Reverse Culture Shocks returning to America after moving to Australia | American Reacts

[@paulm2467]

It isn’t your responsibility to make sure that people earn enough, that’s their employer’s responsibility.

[@briancampbell179]

What got me was the expression "below minimum wage job". If you can pay below minimum wage, then the minimum wage isn't a minimum wage. The way I look at it, the employer is pre-stealing the employee's anticipated tips and relying on the customers to make up for that theft. The tips aren't a bonus for the employee, just the way they restore their wage to what is should be. If ripping off your employees is the only way you can keep your business afloat, find another business.

[@I.am.Sarah.]

@@briancampbell179 Not just the employer but the US taxman taxes you on how much tips they think you made, not the amount you actually make. If you had a very bad week you might get a paycheck that has a negative amount due to taxes.

[@marievandoorn73]

I thought slavery was outlawed in america but isn’t working ‘below minimum wage’ just another term for slavery ?

[@Bobbydazzlla]

From what I've heard I don't even want to go to the U.S.A. The way your tipping system is over there - stuff that.

[@archiebald4717]

I have spent some time in Australia during several visits. Never found the service to be below par.

[@PaulMeyer-v8t]

Howdyyawl from the land down under. 3 $ p/ hr. That's slave labour. I thought slavery was abolished in USA. 😊

[@erose1710]

Slavery in the form of imprisonment is still in the US constitution (13th amendment), which is why they have such a huge prison labor industry going on there and the private prison system is raking in the money.

[@stevenboyne8023]

​@@erose1710yep just a few years ago can't renember the state but a judge and a private prision company had a nice deal that every person he sent there he would get a nice kickback

[@Franky2A3]

You may not get your money's worth from those large proportion drinks/meals, you'll end up paying more for your medical bills due to the large drink/meal sizes.

[@simbob26]

You are 100% correct about customer service varying depending on where you go, but I would not say it was a regional thing. Last time I was in Boston I had both the best and the worst service of that year. The same is true in Australia. Last time I was in Sydney I had extremely good service at a Thai restaurant and the same day appalling service in a pub nearby. I would always expect decent service wherever I go, but I have experienced worse service on my trips to America than I ever have in Europe or Australia. That being said, poor service is thankfully not the norm anywhere, and certainly not in my hometown of Melbourne. Obviously it’s not possible to say that I am unbiased, being an Australian, but I will say that there is very little difference between the service in any country, generally speaking.

[@gmm5550]

As a european i tip when i get good service or food..i dont tip for tip sake..and american service is kind of creepy with a waitress hovering over ur table all the time like a ufo =) ..and yes i did get sick(bloated tired and constipated) of the low quality food in the Us and gained weight as even many American expats noticed when they return to the Us

[@Ugee50]

So now, you not only pay most of wages, but you also have to do half their job for them. I love Australian culture.

[@leed206]

Just as a added. I couldnt get over the size of the meals. I wasted a lot of food on my visit. The sizes were gigantic, 1 comes to mind of a TA salad container was a very large square lidded tub with the salad jammed into it, fed me 3 meals as a side dish. The event i went over for had a buffet for 1 of the meals. Big plates piled high, I got what I considered my normal size & everybody at table commented, asked if I was on a diet etc, and to go back and get more.

[@billschild3371]

I feel tipping in America is the way the bosses are moving the cost of doing business to the consumer by getting them to pay their wages bill. It will continue to happen until the workers withold their labour until they get better pay and conditions.

