Tipping for good service at restaurants

I have a few questions for the germans or wel anyone that might understand.

I understand that tipping is not common here. I have been told numerosly that it is included in the price of the meal. I have to say I personally dont understand how this works.

Problem one is tipping in my opinion should incourage good service. Ok in the USA it sometimes incourages hovering over the table wathing you eat and filling a 3/4 full glass of soda every 30 sec. If the tip is included then there is no longer notivation to give good service.

Problem number 2, It seems to me that waitressing and or bartending is for some people in the USA a full time job, and to many a very good way to earn money while studing. This is because although the wages are low the tips add a lot of spendable cash.

Does anyone know what a waitress in a local resturant makes here? Is it close to what a waitress would make a a similar resturant in the states?

This discussion might answer your questions: Tipping policy in bars and restaurants

Christ, Keydeck, you have grown soft of late. Have you been reading Gandhi?

sorry just read a tipping comment in a different forum and desided to make a post without RTFF.

Ahhh, other forums...that was the mistake. Always go to TT first, tis the bombdiggity forum for German info...word...foshizzle...or something.

Tipping here is normal here (and no i didnt follow keydecks link)

Yes, it's normal, it's just that the amounts are smaller than in America. And it's not compulsory as it is there, so if you get bad service then wait for your change.

1) Your not in Kansas anymore Toto.
2) When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
3) On the whole, tipping does not induce good service.
4) Those that only provide good service if expecting a big tip should find a new line of work.
5) I have worked in the industry and those constantly whining about not getting tips were the worst of the worst. Most of the time they were ignoring tables while sucking up to the big spenders. Tips whores are as bad as attention whores.


Simple Einstein, the cost of the product includes all running costs including the staff.

Disclaimer: I hate tipping and think that it is legalized extortion. Having worked in the industry, I know what the servers say behind your backs. The world is full of fools.

I have never tried it but I once read that in Germany if you say thank you as the waiter/waitress takes your money then they take this “thank you" as keep the change. Here I hate the way they just make you just sit and wait and totally ignore you when one has finished one's meal and drinks and the table is empty. If they think you want to stay they should at least ask if you want more drinks.

Keydeck is Gandhi, reincarnated. He's just working out some of the kinks.

well euro I have to say i think tipping does work and for someone always looking to catch badbob in a mis quote i pointed out why i dont understand how it works with the tip is included in the meal idea. I have also spent a lot of time in the cooking before coming to germany. I dont think you should have to tip but i have been to may bars where guy that tip or girls with tits are the only people getting drinks. I will admit it does not always work here. but i have found once a bartender understands i am tipping him/her i dont wait long at a bar. And in the small village in Iowa where i went to school the bartender there liked us so much cause we tipped her on 25 cent beer night(note long drinks where only a buck) she would opent the table for us and let us play pool for free and the place down the road made atomic(i mean really hot) hot wings for free the same night ah maybe i should start a memories thread... keydeck(gandhi) link please and over all here the service sucks. I like that they dont hover, and i like that you can stay all night drinking beer or coffee and talk with your friends after a meal. but i dont like to go to the bar to order my beeer cause the waitress is doinng god knows what.

I think it's pretty usual to tip here, normally just by rounding up if you meal is cheap. If it's 8.20€, I think most people would just say take 9€. However, what pisses me off is that people tip even with bad service, and bad service happens about 90% of the time here in Germany. There is a beer garden near work, and the service this is so bad, it verges on the point of flat out rudeness. For a while a kept going, cause in the summer it's the only option but I wont' go back there now. Anyway, my point is even with this appalling service, all my colleagues would still tip. Man, if you get bad service here, don't give any tip at all and make a point of telling them to give you change. This is probably half the reason service is so fucking bad here.

Depends on the tone. If you are unsure how it wrks, don't use the word when handing over your money.