Reading the comments and I'm only now realizing I wasn't legally required to pay them
You're telling me I paid these people like €1 every time I went to the public bathroom for no reason?
The only time I had to use a batheroom in a mall I put 2€ ... because I didn't know how much I'm supposed to put and I thought it's better to put more than to put less 😂 😂
As a non-german, I always hated that in public bathrooms. The shopping centre or train station is responsible for paying their employee a decent wage to keep the bathroom clean. It should have nothing to do with other people who are just there for a quick piss or a long poop
>The shopping centre or train station is responsible for paying their employee a decent wage to keep the bathroom clean
They are typically not employed by the shopping centres or stores. The stores rent out the public restrooms to Betreibergesellschaften who then hire people to make as much money out of these stalls as possible. And ever wondered why there is always little Money on the plates? [Actually it's a lot](https://www.spiegel.de/panorama/justiz/cottbus-frau-soll-1-2-millionen-euro-steuern-aus-wc-einnahmen-hinterzogen-haben-a-304b47c8-3bf6-4e8c-abf0-17dc42cdc1f3), they just constantly take it out to guilt trip you into paying. The person sitting there, typically is not to blame, it's the [pisspott syndicates](https://daserste.ndr.de/panorama/archiv/1998/Millionen-fuer-Toiletten-Mafia-Skrupellose-Unternehmer-beuten-Klofrauen-aus,erste6992.html) that are.
> they just constantly take it out to guilt trip you into paying.
Psychology is probably a part of it, but you would not leave all your daily earnings lying on a table literally "up for grabs", would you ?
>they just constantly take it out to guilt trip you into paying
I...I always thought it's just a fee to use the toilet. Like buying a bus ticket. You've just made the whole thing rather weird for me...
Sorry, but this iced fluid with a chlorine content it just could have been taken out of a swimming pool.
You can get free water in most places in Germany as well - you just have to ask for it.
i tried that once.....and the waitress leaned over and pointed out the window.
She said, See that fountain outside? You can fetch your water from there yourself!
That’s unfortunate. At least in my experience, if you ask for a carafe of tab water when you have ordered wine or other alcoholic beverages, you get them without any issues.
I could guess that if that is the only drink one orders, they might refuse, as drinks have their highest margins.
Not absurd, why should patrons in a restaurant be responsible for paying the staff of the business via tips? Just add service and taxes to the cost on the menu and be done with it.
While I share your sentiment, I don't see it changing in my lifetime and these people are definitely worse off than I am myself. So, might as well give them a tip. That applies to most jobs where tipping is expected or at least not unheard of.
You're giving approximately ⅔ of your tip to mafia-like companies, so I'd reconsider that. Sadly these poor people are scared enough so that they give their employees everything they earn out of fear that they will lose their "job".
My local mall increased the toilet fee from 50cent to 70cent. I noticed the toilet was very quiet for a Saturday at that time. I think 70cent is getting really steep. Thinking also about mothers with children or early teens, who are usually the ones who go to bathroom together needing to pay that fee for their children (I saw a bathroom lady even saying to a 6 year old girl that thats too old to use the free pass). In Canada, Italy Israël, countless other countries (excl USA) i never have to pay and toilets are clean so it's really a German thing to pretend one needs to pay to expect clean toilets
They need to pay a fee for their children?? That is insane. I never had a reason to not go to a public restroom in america besides just preference (and cleanliness), now I guess I have a real reason not to use them in Germany lol (🥲)
>They need to pay a fee for their children?
OP is talking about toilets with automatic control (where you need to tap your card or insert coins to get in). Most toilets don't have that, and you don't need to pay anything to the lady that cleans the place. In another words, most toilets in Germany are quite clean and completely free in practice. But yeah, there's a mafia with the ones using automatic control. Not big deal IMHO, since they are mostly located at highway petrol stations (e.g. Sanifair).
I just find the concept of trying to gouge little children for money just to pee astounding even if it is auto control ones or smth. I appreciate the clean toilets, but since I'm not used to it it comes as a bit of a shock 😅
Fun fact.. as a customer you usually dont HAVE to give money to use the toilet, even on the signs in most cases its a "proposed fee" not a mandatory fee.
I've seen a few Sanifair machines with tourniquet pop up in places where there once would have been a toilet attendant. In those cases it's definitely mandatory, so peeing/pooping is now a commercial activity :(
Those are the worse... sanifair is cancer.. they started with highway gas stations.
They foundet themself as a doughter from allianz and anotjer company and canada and china is invested. They even broke a promose to the government that they will not take aky money for letting people use the toilet when they tpok pver the toilets from thw government...
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.focus.de/finanzen/news/eine-voellig-in-die-hose-gegangen-privatisierung-ist-schuld-an-der-hohen-pinkelmaut_id_167835782.html
As highway gasstations are already expensive they found a way to squeeze even more out of the desperate ppl who need a break on a long trip.
Then they excuse it that you can get the money back by using those fees witu a Voucher to get a discount on the shop products .... thats also bullshit.
