I usually give the same amount as you. They are paid a salary, and this is their job description. Don't feel bullied into giving more! Next time, offer him a coffee (but bring it outside!)
SwissLabels, Aug 6, 2008 @ 12:14

 

We use Le Shop (Migros) and the guy usually just drops the bags off in front of our door :w00t:
Paxxie, Aug 19, 2008 @ 12:50

We also use Coop, and usually tip the guy a fiver.

I think the guy that mumbled 'I'll use it for coffee' was just a rude ass-hole. Usually a fiver does the trick well, and I don't think most people give more...

Nir

PS - I was looking on Google Images for a funny image about 'tips' to post here, and found the below. Not what I had in mind, but still amusing...
Nir Ofek, Aug 19, 2008 @ 22:01

maybe he thought you were American? I wonder if he gets that tip from locals?



Its a good question though, what do most people here tip at restaurants as well? My Swiss friends are horrified when we tip like we do in New York, but we are taught from birth to do it so its hard not to.



In Brighton once a guy actually found me later with a pound I'd left after I ordered some drinks at the bar and said, you left some of your money there. I said thats a tip. He said, ohhh....well thankyou very much! The girls I was with, said dont do that again it confuses them and soon they will think its the way it should be. So I'm always confused how it works...
floydmarks, Aug 19, 2008 @ 22:33

in nyc, if you don't tip you risk the service provider getting rude to you. and the salary of many service industries there is such that without tips, the worker would not exist.

but

in geneva, its different. i was taught early on that tips are not expected here, and that the service charge is already built into the price. only if the service was out of the ordinary good, a top if appreciated.
pink_bunny, Aug 19, 2008 @ 22:46

Here is what is posted on the Geneva Tourism website on tipping:

"Tipping
Prices in hotels, restaurants, taxi fares, etc., are calculated to include taxes and service. A tip, therefore, is not indispensable, but justified for good service."
harris, Aug 19, 2008 @ 22:47

The Coop delivery guy is paid for delivering goods to your door. That's his task, and as SwissLabels puts it, his job description. Now, he works an average of 170 hours/month (roughly 8 hours/day, 22 days/month). Assuming he handles two deliveries every hour, and if every customer would give him CHF 5, he'd make an extra CHF 1'700... Not too bad. I know it's not the case but I'm just trying to demonstrate, reductio ad absurdum, that what you gave him is perfectly OK and that he was just a jerk.



As for restaurants, tip is not mandatory as it used to be in the 70ies. The salary of waiters is based on a fixed pay plus a bonus based on their turnover or that of the restaurant. Anything you leave is a welcome mark of appreciation but it does not need to be in the 15-20% range. Rounding up is OK.
Free, Aug 19, 2008 @ 22:52

I never tip. Services are expensive enough in CH, I really do not see the need in tipping. In the states waiters earn like 3 dollars and hour and they rely on tips, in CH this is not the case.

You pay for the delivery and I think that is already quite a lot, when i see that in Spain you get food delivery for free when you buy goods for more than 50EUR!!! Here its above 500 CHF!!!!!
Asti, Sep 8, 2008 @ 16:37

 

I agree with you.Anyway, I order from Migros (LeShop) and the guy drops the stuff just in front of our door, so I don't see him most of the time anyway :P
Paxxie, Sep 8, 2008 @ 17:36

[quote][b]Justdoit (08/09/2008)

[/b]You never need to tip them and its not insulting. A Fiver or other is certainly not a good idea. Its there job and is not considered a job to get tips.[/quote]

You're contradicting yourself : tipping is not insulting, but a fiver is not a good idea ;)

Believe me, these guys can count and they know perfectly well that two fivers per day times twenty two days per month equals CHF 220.- which is a welcome extra. They may feel upset if you appear to be patronizing, but I doubt that any would complain if you casually hand out a concrete thank you. But that's true, you don't have to...
Free, Sep 8, 2008 @ 21:14

Justdoit, I do not want to challenge your experience, but I must confess my surprise. I tip the post guy when he delivers heavy parcels, as well as the wine guy when he brings me my (long awaited) order, and neither of them ever refused or felt offended. This is how it works : I hand them a tip (five or ten, exceptionally twenty, depending on the work), they politely refuse, I politely insist and they politely accept. No problem... The first refusal is considered as part of the game. However, if there is a second one, I do not insist.
Free, Sep 9, 2008 @ 00:24

I think the risk of the delivery guy getting offended at being offered a tip is very very very low, based on my own experience (and common sense). More likely, he'll be thrilled and grateful. 

Free: I wish I was YOUR delivery guy, with tips of CHF 10-20...(-: Next time you need some lifting, I'm your man! :)

Nir Ofek, Sep 9, 2008 @ 13:46

[quote][b]Nir_ (09/09/2008)

[/b]I wish I was YOUR delivery guy, with tips of CHF 10-20...(-: Next time you need some lifting,I'm your man! :)[/quote]

That was when the wine delivery guy called me to tell me when he'd be arriving, picked me up on the way, drove me to my cellar and took the 5 cases of wine downstairs one by one and dropped me home. It was well deserved :-)
Free, Sep 9, 2008 @ 14:05

I agree tipping is tricky - however I generally tip the Leshop/Migros delivery guys (around chf 4-5) and they have always seemed to appreciate it. I am sure you can argue hat it is built in, but as I am so relieved not to have to lug my shopping home from the supermarket I am happy to do it !
Sajade, Sep 9, 2008 @ 16:42

Yep, tipping can be tricky. But not always...




Casuistik, Sep 9, 2008 @ 16:54

Casuistik:

Good point. And I now I see why Free tipped those CHF 20! I would too (times 10!) if she were to deliver...Even if she broke all my stuff and left it downstairs, she'd still get the tip!
Nir Ofek, Sep 9, 2008 @ 17:08

Funny coincidence: I just bumped into LeShop's delivery guy a while ago and I took the chance to ask him a few questions. He told me that he seldom gets tips, about once a day, amounting to 5 francs in average. When I asked him how he felt when receiving something, he smiled and said "great... 5 francs per day are 100 francs at the end of the month, and that's a welcome extra". He did not look insulted the least. Apparently he gets more in Geneva that in Vaud and his salary was around CHF 25.-/hour He looked like a student making a few bucks on the side.



No, I did not tip him for the conversation :)
Free, Sep 10, 2008 @ 00:29

Free: nice to know, I really wondered if they make lots of tips or not.

I just forwarded this thread to the Marketing Director of LeShop (we were in touch with them once about them advertising on glocals, but it didn't work out). Maybe he'll decide to post more data about what they're seeing with tips for their delivery folks.  
Nir Ofek, Sep 10, 2008 @ 00:40