Should You Tip at Buffets and by How Much?

zine21 on 30/10/2019 - 13:18
Last edited 30/10/2019 - 13:35 by 1 other user

So, to tip or not to tip? That is the question.

We don't seem to have a big tipping culture in Australia as far as I'm aware but Id like to see what everyone elses opinion on the matter is?.

I know in small towns where service was amazing and we wanted to tip, they wouldn't accept it and asked us to just order extra drinks if we wanted to tip.

Yet recently we visited a nice hotel for their dinner buffet and experienced something quite odd. Cost was around $90+/per person without drinks. Overall we didn't think it was worth that amount as variety was quite small and some of the dishes just didn't have any flavour. The things that did taste half decent, they would serve really small portions of - even if you asked for larger serving, they'd slice that already small thing into three and give you tiny piece as the extra.

Waitress was also hit and miss in the service he provided.

Anyway to cut a long story short when we paid at end he asked for a tip with the EFTPOS machine which hasn't happened before and we tipped 15 bucks for the 3 of us. He gave us dirty and disapproving looks at that- clearly displeased.

I would have thought the expensive price of a buffet should include everything. I mean outside of water (which we would have just rather done ourselves as it took so long) they're not serving you anything. You go to the food stations and get your own food.

Whats the etiquette on this in Australia? The guy was European so maybe things are different from his view, I'm not sure but they sure know how to make you feel guilty.

Food & Grocery

Comments

  • Hybroid on 30/10/2019 - 13:20
    +132

    Tipping not required here and nothing wrong with refusing (press 2 or cancel button on machine). Do tip if you can/want to though.

    • tomsco on 31/10/2019 - 07:26
      +7

      I wonder if wait staff here are slowly beginning to gain an American mindset with all the underpayments we're hearing of.

      • Scantu on 31/10/2019 - 13:29
        +3

        Nup @tomsco because you literally just contact FW and get your money back it's really easy

        • Scrooge McDuck on 02/11/2019 - 02:48
          +3

          Perhaps the bloke was simply displeased with OP referring to him as a waitress.

      • Scrooge McDuck on 02/11/2019 - 02:53
        +3

        Given the level of minimum wage in this country, we should have the option of leaving a discretionary discount for poor service.

        • Platinumtelecom on 02/11/2019 - 08:23
          +1

          Agreed and wait staff should have the option of leaving discretionary surcharge for unreasonable, rude, self entitled patrons

          • Scrooge McDuck on 02/11/2019 - 08:32

            @Platinumtelecom: No one in their right mind would be rude to wait staff. They already have the option of interfering with the food and drink.

    • npnp on 31/10/2019 - 07:38
      +45

      Tipping is rude and inhumane. Otherwise you should be tipping good doctors, good dentists etc. No you wouldn't. Tipping a waiter is literally saying 'I know you are poor and earn very little. I feel bad. Here's something to heal my own guilty feeling'. If you are not sort of person who appreciate that attitude then you would flatout refuse tips. In the pass I have refused tips myself and have been embarrassed that they even tried. I understand not everyone would be like me but at least in Australia, majority of Aussies would not be happy to accept tips. Waiters are underpaid, that's a fact. But give them tips for that is just pathetic.

      • Hybroid on 31/10/2019 - 10:56
        +25

        While I'm not a fan of the tipping culture, I don't actually agree with your black and white assessment. Tipping is neither rude nor inhumane. It was meant to be for specific cases where you feel someone has gone above and beyond their line of duty and you feel it's worth them being compensated additionally for. I wouldn't normally tip for a standard waiter bringing food out from kitchen to table once, nor for normal food delivery orders or taxis etc. But there are cases where this feels appropriate to me. For example, recently I had a food delivery where I wasted approx 10 mins of the person's time because I was mistakenly standing at the wrong collection point yet they stuck around and tried calling me to figure out location and walked extra to deliver successfully. I did tip them for going above and beyond. I also would for service when we go out as large groups and they have a lot more running around to do and having to deal with constant requests etc. That’s not demeaning, it’s an appreciation of their work.

