Adrian,  Let me know if you get an answer to this. I'm moving from the West Coast and the notion of tipping my Regie would never have crossed my mind.

Here's what my Swiss neighbors told me:

- tipping the super (concierge) is done by most folks, but usually with a bottle of wine and not with cash.

- tipping the Regie is not expected or done.

Nir

Who else gets tips? ;)

Case in point; are these folks being supers on a voluntary basis or are they paid through the charges already?  I understand the wine, if you are dragging the super out of bed in the night to let you in, if you forgot your key, but otherwise.. wtf?

Fer:

You don't have to tip the super, and nothing bad will happen if you don't.

But as I understood it, many folks use Xmas time to say an extra "thanks" - with a small token - to service providers who work for them all year. Even if these service providers get a salary for their work. 

I guess it also depends on your relation with your super. If he/she went the extra mile for you during the year, a bottle would be cool. 

Nir

Tip a regie?

yes off a cliff - they truly suck

with the horror stories I've heard about Regies and concierges here, I'm surprised anyone would want to tip or otherwise give thanks. But, it is the holiday season and in that holiday spirit, a gesture would not be lost. Wine, chocolates, fresh batch of cookies, etc.

a glass of warm hemlock

I used to tip the concierge with a bottle of whisky until I realised that he was not a pleasant person.

So I stopped, he is still unpleasant but I have gained a bottle of whisky.

In general I would say tip, it does no harm.

I must be lucky as I adore my concierge. Although I think he may partake in quite a bit of booze from time to time, he makes me laugh in the morning (when I'm grumpy), always smiles, helps me out when something in my apartment doesn't work (or I'm too stupid to sort it out). He puts up decorations in the building (which he doesn't have to) and I don't imagine he has a very substantial salary. I take Christmas as an opportunity to say thank you for all the little things he does with such friendliness and ease. I give him both money in an envelope and wine/chocolates for his wife.  I also know his name and he knows mine... although he often just calls me Princesse (when I look like crap too).  

It's an easy opportunity to make somebody else happy and build a good rapport with somebody you might very much need the help of some day. I say TIP!!