In article ,
"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote:

"Melba's Jammin'" wrote in message

Color me Cheap, but I wouldn't be tipping anybody. It's a job they are
paid to do and last I knew, construction workers were well paid. I'd
probably give them a jar of jam and my deep thanks with appreciation.

I don't tip the people at the local Caribou (coffee house), either.
Shoot me.

I bet you don't tip your doctor after a really good physical either.

You are correct, Sir! I do, however, bring in a batch of brownies for
the staff's enjoyment.

Having worked as and for contractors in the past, I was well paid but never
received or expected a tip.
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
rec.food.cooking
Preserved Fruit Administrator
"Always in a jam. Never in a stew." - Evergene

Michael \"Dog3\" wrote:

(Steve Pope) :

So far as I know tipping is not expected. I have tipped movers,
but not home/construction contractors.

Is that wrong? Dunno.

I have not and will not tip my contractor. He is awesome. I couldn't ask
for better but I pay him enough.

I will add that the expectation may be regional. In New York
City, you tip just about everybody. In California, not so much.

Steve

"MareCat" wrote in message
...
We're currently in the middle of a kitchen remodeling job (new cabinets,
countertops, backsplash, sink, island, flooring, lighting, painting, and
removing two walls). The contractor and workers have been *awesome* so far
(making excellent progress, very easy to work with, constantly giving us
updates, company owner comes to the work site to check work and meet with
us every day, etc.). They're even expecting to complete the project almost
a week earlier than planned (just over two weeks--rather than three
weeks--from start to finish).

If all ends up well (as we fully expect it will), we'd like to give each
of the two workers some sort of tip. What is the proper etiquette for
tipping contractors/workers for projects like this? Just wondering what
others here have done.


Mary
I tipped the contractors workers that did my kitchen last year. The workers
showed extraordinary care with our house and property, way beyond what we'd
normally expect from guys doing a major construction project. Outside of the
area being constructed our house stayed neat and clean. They were sensitive
about noise and tracking dirt in and out of the house. They also kept an eye
on our pets to make sure they didn't get hurt during the project.

I gave the workers $50 each (in a nice card) and the contractor a $100 gift
certificate to a restaurant. I was tipping the contractor for the nice work
he did and that he had our kitchen 'ready to use' a week earlier that his
estimate (5 instead of. 6 weeks).

Jon

On Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:26:41 -0500, "Gregory Morrow"
wrote:


Lou Decruss wrote:

On Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:52:07 -0400, Billy Hereiam@hotmaildotcom
wrote:

On Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:18:13 -0400, "MareCat"
wrote:

We're currently in the middle of a kitchen remodeling job (new cabinets,
countertops, backsplash, sink, island, flooring, lighting, painting, and
removing two walls).

Since you are remodeling.....with a new kitchen.....why don't you
invite the helpers for a "nice" lunch. Show off what you just had
installed including your cooking talents.

Some of the shit I read here amazes me.


Lol...

If you aren't careful I may kype that as a sig line...

Go for it. Just don't put my name on it.

Lou

Color me Cheap, but I wouldn't be tipping anybody. It's a job they are
paid to do and last I knew, construction workers were well paid. I'd
probably give them a jar of jam and my deep thanks with appreciation.

Me too.

I don't tip the people at the local Caribou (coffee house), either.

I tip coffee house people because I'm assuming they are making food service
wages.

I have a small business, and I hired some seasonal help last year. (A young
couple in financial straits that I knew in another context.) The first day,
I discovered that they hadn't brought lunch, so I offered the makings for
wraps or sandwiches and let them serve themselves.

They proceeded to assume that I was going to provide lunch for them every
day. My income isn't any higher than theirs. That's the last time I serve
lunch to anyone. (The other seasonal workers I hired--the really good
ones--always brought their own lunches as a matter of course.)