        Also, I struggle to understand how someone on low/minimum wages would prioritise ego over additional income for doing no more work than usual. You’re not being asked to do anything different or extra or indeed demeaning to what your role already is. Why would you be embarrassed, it makes no difference to you except your income and wallet. Other industries may not have direct tipping but they do still have bonus schemes are higher initial salaries and promotion opportunities.

        A ‘good doctor’ and a ‘young adult waiter’ are not the in the same life bracket so that argument doesn’t stack up for me. Having said that, I think the US model is atrocious and hope we don’t devolve to underpaying people because they may make it up in expected tips.

      • ColstonAUS on 31/10/2019 - 12:43
        +13

        You assuming that people tip from feeling sorry for someone is not accurate at all in many cases, if the service has been excellent and the person serving you has gone out of their way to make your day/night better and you want to show your appreciation to them for it, that is somehow 'pathetic'? Also assuming that all waiters and waitresses are 'poor' earn 'very little' is quite condescending. Everyone likes to be rewarded for hard work.

        • p1 ama on 31/10/2019 - 12:58
          +6

          Again, you misunderstand the point. It's not that you have that intention when tipping, but rather, it's the reason why tipping exists in the first place.

          Tipping is problematic because it is inconsistent with the idea that the employer is responsible for paying their employees.

          If we lived in a society where end users "tipped" employees, then that's fine. But in that case, you should also tip your doctor, your garbage truck guy, your delivery driver and postman, your kid's teacher, your mechanic, the construction guy fixing up the freeway, your Coles cashier, the street sweeper…etc. as well. Many of these people probably go "above and beyond" as well.

          If you like to tip and don't think that it's discriminatory, then explain why you tip hospitality workers, but not all those other ones who also may be doing a good job.

          • ColstonAUS on 31/10/2019 - 13:07
            -1

            @p1 ama: Whilst i somewhat agree with the point you are making, society in general for some reason has associated the hospitality industry with tipping culture, and whilst i am in agreeance with the fact that isnt't necessarily fair, it is currently how Australia operates. I am assuming it is because hospitality as an industry is heavily dependent on customer service. An average meal can be made better with great service, similarly a great meal can be made worse with bad customer service. A garbage truck driver is picking up your garbage, but will rarely interact with you. A postman may talk to you, but it in no way changes the delivery of his service in getting you your mail. You go to places like the mechanics or the doctors because you want a service that they provide, not for entertainment or enjoyment. Working in hospitality for the few years that i have, people's experience at a restaurant or a bar can be entirely influenced by the waiter/waitress or barstaff as they are a part of the 'service' of going out to dinner or for drinks.

            • p1 ama on 31/10/2019 - 14:15
              +25

              @ColstonAUS:

              it is currently how Australia operates

              It might be how the US operates, but certainly isn't how Australia operates.

              An average meal can be made better with great service, similarly a great meal can be made worse with bad customer service.

              Like I said before, this can be said of any profession. Let me explain.

              A garbage truck driver is picking up your garbage, but will rarely interact with you.

              You say that a tip should be given when someone has "gone out of their way", basically to do something that others won't do or to put extra care into their work. There was recently a pretty bad storm near where I live on the night before the garbage was to be collected. Plenty of bins fell over. That morning, I saw the garbage truck guy get out of his truck to stand up every single bin on my side of the street and then get back in his truck to empty each single one. Later on, I saw another truck in the same neighbourhood just driving past bins that have fallen over.

              Did the first garbage truck guy go "above and beyond", sure he did. Why doesn't he get a tip?

              You go to places like the mechanics or the doctors because you want a service that they provide, not for entertainment or enjoyment.

              This is a false dichotomy - you are simply paying for a product. It doesn't matter whether that product is food, medical treatment or an oil change. Your doctor can go out of his way to make you feel much better or to ruin your day. Same with the mechanic. This is nothing special about those who work in hospitality.

              Working in hospitality for the few years that i have, people's experience at a restaurant or a bar can be entirely influenced by the waiter/waitress or barstaff as they are a part of the 'service' of going out to dinner or for drinks.

              Again, I don't deny that you do a great job and that you may well be wonderful at your job. I don't even deny that you should be paid more and I would be happy if prices were increased 10% to increase your pay. This is not an attack against you or your job, but rather just an indictment on a system which doesn't pay you properly and puts the onus on customers.

