Australia: the expensive country (A traveller's dilemma)

[terry57]

^

Oh well, looks like I'll have to be a postman EH.

Never be homeless though, this is exactly why I will always keep my gaff in Perth.

Never know what will happen in this life mate EH.

[9999]

Fair enough Terry mate if you want to go down with the ship, not me I've opted out of the whole system, so when everyone is shitting bricks I'll cash in a few chunks of gold and snap up that baby boomer's dream house he can no longer afford

I'd be a bit worried having all my eggs in one western basket especially if I didnt live there. I just cant fathom having my entire net worth in one single fund at the hand of some bean counter, hoping he'll scrape you 2% and be happy with that. Why not take control of your own destiny? The mind boggles at Aussie logic some times.

[terry57]

^

Urm, I'll stay with it thanks mate.

Hey, so when are you fuking off back to the lucky country or have you arsed that idea. ?

[Boon Mee]

Just a further note to the odd cultural differences - no tipping in restaurants? What's up with that?

And, if you do go to a restaurant, count on poor service cuz, obviously, there's no incentive to provide timely service.

That's weird, man...

[9999]

In about 3 or 4 years, and then only if I'm in a position to not have to rely on government schemes to get by. I got little super from when I used to work in Aus and in the process of getting it self managed so I can buy gold and silver bullion and keep it at my house. My lord do they make you go through the ringer to use your own money. Letting some other fuka have total control of my dosh even down to how and when I spend it - fuk that.

Super-annuation has to be the hall mark of the nanny state. Force people to save for their future as the are incapable to do so for themselves. Just makes it tough for those few of us that are not wastrels. Fuk em I say, if you get to old age and didnt manage to put some coin away off your own back then you should be driving that bus til you drop innit.

[terry57]

^ ^

Its works like this mate.

In Australia the person serving you gets payed proper money so there is no need to tip them unless one feels the service has been exceptional.

Also take into account the price one pays to eat out or drink in a pub.

In America the service worker gets payed shit, they rely on their tips to live and make their wage up.

In fact if you do not tip you will not be served again. 15 % minimum innit ?

Even though I hate paying our inflated costs I salute the system that pays our workers a proper wage.

[terry57]

Super-annuation has to be the hall mark of the nanny state. Force people to save for their future as the are incapable to do so for themselves. Just makes it tough for those few of us that are not wastrels. Fuk em I say, if you get to old age and didn't manage to put some coin away off your own back then you should be driving that bus til you drop innit.

Hey, don't worry about that lot mate, Many people have not provided for themselves in older age and are now living in some shitty council flat surviving on welfare and eating dog food. Too old to drive a bus so they are well fuked.

Be-careful yourself I'd say, considering you are a family man, you could end up in the same boat if things go pear shaped.

Only takes sickness to sink that boat.

Anyway, reality could set in when or if you do return to Aus with your family.

Good luck with that mate. Hard life for the family man.

[Boon Mee]

^ ^

Its works like this mate.

In Australia the person serving you gets payed proper money so there is no need to tip them unless one feels the service has been exceptional.

But bottom line, you get shitty service. Unless there's an incentive to perform, why give the customer any 'satisfaction'.

Sounds almost communist to this impartial, objective poster.

[terry57]

And, if you do go to a restaurant, count on poor service cuz, obviously, there's no incentive to provide timely service.

Actually it pans out exactly the opposite mate.

Because the worker is getting payed good money the boss and the customer expect and usually receive good service.

If the worker does not perform the boss will kick his or her arse out of there and get someone who will.

[terry57]

Unless there's an incentive to perform, why give the customer any 'satisfaction'.

The incentive is =

Do the job properly or walk out that door. Easy Innit.

[Boon Mee]

Unless there's an incentive to perform, why give the customer any 'satisfaction'.

The incentive is =

Do the job properly or walk out that door. Easy Innit.

Well, I'm referring to the old lady's recent trip to Brisbane where she passed on her impressions to me.

Just seems odd though that one of the strongest incentives to perform well in this here world is the almighty buck and if one is collecting a 'living wage' w/out having to put themselves out in any way...well, that translates to me slovenly service,

[terry57]

^

I suppose it boils down to whether one actually wants to work and be able to live fairly well or whether one wants to slum it on Welfare.

