Differences in mentality

Mental Differences between US Americans and Germans

Maybe you have experienced it yourself. You travel to a country for the first time and find that the people are somehow a little different, certain procedures are regulated a little differently and certain things are simply valued differently. In many respects, this can definitely influence your stay at the holiday destination – even in the USA. But if you know the differences in mentality between US Americans and Germans, you will no longer experience any big surprises in the supermarket, in the hotel or at the hire car station.

Differences in mentality between US Americans and Germans in everyday life
“Other countries, other customs” is often said in situations where differences in mentality come into play. And it is indeed true that every culture has certain peculiarities, which can be experienced in everyday situations. Many travellers to North America report above all about US-Americans that they are either exaggeratedly open or even a little superficial due to their casual contact with strangers, at the same time very close to their homeland up to patriotic and not very body- and environment-conscious. On the other hand, the supposed superficiality is often rightly interpreted as an outright willingness to help, so that many people feel very welcome in the USA. This means that certain differences in mentality between US Americans and Germans are already evident in everyday life. But how does it actually work in business life? Do allegedly “typical German” values such as punctuality, performance and quality also exist in the USA?

Are there differences in mentality between Germans and US Americans in business life as well?
The widespread US pride in one’s own country can, in a positive sense, lead to the aspiration that guests should feel particularly comfortable. Thus, US Americans are usually in fact very hospitable and helpful people in everyday life. However, when it comes to differences in mentality between US Americans and Germans in business, it is often reported that Germans do not want to waste time, while US Americans tend to focus on the feel-good factor when doing business. Germans are much more determined, while US Americans are more positive and respectful in negotiations. So apparently quite different values come into play than in everyday life. Of course, the transitions here and there are fluid, so that it is rarely advisable or even appropriate to lump all members of a particular nationality together. After all, there are also individual differences. Nevertheless, there are some differences in mentality between Germans and Americans, even in the business environment, which ultimately include aspects such as punctuality, performance and quality, but also customer service. You should know these if you want to explore the USA by hire car.

Do the differences in mentality influence the rental of a rental vehicle in the USA?
When you travel the USA by hire car, you will notice some things quite quickly. The most obvious differences are the leisurely pace of driving, which results in no small part from the strict speed limits, and the less pronounced environmental awareness. The latter leads to running engines for longer periods of time and driving larger, less fuel-efficient cars. Finally, fuel is still a lot cheaper than in Germany. On the other hand, depending on the category booked, you can also expect a larger car as well as a free tank of gas, which is often included in the rental price. The American characteristic to search for pleasant solutions for the customer often leads to the fact that you can return your hire car without any extra charge at any station and there are hardly any problems concerning the goodwill times in case of a late return of the hire car. This somewhat different understanding of punctuality also means, however, that you may have to wait a few minutes for your car at the rental station because it is not yet ready for you.

Friendly service and plenty of performance
Generally, it can be stated that minor irritations can occur, but apart from that, solutions are always sought, which are eventually found. The US-American service is mostly friendly and comprehensive, so that also shuttle services to the hire car station or a hotel delivery can be arranged. American optimism respectfully allows for mistakes on both sides. And you may get the unexpected benefit of a complication-free upgrade on the spot, giving you even more quality for your money. Thus, renting a car in the USA rarely causes serious problems.