              • npnp on 31/10/2019 - 15:08
                +2

                @p1 ama: You sir explained it beautifully. Couldn't agree with you more..

              • tebbybabes on 31/10/2019 - 16:06
                +2

                @p1 ama: If I could only put more votes in.

              • nakahanap on 01/11/2019 - 19:56
                +2

                @p1 ama: Exactly.

      • R-Man on 01/11/2019 - 00:14
        +4

        Completely agree with your main point. Tipping also just another way to flex "I have extra money to hand out to poor people".

        I do want to get more info on this

        Waiters are underpaid, that's a fact

        is it? underpaid against what benchmark? and what's the source of this fact?

        • npnp on 01/11/2019 - 07:59

          https://www.payscale.com/research/AU/Job=Waiter%2FWaitress/H…

          Above fugures are lower than even minimum wage figure in Australia. There are lots of cases where restaurant owners use desperate international students as waiters for very little wages. If you google you will find a lot of court cases against such incidents.

          • R-Man on 01/11/2019 - 09:44

            @npnp: Thanks, I had forgot to consider the cash in hand student workers

          • Antikythera on 01/11/2019 - 11:01
            +2

            @npnp: so don't eat at places that underpay their staff. that includes uber eats and the like. my staff are all paid correctly. personally i pass tips given to myself to my staff. i accepted tips before I was a manager but certainly never expected them. Australian award wages are very good compared to internationally.

            if you want to tip someone, save it all up and tip your kids teachers. one of my current staff has just finished her primary teaching degree. she has discussed using her own funds to by classroom supplies already.

          • [Deactivated] on 02/11/2019 - 18:44

            @npnp: Does this scale include junior rates? The minimum junior rate for under 16s is 7.17 as of nov 2019.

            https://mywage.org/australia/salary/minimum-wage

      • snook on 01/11/2019 - 21:17

        I went to a place where they only had pepsi. I said no to a drink. The waiter went outside and brought me back a small bottle of coke. I tipped him.

        If the service is really good and someone goes out of their way to help you out, then I tip.

    • nignucial on 31/10/2019 - 13:58
      +10

      On the other hand, tipping to compensate low wages is just wrong - it helps owners exploit their staff by keeping them on the lifeline using tipping money.

      If we don't tip, staff will leave for better jobs, and employers will either have to pay their staff properly or close down. Eventually, their pay will rise to a reasonable level.

    • UFO on 01/11/2019 - 10:06
      +7

      This isn't the USA where your service staff are only being paid a few dollars per hour and RELY on tips to get a decent wage.

      We have a minimum wage here many times more than what it is in the USA. At first glance overseas travellers think Australians are cheap because we don't tip, and that's wrong. We aren't cheap… we just pay everyone a half decent wage.

      • GG57 on 01/11/2019 - 10:12
        -4

        But, when Australians travel to other countries, we are thought of as 'cheap' because we still rarely tip.
        Surely we should adopt to the customs of the country that we are visiting.

        • npnp on 01/11/2019 - 11:12
          +3

          That's common sense. If the person who receives the tip doesn't feel 'insulted' and it's a general customary in the country, culture then do it by all means. OP was asking about Australia.

  • orangetrain on 30/10/2019 - 13:21
    +90

    Tipping is rude in Australia. Don't do it.

      • mskeggs on 30/10/2019 - 15:21
        +32

        This may be generational, but the perception was if you were splashing tips around you were full of yourself and trying to be a big shot.
        Nobody wanted to be viewed like that.

        • HighAndDry on 30/10/2019 - 16:44
          +7

          Surely that depends on how you do it and whether you're showing off, not if you tipped.

        • OneMoreTune on 30/10/2019 - 17:20
          -6

          Really? Wow. I would of thought that is just called being a cckhead… and people can be cckheads while doing many things in life.
          Because some places share the tips, I usually tip on the sly so the other staff don't see. Probably looks more like a drug deal now that I think about it.

        • MementoMori on 31/10/2019 - 16:16

          Thanks for sharing - I didn't know this! I did have this feeling though but wasn't sure where it came from.

