how's AU like?
With regard to taxes, Australia introduced GST back in 2000. People were yelling and screaming believe me, one politician lost an election because he wanted to introduce it.
Years later a politician from the same party (conservative) promised he would not introduce GST, he was elected and the bastard broke his promise.
Thankfully it has remained at 10%, there was fear it would increase.
When you purchase an item from a store or restaurant the price displayed always has GST incorporated into it, there is never a nasty surprise at the checkout.
You do get the occasion when you ring up for a price and they tell you something like, "it'll cost you $100 plus GST", particularly for services and you always see the costs itemised on tradesmens' receipts with the price of the items and at the bottom will be a line for GST.
I notice in the USA, the price listed at the bowser includes tax when you buy petrol, also at an outdoor event the tax is included in the listed price when you buy a hot dog, burger, etc. Why isn't it like this for everything else?
As for tipping, we have what is called award wages where if you are in a profession you are not allowed to be paid below award wages for that job. Here it is illegal to not pay employees expecting that they will get paid by tips.
Even still, I think it's from movies or tourists doing it but tipping is slowly rearing its ugly head here, particularly at restaurants or hotels but it is not necessary. It's starting to be that if you tip you will get better service but my way of thinking is, if the service is bad don't ever go back and they will up their standards when they see they are losing customers.
s