in Australia not to pay workers a legislated minimum rate of pay. I expect they are in fact paying them. $17 per person gives them just under $1000 for 3 hours if the bus is full. I'd assume 1 driver and one guide speaking on the bus. So assume $~100 for fuel tops, that leaves ~$400 each for staff if the bus is full. Assume 2 trips a day, that's $800 a day each, without tips, not bad.
I'm guessing the OP is not from Australia. It's normal here to just pay the price for something and not tip unless the service was outstanding and you feel like it. Typical tip rate in Australia is 10% of cost. So $1.70 each. So round it off to $5 for your family. if you're feeling generous, make it $10 total, I think that's fair. You'll probably find that most people don't tip anything unless they guilt people into it by reminding them.
Their walking tour looks pretty good. I'd suggest to chuck in $5 each if you went on that and you are on a budget, or maybe round it up to $20 for your whole family. Seems fair.
I don't know why they don't run 7-Eleven that way. Anymore…
Easier just to pay the staff, then force them to pay it back under the table…
We went for the tour. The tour guide is also the driver. It was a full bus and they had to turn down around 15 people.
What did you tip? Do you think the driver was the business owner?
I tipped him $15. I don't know if he was the business owner. I couldn't tell.
I'm actually going to forward the details of this scam to the ATO & WorkCover, this just reeks…
Sounds good. If you get a response could you let us know. This sounds like a complete screw job. A number of people turned up and weren't accommodated. Then the ones who were accommodated ended up being guilted. I don't like this business model.
No worries, will do.
I like to think I'm fairly flexible when it comes to legal (or even grey area) tax minimisation; but I agree with you, this is a very sneaky (albeit somewhat creative) way to do an end run around some of the legitimate costs and statutory requirements of running a business.
Not sure what you are asking. Says $17 on the website.