Tipping in Switzerland

Come on…you only have to do it more often! :joy: :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

I think I’ve seen a bakery at the ski resort where the prices for the pastry were different for take away and consumption on-site.

Take away is different.

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As for Germany, yes, since January. No idea if this differentiation applies to all EU.
The price you pay in a bakery for your the bread takeaway (reduced VAT rate for food, 7%) is different from sitting down to eat it (restaurant, full VAT rate, 19%).

However bar and table should make no difference, both are hospitality.

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I’ve often seen huge reduction for take-away pizza, talking about small places in busy areas. However, I’ve recently noticed -10% for a take away which sounds like accounting for a different VAT

In Switzerland?

For take-away, the reduced VAT rate applies that generally applies to groceries. Consumption in restaurant carries full VAT.

Not sure what that has to do with tipping though.

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It has, because when the prices are higher people are looking for take away options and are also less inclined to leave any tips. So applying different VAT rates can kill certain businesses.
Reminds me of the ongoing discussion back home about the taxes on wages in IT, which used to be pretty low compared with the general level of taxation on wages and the result was many IT folks just moved to other countries with higher salaries, hence a lot of startups have difficulties in finding and especially keeping new employees. So there should be some forward thinking about taxation if you want to keep some industries kicking. Good that Switzerland is not in the EU and can still decide over these issues.

Turns out most of them are not AI but connected to a cellar in India full of poorly paid workers

Yes in Switzerland, for example I’ve just seen this weekend “take away 12 CHF” sign, where at the table you pay minimum 20 CHF

Places that don’t offer seating pay fewer VAT taxes than places that do. Places that offer seating needs someone to take care of the customers. Places that offer seating are a dying breed… less staff available due to low pay and unattractive working hours.

If you’ve been given good service, please show your appreciation and leave a tip by rounding up the bill a bit. Your appreciation can make a difference.

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This…totally. After all the only people who can make a difference are the customers.

Tipping in mentioned again in 20min.

I had no idea people tips after staying in a hotel. Or at least 50-60% of surveyed people in Switzerland claims to do this. Really? Is this normal?

Of course, complains about electronic payments are included in the short article.

I recently had a particularly unsavoury experience in a pub in Zurich just next to hauptbahnhof where the waitresses don’t serve customers inside, so you have to go to the bar and order yourself a beer. I’m good with that, however when i was given the credit card terminal I had to choose a % for a tip, all very conveniently already pre-selected at 10%. I politely explained to the naiive x gen at the counter that she’s cute, but I’m not stupid. Selected 0% tip and explained to her that if she wants a tip, she should at least come to the table. She mumbled something along the lines of “im very busy” and turned her back.

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haha, don’t assume bad faith.

Earlier this year I also had some drinks near Altstetten. While paying with card I also got this screen to leave a tip. I think my body language should have communicated “dumbfounded” while staring at the screen of the card machine for more than a few seconds without doing anything. The cashier asked if she can help me and I was about to tell about the screen…but I was not fast enough (B1 German, I was thinking what to say haha). So, she took the card machine from my hand, looked at the screen and just said “optional, you need to click here if you don’t want to leave a tip”. Honestly, I was caught off-guard. It was the first time I saw that in Switzerland. More common in other countries, but not here.

But, not tipping is becoming normal. A new social norm is arising :slight_smile:

Let’s hope it doesn’t get to the level of the US, where even supermarket self-checkout machines ask you for a tip!

At least the justice system is not asking for a tip. Even in awful there are levels :wink:

I consider tipping to be akin to a form prostitution so I normally politely decline to participate.

Don’t worry, I’ve heard it costs more than a couple of francs. I think you’re safe.

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Not sure what the going rate for crossdressers is though, we now know about King Kongs fascination with them, so he might have a point.