On Jul 14, 5:07 pm, Sheldon wrote:
On Jul 14, 5:24�pm, Nancy2 wrote:



On Jul 14, 3:18�pm, "MareCat" wrote:

We're currently in the middle of a kitchen remodeling job (new cabinets,
countertops, backsplash, sink, island, flooring, lighting, painting, and
removing two walls). The contractor and workers have been *awesome* so far
(making excellent progress, very easy to work with, constantly giving us
updates, company owner comes to the work site to check work and meet with us
every day, etc.). They're even expecting to complete the project almost a
week earlier than planned (just over two weeks--rather than three
weeks--from start to finish).

If all ends up well (as we fully expect it will), we'd like to give each of
the two workers some sort of tip. What is the proper etiquette for tipping
contractors/workers for projects like this? Just wondering what others here
have done.

TIA-
Mary

My son and his wife "tipped" their contractor and his wife with a
great dinner in their new home.

I have "tipped" subs with gift cards at the local Lowe's, Menard's or
WalMart.

I have given cash to carpet layers.

I have also not tipped at all.

It's all in what you think about tipping, if it's appropriate or not,
if you got more than your money's worth, what the local custom is,
etc., and especially, whether you might need them again in the
future. �Do whatever your gut says. �Sometimes a six-pack of ice cold
beer at the end of the day is enough. ;-)

Sheesh... what cheap *******s! A kitchen that took two solid weeks to
complete must have cost many, many thousands of dollars, required a
lot of back breaking and careful work to turn out without incident.
Offering the workers a meal with a beer is like spending $40,000 on a
bathroom makeover and tipping the workers with a shit, shower, and a
shave.

RFC sure got some CHEAP mother****ers.

It's all in the local custom, Shel - as others have said - and how you
feel about what you got for the money and if you're talking about the
contractor, or the subs....

My kitchen remodel cost less than $15,000 and took about 3 weeks.
Believe me, the contractor and his sole helper got plenty for the
hours they put in.

My current contractor (finish carpenter) makes about $500 a day for 6
hours - I don't think I need to tip him at all ---

N.

On Jul 14, 7:29 pm, Lou Decruss wrote:
On Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:52:07 -0400, Billy Hereiam@hotmaildotcom
wrote:

On Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:18:13 -0400, "MareCat"
wrote:

We're currently in the middle of a kitchen remodeling job (new cabinets,
countertops, backsplash, sink, island, flooring, lighting, painting, and
removing two walls).

Since you are remodeling.....with a new kitchen.....why don't you
invite the helpers for a "nice" lunch. Show off what you just had
installed including your cooking talents.

Some of the shit I read here amazes me.

The last thing the workers want to do is return for a "tip." They
really could care less about the kitchen once it's done. They're off
to the next one. Unless they need to return for a trouble call you
and your job are yesterdays news. They're not there for fun or to
enjoy your company. They're there to make money. Actually most of
the time the workers bees despise the homeowner. Give them a case of
beer or some cash if you can, but don't expect them to come back for a
meal for you to show off what they built.

Lou

I agree, also. My son's contractor was a friend in addition to being
his contractor.

N.

told me that he appreciated how well we treated his crew on the first
job, and was going to give me the "trade" price for the exterior. So,
I saved almost $500.00 on the exterior job, all because I was nice to
his guys the first time around. Got an excellent job this time too,
and took good care of that crew as well.

This fall we're refinishing the hardwood floors. Guess who's getting
the job?

(If I were you, I'd find the best floor guy, not the best painter ;-)

I think one of the best things you can do, if you really like the job
someone did, is to ask for business cards and give them to your
friends. I know that I have personally made recommendations that got
my roofer 3 additional roof jobs (and counting), my cabinet-maker 2
other nice jobs, and my upholsterer at least 1 more job. In addition,
I have recommended my sump pump installer, my electrician (my son),
and my new gutter installers to various friends.

I always offer ice water but I never buy soda - mostly, the guys bring
their own. They can always use a bathroom in the house if they need
to, but 100% of the workers so far in my whole-house redo have gone
somewhere else for lunch.

N.

Janet wrote:



I don't tip the people at the local Caribou (coffee house), either.

I tip coffee house people because I'm assuming they are making food service
wages.

I tip servers who take my order and bring me food. Counter service is self
service.