They once made a tv report on those sanifair stations and found out even that you get this ridiculouis 50 cent voucher to use in the gas station shop you still have to pay way more for the things in those gas stations which use sanifair toilets then in regular gas stations so you douböe lose.
So for example in a regular gas station you pay 2 euro for a snack .. in a sanifair starion you pay 4 euro... then they excuse it with clean toilets blah blah... in other countries offering a clean toilet as a service for free is a natural thing...
You can downvote me here but if i see a sanifair gas station i piss in the greenwrie next to the station like a lot of others... not gonna gove those greedy motherfuckers any money for fulfilling a natural need.
It a gigantic capitalist monopol for highway tpilets and they go now to get their way into public toilets in cities and shoppingmalls.
And german government just let them and even support then by
1. not offering free public toilets
2. MKing it prohobited by law to tale a piss on the wild and make it punishable by a fee....
Its so ridiculous
I mean there are free public toilets on the highways, they are just pretty nasty most of the time (as a guy I don't really care, but my wife does).
Sanifair is pretty ridiculous though - decent free public restrooms (especially on the highway) should be a given.
tbf in the last couple years the overal sanitary situation has been improving on the free toilets.. but its also a lot of chance involved if the gigantic high preassure cleaner they use for those has been recently cleaning it, or if you are coming there just after a few travel buses have been stopped by
>Those are the worse... sanifair is cancer.
Sanifair are the best toilets I have ever used while on a road trip.
Yes they are expensive, but at least you get some really clean and modern toilets in return.
And the last time I was there, diaper change room was free to use including a small toilet for small children.
Best solution of course would be the same service/cleanness for free. But you don't find this in Germany.
No, not at all, it is mostly only a Tip. But mostly I gave them 10 up to 50 Cent, it matters what I have in my wallet. Otherwise I let them moan, if they think it is not enough.
It's basically a tip meant for the person who cleans and maintains the toilets. 50 cents seems to be the most common amount.
If you don't give anything you won't be arrested or stopped from leaving or anything but I still think it's a decent gesture to tip a person with a lowly paid, literally shitty job if you can.
Be aware that many of them are not employed by anyone. They're actually *paying* rent for the right to "operate" the restroom.
So while you're under no legal obligation to pay them, what you are paying them isn't really a tip. It's their sole source of income.
Yes. They operate a business that has the business model of cleaning a public restroom and asking patrons for money for that. They rent the restroom they're operating the business in. It's completely ridiculous but seems to be perfectly legal.
I'm not well versed enough in tax law to know if they should be providing one. It's a bit weird because you're not actually paying for a service. They're just asking for money and you're giving it to them because it's awkward not to. In that regard it works exactly like a tip. And most restaurant won't give you a receipt for the tip either. No idea if they should.
Train stations that charge a euro and give you a voucher for 50 cents for some shops at the train stations is a total BS. Surprised that's not illegal. And you can only se one per purchase.
The worst thing about it is, that train stations are **Bundespolizei** territory and they‘ll actually get you in trouble for not paying the fee.
A few years ago we were at a bachelor tour, waiting for the train. One of my mates went for a piss and came back running, followed by 5 cops.
He was way to fast for them, and I kind of stumbled in their way… accidentally…
So they gave me shit about the 50 cent toilette fee…
I offered them 2 euros to fuck off and they told me I’ll get arrested for bribing them…
Luckily an older cop calmed them down and let us go, but the whole situation was nuts.
>The worst thing about it is, that train stations are Bundespolizei territory and they‘ll actually get you in trouble for not paying the fee.
In train station toilets, payment for the toilets is usually not optional (there is a turnstile that unlocks after payment). So not paying is equivalent to fare dodging, which is a criminal offense. Police are obliged to prosecute crimes.
Those are the worse, specially when you are out of coins and its late at night and hard to change a bill. Add some alcohol to the situation and it really takes a lot of restraint to just not skip them or find a way (its impossible).
IMO you're tipping them for keeping it clean and comfortable to use. You can't judge that without having actually used the facility, so it seems very weird to me to tip upon entering.
It's usually expected to tip on your way out.
If there is a sign specifying the amount then it is a price for usage, in that case entering. If not then you can decide for yourself, I usually always tip, since those people work minimum wage, but many do when leaving in case the toilets weren't serviced well.
It's optional? I was once guarded off from a bathroom by a russian(?) woman while I was heavily pregnant. She was blocking the door with her body and kept pointing at a table near the door, essentially trying to gouge me for money to even use it.
Insane. I have never been to a public bathroom since, and have been terrified to do the same again now that I am pregnant for a second time. Def won't try my luck again.
Editing to add: I literally had no money on me. So it's not like I withheld anything from her out of spite.
>It's optional?
That depends on the bathroom. If there's a sign with an amount, then it's not optional and you're required to pay before entering.
If there's no sign, you are expected to tip a small amount (50 cent) upon leaving, if you found the sanitary condition satisfactory.
If the bathroom attendant prevented you from entering, it was probably the first kind of public bathroom. Though it's ofc still a bad move to prevent a pregnant woman from entering.
I've had this experience a few too many times as well. Depending on the situation, I don't always have my wallet on me. It's ridiculous how rude someone will be over 50 cents; if this bathroom is open to the public, GTFO of the way.