But it all gets back to the fact that the American service worker is usually not protected by a Union that ensures proper wages and that the American service worker must rely on Tips to survive .

[Boon Mee]

^

I suppose it boils down to whether one actually wants to work and be able to live fairly well or whether one wants to slum it on Welfare.

But it all gets back to the fact that the American service worker is usually not protected by a Union that ensures proper wages and that the American service worker must rely on Tips to survive .

All true although, the American service worker generally regards a waitress/waiter job as entry-level. Like attending college to supplement tuition.

Relying on tips to gain that objective - whatever it may be will guarantee higher standard of performance.

[Seekingasylum]

Unless there's an incentive to perform, why give the customer any 'satisfaction'.

The incentive is =

Do the job properly or walk out that door. Easy Innit.

There's an essential difference here in culture. We Anglo Saxons cringe at the thought of being approached by some septic waitress who then announces " Hi, my name is Gloria and I'm your server today. My aim is to make your visit here as comfortable as possible and tend to your every need. I'm an Aquarian and I love animals which is going to be my chosen career path. So, what can I get you guys to drink while you consider your meal choice? "

My definition of good service is someone who can take a fucking order without screwing up and delivering it in good time. All that ingratiating, redundant shite septics call " service " is just so painful.

[terry57]

Even though Thegent and I don't agree on shit when it comes to Thailand we do mesh on other things.

I also spew chunks when listening to all that shit the Seppos spit out flashing their bleached white teeth and talking up their shit.

You know its all about getting their shitty tip, they could not give a flying fuk other wise.

I fukin hate tipping, its retarded, just pay the worker a decent wage and fuk the tip.

Typical Septic bullshit innit.

Actually one can't do shit in seppo land without slinging a tip, must tip the Taxi driver or the coont will throw ones bags in the Hudson.

The place is fuked.

I did like Disneyland though.

[peterpan]

Agree with you there Terry, is an archaic practice left over from the days master serf days, In Aust and NZ you don't need cash reward for good service. (take this my good man here's a piece of silver) in both countries and here, I never tip unless the is a girl beneath the table giving me a jobbie and then I say to my wife this had better be a good one or no tip.

[9999]

Be-careful yourself I'd say, considering you are a family man, you could end up in the same boat if things go pear shaped.

Sure, but at least it will be my own doing, not left in the hands of money grabbing managed funds and bankers. The worst thing I could do for my family is be ultra submissive to the nanny state and pay forced savings because the govt. deems me incapable of looking after myself. The best thing I can do is build wealth making smart choices and not be locked into a nanny systems and the fees attached. How much $'s have your super fund charged you for their services (which is basicaly just buying stocks and hoping they rise)?

Do the job properly or walk out that door. Easy Innit.

It's easy but unfortunately the lefties rule and we have AWA's, unions, unfair dismissal, etc, making it a huge risk to put on an employee. No way is it as easy as walk out the door. In fact that's much more seppo style. I could give you two examples of family members in business that have been rorted by employees playing the bias system. One dude got my Uncle for $50K after a year of bludging, and it turns out this is his 4th unfair dismissal wind fall - the dude is a leeching pro. Fuk it should be as easy as do the job or walk in Aus, but it sure as fok isnt.

[sabang]

Just a further note to the odd cultural differences - no tipping in restaurants? What's up with that?

No tipping in Mcdonalds- what's up with that? The poor sods there get paid a fraction of what a waiter in a decent US restaurant collects in tips.
Tipping in US is considered mandatory, in Oz discretionary. Typically, I tip- rounding up, somewhere between 8-12%. For exceptional food & service I would gladly leave more, for shiite, conspicously leave less- but I basically always leave something. A bit Americanised I guess- tez is more yer 'traditional aussie' in this regard, myself more the freewheeling sydneysider. I tip in Thailand too- but basically a set amount, 20-40 bht at basic places, maybe 100bht at somewhere posh.
As Tez pointed out, our waiters earn a living wage. No, we don't tip at Mcdonalds either.

Relying on tips to gain that objective - whatever it may be will guarantee higher standard of performance.