[@Teagirl009]

Good to see your takes on this too. Iwrocker also did a reaction. In terms of the ott tipping not much I can I can add that hasn't been said a million times by everyone. But I will say that when you chase someone out of a bar aggressively and yell abuse over their tip amount, like what happened to Ashleigh, that's a sign that something in society very wrong. I do think it's a bit cheeky to expect people collect their drink and clear their own table THEN demand a service tip. For what? I literally served myself lol. I actually spoke to a cafe owner the other day about this and they said they briefly trialed having an area for dirty cups/plates and they found it more a hinderence than a help (And said flies were gathering around the dishes especially outdoor seated). They said it was easier and quicker to just keep things moving and clear as they go. 🤷‍♀️ In terms of service I agree it can depend on where you are to an extent, world wide. Where I used to live in Sydney the service was generally fairly good in cafes (south east) . The city itself can be more hit n miss, they're always more rushed. Brisbane city i found to be better there. So far I've had no issues with coffee shops/cafes anywhere I've been in SE Qld tbh. I think tipping and wages aside, a part of the resson the service might seem more friendly and welcoming is because the cafe culture is different here. Coffee is often more grab and go and about waking you up in the US. Where as here it's often about the experience and social interaction and its espresso coffee (so more European influenced i guess). It's part of why starbucks failed here and the remaining few stores were re marketed towards tourists and international students. So yeah if you're consistently rude or disinterested to customers in cafes in Australia, people won't go back because there's plenty of other cafes they can go instead. We're spoiled for choice. Baristas here are usually well trained and if not, they wont last long, they'll be replaced. Some people love having a local barista who knows their regular order. Restaurants on the other hand, can definitely be more hit and miss with service in some areas. But again i separate that from cafes here because of the cafe/coffee culture. Re StarB. - No shame in liking what you like. It's understandable to seek out nostalgic things especially when feeling homesick. Sometimes it's the little things. And i can only imagine feeling like you have two homes sometimes and none others. I do commend both you and Ashleigh for making the move literally across the world to another hemisphere, and making a life for yourselves both personally and professionally. (And a community on here) .That absolutely is not easy.

[@c8Lorraine1]

I lived and worked in Japan for a few years. I’d seek out Vegemite at the international supermarket when I was homesick

[@anthonypirera7598]

Yes tipping was hard to do when your waiter walks off without asking for drinks order so I go to the bar to get our drinks to be told you can only get your drinks by the waiter it was so bad and very slow

[@Krenisphia]

I have never tipped anyone ever in my life. And I intend to keep it that way. A tip is always optional. If it isn't, then it isn't called a tip anymore.

[@ianmontgomery7534]

When they work out inflation figures in the USA do they include the tip in the cost?

[@philphil6006]

Service in Australia is not based on the person serving it’s rated on the quality of venue, quality of food and atmosphere.

[@tomsaunders383]

You do know that larger Starbucks are only more milk and not coffee! And not real milk

[@dougstubbs9637]

This is the second reaction video to the original upload by this lady in Canberra. The main theme is there are many, many more things which make people similar and even the same than stuff which makes us different. Looking forward to seeing you live on Tuesday. Cheers.

[@Bobbydazzlla]

I watch her video this morning - she actually lives in Hobart

[@Teagirl009]

​@@Bobbydazzllayeah she was in Canberra on a collaboration trip with VisitCanbera. She's actually busy moved to Melbourne now a few days ago. She's got a job in marine science there.

[@optimusmaximus9646]

When it comes to things like coffee and chocolate, if the quality is top notch then you do not stimulate the senses. For example, short black coffees are sipped in order to fully appreciate the taste and aroma, not skolled like a cheap beer. Portions are very small as well as they are normally very strong. You can knock it back like a whiskey shot but one is normally enough.

[@AnoJanJan]

I've been to the US several times & was thinking of going again this year mainly to visit family & friends but also because there are so many interesting places to visit. Then I remembered all the mandated tipping, bad service & awful food & changed my mind.

[@kerrijohnstone7588]

There was an ad on here (Aus) Dougie the Pizza Guy - drops off a pizza to his parents. Dad answers the door, Dougie says “How bout a tip?”. His Dad says “Be good to your mother” I STILL love that ad!!

[@trevorcook3129]

Always use your handbrake when parking the car Dougie!