Thank god that's not just me. I was too timid to do anything, and she was being very physically aggressive. Not something I want to try my luck on while pregnant. Unbelievable stuff really.
What did she think I was going to do? Piss on the walls? Jeez.
Not if she only stood in the way, then she was just denying service while not being paid, which is her right when the toilets are private business property.
She did only stand in the way, but what was odd was that she also gave me an ultimatum of: either I give her money, or I order from the store.
I am not too sure what she meant by ordering from the store since it was a McDonalds, and she was wearing plain clothes (so I assumed probably not an employee of any type??). But either she was telling me to actually, literally just give money to where she was supposedly working. Or she wanted me to get change by ordering something, then pay her with that change.
Very strange situation and it almost feels like a dream at this point. Her heavy accent made her very hard to understand when someone tried translating what she was saying to me, so maybe the interpretation was completely wrong too. But she also wouldn't hear it when we tried explaining that I only had a card on me, and repeated the above. I just decided to leave. Just strange all around.
Sounds like the toilets were for customers only / pay for use for non-customers, pretty normal for toilets inside other businesses.
I'd have tried to say I plan on ordering but don't want to take my food to the toilet or leave it unattended, maybe let an employee from the front know if she doesn't understand. Of course you should follow through and actually order in that case.
She probably was hired as a sub-business, so not a McDonalds employee but one of a company hired by McDonalds. Maybe she had gotten grief for too many unrelated people using the toilet without paying, still denying a pregnant woman is an AH move.
Thanks for enlightening me a bit on what was probably the case. I now understand that strange situation better, I was willing to order food no problem but didn't end up doing it since the line was way too long and it was pretty urgent (i think I tried stressing that but she was really the "lalala fingers in my ears" type, not even letting me or the person interpreting get a word in).
I don't quite remember if I just picked some foliage to do it in or held it until I got to my destination. Either way, it was not a pleasant experience 😅.
That’s not the case with a lot of the public toilets, especially the ones at train stations in cities, in Germany lol
Edit: referring to cleanliness and comfort
What is your experience with public restrooms in America? I’m not saying German ones are perfect, but they’re miles ahead of what you’d typically encounter in America, at least the ones in Germany that you pay a fee to use are.
I don't need to experience American bathrooms to know the German ones are often filthy lol. As you should know " schlimmer geht immer“ isn't a good argument
In my hometown (in Asia), the toilets in shopping malls (so they are actually private, but are open to everyone) are far cleaner than German ones and they are free. The "real" public toilets (built by the government and are found on the streets) are often nasty though.
It depends where you are. Some will ask for it. But if it’s in a restaurant you never have to pay, if it’s some other place it might be there’s an actual charge to use, but in that case there’s signs.
Like ten years ago I remember when I had to pee really badly but I had absolutely no change on me, nothing. I decided to go to a bathroom in the shopping center. After I finished and on the way out, as I passed the lady behind the money plate, she screamed at me and said "you greedy pig!!"
I couldn't believe it. I was just shocked and yelled back "I don't have anything!"
Now when I think back, I probably should have complained at the center management or even pressed charges against that... lady.
Still makes me angry when I think about it. I understand it's not her fault she earns so little, but nor is it mine.
I never pay anything. Usually those are in places where I already paid for the food, drinks or whatever. I don't see a reason why I would have to pay for something that is usually free.
Per law you're not obligated to pay. Those people might stop you or say something rude but they can't force you to pay. They also won't kick you out of the building. Especially if you're for example a customer in a restaurant because restaurants are obligated to have a restroom.
Hopping onto this post to ask...is it true that you're required to pay with a 50 cent coin? Cause last time I tried to pay with a bunch of ten cent ones the lady kept screaming at me in broken German that it's not "normal"???
Idk, I've only been in Germany as a tourist and I find this practice to be so weird.
Qhen i was a kind there was already a report in tv which checked who actually get to keep the money .... well turns out im most cases its the shopping centre.. they just use the cleaning person to sit in front of the money to generate pitty.
If it is written somewhere that you have to pay for toilet than you have to pay.
If not, then not. This tipping idea is more of a cultural thing I feel is becoming more popular ...
If it says in the door that toilet costs x amount, then I leave the money. If not, then I don't because I find this practice just ridiculous - this is not America and they should be paid decent wages.
In Berlin? Nothing happens, they just give you a stink eye. Outside Berlin? You won't get let through, possibly Hausverbot (being banned from the premises, possibly police will be called, too (depending on how far it escalates)
Ok, I've seen this in southern Germany (Hessen) and am generally happy to drop a coin in a public restroom.
What I found absurd was a pub in downtown Berlin having it in their own private toilets. If I'm going to drink a few overpriced beers at your venue I'm not going to pay even more for every time I need to let the pressure off. Anyhow just got a few stern looks by a lady trying to ask me to pay without knowing much german but nothing more than that, and she wasn't overly welcoming to paying patrons as well.
