I am surprised only 6% people answered they never tip.
75% tip “always” or “often”. 18% tip “sometimes, for very good service”, which is closest to occasionally. It is quite obvious that tipping is rather the norm. Which also is my experience in the real world.
I tip in restaurants typically, more a round up, 117 may become 125 etc. Hardly ever more than 5 CHG. Never tip at the machines at Christmas Market etc. I am old so not bothered by the pressure or what they think of me. I will not tip a take away coffee either nor other services like car mechanic etc.
I’m doing the same and always digital. I never leave any cash, because I only have little cash with me for emergency. I have no idea whether the money reaches the waiters. One time in a mountain restaurant, when I said a rounded up amount, I received a rude answer: “But such tips are not for us, they are for the owners!”. In all other cases the waiters just say: “Thank you very much!”
1 Like
But should any tip go exclusively to the waiter? Why not the chef who arguably is the nost critical in ensuring your satisfaction. Or the guy clearing up your mess?
Better to tip nothing …
I’ve heard of places pooling the tips at the end of a given time (shift/week etc) and split among the staff.
There are two matters which always makes me confused in Switzerland, the tips and who’s going to pay for the beer. Whilst I don’t care much about leaving or not leaving any tip, I’m certain it’s not right to always accept “let me pay for the drinks” hero but it’s always hard to turn them down, make them accept that someone else is paying. Is it only my issue, do I just live in a bubble where people love to flaunt their gold/black cc?
Is it every time or is it like the UK thing of buying a round? I would say it’s normal for one person to get the drinks in then everyone else takes a turn until the night ends or everyone’s had enough.
I only know people who do it for practicality - it is a bit of a pita to have the waiter make separate 4-5 bills. And of course there are situations when one feels like celebrating and is extra-generous. Of course, there might be the types who like to flaunt their whatever, but I hardly met people like this.
If it is only for the convenience, you or someone else is paying for the next round. And if there are more people than “rounds”, it is a good opportunity to meet up again and pay your round.
I guess it has to do with how well you know each other; what is natural to some may seem completely out of place to someone else.
I have a friend here I have to quarrel with every time we meet because she wants to pay for everything. I know she’s doing it because she’s very generous and she is happy to see me, I don’t think she wants to flaunt anything. But I make sure it’s one time her, one time me - and I can get sort of authoritarian… 
Swiss people hate these sort of arrangements because they feel like they would owe something to someone and that makes them feel very vulnerable and not in control, I guess.
ha! exactly, that’s why I hate it
Buying a round or sharing the bill is what I’m used to and comfortable with, but these days there are people in my circles who are extra generous. Well, I also like to pay for drinks because it makes me happy to share with my friends. I guess it’s a first-world problem 
But seriously, it’s confusing when I go out with new people. I never know if someone paid the bill just out of convenience or generosity. Then there is the awkward moment of whether I should offer my share after all, or whether it would sound ridiculous. The person paying may feel the same way, asking for a share 
2 Likes
Always offer your share or to pay for the next round in this situation, just to be on the safe side. It won’t sound ridiculous because it’s obvious you’re not well accustomed to each other.
Indeed…a first world problem!!!
Oh and about tips - they don’t expect it but they appreciate it. I don’t tip every time here unless I’m very happy with their service. If someone was rude or less than friendly - sorry, I can understand you’re only a human but I’m one too. When you do tip - make sure it’s in cash though, otherwise it goes to the owners and it is not fair as some of them usually exploit their staff anyway. 
In theory everyone earns a living wage here but…reality is another thing. 
I was quite shocked a couple of months ago in Basel, eating at a pizza restaurant I used to know well when I worked nearby some years ago, to be asked for a tip on the credit card screen. Not just a 'fill in the total" like we used to do on paper slips years back, but a 10%/15%/20% prompt.
I know this exists in the US but up until now I’d never seen one in Europe. I told the waiter who was doing the asking no, we would not be leaving a tip, hopefully making him aware that I was pissed off to be asked in such a way. Otherwise I would have done my normal ‘rounding up’ equivalent of taking whatever change out of my pocket and leaving it on the table, normally on the range of 2-5 francs for a dinner bill.
1 Like
This is a bone of contention between me and my Swiss wife. I’ve never tipped in Switzerland. The whole idea of the social policy is ensure wages are fair and reasonable, that’s why we’re paying 25chf for a pizza. But she’s just ‘nice’ and sees it as a ‘thank you’ (I think saying ‘thank you’ is a ‘thank you’ 
). Having just come back from a holiday in NYC I was horrified to now be paying 25chf for a pizza there and being given that ‘mandatory’ 10/15/20% screen on the credit card till. Tipping is just a horrible idea. Paying a decent wage is a great idea. Combining the two makes no sense.
2 Likes
Tipping is like the online listing tricks where products are a listed with a low price but with ridiculously expensive shipping.
If you lot don’t want to tip, that’s fine. But please don’t top it off by complaining that you feel somehow cheated or pressured because others tip. That’s really sad.
Watch out for the “automatic” tipping screens, at least in the U.S. I’ve encountered many that calculate the tip based on the total including tax, and sometimes including the “kitchen help fee” which is also a relatively new invention. So it’s way more than a typical tip. I tip based on the pre-tax amount.
Most of those screens do have an option for “custom”, so you can enter your own amount. The companies that use the screens know from observation that people who would not otherwise tip tend to tip when presented with a screen.
1 Like
Just out of curiosity…how much do you think a pizza in a New York restaurant should cost? I can only imagine their costs are very high. A pizza in Rome was about 20 chf last time I visited it. (and you needed a reservation!..plus not offering a tip was out of discussion - not asked but still…)
I asked about tipping when first I arrived in Switzerland.
The person to whom I put the question was quite a light-hearted guy in his 50’s. He said much the same. If you feel it was exceptional service, you can leave a tip. Most times he doesn’t.
That’s the rule I’ve applied subsequently. Interesting to hear about the 1974 rule - perhaps those of us closer to that year are less likely to tip.
I’d hate to be seen as mean though, still that’s the approach I take (tipping, not meanness).
1 Like
That wasn’t the first thing I’ve asked and the first person to answer was a woman in her thirties, but I’ve got the same answer. Also - “it is not expected so you should never feel like you have to do it, but it is appreciated”. So I apply the same principle - if I am really happy with the service I round up the bill a little. But let’s be fair, the bills are already high, applying the proverbial 8% or 10% here…that I never do. (I am not that nice) My OH though can go for a 5% sometimes and I always say it’s too much. I guess that’s because we don’t really eat in restaurants that often and we’re used to other countries’ tipping expectations. And I do carry some cash and not only for emergencies…I have kids. 
We had a dinner with large group of expats and the final bill was above 1500. We collected money from everyone and had about 125 CHF extra, which we decided to leave as a tip. I remember that one lady said: “My Swiss husband would have died right at this place, if he saw, that you are leaving such a huge amount as a tip!”
And it was not even 10% from the bill.
1 Like