[@sandraw8219]

I’ve been to the US numerous times pre2016 and I’ve never felt uncomfortable about going ,but, shortly I’ll be taking my grandson to Disneyland for some one on one time and I’m feeling apprehensive. I want him to have a great time but I’m thinking that I’ll be feeling resentful because I’ll be spending a lot of time and money for a subpar experience. I’m now thinking I should have arranged this trip for a Disney property in Europe or Asia.

[@coover65]

Consider Tokyo Disneyland; just as good as the California one, and personal safety in Japan is phenomenal.

[@sandraw8219]

@@coover65 I will in the future, unfortunately I’ve spent a lot of money already and arranged to meet distant family from Canada in LA already. Thanks for the recommendation.

[@deanpetersmith8917]

Totally not be snobby but in cafe's here the staff have got know me. They know my order and never give me a number for the table delivery. So warm and lovely.

[@Mediawatcher2023]

Tipping in Australia is not expected. Instead, a service charge will normally be added to your bill. The service charge will usually be declared on the menu if you're in a cafe or restaurant, for example, and is paid directly to the company rather than to an individual member of staff.

[@ianbrook7793]

Yes but thinking you will get charged more only on public holidays and some times Sundays .

[@dcmastermindfirst9418]

Where have you tipped???

[@helnbak9372]

I love your pronunciation of Melbourne ❤

[@SomeYouTubeGuy]

When you go to Ikea for a meal you have to clear your own table but the point of that is to keep the price down and you still don't have to wipe it down. Culture or not in the US they would be getting a lecture from me if they expected that and then had the gall to ask for a tip

[@neilt6480]

I was in the states 40-odd years ago, and the standard of service was a shock, even compared to Europe. Even in an el-cheapo diner type of place (which was my budget's limit) the service was impeccable. Something I'd only experienced in fine dining places in Oz, on the few occasions I splashed out. I put it down to the tipping culture - the workers knew that good service got good tips, but vice versa, too. If the service was lousy, the locals would leave a lousy tip. To hear that this has been lost is yet another disappointment in recent times.

[@josephj6521]

As an Australian, I see many positives in both countries. The scenery in the USA is better. I acknowledge that. I have to comment on Starbucks. Sorry, I need to! I went to the USA and had it there, once. Only once. Large drink full of froth and the coffee was weak (just like the Budweiser beer)! I tried it here after more than 15 years of avoiding it. Horrible. Weak. Service awful. Why pay a premium for a coffee and having to wait at the counter then scramble for a seat!?! I prefer a standard cafe where you sit, they take your order and they serve you a much more fulfilling coffee.

[@philiponeill6903]

So nice to hear an American accent pronounce Melbourne as "Mel-BEN" instead of "Mel-BORN." :)

[@johnoblues3984]

Interesting..how far does the tipping system go back in America? Is it a more modern system or does go right back?

[@abekane7038]

Australians ARE coffee snobs, you were spot on. I am happy to acknowledge my flaws, like being a coffee snob :) Love your vids mate, cheers

[@PlaylistsRUs]

I would also say that living in Western Sydney might not be representative of “living in Australia” if you know what I mean. I am also a migrant BTW and also POC. I would say this, 92% of Australia is of European origin and white, Western Sydney is definitely not that, but Hobart is. 🤷🏽‍♂️😁

[@Fish29077]

Iv seen some comments from Americans that they’ve started tipping on commercial aircraft. It’s out of control! I’m fine tipping in the USA but please don’t try and export this broken system to the rest of the world.

[@Filpy-hk7di]

Tipping is for exceptional service imo, and with unemployment low in the US now, if a job doesn’t pay a decent wage, go get a better one.

[@ianmontgomery7534]

I spent four years living and working China in the early 2000s and I got culture shock both ways but what surprised me the most was how little thing had advanced in Australia over those four years whereas in China things changed rapidly. Their ATMs were miles ahead of ours and it was two years before I felt they had caught up.

