Quality of customer service in Germany

Cheryl Moderator

Member since 15 October 2018

CherylModerator18 March 2026 04:05:23

15805

Hello everyone,

Customer service can say a lot about everyday life in Germany, and for many expats, it’s something that could take time to get used to. In order to help expats and soon-to-be expats to adjust to local expectations, we invite you to share your insights.

How would you describe customer service in Germany?

Are staff generally friendly and helpful, or more formal and direct?

How do businesses handle complaints or requests for refunds?

Do expats get treated differently than locals?

Any tips on how to get the best service in Germany?

Share your experiences and stories, whether positive, challenging or funny!

Thank you for your contribution.

Cheryl
Expat.com Team

See also

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beppi Germany/Singapore Expert

Member since 08 August 2010

Germany & Singapore Expert

beppiGermany/Singapore Expert18 March 2026 06:34:25

15619

Germany is, for good reasons, called "Service-Wüste" (service desert). Do not expect good (or in many cases any) customer service here!

You as a customer must know your rights and push them through, if needed by being noisy or complaining to recalcitrant service staff's managers (who are usually very hard to contact and may never reply).

On the positive side, foreigners are not getting treated worse than locals (apart from the obvious language barrier).