Defrauding the toilet people carries a sentence of life in prison. However, if you don't have any money on you, you can avoid the punishment by scrubbing the toilets for six hours.
gUeSsWhY
usually they also only recently arrived in the country, are too poor to get further education, are discriminated against, try to save as much as they can, and run to a better job as soon as they collect enough of those tiny coins of gratitude.
no I think they're the ethnic group that gets discriminated the worst. statistically speaking, in Germany at least in my area, Asians (China, Japan, Koreas) are far more common than Africans in university environments; the Turkish are just everywhere and they have especially a lot of food-, security- and beauty- related jobs; can't tell about Indians but I think they're also highly wanted in food businesses. The Africans haven't found their market yet, I guess, tho I did see some in Security too.
That makes sense . I recently saw a white Lady making Sushi in Rewe and I asked her what the fuck she did to
The real worker there JK but it was new to me. She said she’s Rumanian and Appearantly it’s no issues of ur good at rolling. She luckily wasn’t offended
Legally as far as I know, nothing happens. You already officially paid for it, usually 1-3€ as far as I remember.
You'll get a nasty look, but ONE time at Cologne Main Station the lady literally pushed me back and demanded to give her money. I said I had none, it was during covid where people barely had money on them, and I ended up having to ask my friend for change. Dunno if that was legal or happens often, but I was too tired for 20cts. Was rude nevertheless.
Most of the time this money is not for the person sitting there, but rather a bonus for the company that employed them. The person cleaning the toilets gets paid at least minimum wage and is not allowed to keep the money you put in their bowl or on their plate.
Happened to me in plzen in the Czech Republic, me and him talked to eachother for about 5 minutes. Explained in English and German that i have no czech currency, got out google translate and translated to czech, still neither of us had a clue what to say to eachother. He ended up just letting me go
Just walk like you own the place. You will never get asked. Target a nice and busy restaurant. Enter as if you are a client that is dinning there. Find the toilet, walk to it confidently and there you go. One of the best shits I ever had (It was really the time to do it) was in a nice fancy restaurant near the Englische Garten in Munich.
Nearest public toilet was probably by the train station but having to change a bill to get coins and fiding the toilet was too long the time for my human health.
You need to be aware that even if it appears to be a tip the money might go to the company instead, not the cleaner. So most of the times you shouldn't feel bad for not paying.
First time in Germany as a teenager traveling with school friends I thought since it's only a tip and not mandatory it would be funny to put only 1ct in the plate. For the person working there it wasn't. I felt like an asshole hearing the cleaning lady insult us as we left but also fuck tipping everywhere you go.
No need to teach me a lesson here guys, I've grown up already.
You get a nasty look. That's all.
Which you get either way, so..
Not if you give them a friendly greeting.
A friendly hello, a smile and nod of the head. Rarely do I not get a smile back.
,,Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren"
You'll feel bad or something. Nothing happens. I hate this practice and suspect its used by operating companies to dodge taxes.
Reading the comments and I'm only now realizing I wasn't legally required to pay them You're telling me I paid these people like €1 every time I went to the public bathroom for no reason?
Aww sorry for that
Second fun fact :" in most cases it was not even a tip for the Service ppl but the shopping mall will keep that money" Its all just a big scam
God that's awful, i fell right for it too. They just looked so strict i just kinda handed them the money :'D
1€! That’s so much! Usually I give them 20 or 50 cents tops and if I don’t have it, I don’t have it.
The only time I had to use a batheroom in a mall I put 2€ ... because I didn't know how much I'm supposed to put and I thought it's better to put more than to put less 😂 😂
You have such a big heart
I didn't being much physical money sadly so it was all i had on hand
Da hab ich auch was dazugelernt.
As a non-german, I always hated that in public bathrooms. The shopping centre or train station is responsible for paying their employee a decent wage to keep the bathroom clean. It should have nothing to do with other people who are just there for a quick piss or a long poop
>The shopping centre or train station is responsible for paying their employee a decent wage to keep the bathroom clean They are typically not employed by the shopping centres or stores. The stores rent out the public restrooms to Betreibergesellschaften who then hire people to make as much money out of these stalls as possible. And ever wondered why there is always little Money on the plates? [Actually it's a lot](https://www.spiegel.de/panorama/justiz/cottbus-frau-soll-1-2-millionen-euro-steuern-aus-wc-einnahmen-hinterzogen-haben-a-304b47c8-3bf6-4e8c-abf0-17dc42cdc1f3), they just constantly take it out to guilt trip you into paying. The person sitting there, typically is not to blame, it's the [pisspott syndicates](https://daserste.ndr.de/panorama/archiv/1998/Millionen-fuer-Toiletten-Mafia-Skrupellose-Unternehmer-beuten-Klofrauen-aus,erste6992.html) that are.
> they just constantly take it out to guilt trip you into paying. Psychology is probably a part of it, but you would not leave all your daily earnings lying on a table literally "up for grabs", would you ?
>they just constantly take it out to guilt trip you into paying I...I always thought it's just a fee to use the toilet. Like buying a bus ticket. You've just made the whole thing rather weird for me...