Rather shallow way of looking at it booner. A waiter at a 'good' US restaurant earns decent money, and there is a career path up thru' maitre de & restaurant management/ proprietership- it too can be a career. Can't someone in the hospitality biz be motivated by competence and professional service delivery too? The good tips should necessarily follow.

I will always keep my gaff in Perth.

Given the travails & traumas associated with buying & renting my (wife's) nice place down near Pattaya- a place that would be basically near impossible to sell in this stoopid country except at sacrificial prices, given the never ending political bullshit- I agree with you tez. I'd have been better off buying a coupla apartments in an Australian city, and renting them instead.

[thaimeme]

Just a further note to the odd cultural differences - no tipping in restaurants? What's up with that?

And, if you do go to a restaurant, count on poor service cuz, obviously, there's no incentive to provide timely service.

That's weird, man...

Perhaps F&B employees are better paid in OZ, therefore no need for the expected gratuity.

[terry57]

How much $'s have your super fund charged you for their services (which is basicaly just buying stocks and hoping they rise)?

You seem to have a strange way of looking at things mate but whatever EH.

I won't be quoting figures of what my Superfund is worth after paying in for 34 years but I can assure you of one thing.

If It was not compulsory for me to pay into the fund, it being a condition of Employment with the Fire service, I can assure you I would not of been able to retire comfortably at 56 years of age.

This is because, when I was financially strapped I would of stopped paying into it and more than likely today would of been worth a shit load less.

This is exactly why the Government has made it Compulsory to pay it and not be able to access it until one reaches a certain age.

I can also tell you that the money our fund managers charge, they have returned that money a 1000 times over with their wise investing over the years.

Remember we run our own fund and do not pay exorbitant fees that external funds charge their members.

Anyway, be careful mate, age catches up with one and if you leave it too late you will pay the price when older.

[9999]

If It was not compulsory for me to pay into the fund, it being a condition of Employment with the Fire service, I can assure you I would not of been able to retire comfortably at 56 years of age.

thats exactly what I'm getting at mate. We are a nanny culture, so rather than earning 8-12% per year more than you did for 34 years, you needed the government to stash it for you, and 'investors' to make decisions for you on what to do with your own wealth. This is the culture I am opting out of, but each to their own. My family are the same, no grudges.

I just think it's weak. I like the Thai system better ... either make some good coin or raise kids that can, or shack up in a little hut catching dirty fish and drinking lao koa. One of the very few things we can learn from the Thais, or Asians in general, is how to generate and hold onto wealth. It's hilarious to the thais how falangs have to run back home coz they cant afford their 8k pm studio. We should heed these fuckers here, and any Thai worth their salt is holding at least a little physical gold.

[terry57]

Fuk it should be as easy as do the job or walk in Aus, but it sure as fok isnt.

I agree that sometimes the unfair dismissal laws get abused by the seasoned shithead.

Thing is, they are in place to stop rouge employers taking advantage of the worker.

If we did not have significant employment guide lines we would have the situation of rouge employers paying very low wages and exploiting the unskilled workers.

Like in America where the minimum wage is around $7 per hour.

Works both ways EH.

[terry57]

One other thing I would add is this.

Whether I have provided for my Retirement by contributing to a Super fund for 34 years or 9999 decides to buy a heap of gold and stash it things can go tits up at any time and we can be left destitute.

Happens all the time, people lose there money because of bad Investments other stash physical wealth and its stolen.

The only thing that one can have any faith in is ones own home. This way if it all goes wrong one can sit on a wooden box in his lounge room and survive on Mama noodles.

If it gets really bad one can cash the house in and go live in a Caravan.

Oh yes, I never lose sight of the fact that I'm only ever one disaster away from being on the bones of my arse.

Hence I carry no debt what-so ever.

Just hope it never happens.

[pete]

Yeah prices have definitely gone through the roof in the last decade. You could buy a house relatively close to the CBD in Brisbane for under 200 K 15 years ago, these days you almost have to triple that.

[mikem]

I used to go to Perth often when there was a Thai consulate. My experience was that there was no good customer service anywhere. Seemed to be based on "take it or leave it ,mate" or " we did it with good faith".

Now that the economy there is tanking they may have to improve.