Tipping - also for the boss? This is etiquette these days!
Hamburg, November 20, 2018 - The practice of not tipping them has survived. When executives have performed the same service as employees, for example in the typical "tip jobs" - catering, hotel and taxi business, hair salon and many other service jobs - it is no longer a step into the box as before to give the financial thanks when it comes to billing. Anyone who feels better with regard to old traditions, for example accompanying this in the restaurant with a sentence such as: "For your team", is not making a formal error.
First of all, a basic fact: A tip in Germany is a voluntary contribution, which in no way can be seen as a substitute for a verbal thank you or a special praise for good performance. It is an additional gift, a "thank you amplifier" so to speak, which should remain common in the relevant professions in Germany. Here are some tips for the tip in different categories:
In the restaurant
The rule of thumb applies here: between five and ten percent of the invoice total is appropriate as a tip. If there is a justified criticism of the service, it is not a faux pas to be published on "Heller und Cent".
If you want to express your praise by "sounding coin", please do not round up, for example, an invoice from EUR 28.80 to EUR 29.00. It looks more like a blame. With smaller amounts, on the other hand, there is no obligation to add up to the next full euro. Example: You have to pay 4.20 euros in the café. Then with 4.50 euros you are quite within limits if you felt well served.
Should you find information on the amount of the desired tip on a restaurant bill in Germany, you do not need to consider it binding. Even then, it remains unchanged in our country that it is a voluntary gift.
At the hotel
If you are a guest in an upscale hotel, it is best to provide cash for various services. Pages, for example, as luggage carriers are particularly dependent on an additional fee. Therefore show yourself recognizable with about 1 to 2 euros per heavy piece of luggage. If there is a person responsible for the guests' cars who does the car parking for you, a tip from 2 euros is customary. This also applies if she puts your car in front of the hotel door upon departure.
At the reception, nobody expects financial thanks for routine services, such as preparing code cards when checking in, handing out room keys or handing out event and city maps. However, if you need help for special services - such as getting theater tickets, organizing flowers or gifts, or arranging a city tour - a tip from 2 euros, depending on the effort, is appropriate.
If you want room service to bring food or drinks to your room, you do not need to set up the "five to ten percent rule of the invoice total" that is common in the catering industry. There is no difference in the amount of work the service worker does, for example, whether she is transporting food worth 20 or 50 euros to you on the trolley / tray. A reward of around 2 euros per order is recommended.
Additional requests in the area of housekeeping, such as additional bedding, a vase or toiletries, are usually rewarded with around 2 euros. On departure, it is customary to leave a tip in the room for those who have put it in order and taken care of - formerly called "housekeeping". The amount depends on the length of stay and the price category of the room. If you live in a luxury suite for a week, it is obvious that you will be more generous than if you spent a night in a "normal" room. In the latter case, an amount of 1 to 2 euros is the minimum.
Where you put this trolleybus is irrelevant if you place it before checking out. If you want to show yourself recognizable during your stay, it is safest to give it directly to the appropriate person. The reason: The customs and sometimes also instructions in the hotels, from where and if money can be taken at all, as long as a guest is checked in, are very different.
In the taxi
In the case of short journeys, rounding is usually at least rounded up, for example from EUR 9.60 to EUR 10. Always provided the service was friendly. With special commitment on the part of the carriers, a little more generosity is appropriate. Examples: luggage was brought to the hotel reception, a suitcase was brought for you at the airport or several shopping bags were carried to your door. Then 2 to 3 euros are appropriate, although there is of course no restriction "upwards" as in any industry.
In the hair studio and beauty salon
Here, too, the "between five and ten percent calculation" helps you decide on the amount of a tip. Example hairdressing salon: 43 euros are to be paid for the services of washing, cutting and blow-drying. Then "the percentage middle" is roughly an amount around 3 euros. If several people have carried out these different work steps, it is customary to split the amount, for example 1 euro for washing - which is often done by trainees - and 2 euros for the specialist who was responsible for the further processing. Example cosmetic treatment: If it costs 50 euros, the corresponding range is between 2.50 euros and 5 euros.
For parcel delivery and delivery services
So far, parcel deliverers have not been among the typical tips in Germany. Nevertheless, it has always been an appreciative gesture to give them and others - such as those who deliver the newspaper on time every day - a Christmas tip. If you want to change this practice so that every time you deliver a parcel to underline your thanks for possibly heavy towing up to the umpteenth floor with an obolus, you can do so without the risk of being stuck. 1 to 2 euros per heavy package is appropriate here.
For delivery services, such as a pizza taxi, a Christmas tip is usually canceled because such services are usually carried out by different people all year round. Since the scope of delivery is very different - it can range from a pizza box to ten salad boxes to tens of plates or boxes - there is no "pi-thumb recommendation" for the amount of a tip. As a guideline: A delivery that is completed with a walk to your apartment door is subject to a fee of 1 to 2 euros. If, on the other hand, several boxes of drinks are even dragged down to the basement or if you receive an entire buffet, it is best to multiply the "basic amount" just mentioned by the number of routes required.
Tipping when traveling
Everything so far about tipping relates to domestic German customs. When traveling to other countries, it is important to inform yourself beforehand about the customs prevailing there with a view to the tips. A tip can be perceived as an insult - largely in Japan, for example - and on the other hand it can be as good as an obligation - for example the USA.
Sign up free to join
Get full access to the hospitality industry news
-
Latest News
-
Collaboration between WebBeds and TAT for 'IMPACT' Event in Bangkok
-
Cross Hotels & Resorts Emerges as Top APAC Hotel Operator: 5 Key Reasons
-
Business Leaders in the UK Call for the Scrapping of £3.5bn Apprenticeship Levy
-
Mandarin Oriental arrives in the Balearic Islands with a refreshing breeze
-
New experiential boutique hotel set to debut in Petaluma, California