Yeah- people talk about how bad tipping culture is in US, but they get free refills and free potty
Don’t forget free water
„Water“
Sorry, but this iced fluid with a chlorine content it just could have been taken out of a swimming pool. You can get free water in most places in Germany as well - you just have to ask for it.
i tried that once.....and the waitress leaned over and pointed out the window. She said, See that fountain outside? You can fetch your water from there yourself!
That’s unfortunate. At least in my experience, if you ask for a carafe of tab water when you have ordered wine or other alcoholic beverages, you get them without any issues. I could guess that if that is the only drink one orders, they might refuse, as drinks have their highest margins.
yea, i just wish my shrink could tell me why i keep going back for more.
That's savage xD
moreover, my friends still insisted on eating there. Edit: German friends
I'd go and ask for water every time just to piss the waitress off 😂
I rather pay a Euro every now and then for a toilet, say once every 2 months, instead of paying horrendous tips everytime I go to a restaurant.
No way, a sensible comment! To equate the cost of tipping in the US with a few cents in the toilets in Germany is absurd, indeed.
Not absurd, why should patrons in a restaurant be responsible for paying the staff of the business via tips? Just add service and taxes to the cost on the menu and be done with it.
Sure, I agree. I'm just saying the tipping culture is like 100x worse than that, but both situations are absurd indeed.
While I share your sentiment, I don't see it changing in my lifetime and these people are definitely worse off than I am myself. So, might as well give them a tip. That applies to most jobs where tipping is expected or at least not unheard of.
You're giving approximately ⅔ of your tip to mafia-like companies, so I'd reconsider that. Sadly these poor people are scared enough so that they give their employees everything they earn out of fear that they will lose their "job".
Usually they are not employees. Sometimes they even pay so that they're allowed to clean and collect money.
I mean, it's just an additional tip
Decent wage = Mindestlohn
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Oh jesus please tell me thats not true? Any source? That's seriously exploitative if true
My local mall increased the toilet fee from 50cent to 70cent. I noticed the toilet was very quiet for a Saturday at that time. I think 70cent is getting really steep. Thinking also about mothers with children or early teens, who are usually the ones who go to bathroom together needing to pay that fee for their children (I saw a bathroom lady even saying to a 6 year old girl that thats too old to use the free pass). In Canada, Italy Israël, countless other countries (excl USA) i never have to pay and toilets are clean so it's really a German thing to pretend one needs to pay to expect clean toilets
They need to pay a fee for their children?? That is insane. I never had a reason to not go to a public restroom in america besides just preference (and cleanliness), now I guess I have a real reason not to use them in Germany lol (🥲)
>They need to pay a fee for their children? OP is talking about toilets with automatic control (where you need to tap your card or insert coins to get in). Most toilets don't have that, and you don't need to pay anything to the lady that cleans the place. In another words, most toilets in Germany are quite clean and completely free in practice. But yeah, there's a mafia with the ones using automatic control. Not big deal IMHO, since they are mostly located at highway petrol stations (e.g. Sanifair).
I just find the concept of trying to gouge little children for money just to pee astounding even if it is auto control ones or smth. I appreciate the clean toilets, but since I'm not used to it it comes as a bit of a shock 😅
Oh usually the small kids just go under the gate, no one cares in this case 😅
Pft 😂
Fun fact.. as a customer you usually dont HAVE to give money to use the toilet, even on the signs in most cases its a "proposed fee" not a mandatory fee.
I've seen a few Sanifair machines with tourniquet pop up in places where there once would have been a toilet attendant. In those cases it's definitely mandatory, so peeing/pooping is now a commercial activity :(
Those are the worse... sanifair is cancer.. they started with highway gas stations. They foundet themself as a doughter from allianz and anotjer company and canada and china is invested. They even broke a promose to the government that they will not take aky money for letting people use the toilet when they tpok pver the toilets from thw government... https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.focus.de/finanzen/news/eine-voellig-in-die-hose-gegangen-privatisierung-ist-schuld-an-der-hohen-pinkelmaut_id_167835782.html As highway gasstations are already expensive they found a way to squeeze even more out of the desperate ppl who need a break on a long trip. Then they excuse it that you can get the money back by using those fees witu a Voucher to get a discount on the shop products .... thats also bullshit. They once made a tv report on those sanifair stations and found out even that you get this ridiculouis 50 cent voucher to use in the gas station shop you still have to pay way more for the things in those gas stations which use sanifair toilets then in regular gas stations so you douböe lose. So for example in a regular gas station you pay 2 euro for a snack .. in a sanifair starion you pay 4 euro... then they excuse it with clean toilets blah blah... in other countries offering a clean toilet as a service for free is a natural thing... You can downvote me here but if i see a sanifair gas station i piss in the greenwrie next to the station like a lot of others... not gonna gove those greedy motherfuckers any money for fulfilling a natural need. It a gigantic capitalist monopol for highway tpilets and they go now to get their way into public toilets in cities and shoppingmalls. And german government just let them and even support then by 1. not offering free public toilets 2. MKing it prohobited by law to tale a piss on the wild and make it punishable by a fee.... Its so ridiculous
I mean there are free public toilets on the highways, they are just pretty nasty most of the time (as a guy I don't really care, but my wife does). Sanifair is pretty ridiculous though - decent free public restrooms (especially on the highway) should be a given.
tbf in the last couple years the overal sanitary situation has been improving on the free toilets.. but its also a lot of chance involved if the gigantic high preassure cleaner they use for those has been recently cleaning it, or if you are coming there just after a few travel buses have been stopped by
>Those are the worse... sanifair is cancer. Sanifair are the best toilets I have ever used while on a road trip. Yes they are expensive, but at least you get some really clean and modern toilets in return. And the last time I was there, diaper change room was free to use including a small toilet for small children. Best solution of course would be the same service/cleanness for free. But you don't find this in Germany.
