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Is tipping mandatory at Restaurants and Bars in Germany?
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up vote
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In Bavaria, I paid for my drink, I asked her for "Ruckgeld", but only got the decimal part of the money back, the rest of it, she kept it for tip! I looked her in the eye and she understood that I wasn't happy with that "initiative", but wouldn't blink an eye!
My company advised me to let it go, mentioning that if I was going to ask for the change, she would swear.
Notice how she didn't return me the correct amount back and then stare at me, demanding for tip, but she would decide for me!
Since, I will be around for a week or so, I was thinking of paying the exact amount of money next time. Will I get in an uncomfortable situation of having the waiter stare at me, demanding a tip? In other words, is tipping mandatory in Germany?
PS: Having experienced the tipping-cruelty in USA, and having tipped generously waiters across the Mediterranean for their supreme behavior, this Saturday night came as a shock, since I had the impression that this awful habit was only a USA-thing (you know, just like the fake audience laughing they have in USA TV series :) ).
europe germany restaurants tipping bavaria
asked 4 hours ago
gsamaras
1,94011334
 |Â
show 2 more comments
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
In Bavaria, I paid for my drink, I asked her for "Ruckgeld", but only got the decimal part of the money back, the rest of it, she kept it for tip! I looked her in the eye and she understood that I wasn't happy with that "initiative", but wouldn't blink an eye!
My company advised me to let it go, mentioning that if I was going to ask for the change, she would swear.
Notice how she didn't return me the correct amount back and then stare at me, demanding for tip, but she would decide for me!
Since, I will be around for a week or so, I was thinking of paying the exact amount of money next time. Will I get in an uncomfortable situation of having the waiter stare at me, demanding a tip? In other words, is tipping mandatory in Germany?
PS: Having experienced the tipping-cruelty in USA, and having tipped generously waiters across the Mediterranean for their supreme behavior, this Saturday night came as a shock, since I had the impression that this awful habit was only a USA-thing (you know, just like the fake audience laughing they have in USA TV series :) ).
europe germany restaurants tipping bavaria
asked 4 hours ago
gsamaras
1,94011334
Do you mean 10 cent or 10%? At least in Munich it seems to be expected to tip around 10%, but I do not think it is like in the US where waiters have no actual salary. You should get the exact change back and then you decide the tip.
– Tomas By
3 hours ago
It doesn't really matter @TomasBy, it was 10 cents, but still, it was not the amount that shocked me, it was the attitude. So you mean that if I pay the exact amount of money, then I will not go in unpleasant situations?
– gsamaras
3 hours ago
You have the right to pay the exact amount and I have done so in Germany, as well as paying with bigger bills/coins and gotten the right change. I think it is more to do with being in a place where tips are more common or a waitress who is brass.
– Willeke♦
3 hours ago
So my experience was an outlier @Willeke, and the next time I will, most likely, not be treated that way. That can serve as an answer.
– gsamaras
3 hours ago
1
It did happen to me once that we (ie not myself but another member of the party) paid the exact amount using a credit card, and the waiter asked for/demanded a tip. This was in the centre of Munich. Generally you should not have to tip, but I think not doing it may give the impression you were not completely satisfied.
– Tomas By
2 hours ago
 |Â
show 2 more comments
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
In Bavaria, I paid for my drink, I asked her for "Ruckgeld", but only got the decimal part of the money back, the rest of it, she kept it for tip! I looked her in the eye and she understood that I wasn't happy with that "initiative", but wouldn't blink an eye!
My company advised me to let it go, mentioning that if I was going to ask for the change, she would swear.
Notice how she didn't return me the correct amount back and then stare at me, demanding for tip, but she would decide for me!
Since, I will be around for a week or so, I was thinking of paying the exact amount of money next time. Will I get in an uncomfortable situation of having the waiter stare at me, demanding a tip? In other words, is tipping mandatory in Germany?
PS: Having experienced the tipping-cruelty in USA, and having tipped generously waiters across the Mediterranean for their supreme behavior, this Saturday night came as a shock, since I had the impression that this awful habit was only a USA-thing (you know, just like the fake audience laughing they have in USA TV series :) ).
europe germany restaurants tipping bavaria
asked 4 hours ago
gsamaras
1,94011334
In Bavaria, I paid for my drink, I asked her for "Ruckgeld", but only got the decimal part of the money back, the rest of it, she kept it for tip! I looked her in the eye and she understood that I wasn't happy with that "initiative", but wouldn't blink an eye!
My company advised me to let it go, mentioning that if I was going to ask for the change, she would swear.