      • Nebargains on 31/10/2019 - 08:34
        +13

        Surprised this is negged. Never once thought tipping was rude, only unnecessary.

        • HighAndDry on 31/10/2019 - 18:15
          +3

          I'm also very confused. Also - no wait staff has ever said tips make them feel condescended to or belittled wtf. This is OzB. Money is money.

          • bluesky on 31/10/2019 - 18:40

            @HighAndDry: It makes me wonder if those characterising tipping as rude/condescending are not just trying to fill a psychological need. In other words, they still feel pressured and awkward about not tipping (even though it is voluntary), and need a defense mechanism to convince themselves “not tipping” is the only right thing, and all tipping is wrong. Deep down, they probably know those who tip are doing it out of appreciation.

            If there is no tipping, they won’t have this conundrum. No issue with them wishing tipping is gone, although calling tippers rude is just not convincing. (I can even see merit that we do not want to go down the USA path where the staff is so underpaid and reliant on tips; we are far from it, even though it is still a hard industry for workers).

            The test is simple: if tipping is indeed rude/condescending, one could probably get away with it once, 5 or even 10 times. But year in and year out, for decades, no pushback whatsoever, or nasty words from any wait staff? Instead, only appreciative responses on many occasions? That is saying something.

            • R-Man on 01/11/2019 - 00:16

              @bluesky: alright Dr Phil you've given me a lot to think about

          • Blitzfx on 02/11/2019 - 22:13
            +2

            @HighAndDry: The amount of negs you got is retarded.
            I grew up here. I know the culture. And so I agree that it is not rude AT all.
            50% of all the restaurants and cafes I've been to seem to have a tip Jar at the front. It's getting more and more common nowadays.

            Like, if I got an extra $2-5, I'd be hell yeah! More money. Nobody gets offended at being given more money. I don't know anyone who is like that in the entire world. Not even any famous people, certainly not Warren Buffet or Bill Gates.

            • bluesky on 03/11/2019 - 17:26
              +1

              @Blitzfx: Agree, having a bit of insight into Bill Gates and Warren Buffet from the various docos - it is highly unlikely they would take offense at a gesture of appreciation. And a tip is basically this.

              As an aside, the new 3-part Bill Gates doco from Netflix : Inside Bill's Brain: Decoding Bill Gates – is worth watching. Here is a trailer.

      • gromit on 31/10/2019 - 16:24
        +6

        I am literally dumb struck by how many negs you got for that. Tipping isn't rude, it is completely unnecessary here but I will do so if I feel someone has done something well beyond what they are paid to do.

        • mskeggs on 31/10/2019 - 17:19

          I didn’t neg, but imagine pressing a $5 bill into the hand of the person who just showed you to your table and saying “This is for you”
          I think this kind of thing is what people are describing as rude.
          Leaving a couple of gold coins with the signed cheque at a restaurant is a different thing.

          Aussies traditionally haven’t liked things that imply people aren’t all equal.

          • Eeples on 01/11/2019 - 00:16

            @mskeggs: When I tipped in Egypt I would put folded money in my hand and shake the receivers hand, In this way the receiver would not be embarrassed in being seen to be tipped. Also, he got to keep it all.

            When in Cuba I tipped the maids and they left a wonderful handwritten note expressing how much it meant for their family.

            When in Australia I round up.

            No point really… just sharing.

    • p1 ama on 30/10/2019 - 21:45
      +30

      I actually completely agree with this - tipping is not just rude, but it's hugely condescending. It sends an implicit statement that your waiter/waitress is deserving of your pity and hence, your pittance as a "rich" member of society who can afford to dine at these fine establishments.

      Really though, the reason why we tip (even if it's not thought of this way directly) is because we do not give our waiters/waitresses the respect they deserve. Do we tip our GP when they correctly diagnose our disease? Of course not, why? Because we don't look down upon our GP as someone who needs our loose change.

      Wanting to help waiters and waitresses is a noble cause, however, like any other profession, they need to be paid by their employer, not by us. Tipping only leads to the US culture where those in the service industry are wholly underpaid and there becomes this awkward social norm to "voluntarily" (but not really) leave tips. It's silly. If you really want to recognise the good work of a server, let their manager know, keep coming back there to support their business…etc.