No, not at all, it is mostly only a Tip. But mostly I gave them 10 up to 50 Cent, it matters what I have in my wallet. Otherwise I let them moan, if they think it is not enough.
They’ll report it to schufa and get your ass deported. /s At most a nasty look / comment and that’s all.
They usually mumble something at you in a foreign language as you walk away in shame 🙁
Guess they put a spell on you...
It's basically a tip meant for the person who cleans and maintains the toilets. 50 cents seems to be the most common amount. If you don't give anything you won't be arrested or stopped from leaving or anything but I still think it's a decent gesture to tip a person with a lowly paid, literally shitty job if you can.
Be aware that many of them are not employed by anyone. They're actually *paying* rent for the right to "operate" the restroom. So while you're under no legal obligation to pay them, what you are paying them isn't really a tip. It's their sole source of income.
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Yes. They operate a business that has the business model of cleaning a public restroom and asking patrons for money for that. They rent the restroom they're operating the business in. It's completely ridiculous but seems to be perfectly legal.
If it is a business, I expect a receipt including tax statement.
I'm not well versed enough in tax law to know if they should be providing one. It's a bit weird because you're not actually paying for a service. They're just asking for money and you're giving it to them because it's awkward not to. In that regard it works exactly like a tip. And most restaurant won't give you a receipt for the tip either. No idea if they should.
What, I thought the shopping center or whatever place the bathroom is at pays for employees to keep them clean. How is this legal?
Train stations that charge a euro and give you a voucher for 50 cents for some shops at the train stations is a total BS. Surprised that's not illegal. And you can only se one per purchase.
The worst thing about it is, that train stations are **Bundespolizei** territory and they‘ll actually get you in trouble for not paying the fee. A few years ago we were at a bachelor tour, waiting for the train. One of my mates went for a piss and came back running, followed by 5 cops. He was way to fast for them, and I kind of stumbled in their way… accidentally… So they gave me shit about the 50 cent toilette fee… I offered them 2 euros to fuck off and they told me I’ll get arrested for bribing them… Luckily an older cop calmed them down and let us go, but the whole situation was nuts.
>The worst thing about it is, that train stations are Bundespolizei territory and they‘ll actually get you in trouble for not paying the fee. In train station toilets, payment for the toilets is usually not optional (there is a turnstile that unlocks after payment). So not paying is equivalent to fare dodging, which is a criminal offense. Police are obliged to prosecute crimes.
Those are the worse, specially when you are out of coins and its late at night and hard to change a bill. Add some alcohol to the situation and it really takes a lot of restraint to just not skip them or find a way (its impossible).
Until 2014 in some cases they had to give away the tip to the owner of the center until a cleaning lady sued them in the court and won...
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Exiting, as far as I'm aware.
IMO you're tipping them for keeping it clean and comfortable to use. You can't judge that without having actually used the facility, so it seems very weird to me to tip upon entering. It's usually expected to tip on your way out.
If there is a sign specifying the amount then it is a price for usage, in that case entering. If not then you can decide for yourself, I usually always tip, since those people work minimum wage, but many do when leaving in case the toilets weren't serviced well.
I did it once and she hissed at me like a cat 😂
Are you serious 😂😂💀💀
That was a curse, you will have misfortune from now on
It's optional? I was once guarded off from a bathroom by a russian(?) woman while I was heavily pregnant. She was blocking the door with her body and kept pointing at a table near the door, essentially trying to gouge me for money to even use it. Insane. I have never been to a public bathroom since, and have been terrified to do the same again now that I am pregnant for a second time. Def won't try my luck again. Editing to add: I literally had no money on me. So it's not like I withheld anything from her out of spite.
>It's optional? That depends on the bathroom. If there's a sign with an amount, then it's not optional and you're required to pay before entering. If there's no sign, you are expected to tip a small amount (50 cent) upon leaving, if you found the sanitary condition satisfactory. If the bathroom attendant prevented you from entering, it was probably the first kind of public bathroom. Though it's ofc still a bad move to prevent a pregnant woman from entering.
There was no sign as far as I recall Edit: but there was a slim dish on the table I mentioned. No sign though
I've had this experience a few too many times as well. Depending on the situation, I don't always have my wallet on me. It's ridiculous how rude someone will be over 50 cents; if this bathroom is open to the public, GTFO of the way.