[@lorenzlorenzo1975]

Tipping should be voluntary as it was in the past. You should tip only and only if you feel like it because of exceptional service and not because it's imposed.

[@Jeni10]

I’m in the soith of Sydney suburbs and everywhere I go for food or coffee etc, the service is top notch. I’ve never had a problem.

[@Ugee50]

You'll always be home here in Australia

[@hilliard665]

When you say "have" to tip, do you actually have to? Like will they refuse service if you don't tip?

[@Teagirl009]

The tip comes at the end so unless you declared ahead of time that you're not going to tioy they wouldn't know. But in Ashleighs full vid.she said she, her brother and partner were chased out of a bar by staff aggressively, over the tip amount they left. She said they were abused and yelled at. 🤷‍♀️ She said that the service was appalling and wasn't even really service at all so they didn't leave a huge tip.

[@brontewcat]

Yes - you do have to tip. The wait staff are not properly paid, and much of their wage comes from tips. It is a terrible system, but you can’t change it by not paying the person who is giving you the service. The current rate is 20% of the bill. But it gets worse, when they bring you the bill, not only is the tip added but also sales tax. So when you go out for dinner and see the prices on the menu you have to factor in nearly another 50% on top of those prices.

[@hilliard665]

@@brontewcat and na I disagree, if people stopped tipping the shop couldn't keep staff on and the shop closes. a new one opens who pays their staff.

[@brontewcat]

@@hilliard665 Sorry - I don’t know what you just wrote. Please use some punctuation so I can understand the comment. I am serious- I do not know what point you are making.

[@hilliard665]

@@brontewcat I thought I deleted that comment it had so many errors lol I'll edit it

[@apopisso6302]

I thought slavery was abolished. How can a restaurant owner get away with paying their staff such low wages, making them resort to begging for tips.

[@barryross8382]

The employer should recognize great employees and pay accordingly.

[@chrisleach3958]

American drink and meal sizes are a disaster for the health system

[@johnnewman366]

The Health ‘System’ in the USA is actually a ‘for profit’ business. A healthy US citizen isn’t good for business.

[@davidnelson7786]

What health system?

[@dcmastermindfirst9418]

America needs to outlaw that.

[@takeaction2023]

Hoping for a change in the USA🇺🇸

[@dcmastermindfirst9418]

Stop hoping and do something!

[@aleclamberton6071]

I went to a Starbucks in Sydney once. I sipped my coffee and went "... why?"

[@chrislewis9826]

If everyone stop tipping then businesses would be forced to pay their style a liable wage or people would just stop working at that location because they’re not making any money. All the government could do it job and actually introduce a real livable wage because the next thing is gonna happen is you’re gonna have to start paying 60 tips of your bill

[@snoopy13946]

Last time I visited the USA back in 2011 I didn’t tip at all. I’m not used to it, don’t understand it, so I didn’t do it. I survived the trip without being castigated.

[@davidbarlow6860]

If asked for a tip, my response is " Work hard and be good to your mother".

[@Teagirl009]

😆👏

[@michellesmith6558]

As an American living in Australia when I go back I ALWAYS tip minimum of 20%. I waited tables for years. I’ve got no problem tipping for good service.

[@davidbarry994]

Asking for a tip is just begging.

[@michellesmith6558]

@@davidbarry994 that’s the industry. It’s demoralising I know.

[@jillspence7227]

but that's you, not us! Tipping is unknown in most of NZ, as far as I know, seldom eat out or go to cafes, a pensioner on a fixed income, cannot afford it.

[@tallylol-bd1yk]

why'd you skip the part where she sad she was chased and yelled at because she didn't tip enough? iwrocker nearly did that too but when she brought it up again, he acted like she wasn't talking about it earlier in the video and was shocked...