Notice how she didn't return me the correct amount back and then stare at me, demanding for tip, but she would decide for me!
Since, I will be around for a week or so, I was thinking of paying the exact amount of money next time. Will I get in an uncomfortable situation of having the waiter stare at me, demanding a tip? In other words, is tipping mandatory in Germany?
PS: Having experienced the tipping-cruelty in USA, and having tipped generously waiters across the Mediterranean for their supreme behavior, this Saturday night came as a shock, since I had the impression that this awful habit was only a USA-thing (you know, just like the fake audience laughing they have in USA TV series :) ).
europe germany restaurants tipping bavaria
europe germany restaurants tipping bavaria
asked 4 hours ago
gsamaras
1,94011334
asked 4 hours ago
gsamaras
1,94011334
edited 3 hours ago
asked 4 hours ago
gsamaras
1,94011334
asked 4 hours ago
gsamaras
1,94011334
asked 4 hours ago
gsamaras
1,94011334
1,94011334
Do you mean 10 cent or 10%? At least in Munich it seems to be expected to tip around 10%, but I do not think it is like in the US where waiters have no actual salary. You should get the exact change back and then you decide the tip.
– Tomas By
3 hours ago
It doesn't really matter @TomasBy, it was 10 cents, but still, it was not the amount that shocked me, it was the attitude. So you mean that if I pay the exact amount of money, then I will not go in unpleasant situations?
– gsamaras
3 hours ago
You have the right to pay the exact amount and I have done so in Germany, as well as paying with bigger bills/coins and gotten the right change. I think it is more to do with being in a place where tips are more common or a waitress who is brass.
– Willeke♦
3 hours ago
So my experience was an outlier @Willeke, and the next time I will, most likely, not be treated that way. That can serve as an answer.
– gsamaras
3 hours ago
1
It did happen to me once that we (ie not myself but another member of the party) paid the exact amount using a credit card, and the waiter asked for/demanded a tip. This was in the centre of Munich. Generally you should not have to tip, but I think not doing it may give the impression you were not completely satisfied.
– Tomas By
2 hours ago
 |Â
show 2 more comments
Do you mean 10 cent or 10%? At least in Munich it seems to be expected to tip around 10%, but I do not think it is like in the US where waiters have no actual salary. You should get the exact change back and then you decide the tip.
– Tomas By
3 hours ago
It doesn't really matter @TomasBy, it was 10 cents, but still, it was not the amount that shocked me, it was the attitude. So you mean that if I pay the exact amount of money, then I will not go in unpleasant situations?
– gsamaras
3 hours ago
You have the right to pay the exact amount and I have done so in Germany, as well as paying with bigger bills/coins and gotten the right change. I think it is more to do with being in a place where tips are more common or a waitress who is brass.
– Willeke♦
3 hours ago
So my experience was an outlier @Willeke, and the next time I will, most likely, not be treated that way. That can serve as an answer.
– gsamaras
3 hours ago
1
It did happen to me once that we (ie not myself but another member of the party) paid the exact amount using a credit card, and the waiter asked for/demanded a tip. This was in the centre of Munich. Generally you should not have to tip, but I think not doing it may give the impression you were not completely satisfied.
– Tomas By
2 hours ago
Do you mean 10 cent or 10%? At least in Munich it seems to be expected to tip around 10%, but I do not think it is like in the US where waiters have no actual salary. You should get the exact change back and then you decide the tip.
– Tomas By
3 hours ago
Do you mean 10 cent or 10%? At least in Munich it seems to be expected to tip around 10%, but I do not think it is like in the US where waiters have no actual salary. You should get the exact change back and then you decide the tip.
– Tomas By
3 hours ago
It doesn't really matter @TomasBy, it was 10 cents, but still, it was not the amount that shocked me, it was the attitude. So you mean that if I pay the exact amount of money, then I will not go in unpleasant situations?
– gsamaras
3 hours ago
It doesn't really matter @TomasBy, it was 10 cents, but still, it was not the amount that shocked me, it was the attitude. So you mean that if I pay the exact amount of money, then I will not go in unpleasant situations?
– gsamaras
3 hours ago
You have the right to pay the exact amount and I have done so in Germany, as well as paying with bigger bills/coins and gotten the right change. I think it is more to do with being in a place where tips are more common or a waitress who is brass.
– Willeke♦
3 hours ago
You have the right to pay the exact amount and I have done so in Germany, as well as paying with bigger bills/coins and gotten the right change. I think it is more to do with being in a place where tips are more common or a waitress who is brass.
– Willeke♦
3 hours ago
So my experience was an outlier @Willeke, and the next time I will, most likely, not be treated that way. That can serve as an answer.