      • OneMoreTune on 31/10/2019 - 13:13
        +7

        I'm sorry but I think I know a whole bunch of waitstaff that would be laughing their asses off if you said tipping is condescending to them. Actually I could probably message them right now to go and ask around the staff about your comments. It would make some light entertainment.

        Pretty sure most places meet minimum wage standards here so how could it turn into the US? Sounds like you're the one that views the staff that way so don't use 'we' when saying we do not give out waiters/waiteresses the respect… I never disrespect them. We're not talking about power brokers and Wall St.

        It's not offensive, certainly not today. And so what!? What is it to you or anyone else is one person gives another a little extra $5 as a thank you. It's got nothing to do with you, it's between them and affects you in no way what so ever.

        • p1 ama on 31/10/2019 - 16:10
          +2

          What is it to you or anyone else is one person gives another a little extra $5 as a thank you. It's got nothing to do with you, it's between them and affects you in no way what so ever.

          Because it is a culture that leads to staff in the hospitality becoming underpaid. Plenty of states in the US have minimum wage laws. There are actually some states that have even higher minimum wage laws than we have here in AU.

          However, hospitality staff are actually exempt from those minimum wage laws because of tips. It leads to this confusing system where nobody is sure who should be paying hospitality staff. Morally and legally, employers pay their employees, not end customers.

          • OneMoreTune on 31/10/2019 - 18:07
            +1

            @p1 ama: I just don't see how my tips, or anyone's, are going to lead to employers paying less or laws being changed to the minimum wage for waitstaff. I rarely tip by the way.
            We're a long way off the US and their mistakes and system, I really don't see us becoming like them.
            I think there are some old heads and old thought processes is this forum.

            Not me negging you by the way.

            • p1 ama on 31/10/2019 - 18:18
              +2

              @OneMoreTune: I think you're misunderstanding what I'm saying. You can tip if you want to tip, I'm sure it's harmless in the grand scheme of things.

              However, the US is really a terrible place for people employed in the service industry. On top of that, the tipping conventions are strange and awkward for everywhere else in the world who don't know what tipping is, or who do not tip. This sort of society didn't just magically appear, it's the result of a prevalent tipping culture which led to governments and employers abusing their staff and chronically underpaying them. Yes, your tips aren't going to lead to this. However, if everyone started tipping, this would be what happens (as evidenced by the US).

              I'm not saying that you (as an individual) should not tip, just that:

              1) Tipping is the result of an archaic mindset which was once about rich well-off elite giving pittance to the underclass who waited on them. This is not how modern society works anymore, really.

              2) Tipping, as a widespread practice, can lead to the environment we see in the US where all are worse off.

              Not me negging you either - glad we can have a respectful discussion.

        • R-Man on 01/11/2019 - 00:19

          Explain the following concept from the comment below to your waitstaff mates

          1) Tipping is the result of an archaic mindset which was once about rich well-off elite giving pittance to the underclass who waited on them. This is not how modern society works anymore, really.

          • OneMoreTune on 01/11/2019 - 12:04
            +1

            @R-Man: I think everyone understands the concept of how it started. If they didn't, would they care?

            Point is that's not why majority of people do that today. Mindsets have evolved, well… I would have thought. Then again I'm not mixing in a high society crowd nor am I in Monaco drinking $2000 bottles of wine before going back to my super yacht with a big bag of molly and an entourage. I would imagine those are the people your looking for and don't like.

            So honestly I don't think they would care if I told them that. The percentage of people that would tip with that mindset today would be pretty small. We're in Australia and it's 2019. I've never seen anyone flashing around their tip. Also I've never seen waitstaff feel like crap because of a tip, I'm no hermit either.

            I've lived with someone who used to come home and within a few mins they were talking about tips if they received some. Makes their day more worth while and they have a little extra spending money for the weekend.

            • Blitzfx on 02/11/2019 - 22:35

              @OneMoreTune: This whole thread is full of old people and old thoughts forcing their world view upon the younger people. If I got a free extra $5 for doing my job, I sure as hell aren't going to throw it back at the customer thinking it's rude. I'm keeping it and putting towards my rising cost of living.

