The Only Living Boy wrote:
Mike Hughes wrote:


On the subject of tipping, why is it that most Australians *never* give
a tip, even after the driver has gone out of his way to be helpful?


Because it is expected that being helpful is a standard part of the job.
Perhaps the question you should be asking is why the English accept such
poor levels of customer service that they feel obliged to tip when they
receive anything above that.


Absolutely true.

I travel on business fairly regularly. By far the best levels of service
come in countries where there is no tipping culture. Go to New Zealand,
Singapore or the Netherlands (you can tip there but it is not expected)
and you will find everyone polite and helpful. Go to the USA and get the
most annoying and overbearing service on the planet. In London, where
taxi drivers expect a tip, you generally end up with a surly old Nazi
who can't use his indicators and has psychotic tendencies towards
pedestrians. OK, that may be a little unfair, but is an unfortunately
common experience.

It comes down to attitude. Where there is no tipping culture, you tend
to be treated as an equal. Where someone needs a tip to pay the rent, it
really isn't much different to begging.

A