The Australian city with the WORST customers

The Australian cities with the rudest customers have been revealed, along with the habits that annoy staff the most.

BizCover, Australia’s leading online insurance service for small businesses, found Sydney took the top spot for having the worst-behaved customers in the country.

A survey of 1,000 business owners across 22 cities found Brisbane was the second-rudest, followed by Geelong, Canberra and Adelaide.

The rest of the top ten was made up by Ballarat, Perth, Newcastle, Melbourne and Wollongong.

As for what customers are doing to annoy workers, the survey pointed to price complaints, shelf stashing, rowdy drinkers and bill splitting.

‘The most common type of bad behaviour in Australia is complaining about the price – Brisbane took the top spot for this one,’ BizCover said.

‘In retail stores, Aussie customers are most guilty of changing their minds and leaving unpurchased items on random shelves. Newcastle is most guilty of this.

‘Geelong has loudest and rowdiest pub patrons, while Brisbane boozers are most likely to complain about the prices.

‘Ballarat diners are the most likely to ask to split the bill at cafes and restaurants.’

When looking at specific industries, the five worst acts committed by customers in bars were complaining about prices, loud and rowdy behaviour, ordering a cocktail off-menu and requesting changes, mentioning knowing the owner for discounts and clicking fingers or whistling to get waiter’s attention.

Retail customers were reprimanded for leaving items on random shelves, unfolding clothes on display tables, paying while talking or texting, jokingly asking to use employee’s staff discount  and asking staff to check stock ‘out the back’ repeatedly.

Cafe and restaurant customers were found guilty of splitting bills with large groups of people, bringing in outside food or drinks, ordering meals and requesting extensive ingredient changes, not using manners when served and making overly complicated coffee orders.

‘Our survey exposes the cities where poor customer service etiquette is most rampant, with Sydney leading the pack,’ said Sharon Kenny, Head of Marketing at BizCover, said.

‘Common issues like complaining about prices, leaving items on random shelves, and splitting bills in large groups are prevalent across the country. 

‘Despite these challenges, many business owners still report positive customer experiences, underscoring the potential for improvement in customer interactions.’

Despite coming up with a large list of negative interactions, 55 per cent of business owners rated their overall experience with customers as ‘excellent’ while 39 per cent rated it as ‘good’. 

Only 0.5 per cent considered their experience ‘poor’ or ‘very poor.’

However, 41 per cent of small businesses observed customers have become less patient and more demanding while 15 per cent noticed an increase in politeness and consideration. 

The survey also considered how men and women differ as customers.

Of the business owners, 65 per cent said women practice better customer service etiquette.

However, 51 per cent said men were more likely to intervene when witnessing bad behaviour.

Customers aged 45-55 demonstrate the best manners, whereas those 24 and under are considered the least courteous.

The survey was complete with the help of research agency PureProfile between May 12 and May 20, 2024.

BizCover also surveyed 1,039 of its customers from around Australia between May 17 and May 27, 2024.

BizCover is an online platform that allows business owners to compare quotes from the top Australian insurers.

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