– gsamaras
3 hours ago
So my experience was an outlier @Willeke, and the next time I will, most likely, not be treated that way. That can serve as an answer.
– gsamaras
3 hours ago
1
1
It did happen to me once that we (ie not myself but another member of the party) paid the exact amount using a credit card, and the waiter asked for/demanded a tip. This was in the centre of Munich. Generally you should not have to tip, but I think not doing it may give the impression you were not completely satisfied.
– Tomas By
2 hours ago
It did happen to me once that we (ie not myself but another member of the party) paid the exact amount using a credit card, and the waiter asked for/demanded a tip. This was in the centre of Munich. Generally you should not have to tip, but I think not doing it may give the impression you were not completely satisfied.
– Tomas By
2 hours ago
 |Â
show 2 more comments
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
up vote
2
down vote
accepted
In Germany, not leaving any tip is telling you weren't satisfied with the service. You may do this, but it's very rude if you also tell in words you were satisfied.
The most common practice is to tip around 5%. Small orders 10%.
answered 2 hours ago
Janka
680310
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
10% is the usual amount. But if you have cash, what you usually do is take the amount, and round it up. If your bill is €24.30, you leave €27 which is very close to 10%. If it is €24.90, you will see people thinking: Should I give €27 which is tight or €28 which is more generous?
Obviously more or less if the service was very good or very bad. No tip doesn't mean "not completely satisfied", it means it was so bad that you will never, ever come back. (I think I've done that once, when a friend and I ordered the same meal, and the bill was for 2x price of two meals = 4 meals instead of two).
answered 1 hour ago
gnasher729
2,339816
You should have stated that, and I am pretty sure they would correct it, it is very likely that this was a mistake. Thanks for the info, +1, rounding up seems ridiculous to me, but I guess when in Rome ....
– gsamaras
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
How much one tips also depends on the place; more in a restaurant where one sat at a table, less for takeout food, probably nothing in a bakery where one buys bread rolls. It is certainly possible to specify the tip when one hands over the money, as in "make it €15" when the bill says €14.20 (which would be on the stingy side).
In the example given above, €14.20, handing over €17 would imply that one intendeds it as tip, otherwise one would have given €15 ...
answered 34 mins ago
o.m.
21.1k23255
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Tipping is not at all mandatory in Germany and usually the service personnel does not rely on tips as much as in the USA, say. Usually, if you do not state the amount you want to round up to ("make it X EUR" - or "Stimmt so" if you do note expect change at all), they will start picking up coins from their purse and give you the exact amount of change without even a frown. Nevertheless, they sometimes do this search for coins suitably slow to give you the opportunity to correct your forgetfulness by specifying your tip while they so or by simply not picking up all the change.
That being said, rounding up by approximately 5% up to 10% (or to the next or second next full Euro for small amounts) is overwhelmingly common for most types of Restaurant unless you were quite dissatisfied.
answered 31 mins ago
Hagen von Eitzen
33839
add a comment |Â
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
2
down vote
accepted
In Germany, not leaving any tip is telling you weren't satisfied with the service. You may do this, but it's very rude if you also tell in words you were satisfied.
The most common practice is to tip around 5%. Small orders 10%.
answered 2 hours ago
Janka
680310
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
accepted
In Germany, not leaving any tip is telling you weren't satisfied with the service. You may do this, but it's very rude if you also tell in words you were satisfied.
The most common practice is to tip around 5%. Small orders 10%.
answered 2 hours ago
Janka
680310
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
accepted
up vote
2
down vote
accepted
In Germany, not leaving any tip is telling you weren't satisfied with the service. You may do this, but it's very rude if you also tell in words you were satisfied.
The most common practice is to tip around 5%. Small orders 10%.
answered 2 hours ago
Janka
680310
In Germany, not leaving any tip is telling you weren't satisfied with the service. You may do this, but it's very rude if you also tell in words you were satisfied.
The most common practice is to tip around 5%. Small orders 10%.
answered 2 hours ago
Janka
680310
answered 2 hours ago
Janka
680310
answered 2 hours ago
Janka
680310
answered 2 hours ago
Janka
680310
680310
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
10% is the usual amount. But if you have cash, what you usually do is take the amount, and round it up. If your bill is €24.30, you leave €27 which is very close to 10%. If it is €24.90, you will see people thinking: Should I give €27 which is tight or €28 which is more generous?