Dave Smith wrote:

Janet wrote:

[attribution lost] wrote,

I don't tip the people at the local Caribou (coffee house), either.

I tip coffee house people because I'm assuming they are making food service
wages.

I tip servers who take my order and bring me food. Counter service is self
service.

Do you not tip bartenders either?

If you do, how are barristas any different?

Steve

Nancy2 wrote:



It's all in the local custom, Shel - as others have said - and how you
feel about what you got for the money and if you're talking about the
contractor, or the subs....

My kitchen remodel cost less than $15,000 and took about 3 weeks.
Believe me, the contractor and his sole helper got plenty for the
hours they put in.

My current contractor (finish carpenter) makes about $500 a day for 6
hours - I don't think I need to tip him at all ---


I thought the whole idea of contracting someone was to order and agree upon the work
to be done, the materials to be used and the price and terms of payment. I do not tip
store clerks, doctors, dentists or gas station attendants. Why should I be expected to
tip a contractor or his workers. As I suggested before, if the workers do a good job
and finish it quickly the contractor can give them a bonus. Finishing up quickly and
not having to go back to repair problems frees them up to do another job.

Dave Smith wrote:

I do not tip store clerks, doctors, dentists or gas station
attendants. Why should I be expected to tip a contractor or
his workers.

Protection?

S.

In article ,
"Janet" wrote:


I don't tip the people at the local Caribou (coffee house), either.

I tip coffee house people because I'm assuming they are making food service
wages.

I don't tip the people at McDonald's. Isn't that the same thing?
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
rec.food.cooking
Preserved Fruit Administrator
"Always in a jam. Never in a stew." - Evergene

Melba's Jammin' wrote:
�"MareCat" wrote:
We're currently in the middle of a kitchen remodeling job (new cabinets,
countertops, backsplash, sink, island, flooring, lighting, painting, and
removing two walls). The contractor and workers have been *awesome* so far
(making excellent progress, very easy to work with, constantly giving us
updates, company owner comes to the work site to check work and meet with us
every day, etc.). They're even expecting to complete the project almost a
week earlier than planned (just over two weeks--rather than three
weeks--from start to finish).

If all ends up well (as we fully expect it will), we'd like to give each of
the two workers some sort of tip. What is the proper etiquette for tipping
contractors/workers for projects like this? Just wondering what others here
have done.

For an ongoing job I usually tip laborers $10 per day, that is not out
of bounds for sweat labor. I'd tip each of the workers on your job no
less than $100 cash.... over two weeks that comes to less than $1/hour
for their efforts... to give less is insulting and a sick joke, like
tipping the diner waitess two pennies when it was the cook who screwed
up... if you have a bitch about the cost of the job take it up with
the boss, don't punish the workers. Whenever in doubt tip on the side
of excess, it will more than pay you back the next time you need work
done, even if from a different contractor because next you may need a
new roof, or you want a wood deck, or new concrete driveway, or four
season sun room or whatever... and very often the same laborers work
for other contractors, and of course they all communicate with each
other... you can't escape your own miserliness,

Color me Cheap, but I wouldn't be tipping anybody. �

Hiya Rainbow Cheapskate! G So you're telling us you've never been
to the same restaurant or hairdresser twice.

It's a job they are paid to do and last I knew,
construction workers were well paid. �

Barb, you're wrong, very wrong. The contractor (company owner) and
subs (various professional tradesmen) are well paid and shouldn't be
tipped, but their helpers, the guys who do all the loading, unloading,
heaving, hammering, and general schlepping are not well paid, but they
are the ones who make or break the job. Generally the contractor
isn't even on the job site very much, they are out making the rounds
of other works in progress. And the subs (licenced plumbers,
electricians, etc.) are in their own right bosses who are there just
for their part of the job, they don't get tipped either, but their
helpers who do all the physical work do not get paid well and should
be tipped. Just like at a restaurant you don't tip the owner, but a
proclaimed cheapster as yourself (hopefully) at least tips the service
people, or best you never return... and so should the contractor's
employees get tipped too.

