Life Tipping for services... - Page 4

**Fire Me Boy!** · 12-11-2013, 09:15 AM

Not like restaurant tipping for the waiter, but tipping gardeners, postman, house cleaners, etc. Do you do it, and generally how much?

This is the first year we've paid a guy to handle our lawn. It's a business, but he's the only guy doing it. What's appropriate? Is cash preferred, or is a personal gift (wine, homemade goodies, or something) better?

Strongside · 12-11-2013, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katipan

Every woman I know fell for it at least once, so you've got ok odds.

You've gone just the tip with every woman you know!?

Knuckles, bro!

**Buehler445** · 12-11-2013, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

He does a good job, nice guy, works hard, never misses an appointment. If we're home when he's there, we always chat for a few minutes. He's been very helpful in educating us on the multitude of crap the previous owners planted that we don't know how to take care of.

He's been doing our lawn for about 8 months now, comes over every two weeks. Now that we're out of the growing season, he's taking care of all the pruning, raking, etc. We just signed a service contract with him to extend a year, which got us about a 15 percent reduction in rate.

I'd probably give him a "Christmas Thank you" kind of thing. I'd probably go for cooking him something nice. With money it's easy to get sideways. If you tip less next year, he may think he's not doing as good of job or something. But if you cook something, I doubt he'd ever get resentful about it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

I may be alone on this, but rather than tip the guy, why not recommend him or her to your friends. Then let him know you did that. To me, that's the best thing you can do for a services provider who does a great job. You're basically tipping them thousands of extra dollars without paying an extra dime.

That's a good idea. Ask for some business cards because you'd like to refer his services.

Katipan · 12-11-2013, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Misworded it. My point is that there are jobs where workers rely on tips because they're getting paid an extremely low salary. Especially in the restaurant industry.

I'd rather we ditch tipping, charge more for food, and give waiters actual money. We'll have shitty service for a couple years until the crappy waitstaff gets turned over but eventually everyone would win.

Katipan · 12-11-2013, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strongside

You've gone just the tip with every woman you know!?

Knuckles, bro!

Elbows. I don't know where your hands have been.

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 12-11-2013, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

I need to find out if he drinks... he's a family man with a young kid. Wife was thinking about making him a batch of her brown butter chocolate chip cookies... but homemade lemoncello is pretty fantastic, too.

yeah, alcohol can be touchy. I was going to give one of my good subs who'd become a friend a bottle and when I asked a mutual friend what his favorite was, I found out he was a recovering alcoholic. He'd never said anything or given any indication he didn't drink. Glad I didn't just guess.

**luv** · 12-11-2013, 10:02 AM

I hate that letter carriers get a lack of respect just because some have had bad experiences. There's a foot of snow on the ground, schools are closed, and businesses are letting out early. Still got my mail.

Anyway, I usually get about $10 worth of lottery tickets (only time I ever buy them) and put them in a Christmas card for my letter carrier. I may double that this year with the harsh winter we've had so far and are predicted to still have.

Never thought about trash service, as I live in an apartment.

I can't think of any other public services I use. If I was a regular in taking public transportation, I'd probably give my bus driver a little something.

Speaking of Christmas gifts for letter carriers... My dad is a letter carrier. He typically gets small boxes of homemade goodies, a few lottery tickets, or gift cards for smaller amounts to different restaurants. A while back, he delivered to what we refer to as "old money" here in town (retired doctors and such that live in what used to be a premier neighborhood a long time ago). One of the people he delivered to was Johnny Morris (Bass Pro). He would get a Bass Pro gift card and one of those big tins of popcorn (I always ate the cheese third).

Dayze · 12-11-2013, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blaise

I do that. And I've bought workmen doing jobs at our house lunch and drinks.

I have as well. A bunch of guys trimming a huge tree in my yard. Drop off two pizzas etc. My yard was spotless afterwards.

My wife will also make a batch of tea, or have a cooler with Gatorade in it out in the yard etc.

blaise · 12-11-2013, 10:04 AM

Our garbage men don't even get out of the truck anymore. They just use a giant claw to grab the bucket.

**Nzoner** · 12-11-2013, 10:04 AM

Other than waitresses/waiters I tip the guys at the car wash I go to that hand dry the Jeep and I also tip dealers at a casino table who deal me a decent hand.

I refuse to tip coffee places and the like that have a jar sitting by the register.

mr. tegu · 12-11-2013, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blaise

Our garbage men don't even get out of the truck anymore. They just use a giant claw to grab the bucket.

Its okay though because they have a little claw for getting the gift card or money left out for them.

Katipan · 12-11-2013, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

Its okay though because they have a little claw for getting the gift card or money left out for them.

