I'm really confused by this thread.

How are these comments supposed to help me know whether to go for Port Adelaide or St Kilda on Friday night?

Yes, I was horrified to discover that in the US many wait staff are NOT paid a base salary - the only salary they receive is the tips!

I live in Gold Coast and tipping is not expected here. When I arrived here , I would go to restaurants with my colleagues and they would frown on me when I tip. Now I don't tip. I love this country even more because of this as I find tipping an outdated concept.

ALWAYS TIP YOUR REMOVALISTS.......We have your stuff remember.....mm

Yeah, that's what the UK taxi driver tried to pull with me. We don't get paid full wages you know, we rely on a certain precentage of tips to make up our pay... which I later found out is not true, but in any case I had decided, "Is that my problem?" Why should I top up their wages for their employer?
Tips should be extra and awarded above the expected service.

Y'know, Mr Mover, I was in a cafe today that had a tip box on the counter and I thought of this thread, and then remembered an old one about tipping the movers. I always tip packers - well, if they do a good job at least - and I'm nice to them (we all work for a living, don't we?) and I make them drinks, etc., and they always do a good job. Especially in Asia where they're nearly all ex-cons or ex-junkies and earn jackshit.

It could be that I've lived in cities all my adult life and it's more the norm there, but I'll stick with tipping good service as it makes the recipient happy so it makes me happy, and if I "spoil the market" for anyone, well tough.

I've lived here five years and have never tipped anyone. You've got to be plain stupid to give your money away. If I get good service I say thanks and smile and that's it. It's not expected here and I would urge any visitors or new migrants not to either.

And by the way I'm not a tight arse, I regularly give to charity, I just don't like tipping and how in the UK people end up feeling awkward about it.

rab

Well I tip AND I work for a charity for well under what I'm worth so I guess that makes me doubly stupid.

Oh and I sponsor a child. Make that tripley.

This is true. In general you always get great service in the US.

Being a waiter there can be a good profession if you work your way up to a good restaurant you can get $300-500 tips a night!

I worked as a waitress/ bar maid for three and half years whilst a student and I lived on my tips, literally. Every single tip anyone gave was very much appriciated. However every single member of staff was expected to give excellent service, and we always did. It was a huge pride thing as well. We always worked our behinds off, and no one went away not thinking that they would definately come back.

I worked in Tesco for two years whilst I was at school, and if anyone tried to give me a tip I would have been very shocked. I got a twenty percent off discount card when I worked there though...

I now tip for good service, but also have no qualms about not tipping for bad service.

Although I can never figure out the tips in hairdressers...

For those who are saying that they think the employeer should pick up the charge to make the salary up - you are aware this will just mean you pay more, but through food and drink prices instead?

Now I earn a decent wage I really like to give tips - I see it of a kind of round about way of funding the next lot of people working there way upwards and onwards

Right then, I'm due at the hairdressers at 1pm today and the question is 'to tip, or not to tip'? Haircut costs about $50. Shall I a) tip $5 or b) spend that $5 on a lovely glass of wine on my night out tonight??

Go to 'Just Cuts', save $25 and buy a couple of bottles!

It's more common in the city.

tipping is acceptable,only if you go to a council tip