Tipping question
I have people installing windows in my house right now. Do I have to tip them? They’re a small crowd – the house has over 30 windows, and the job will take over 2 days. If yes, how much $$ per person?
I have people installing windows in my house right now. Do I have to tip them? They’re a small crowd – the house has over 30 windows, and the job will take over 2 days. If yes, how much $$ per person?
The problem is that when contractors are in your house day in and day out and you’re buying them meals/alcohol you develop a non-business relationship. This bites you in the ass in the end when resentment develops over change orders and bills over an estimate made many months beforehand. Business is business. You can be courteous, but it’s in both sides interest to keep it professional.
416 – I understand your theory but I find the whole tip/don’t tip concerns to be a total pain in the ass. I’d prefer not to tip anyone and pay for it directly but thats just not how the world works. I don’t think there is some band of power hungry souls with a pocket full of five dollar bills supporting the tipping standard. Most people are just trying to do the right thing by tipping appropriately.
I’d say most people that are good tippers have worked for tips themselves at some point and are just trying to return the favor. Its not about power, its about being the kind of person you want to deal with when you are on the other side of the transaction.
I tipped my real eastate broker for having extra open houses even though she did not sell my house.
While I think 2:47 could work on his rhetorical skills, he has a valid point.
I think the tip-mad culture of NYC is in part about expressing power and getting more out of people for less. Rather than just expecting skilled laborers to cost a reasonable sum of money, we prefer to pay a very cheap wage and then express our magnanimity and thankfulness that this person worked beyond the too-small wage with a tip, which could never cover the spread between what the work was worth and what was paid.
I would never suggest that the people who are calling 2:47 “evil” and saying that a tip is merely good karma are themselves evil. Nor would I suggest that it’s fun to withhold money from laborers. But I do think it’s reasonable to suggest that tipping creates as many problems as it solves.
*It makes low wages more palatable to more people.
*It enforces the “good feeling” of “paying extra” or “giving” when in fact you are getting a deal.
*And it reinforces the existing power structure. I’d rather hire someone for a fair wage or do the work myself, and give a gift if I am thrilled with the work. I’d rather not fuss with the alternate tip economy.
I think it’s ultimately more respectful. But that’s just me.
I don’t tip b/c society says I have to. As far as I am concerned they are just doing their job. If they don’t like their job, they can find a new one. McDonalds is a hard job, you don’t feel like you have to tip them, do you?
They should take that up with their boss.
“Do you tip your doctor, lawyer, banker?”
Tipping can come in many forms outside of money – as Mrs. Limestone mentioned you can offer them lunch, breakfast, and drinks. Stop being so damn evil. For the record many of these workers are not well paid.
“Tipping has nothing to do with the persons occupation”
Do you tip your doctor, lawyer, banker? No. There are some jobs for which you tip and some you don’t. Window installers do not get tipped.
Screw that.
Ya’ll can tip everyone. me, I just pay them what was asked. Which is usually already quite handsome. Tipping cabbies, waitstaff, movers…sure. Tipping window installers?? Construction doods? Skim coaters? Hell no to that.