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December 24, 2008
Tipping in rental buildings
I have a question for you all - I live in a rental building that is partly rent-stabiliazed/partly market rate. (I'm of the former group.)
Having never lived in a full-service building before, I was wondering what the amount of tips should be. Following the $50 per doorman/$100 per super rule would run close to $700. I don't want to insult anyone, but that amount is unaffordable at the moment.
Opinions?
Comments
If the budget is too high how about gift cards to Starbucks or something? It's also good to take into consideration if some of the doorstaff has previously assisted you more so than others? I had a Unit Owner who sublets her apt. and she gave a minimum of $25 for the newer staff and more for those who have been at the building longer. I'm sure that she also accounted for the renters to tip as well.
Posted by: cinnybuns at December 24, 2008 9:33 AM
hey, my roommate has lived in the same building for 5 years and the super is really nice and thanked us profusely for our tip this year. we both chipped in 25 bux and gave him 50. this is a 5 story building with maybe 40 units? he's pretty much the only super. no doorman or anything. give what you can afford, and give with a smile, people cant hate on you even if you cant afford to. everyone's struggling and it's the thought that counts.
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at December 24, 2008 10:09 AM
50 each. 100 per person is just pure insanity. Let's face it, the'd be lucjy to get anything this year.
Posted by: karo25 at December 24, 2008 10:11 AM
Holy cow $700 in tips?? How many people are there?! That's crazy. Supers and doormen don't make a lot of money themselves so offering them even a token gesture, especially if you're having trouble affording extras at the moment, would (should) be appreciated -- and I speak from experience. My situation was slightly different from what you're describing, but I was the Super of a rent-stabilized building for about 7 years and, while the owner tipped me at the Holidays, the tenants never gave me squat except maybe a hard time!
Posted by: herkimermaid at December 24, 2008 10:42 AM
In the past I've tipped about $50/doorman, which is about $250 total for me and $500 total for my apartment.
Posted by: alsawo at December 24, 2008 11:30 AM
When I lived in a coop, I gave $100 to the super (he was amazing) $25-$50 to the doormen I knew and/or who really helped, and $10 to everyone else (invisible porters, late-night staff, etc).
Posted by: tinarina at December 24, 2008 12:45 PM
I give $100 to the super and $50 to the porter who gets stuck w/ all of the worst jobs. However, I dont think many tenants tip them so they appreciate it.
Posted by: slick at December 24, 2008 1:53 PM
I did pretty much the same as Tinarina. I got amazing service too.
Posted by: mopar at December 24, 2008 4:51 PM
I've never lived in a full service building, but I have always tipped the super for Christmas. My suggestion (for what it's worth) would be to figure out the total amount that you feel comfortable tipping, then dividing it among the people you feel have offered you service throughout the year. If that's all of them equally, divide the amount you intend to tip equally among all of them. I think most of the doormen and supers realize that not everyone has buckets of money. I strongly suspect (partly from the reaction of my supers) that quite a lot of people don't tip at Christmas.
Posted by: bohuma at December 25, 2008 6:38 AM
I have never lived in a full service apartment. If I did I would for sure tip the doorman!
Posted by: emomr at December 26, 2008 6:55 AM
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