              I wouldn't be surprised if this mindset is one of the contributing factors in why people don't get pay rises. "You get paid enough".

      • OneMoreTune on 31/10/2019 - 13:24
        +1

        So in my industry some people are sent gifts or a carton of beer as a thank you for good work on a project. Maybe next time I'll ask them to just leave a nice feedback instead because I feel like they're being condescending to me.
        Also, other people that work similar hours to me or deal with similar rude customers/clients don't get beer sent to them so in that case I better not also.

        • Never Pay RRP on 31/10/2019 - 14:34
          +2

          Does the carton of beer equate to 10-15% of the value of the good or service you provide?
          Do you expect/demand that EVERY single customer gives you this 'tip' and then react angrily if any of them don't?

          • OneMoreTune on 31/10/2019 - 18:00
            +1

            @Never Pay RRP: Absolutely not, it's nothing more than a nice gesture.
            I think we're talking about two different scenarios here. I don't think anyone in Australia should expect a tip and if someone got angry with me because I didn't tip I would just about laugh in their face. I rarely tip by the way.

        • p1 ama on 31/10/2019 - 16:15
          +1

          Don't be silly - I give my GP some chocolates for Christmas, and sometimes give the tradies working on my house a slab of beer on Friday night. These are not tips. There are two differences:

          1) The net worth of the gifts I'm giving to my GP or the tradies are negligible. Less than 0.1% of the amount that they're charging me for their work.

          2) Nobody is paying them any less because of what I've given them. Medicare isn't calling up the doctor and saying that he'll be paid less because of my chocolates, and the building contractor isn't calling up the tradies to cut their wages because I gave them a beer.

          If you think point (2) is irrelevant, then see the US right now. Minimum wage laws that don't apply to hospitality workers because they're expected to receive tips. This is the difference between your example and hospitality workers.

    • Zonty on 31/10/2019 - 00:48
      +7

      I work hospitality and I know how people feel when some one leave tip. It means customer happy with service and food and that give encouragement to workers.
      Unfortunately in Australia, people think no neeed tip worker because price is high and wages is high enough,they do not rely on tip.in reality, they expect encouragement and who does not love extra money? People who have not work in hospitality industries does not know what you dealing with. I have seen many crying waitress in my last 15 years work because of arrogant rude customer.

      • p1 ama on 31/10/2019 - 03:06
        +7

        I think you misunderstand my point. I'm not saying that working in hospitality is easy or trying to downplay what you do in any way.

        However, there are many other professions who deal equally as much with rude people. They would also love encouragement and would appreciate extra money. However they don't get tips.

        If there are problems in hospitality (which I don't doubt), this needs to be addressed with proper regulation and enforcement. Crack down on restaurants that underpay their staff, investigate dodgy places that pay cash under the table…etc.

        Tips are a band-aid on a huge problem.

        • Zonty on 31/10/2019 - 15:49
          -6

          Fact is hospitality not able to pay penalty rates if you start paying penalty rates you need start paying average $50.00 to $80.00 per head for food. And aslo most worker in hospitality are casual without sick holidays and paid holidays. Only big organisation able to pay government regulated rates where small hospitality business not. Tip and food is help them to match up with penalty rates.
          Also hospitality worker serve you food,clean your mass and look after you so you can have good time. It different kind of service then other retailer services. It's like customer is king and they serve you with hope you will leave some tip.Can not compare those service to other industries.
          Let's think people start stop giving tip and hospitality will get is only wages do you think they will serve you same? I doubt it.

      • Yamai on 31/10/2019 - 09:19
        +6

        Your comments could be applied to any job, do I get a tip for providing superior customer service via telephone or in person? NO, I get a wage and if you expect a tip for doing your job, you’re a jerk.

        • OneMoreTune on 31/10/2019 - 13:16
          -2

          But if it concerns you THAT much go change jobs…. far out, so many different types of jobs get different types of perks. Get over it ffs

        • Zonty on 31/10/2019 - 22:36

          Hospitality is not same as any job if you want feel good like king get great service at your table then tips is make it happen. Guess there is no tips in hospitality it means no expectation for reward, it means no one will give you dam about your table. Give you bottle of water and take order put food and drink on table and get lost.

