My Wife and I where recently in Germany (we live in the US) and I’m a bit confused. Many guide books said that tipping was not the norm. Or that you should just leave whatever ‘change-coinage’ to the server But I noticed other customers sometimes tipped, sometimes did not. What’s the norm?
What you experienced IS the norm: some people tip, some don’t. In my experience, West Germans tend to tip more often than East Germans, but there is no rule like the 15% or 20% rule in the States.
Thanks. It was kinda weird for me. We where in Bavaria, southern Germany.
I’m West German, and my impression is that East Germans tip more generously than Westerners. An East German colleague of mine concurs, her theory is that it’s a feeling of solidarity left over from 40 years of socialism. Whatever, my personal attitude is to tip somewhat below 10 percent of the check. I consider myself an above-average tipper by German standards, though; many people just round up to the next full euro, or a euro above that. The American rule of 15-20 % certainly doesn’t apply, and tipping by these standards would be considered extremely generous in Germany. Not tipping at all would be considered rude, however.
I’m West German, as well, but I have to admit that I have not lived in Germany for more than 10 years, so my experience might be out of date. I deal with German tourists over here, though, and the Wessies sometimes tip, the Ossis never do.
Tipping waiters is not quasi-mandatory as it is in the US (to the waiters it’s a nice gratuity rather than the main source of their income). Patrons often do not tip but if they have been well served it’s considered a bit stingy.
Rule of thumb: if you have been badly served, do not tip; if service has been excellent tip about 10%; for so-so service interpolate.
NB in Germany unsmiling waiter != rude waiter.
The usual methods of tipping are either handing over the amount of bill plus tip and indicating, by saying Stimmt so or danke, stimmt, that you do not want back change, or, if you do not have the amount in change, hand over a bill and indicate on what amount you want to get change back.
E.g. (bill of 9.25 €)
Neun Euro fünfundzwanzig, bitte
::hands over 10-€-bill:: Stimmt so
E.g. (bill of 33 €)
Dreiunddreißig Euro, bitte
::hands over 50-€-bill:: Geben Sie mir bitte auf sechsunddreissig raus (please give me change on 36 €)
That said, the method of leaving the tip on the table when you leave is also widespread. The disadvantage in my view is that you need the intended amount in coins.
ETA: When several people eating together all pay their own meal everyone settles with the waiter separately (as opposed to the group paying together and then settling with each other); in this case everyone tips according to their own preference.
Related questions since I’ll be in Germany later this month. When paying with a credit card, if you want to tip what is the practice? Do you add it to the credit card charge or should you still tip in cash?
If you ask to pay by credit card in my experience (as a patron who almost invariably pays cash except for the rare occasions when his wallet runs low) you won’t be asked for/have an opportunity to add a tip amount i.e. the credit card slip will be printed out for the exact bill. So the most practical way would be to leave the tip in cash. NB for non-luxury i.e. mom-and-pop restaurants do not rely on their accepting credit cards.
To add to what Mops said, on both of my trips to Germany, I was surprised to see how few places actually take CC’s. There are lots of places that do take CC’s but it is not like the US, if they don’t have the Mastercard/Visa/American Ex/Discovery sticker in the window, they probably do not take CC’s. You can probably get some Euros from you bank before you go, if you order them in advance, much cheaper than getting them there from an ATM or exchange kiosk.
Enjoy
Capt
If you ask to add the tip to the bill you pay by card this will probably never reach the wait staff. Same in the hotel. Something to bear in mind, if that’s what you’re used to?
My understanding is that they very much prefer cash. Each waiter is a walking cash register. Whenever I paid, they pulled out a huge wallet with cash and change in it and the transaction happened right at the table right then. Math gets a little hard sometimes after some of those big brews with an unfamiliar currancy. Makes tipping… odd.
I don’t know too much about the rest of the USA, but here in L.A. waiters really do tend to be downright chatty and friendly. Usually it’s something we don’t mind much unless we’re pressed for time. I think around here many of the waiters really are aspiring actors as the cliche would have it–outgoing, people-oriented, and hoping that one day the customer they converse with will turn out to be an agent or casting director.
My method for tipping when I pay by credit card is the following: In Germany, the waiters usually don’t leave the check on your table as they do in the Anglo-Saxon countries; they bring the check and wait, standing next to your table, for you to pay to them in person. So I can take a look at the check, ask if they accept credit cards, and if they do, I’ll tell them the amount to charge me. They will key this amount into the credit card terminal, and things will be fine. I’ve never done it by leaving the tip on the table in cash, with the check itself paid separately.
If you pay in cash, things pretty much work the same way: You take a look at the check, round up to the amount including tip, and the waiter will give you change for that amount. It’s still done in one go; you wouldn’t pay the check and leave the tip on the table separately. At least I don’t.
Had this discussion with an American colleague a few years ago in a pub in Hamburg - and as described by others, the waitress was standing next to us all the time, bill in hand. Described the ‘rules’
- tipping is not mandatory in Germany, some people do not tip at all
- mostly people round up to the next full Euro, or if feeling generous the next round 5€
- you can also just give 10%
- or if really generous, 10% + rounding up to the next 5€
All this got immediate feedback from the waitress (
-> :dubious: -> 
-> :D). He ended up using option 4