Obviously more or less if the service was very good or very bad. No tip doesn't mean "not completely satisfied", it means it was so bad that you will never, ever come back. (I think I've done that once, when a friend and I ordered the same meal, and the bill was for 2x price of two meals = 4 meals instead of two).
answered 1 hour ago
gnasher729
2,339816
You should have stated that, and I am pretty sure they would correct it, it is very likely that this was a mistake. Thanks for the info, +1, rounding up seems ridiculous to me, but I guess when in Rome ....
– gsamaras
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
10% is the usual amount. But if you have cash, what you usually do is take the amount, and round it up. If your bill is €24.30, you leave €27 which is very close to 10%. If it is €24.90, you will see people thinking: Should I give €27 which is tight or €28 which is more generous?
Obviously more or less if the service was very good or very bad. No tip doesn't mean "not completely satisfied", it means it was so bad that you will never, ever come back. (I think I've done that once, when a friend and I ordered the same meal, and the bill was for 2x price of two meals = 4 meals instead of two).
answered 1 hour ago
gnasher729
2,339816
You should have stated that, and I am pretty sure they would correct it, it is very likely that this was a mistake. Thanks for the info, +1, rounding up seems ridiculous to me, but I guess when in Rome ....
– gsamaras
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
10% is the usual amount. But if you have cash, what you usually do is take the amount, and round it up. If your bill is €24.30, you leave €27 which is very close to 10%. If it is €24.90, you will see people thinking: Should I give €27 which is tight or €28 which is more generous?
Obviously more or less if the service was very good or very bad. No tip doesn't mean "not completely satisfied", it means it was so bad that you will never, ever come back. (I think I've done that once, when a friend and I ordered the same meal, and the bill was for 2x price of two meals = 4 meals instead of two).
answered 1 hour ago
gnasher729
2,339816
10% is the usual amount. But if you have cash, what you usually do is take the amount, and round it up. If your bill is €24.30, you leave €27 which is very close to 10%. If it is €24.90, you will see people thinking: Should I give €27 which is tight or €28 which is more generous?
Obviously more or less if the service was very good or very bad. No tip doesn't mean "not completely satisfied", it means it was so bad that you will never, ever come back. (I think I've done that once, when a friend and I ordered the same meal, and the bill was for 2x price of two meals = 4 meals instead of two).
answered 1 hour ago
gnasher729
2,339816
answered 1 hour ago
gnasher729
2,339816
answered 1 hour ago
gnasher729
2,339816
answered 1 hour ago
gnasher729
2,339816
2,339816
You should have stated that, and I am pretty sure they would correct it, it is very likely that this was a mistake. Thanks for the info, +1, rounding up seems ridiculous to me, but I guess when in Rome ....
– gsamaras
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
You should have stated that, and I am pretty sure they would correct it, it is very likely that this was a mistake. Thanks for the info, +1, rounding up seems ridiculous to me, but I guess when in Rome ....
– gsamaras
1 hour ago
You should have stated that, and I am pretty sure they would correct it, it is very likely that this was a mistake. Thanks for the info, +1, rounding up seems ridiculous to me, but I guess when in Rome ....
– gsamaras
1 hour ago
You should have stated that, and I am pretty sure they would correct it, it is very likely that this was a mistake. Thanks for the info, +1, rounding up seems ridiculous to me, but I guess when in Rome ....
– gsamaras
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
How much one tips also depends on the place; more in a restaurant where one sat at a table, less for takeout food, probably nothing in a bakery where one buys bread rolls. It is certainly possible to specify the tip when one hands over the money, as in "make it €15" when the bill says €14.20 (which would be on the stingy side).
In the example given above, €14.20, handing over €17 would imply that one intendeds it as tip, otherwise one would have given €15 ...
answered 34 mins ago
o.m.
21.1k23255
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
How much one tips also depends on the place; more in a restaurant where one sat at a table, less for takeout food, probably nothing in a bakery where one buys bread rolls. It is certainly possible to specify the tip when one hands over the money, as in "make it €15" when the bill says €14.20 (which would be on the stingy side).
In the example given above, €14.20, handing over €17 would imply that one intendeds it as tip, otherwise one would have given €15 ...
answered 34 mins ago
o.m.
21.1k23255
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
How much one tips also depends on the place; more in a restaurant where one sat at a table, less for takeout food, probably nothing in a bakery where one buys bread rolls. It is certainly possible to specify the tip when one hands over the money, as in "make it €15" when the bill says €14.20 (which would be on the stingy side).
In the example given above, €14.20, handing over €17 would imply that one intendeds it as tip, otherwise one would have given €15 ...
answered 34 mins ago
o.m.