          • stewy on 01/11/2019 - 02:38
            +3

            @Zonty: Ever considered that if you give lousy service, then customers will simply go elsewhere?

            You shouldn't need a tip to do your job.

            • Zonty on 01/11/2019 - 09:57

              @stewy: They are employee they not give dam about. if all people not giving tip means no expectation for reward which will make them serve you as ordinary like pokies service.

              • Deridas on 01/11/2019 - 15:39
                +1

                @Zonty: The price for service is included in the food and beverage price. This goes to the employer, which is paid to the employee through wages.

                A reward should not be an incentive for good serivce in hospitality. As this post has raised up many times, do we reward a tip for the GP, or the Garbage collector for their service?

                Generally the places that I expect to have higher hospitality service have this worked into the prices of the food and beverage. Those I expect ordinary service don't have this premium normally worked into the price.

                • Zonty on 01/11/2019 - 23:31
                  -1

                  @Deridas: You do not understand here service what is provide directly to you call hospitality and garbage collector will not collect different way garbage if there is chance to get tip or not when hospitality service does.
                  Just imagine we live no tip world in hospitality business just figure out what you will get for paying your meal it will be similar like fast food service. Take pay and go away,. Restaurant business they look after you like angel that call tip effect.

                  • p1 ama on 02/11/2019 - 05:14
                    +1

                    @Zonty: I don't understand why you're trying to overstate your job and what you do. You get paid by your employer just like everyone else. How much you get paid is a matter for your employer. Whether you should be paid more is a matter for your employer. Just like everyone else. Customers should not decide how much money you make.

    • od810 on 31/10/2019 - 15:49
      +3

      Hm, I don't know if you have been working as waiter/waitress before. But when i was a waiter, no one found it offensive/rude.

      • p1 ama on 31/10/2019 - 16:15
        +1

        Hm, I don't know if you have been working as waiter/waitress before. But when i was a waiter, no one found it offensive/rude.

        Never said you would find it rude on a personal basis, but rather, that it is the premise of giving tips in the first place. Where do you think this started?

    • The Wololo Wombat on 02/11/2019 - 16:33
      +1

      Tipping is rude only if you are so full of yourself you can’t handle someone being richer than you.

      Tall poppy syndrome. The worst.

      I never tip because I’d prefer to pay higher prices for food to ensure staff a paid consistently and fairly, instead of having to be obligated to tip them to ensure they get paid….

      But if I choose to tip that’s my businesses. Shouldn’t be judged by others to do what I want with my money.

      Australia needs to change if Australian’s think tipping is rude. It might be a bad idea… but it’s not rude.

  • HighAndDry on 30/10/2019 - 13:22
    +78

    No. It's a buffet aka (90%) self serve. What would you even be tipping for?

    • ssquid on 31/10/2019 - 04:46
      +25

      When you've had too much to eat (you tip over).

    • nignucial on 31/10/2019 - 13:27
      +1

      For them to take away my cutlery without asking before I finish?

  • GG57 on 30/10/2019 - 13:25
    +30

    The tip request is automated on a lot of EFTPOS terminals these days; easy to bypass (and a lot of staff bypass it for you).

    The biggest issue is that you paid $90+ / each for a buffet?

    • zine21 on 30/10/2019 - 13:31
      +3

      It was a special occasion for my sisters 18th. I mean cost aside I'm just baffled the guy gave us dirty looks for tips

      • crentist on 30/10/2019 - 14:09
        +32

        Didn't earn the tip to start, bad attitude after. Should have asked for the $15 back

      • bmerigan on 30/10/2019 - 21:21
        +3

        Maybe you're misinterpreting his look.
        I expect you are one of the few who actually tipped. No way I would.

        Plenty of restaurants have a space for it on the bill, I cross through it and write the total in below.

        Total : $176.82
        Tip : —————
        Grand total : $176.82

        P.S. I have tipped, but only because service and quality were so surprisingly good.

      • bluesky on 30/10/2019 - 22:09
        +1

        I mean cost aside I'm just baffled the guy gave us dirty looks for tips

        You needn't give a tip to start with, the tip you gave was generous considering it was a buffet. If he was displeased, his expectations were unrealistic. Served him right to be disappointed. Fortunately, what you encountered was hardly the norm.

