Amid economic pressures and a rising cost of living, Australians are demonstrating their commitment to supporting local businesses by tipping more generously. Zeller, a provider of next-generation EFTPOS technology for over 35,000 Australian businesses, analyzed tipping trends from millions of transactions processed through Zeller Terminals.
The latest Tipping Trends Report reveals a significant increase in both the average tip value and the frequency of tipping. The average Australian tip has grown by 12% year-on-year, from $16.05 to $17.93, with the volume of tips as a percentage of total transactions processed by Zeller increasing an impressive 132% since January 2022.
In the rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne, Melbournians are leading the way in tipping, with the average tip value on a meal in Melbourne surpassing Sydney by 57%, totaling $18.57 compared to $11.81.
While the generosity of tippers is more pronounced in metro areas, a trend is emerging in regional Australia, where diners have increased their average tip value by 79% year-on-year.
The Australian tipping culture is diversifying, with table-service diners being the most generous, servers at takeaway venues also being rewarded, and bar, club, and cafe patrons tipping less generously.
Beauty and hair appointments lead the pack in terms of tipping generosity, with an average tip of 21% of the total bill, showing a remarkable year-on-year increase of 121%.
The findings highlight the importance of business owners leveraging technology, such as Zeller’s EFTPOS terminals, to facilitate and encourage tipping as a way to reward exceptional customer service.