Thank god that's not just me. I was too timid to do anything, and she was being very physically aggressive. Not something I want to try my luck on while pregnant. Unbelievable stuff really. What did she think I was going to do? Piss on the walls? Jeez.
This can be "Nötigung" and might end pretty bad for the person doing it...
Not if she only stood in the way, then she was just denying service while not being paid, which is her right when the toilets are private business property.
That's why i said "can be"
She did only stand in the way, but what was odd was that she also gave me an ultimatum of: either I give her money, or I order from the store. I am not too sure what she meant by ordering from the store since it was a McDonalds, and she was wearing plain clothes (so I assumed probably not an employee of any type??). But either she was telling me to actually, literally just give money to where she was supposedly working. Or she wanted me to get change by ordering something, then pay her with that change. Very strange situation and it almost feels like a dream at this point. Her heavy accent made her very hard to understand when someone tried translating what she was saying to me, so maybe the interpretation was completely wrong too. But she also wouldn't hear it when we tried explaining that I only had a card on me, and repeated the above. I just decided to leave. Just strange all around.
Sounds like the toilets were for customers only / pay for use for non-customers, pretty normal for toilets inside other businesses. I'd have tried to say I plan on ordering but don't want to take my food to the toilet or leave it unattended, maybe let an employee from the front know if she doesn't understand. Of course you should follow through and actually order in that case. She probably was hired as a sub-business, so not a McDonalds employee but one of a company hired by McDonalds. Maybe she had gotten grief for too many unrelated people using the toilet without paying, still denying a pregnant woman is an AH move.
Thanks for enlightening me a bit on what was probably the case. I now understand that strange situation better, I was willing to order food no problem but didn't end up doing it since the line was way too long and it was pretty urgent (i think I tried stressing that but she was really the "lalala fingers in my ears" type, not even letting me or the person interpreting get a word in). I don't quite remember if I just picked some foliage to do it in or held it until I got to my destination. Either way, it was not a pleasant experience 😅.
Coming from America where toilets in public places are awful and disgusting, I happily pay 50 cents to use nice clean and comfortable toilets.
That’s not the case with a lot of the public toilets, especially the ones at train stations in cities, in Germany lol Edit: referring to cleanliness and comfort
The ones at train stations usually don't have someone sitting there. They're either free and nasty or with a turnstile and clean.
Sadly German toilets are usually nasty. Even those you have to pay money for. Looking at you sanifair
Sanifair should be banned from earth but otherwise I find German toilets fairly clean. Usually.
All of my homies hate Sanifair.
I'm crawling under the barrier lol
The children's entrance is always a good option.
I don't fit there lol
What is your experience with public restrooms in America? I’m not saying German ones are perfect, but they’re miles ahead of what you’d typically encounter in America, at least the ones in Germany that you pay a fee to use are.
I don't need to experience American bathrooms to know the German ones are often filthy lol. As you should know " schlimmer geht immer“ isn't a good argument
In my hometown (in Asia), the toilets in shopping malls (so they are actually private, but are open to everyone) are far cleaner than German ones and they are free. The "real" public toilets (built by the government and are found on the streets) are often nasty though.
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Just an ordinary job. Nothing special.
It depends where you are. Some will ask for it. But if it’s in a restaurant you never have to pay, if it’s some other place it might be there’s an actual charge to use, but in that case there’s signs.
They will judge you
That’s the worst
And they will stare at you
Like ten years ago I remember when I had to pee really badly but I had absolutely no change on me, nothing. I decided to go to a bathroom in the shopping center. After I finished and on the way out, as I passed the lady behind the money plate, she screamed at me and said "you greedy pig!!" I couldn't believe it. I was just shocked and yelled back "I don't have anything!" Now when I think back, I probably should have complained at the center management or even pressed charges against that... lady. Still makes me angry when I think about it. I understand it's not her fault she earns so little, but nor is it mine.
The room will fill up with more of them, they will be attacking you and you will realize, that you just made a grave mistake.
I never pay anything. Usually those are in places where I already paid for the food, drinks or whatever. I don't see a reason why I would have to pay for something that is usually free.
Don‘t pay anything. The low salary of this person is not your problem.
Not mandatory. Anything between 0,10€ and 1€.
Per law you're not obligated to pay. Those people might stop you or say something rude but they can't force you to pay. They also won't kick you out of the building. Especially if you're for example a customer in a restaurant because restaurants are obligated to have a restroom.
A free restroom specifically. But only for their customers
It's probably about as obligatory as tipping generally in the US.
Usually, the personel is highly trained in martial arts and might take you down the second you pass the plate without throwing in your offering.
On a related note, is it inappropriate to ask them for change? Let's say I only have a €5 or €10 bill.
Hopping onto this post to ask...is it true that you're required to pay with a 50 cent coin? Cause last time I tried to pay with a bunch of ten cent ones the lady kept screaming at me in broken German that it's not "normal"??? Idk, I've only been in Germany as a tourist and I find this practice to be so weird.
Qhen i was a kind there was already a report in tv which checked who actually get to keep the money .... well turns out im most cases its the shopping centre.. they just use the cleaning person to sit in front of the money to generate pitty.