21.1k23255
How much one tips also depends on the place; more in a restaurant where one sat at a table, less for takeout food, probably nothing in a bakery where one buys bread rolls. It is certainly possible to specify the tip when one hands over the money, as in "make it €15" when the bill says €14.20 (which would be on the stingy side).
In the example given above, €14.20, handing over €17 would imply that one intendeds it as tip, otherwise one would have given €15 ...
answered 34 mins ago
o.m.
21.1k23255
answered 34 mins ago
o.m.
21.1k23255
answered 34 mins ago
o.m.
21.1k23255
answered 34 mins ago
o.m.
21.1k23255
21.1k23255
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Tipping is not at all mandatory in Germany and usually the service personnel does not rely on tips as much as in the USA, say. Usually, if you do not state the amount you want to round up to ("make it X EUR" - or "Stimmt so" if you do note expect change at all), they will start picking up coins from their purse and give you the exact amount of change without even a frown. Nevertheless, they sometimes do this search for coins suitably slow to give you the opportunity to correct your forgetfulness by specifying your tip while they so or by simply not picking up all the change.
That being said, rounding up by approximately 5% up to 10% (or to the next or second next full Euro for small amounts) is overwhelmingly common for most types of Restaurant unless you were quite dissatisfied.
answered 31 mins ago
Hagen von Eitzen
33839
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Tipping is not at all mandatory in Germany and usually the service personnel does not rely on tips as much as in the USA, say. Usually, if you do not state the amount you want to round up to ("make it X EUR" - or "Stimmt so" if you do note expect change at all), they will start picking up coins from their purse and give you the exact amount of change without even a frown. Nevertheless, they sometimes do this search for coins suitably slow to give you the opportunity to correct your forgetfulness by specifying your tip while they so or by simply not picking up all the change.
That being said, rounding up by approximately 5% up to 10% (or to the next or second next full Euro for small amounts) is overwhelmingly common for most types of Restaurant unless you were quite dissatisfied.
answered 31 mins ago
Hagen von Eitzen
33839
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Tipping is not at all mandatory in Germany and usually the service personnel does not rely on tips as much as in the USA, say. Usually, if you do not state the amount you want to round up to ("make it X EUR" - or "Stimmt so" if you do note expect change at all), they will start picking up coins from their purse and give you the exact amount of change without even a frown. Nevertheless, they sometimes do this search for coins suitably slow to give you the opportunity to correct your forgetfulness by specifying your tip while they so or by simply not picking up all the change.
That being said, rounding up by approximately 5% up to 10% (or to the next or second next full Euro for small amounts) is overwhelmingly common for most types of Restaurant unless you were quite dissatisfied.
answered 31 mins ago
Hagen von Eitzen
33839
Tipping is not at all mandatory in Germany and usually the service personnel does not rely on tips as much as in the USA, say. Usually, if you do not state the amount you want to round up to ("make it X EUR" - or "Stimmt so" if you do note expect change at all), they will start picking up coins from their purse and give you the exact amount of change without even a frown. Nevertheless, they sometimes do this search for coins suitably slow to give you the opportunity to correct your forgetfulness by specifying your tip while they so or by simply not picking up all the change.
That being said, rounding up by approximately 5% up to 10% (or to the next or second next full Euro for small amounts) is overwhelmingly common for most types of Restaurant unless you were quite dissatisfied.
answered 31 mins ago
Hagen von Eitzen
33839
answered 31 mins ago
Hagen von Eitzen
33839
answered 31 mins ago
Hagen von Eitzen
33839
answered 31 mins ago
Hagen von Eitzen
33839
33839
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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Do you mean 10 cent or 10%? At least in Munich it seems to be expected to tip around 10%, but I do not think it is like in the US where waiters have no actual salary. You should get the exact change back and then you decide the tip.
– Tomas By
3 hours ago
It doesn't really matter @TomasBy, it was 10 cents, but still, it was not the amount that shocked me, it was the attitude. So you mean that if I pay the exact amount of money, then I will not go in unpleasant situations?
– gsamaras
3 hours ago
You have the right to pay the exact amount and I have done so in Germany, as well as paying with bigger bills/coins and gotten the right change. I think it is more to do with being in a place where tips are more common or a waitress who is brass.
– Willeke♦
3 hours ago
So my experience was an outlier @Willeke, and the next time I will, most likely, not be treated that way. That can serve as an answer.
– gsamaras
3 hours ago
1
It did happen to me once that we (ie not myself but another member of the party) paid the exact amount using a credit card, and the waiter asked for/demanded a tip. This was in the centre of Munich. Generally you should not have to tip, but I think not doing it may give the impression you were not completely satisfied.
– Tomas By
2 hours ago