    • gimme on 30/10/2019 - 21:29

      Even the bigger issue is going to.a buffet in the first place.

      • wiipantz on 31/10/2019 - 10:10

        This is not getting the recognition it deserves!

        • gimme on 31/10/2019 - 10:53

          lol keep in mind Ozb..where dominos deals and 12c cashback offers get the recognition they don't deserve.

  • spiff on 30/10/2019 - 13:26
    +26

    Can't believe you tipped in the first place

    • RM on 30/10/2019 - 13:28
      +34

      Cant believe they paid $90 pp for a buffet….

      • [Deactivated] on 30/10/2019 - 13:40
        +3

        Fancy bucket of chow.

      • Maxxjet on 30/10/2019 - 23:30

        Let me guess, it is French , isn’t it? ? Well just like the other guy wanna have Green oval on his new car, “prestige” comes with a big price tag and you may not like it!!!

        • chriskq on 31/10/2019 - 11:27
          +1

          green oval? the french dont make any good cars

      • bigbadboogieman on 01/11/2019 - 00:00

        Yeah that's like a week's groceries for a single person.

  • Skramit on 30/10/2019 - 13:33
    -6

    I reckon a lot of restaurants these days have factored in wait staff tips into their food prices now that everything is paid for with a tap.

    • robbyjones on 30/10/2019 - 17:41
      +4

      Ha ha ha, you'd be wrong there.

    • This Guy on 31/10/2019 - 18:32

      Have an upvote. I get what you meant.

      Yes, wages should be factored in to food prices.

  • Seraphin7 on 30/10/2019 - 13:36
    +14

    There's no way I'd be tipping at a buffet. Under any circumstances.

    I have noticed generally this business where many places bring the CC machine around and "expect" you to enter a tip … often while hovering over you to see what you are doing. Painful and basically results in a zero tip, not that I tip in many places these days anyway.

    • GG57 on 30/10/2019 - 13:50
      +2

      To be fair, I have experienced plenty of instances where the staff just bypass the tip option before you need to do anything.

      • Seraphin7 on 30/10/2019 - 14:35

        This is true, however it is still a bugbear in the many places that look for the tip. I've even had it when picking up a take away!

        • GG57 on 30/10/2019 - 14:45

          Certainly annoying, but I doubt it is the wait staff that brought in the technology that asks for a tip as a default.

          • Seraphin7 on 30/10/2019 - 14:47

            @GG57: I've no idea who drives the practices in various establishments (management or staff). As you say, it's just an annoying practice. If they really want to provide a better customer experience, they'd better off leaving the machine with you (or at least backing off to a respectful distance) and letting you make your choice without the implied pressure.

    • diazepam on 02/11/2019 - 03:24

      Usually the Chinese restaurants that try sell themselves as "fancy" are the ones that stare at you when you've got the machine and looking at how much you're tipping. Absolutely hate it but I generally end up tipping a tiny, nominal amount.

      Absolutely no shame from these restaurateurs/managers that pretty much coerce you into tipping.

      Would mind so much if it was similar in America where the waiters get their individual tips or where all waitstaff and kitchen staff get a cut of the entire tips for the night. I personally know a lot of people who have worked in these restaurants and can confirm that these restaurants do not split the tips (goes into the manager / owners pockets).

  • dasher86 on 30/10/2019 - 13:44
    +4

    The worse is when they past the EFT machine to you and you don't look and then proceed to type in your pin.

    • djkelly69 on 30/10/2019 - 17:15

      Haha I did this the only type I have used an EFTPOS machine with the tip option. I had to sheepishly cancel the $5x.xx tip, but then felt obligated to give a $10 tip on ~$90 meal.

      • spaceflight on 30/10/2019 - 23:06
        +6

        That's how I drunkenly gave a $4,554 tip.

      • TerryJustTerry on 31/10/2019 - 08:59
        +1

        wait how much was your tip ;) ?

      • Ryk on 02/11/2019 - 14:45
        +1

        changes PIN to 0001

  • PissLUR on 30/10/2019 - 13:48
    +18

    No. never tip.

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