‘Doubling the cost’: Kyle Sandilands reveals wild tipping habit

Kyle Sandilands is no stranger to a big opinion, sharing his wild habit when it comes to tipping culture in Australia.

Radio host Kyle Sandilands has revealed how much he tips, amid Aussies complaining they feel like they’re under surveillance when tipping at restaurants.

Back when most people carried physical money, if you were going to tip someone at a restaurant - which was rarely given Australia’s lack of tipping culture - you’d give them cash. But, because Aussies aren’t carrying cash as much, hospitality has pivoted, and many places now have an EFTPOS prompt to tip.

The prompts change depending on the restaurant, but Aussies are often presented with the option to tip by percentage before they pay the bill.

So, instead of putting in a custom amount of $10, the EFTPOS will prompt them to offer a tip between 5 and 25 per cent. There are usually options for ‘no tip’ and ‘custom tip,’ but they’re less clearly displayed

The practice has caused an uproar, with some Aussies claiming it is “invasive and instructive” because the waiter is often holding the EFTPOS machine and watching as the diner decides whether to tip.

Sandilands, who is no stranger to a controversial opinion, took a surprisingly mellow approach to the tipping debate.

Kyle Sandilands radio host revealed how much he tips. Picture: ARN

Jackie O also shared her tipping habits. Picture: ARN

Jackie O brought it to his attention live on air and asked if Sandilands had ever noticed that waiters now “watch you” while you decide whether you are going to leave a tip.

Sandilands admitted that wait staff certainly “don’t look away” when he is working out how much to tip, but he wasn’t bothered by it.

Jackie O then shared that she’ll usually tip over 20 per cent, but Sandilands admitted he is far more liberal about tipping.

“Whatever the bill is I’ll pay that again,” he said.

The radio host said he is into “doubling the cost” and the percentage practice actually means he’ll be saving money.

“I’ll save big time,” he declared.

The show’s newsreader, Brooklyn Ross, was in disbelief over Sandilands’ tipping methods. “You’re doubling the cost,” he said.

He said he’d save money if he did the percentage tipping method. Picture: Instagram

Kyle is quite the generous tipper. Picture: MediaMode

Sandilands might have been chill about it, but many Aussies are fed up with EFTPOS tipping, not just because it is invasive but because they feel it is too American.

“Do not tip unless exceptional service. This is not America,” one wrote.

Some argue that Aussies working in hospitality are already paid fairly and good service is just part of the job.

“Do not tip, ever! People are mad to let this ludicrous American custom spread here and normalise,” one person said.

“Being watched while you perform a financial transaction with your private banking details should be discouraged from every venue,” someone else said.

“I do not tip because Aussies get paid award wages,” one shared.

One argued that tipping is proof we are “slowly getting closer to becoming the 51st state of America”, and they weren’t impressed.

Originally published as ‘Doubling the cost’: Kyle Sandilands reveals wild tipping habit