[@Eqium]

tipping my 2c, employers in the USA want to much of the pie, they pay low wages so they get more of the profit they should be paying higher wages because the staff are there to make him money, greed is alive and well in the USA saying things cost more in Oz if you put the tip cost into the equation it cost more in the US, if I was in the US and was ask for a tip, my tip would be go ask for a pay rise I'm not your employer

[@sheerluckholmes5468]

With more and people demanding higher and higher tips for just doing their jobs they have now elevated tipping to being nothing but glorified begging. If they were to just sit in the street with a begging bowl I would have more respect for them rather than just give money to somone that brought some food to my table.

[@DaveOz-mx5oh]

Starbucks!? WHAT!?!?!

[@sevysnape]

I may be wrong but from what I understand the likes of wait staff in the US get taxed a % of their wages based on tips so it you don't tip them you (or the government) are ripping them off for that amount. While I think that tipping sucks and it's been a few years since being in the US I have always tipped about 15% for service in the USA because of that reason. I only tip in Australia if I am dining in a nice restaurant and the food and service was exceptional and even then it's not a percentage it's just what I feel like leaving as a tip. (don't worry about the change) In fact I have even heard in some cases in Australia tipping can even be seen as offensive, like you are giving charity to a lower class person. (stick your tip up your arse mate)

[@jillspence7227]

It is corrupt if you are actually blackmailing people into tipping if you call it 'ripping them off' if no tip is given. I just would not put up with that, but will never visit America anyway. It has no appeal for me.

[@coasterblocks3420]

Tipping wouldn’t be necessary if workers in America received a living wage. I wouldn’t blame workers giving crap service and demanding high tips. That’s the only way they can survive. The problem is the system, not the worker.

[@jeroen6176]

"At the end of the day, I love my American drink sizes" just so I can add to the American obesity statistics, after all, we're only ranked 15th in the world for obesity!

[@stevenblack3092]

Um how do you guys have below minimum wage like it’s supposed to be the minimum

[@glennblanchard4193]

260 episodes of Frasier showed a coffee shop culture for snobs

[@bambang5975]

How to dating aussie girl as asian man? please give advice to me. I am from indonesia 🇮🇩. 😊

[@JJ-vy2rh]

I have visited America a few times and I don't like the tipping culture either but 20 is normal

[@crxdelsolsir]

Tipping culture is one that has been conditioned and fostered by the Employers and no doubt along with the Government to benefit both the Government (taxes) and Employer (pass on the cost of wages). This was intended and by design. Just lost from living memory but this would not have always been the case. As with a lot of thing American, the rot started a long time ago and it was by intent and design. Only now it it is becoming acute and the truth (plan, deception) being realised.

[@kendunn2218]

I see a bottle of Bundaberg in the background. Now I know what your husband drinks. Cheers 🥃

[@markhopgood5984]

Why should I tip in America!, if there boss don't pay them enough it's not my fault. Also why would you drink Starbucks it's shit coffee. We kicked them out of Australia

[@MrRecrute]

What is the point in getting a larger sized or super sized coffee at Starbucks when the coffee is rubbish, appalling even vomit inducing.

[@jillspence7227]

Never had a Starbucks near where I live, but have heard similar things, no loss.

[@I-have-a-brain_and-use-it]

Tips are not ridiculous Paying people less than a starvation wage is ridiculous , in fact it is downright immoral

[@barryross8382]

Stop tipping

[@farminginaustralia628]

So sad to think Sydney is cool. Want to see real Australia get away from that hole.

[@jillspence7227]

I feel the same about Auckland, NZ. It is not the real New Zealand, any more than Queenstown is, but I don't mind if ALL the tourists go there, they are annoying.

[@MrRecrute]

Well if you don’t like Sydney don’t visit it. You won’t be missed.

[@suraj9]

:)

[@FredPilcher]

:-( You want to a Starbucks? I'll pray for you.

[@Lionheart1188]

No, you're not a shitty person for not tipping, I don't care how low their wage is.

[@ausforce1]

Tipping is disgusting 🤢🤮, shameless dehumanising classisim