Just as restaurant staff discuss the various customer's behavior and
tipping habits so do all the local building trades people. After a
day's labor they all meet at their favorite watering hole (workers and
bosses alike) where they discuss in minute detail the various
homeowners they are doing jobs for in the community, they compare
notes and word gets around about who is a PITA and who is a cheap
*******... watch out the next time you need a job done, you will
definitely be quoted higher prices and they will rip you off every
which way they can, with inferior materials and slipshod workmanship.
And you'll never know you're being singled out to charge more and give
less, because every contractor and construction worker, from
landscaper to roofer, within a hundred mile radius will know you're
cheap. The contractors have to keep their workers, so they'll charge
the cheapskates more and give the workers the extra bonus you should
have given, the workers need the contractors to succeed too... and so
the workers and contractors develop even more of a bond to screw the
cheapsters. And in fact the contractors will add onto the price three
times the tip you should have given, so by not tipping you screw
yourself in more ways than you can imagine... the contractor will have
no qualms about pulling his workers off a cheapskate's job to expedite
a job where the customer is generous.

I'd probably give them a jar of jam.

Puhlezzze! Construction workers don't want your little jar of jam...
why don't you give each a little bouquet of petunias too... just
because they work with their backs doesn't mean they have no brain
cells, and they know very well that with your picture on the label
that you are doing it more to stroke your own ego than as a show of
appreciation... just like those who want to fix them a meal are really
saying "look at me", not thank you... soon as they're out of earshot
they will look at each other and say the daft old gal can shove it,
she needs it more... most won't even bring it home, they'll toss it in
the dumpster as they leave because they'll be too embarrassed to show
their wives that's what they got for a tip for busting their hump for
two weeks. In fact construction workers don't bring gifts of a
personal nature home, their wives will suspect they're banging the
lady of the house, her sister, daughter, someone... cash talks,
bullshit walks... giving someone a gift of something you got for free
or obviously didn't pay full price is worse than no gift at all.

It's not customary to tip a service person who comes to your home for
an hour or two to service your boiler, your AC system, your well or
some such, but for a major construction project lasting many days and
even weeks (as is the case here) it's customary to tip the workers and
tip them well... not the bosses. If you don't tip the workers because
you feel you're being charged too much for the job then that was
between you and the boss when you contracted the job, don't punish the
workers with your skinflintedness because you were a wuss when
negotiating the price.

You'll get a much nicer recommendation around town if you tip the
workers cash enough to at least pay an evening's tab at the watering
hole. Anyone thinks the local trades people don't discuss their
customers is very ignorant... and when I say discuss I mean DISCUSS,
from the size of your tits to the size of your tips.

Where I lived previously I had a lawn service. The same crew arrived
every Thursday all season and did a fabulous job, all for $30/week.
At the end of the season each worker (there were three) got a $50 tip,
I didn't tip the owner... this wasn't a lot of money considering they
groomed my entire yard perfectly every week for like 8 months, you do
the math. This went on for 12 years, the owner (Fabian) never raised
the price... compared to what some of my cheapster neighbors were
charged I was way ahead... they did a nicer job in my yard too, and
did a lot of little extras gratis. Of course I did them favors too,
at least once a month a piece of their equipment needed some minor
repair and they knew I would loan them tools so they didn't have to
drive their rig all the way home and be out of work for the entire
day. It's beneficial (to both sides) to have a good relationship with
the people you hire, and in US society tipping is a very important
part of a business relationship... you don't like tipping, move to
Italy... no tipping there but they'll pick your pocket without your
knowing. People who are cheap about tipping and are obssessed about
squeezing pennies in general generally have several more serious
personality flaws.

Barb, you probably never held a job where tipping was customary.

Melba's Jammin' wrote:

"Janet" wrote:

I tip coffee house people because I'm assuming they are making food service
wages.

I don't tip the people at McDonald's. Isn't that the same thing?

Encouraging them to stay at McDonalds is doing them a disservice.
They should know that if they graduate to Starbucks they
will start getting tips. That's incentive.

Steve