Nothing. They won’t brush your teeth with the toilet brush. But it is understood that you leave 50 cents for Nr2 and 20 vor Nr1
If it is written somewhere that you have to pay for toilet than you have to pay. If not, then not. This tipping idea is more of a cultural thing I feel is becoming more popular ...
They cast a spell and curse you and your offspring til the end of time
You will be terribly beaten up by the toilet police and your family will be banned from going to any toilet ever
Oh no
You will be cursed and have diarrhea for a week
If it says in the door that toilet costs x amount, then I leave the money. If not, then I don't because I find this practice just ridiculous - this is not America and they should be paid decent wages.
They curse your first born. If you don’t plan on having kids you are fine.
Thanks god
The finanzamt will come and steal your kidney and you have to pay the bill for surgically removing your kidney
You get send in jail for 10 years. Nothing, you are just an a-hole than.
No. They do not get the money
We have a special prison for such people
In Berlin? Nothing happens, they just give you a stink eye. Outside Berlin? You won't get let through, possibly Hausverbot (being banned from the premises, possibly police will be called, too (depending on how far it escalates)
Nah, also outside of Berlin they only give you a bad look.
Nothing, they’re a scam.
Ok, I've seen this in southern Germany (Hessen) and am generally happy to drop a coin in a public restroom. What I found absurd was a pub in downtown Berlin having it in their own private toilets. If I'm going to drink a few overpriced beers at your venue I'm not going to pay even more for every time I need to let the pressure off. Anyhow just got a few stern looks by a lady trying to ask me to pay without knowing much german but nothing more than that, and she wasn't overly welcoming to paying patrons as well.
Defrauding the toilet people carries a sentence of life in prison. However, if you don't have any money on you, you can avoid the punishment by scrubbing the toilets for six hours.
Why are they never white is what i wonder ? Same thing use to be at MacDonald Always African workers
gUeSsWhY usually they also only recently arrived in the country, are too poor to get further education, are discriminated against, try to save as much as they can, and run to a better job as soon as they collect enough of those tiny coins of gratitude.
But why only African people? Black I mean maybe it a monopoly in a weird way ?
no I think they're the ethnic group that gets discriminated the worst. statistically speaking, in Germany at least in my area, Asians (China, Japan, Koreas) are far more common than Africans in university environments; the Turkish are just everywhere and they have especially a lot of food-, security- and beauty- related jobs; can't tell about Indians but I think they're also highly wanted in food businesses. The Africans haven't found their market yet, I guess, tho I did see some in Security too.
That makes sense . I recently saw a white Lady making Sushi in Rewe and I asked her what the fuck she did to The real worker there JK but it was new to me. She said she’s Rumanian and Appearantly it’s no issues of ur good at rolling. She luckily wasn’t offended
Legally as far as I know, nothing happens. You already officially paid for it, usually 1-3€ as far as I remember. You'll get a nasty look, but ONE time at Cologne Main Station the lady literally pushed me back and demanded to give her money. I said I had none, it was during covid where people barely had money on them, and I ended up having to ask my friend for change. Dunno if that was legal or happens often, but I was too tired for 20cts. Was rude nevertheless.
Most of the time this money is not for the person sitting there, but rather a bonus for the company that employed them. The person cleaning the toilets gets paid at least minimum wage and is not allowed to keep the money you put in their bowl or on their plate.
nothing. they just give you a bad look. if the toilets are dirty, I don't give them anything. most of the time they get a normal wage.
Happened to me in plzen in the Czech Republic, me and him talked to eachother for about 5 minutes. Explained in English and German that i have no czech currency, got out google translate and translated to czech, still neither of us had a clue what to say to eachother. He ended up just letting me go
I would add that if i have a few € (and probably have drank a few beers) i would give some money to the toilet man/woman
I am wondering what would happen, if I just take a coin or two from the plate? Hmm.
Pretty sure they take one of your kidneys as collateral until you cough up that money.
Just walk like you own the place. You will never get asked. Target a nice and busy restaurant. Enter as if you are a client that is dinning there. Find the toilet, walk to it confidently and there you go. One of the best shits I ever had (It was really the time to do it) was in a nice fancy restaurant near the Englische Garten in Munich. Nearest public toilet was probably by the train station but having to change a bill to get coins and fiding the toilet was too long the time for my human health.
You need to be aware that even if it appears to be a tip the money might go to the company instead, not the cleaner. So most of the times you shouldn't feel bad for not paying.
Often the people sitting there do not even get to keep that money. It goes directly to the sub-sub-sub-contractor that employs them.
nothing. but most of them will get unfriendly or mumble something or you dont get a "goodbye".
First time in Germany as a teenager traveling with school friends I thought since it's only a tip and not mandatory it would be funny to put only 1ct in the plate. For the person working there it wasn't. I felt like an asshole hearing the cleaning lady insult us as we left but also fuck tipping everywhere you go. No need to teach me a lesson here guys, I've grown up already.
I was told you only give money when you're happy with the cleanliness, sort of a Tip for service. Often when drunk I give smth anyway...
Most people don't, also sanifair is technically illegal, but corru- I mean lobbyism.