Tipping in austria

I just googled "what to tip in Austria" and found this:

If you receive good service you can leave a gratuity of around 5%, or round-up the bill – the same applies for bars and cafés. There is often a service charge already added to the bill (around 12.5%), but it's customary to round-up the bill in addition to this.

We usually rounded up the bill to leave a Euro or two, and handed it directly to the server. We had the most wonderful guide ever for a small-group tour to the Wachau Valley, and we gladly tipped him 20 Euros.

Marie, They are picking you out as Americans.
I was in Vienna earlier this year. Speaking German with an English accent nobody asked me for a tip. If I paid cash I got exact change.
You will notice that in both Germany and Austria in the cafés and bars the waiters have a leather pouch on their waists full of coins and notes, expressly so they can give exact change.

@traylaparks , the trouble with googling this question, is you get posts by Americans who are relieved to discover they can tip if the want to. People in places where you don't tip would never ask that question.

I have this theory, that in the USA tipping has become like a drug. People must have their daily fix of tipping, and if told they shouldn't indulge, they get withdrawal symptoms and beg to be allowed to tip "just this once more".

@Marie - You over-tipped in Italy. Sorry.

@Chris F -- interesting theory. I think Americans tipping is more like a habit -- like putting on your right (or left) shoe first : it just doesn't feel "right" to do it another way.

Tips are not expected, but most will round up. If my bill is 18.20 Euro, I’ll leave a 20 Euro note. What I think is important to understand is that when you pay, you tell the server how much change you want back. He/she will keep the difference. You never leave a tip on the table.

If you receive good service you can leave a gratuity of around 5%, or round-up the bill ...

That is the usual way in Austria. If it is less than 5% or if you don't tip you will be seen as chintzy. Nevertheless, the waiter (or waitress) will never remind you to tip, unless he (she) assumes that you are an ignorant tourist.

There is often a service charge already added to the bill (around 12.5%)

This would be illegal in Austria. In Austria all prices (on menus, on price tags, etc.) have to be final, i.e. everything included. According to federal tax regulations the VAT included in the total has to be printed on the bill.

Yup, tipping in the US is pure narcissistic ritual. Nothing to do with the fact that US service providers derive a majority of their income through tips.

In all of Europe EVERYONE receives a "living wage" so tipping serves no purpose. In Germany the minimum wage is the equivalent of almost $10 an hour. There is no minimum wage in Austria because everyone pays so darn well it isnt necessary. So understand that any effort of exceptional service or kindness requires no sign of appreciation on your part.

Now, when you get to Hungary and every place East of Hungary, their minimum wages are $3 and less, so return an act of kindness or good service accordingly.

@ ChrisF, I think its more a case of fear - fear that the server will be upset or angry if they don't get a decent tip. Most people (from observation) will tip for bad service too.

I've had servers preemptively say "tip not included" in other countries too. I think maybe because its a question so many Americans ask the servers, being unfamiliar with the customs.

if anybody hands me a restaurant bill and says tips not included they be sure of one thing - they won't be getting a tip.

They singled you out as a source of additional spending money.

Even I think asking for a tip is crass. I keep a few Forint coins for those servers in the US.

Tips are always not included in the price - how can they be since they are by definition discretionary. However, this also means that any service charge, whether broken out or included within the prices cannot be considered a tip either.

We are just finishing up a few days in Munich and each evening at dinner, the waiters are reminding us that the tips are not included in bill.

Do you still have one of those receipts? Please check: it must state explicitly: "Preis inklusive Mehrwertsteuer und 10% Bedienung" (price including VAT and 10% service charge). They've picked out you as Americans and cheated you, I'm sorry for you.

What Marco said was important note. A service charge (e.g., coperto, servis compris) is more like what we call a cover charge in the US. May help pay the staff and fixed costs of the restaurant, but its not a gift for good service. And given that service is totally different in most countries I've been to in Europe from American-style service, I'm not sure what tipping Americans are basing their decisions on.

That's another reason I do not use google as a way of finding out tipping info.

I do likewise in Germany and Austria when the final bill amounts to 18.20 Euro, I give the waitress a 20.

Of course, it quite normal too if you see a local give the exact amount and leave nothing as "tip".

"...the server will be upset. or angry." Not my problem.

That happened at a popular Chinese restaurant in Berlin on Kantstrasse near Savignyplatz, don't remember the exact bill, maybe 17.60 Euro, I told him 18 Euro and handed over a 20 Euro bill. The guy just flipped back a 2 Euro coin taken from his change pouch...didn't say thank, just walked away.

Obviously, he was ticked...too bad. I only rounded off.