You’ve just ordered in a US coffee shop, and the barista flips around the screen and says, "It's just going to ask you a question" – the question being, "Add a tip?" with three pre-selected percentages. It's baffling, even to Americans. Why am I being asked if I want to tip $3 for what’s already a $7 latte?
If you’ve ever worked a job in the US service industry – especially waitstaff – you understand why. Because they make a lower minimum wage, waitstaff rely heavily on tips. But tipping practices vary across the globe. In some Asian countries such as China and Singapore, the biggest mistake some tourists make is tipping in the first place. In Australia, tipping historically hasn’t been the standard practice but is becoming more commonplace.
It can be exhausting to keep up, but knowing when and how much to tip does matter. That’s why we’ve made it easy for you with our region-specific tipping guides. Next time that dreaded little screen flips over, you’ll be ready.