Now my garbage men hang off the back of a rickety old truck and pick up whatever mountain of garbage I have at the curb no matter how much over the limit I am. But I can also just go to the bar and buy them drinks, they'd just blow money on hookers.

We no longer have mail people deliver to our homes. Must not have tipped enough.

blaise · 12-11-2013, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

Its okay though because they have a little claw for getting the gift card or money left out for them.

I do notice that our one neighbor always turns his can the wrong way toward the street. And then after the garbage men empty it they end up leaving it on its side in his yard. I think they do it on purpose as a sort of "Eff-you buddy."

**Buehler445** · 12-11-2013, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luv

I hate that letter carriers get a lack of respect just because some have had bad experiences. There's a foot of snow on the ground, schools are closed, and businesses are letting out early. Still got my mail.

Anyway, I usually get about $10 worth of lottery tickets (only time I ever buy them) and put them in a Christmas card for my letter carrier. I may double that this year with the harsh winter we've had so far and are predicted to still have.

Never thought about trash service, as I live in an apartment.

I can't think of any other public services I use. If I was a regular in taking public transportation, I'd probably give my bus driver a little something.

Speaking of Christmas gifts for letter carriers... My dad is a letter carrier. He typically gets small boxes of homemade goodies, a few lottery tickets, or gift cards for smaller amounts to different restaurants. A while back, he delivered to what we refer to as "old money" here in town (retired doctors and such that live in what used to be a premier neighborhood a long time ago). One of the people he delivered to was Johnny Morris (Bass Pro). He would get a Bass Pro gift card and one of those big tins of popcorn (I always ate the cheese third).

I'm not trashing on mail people FWIW. I'm trashing on WORTHLESS mail people. The guy that delivers mail in the country (when I was a kid, still the same guy I believe) ruled. I helped him fix his tire one time. And I'm as nice as I can be to my current one because she's decent.

However, there is no excuse in the world to do a shitty job like OTW posted.

**Nzoner** · 12-11-2013, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katipan

But I can also just go to the bar and buy them drinks,

Thanks for reminding me where the majority of my tips go.

**Buehler445** · 12-11-2013, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blaise

Our garbage men don't even get out of the truck anymore. They just use a giant claw to grab the bucket.

I bought drinks for my garbage man in Sidney a few times. They had the claw thing going, but he'd come back the next day if I forgot to set it out, or pick up 15 tons of shit if I overfilled the trashcan and left it beside it.

I have no idea why he was so nice to me other than our wives worked together, but I tried to do my best to let him know I appreciated it.

12-11-2013, 09:15 AM
Fire Me Boy! Cast Iron Jedi Join Date: Nov 2004 Casino cash: $9999900 VARSITY	Tipping for services... Not like restaurant tipping for the waiter, but tipping gardeners, postman, house cleaners, etc. Do you do it, and generally how much? This is the first year we've paid a guy to handle our lawn. It's a business, but he's the only guy doing it. What's appropriate? Is cash preferred, or is a personal gift (wine, homemade goodies, or something) better?
Posts: 35,253

12-11-2013, 10:02 AM	#51
luv MY LITTLE #15 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Springfield, MO Casino cash: $6039600	I hate that letter carriers get a lack of respect just because some have had bad experiences. There's a foot of snow on the ground, schools are closed, and businesses are letting out early. Still got my mail. Anyway, I usually get about $10 worth of lottery tickets (only time I ever buy them) and put them in a Christmas card for my letter carrier. I may double that this year with the harsh winter we've had so far and are predicted to still have. Never thought about trash service, as I live in an apartment. I can't think of any other public services I use. If I was a regular in taking public transportation, I'd probably give my bus driver a little something. Speaking of Christmas gifts for letter carriers... My dad is a letter carrier. He typically gets small boxes of homemade goodies, a few lottery tickets, or gift cards for smaller amounts to different restaurants. A while back, he delivered to what we refer to as "old money" here in town (retired doctors and such that live in what used to be a premier neighborhood a long time ago). One of the people he delivered to was Johnny Morris (Bass Pro). He would get a Bass Pro gift card and one of those big tins of popcorn (I always ate the cheese third).
Posts: 63,450

12-11-2013, 10:04 AM	#53
blaise In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Plano, TX Casino cash: $9999900	Our garbage men don't even get out of the truck anymore. They just use a giant claw to grab the bucket.
Posts: 22,188

12-11-2013, 10:04 AM	#54
Nzoner a haw haw haw Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: MIZZOU Casino cash: $26365802	Other than waitresses/waiters I tip the guys at the car wash I go to that hand dry the Jeep and I also tip dealers at a casino table who deal me a decent hand. I refuse to tip coffee places and the like that have a jar sitting by the register. __________________ *Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.*
Posts: 27,111