Tipping crafts people?

[tominboise]

I have hired a drywall company to texture a room we are refinishing in our house. It's one days work for a couple guys and the bill is around $400. Do I tip the workers? In the past, I have not tipped the plumbers, electricians that have done work for me, but will tip the guys that deliver appliances, etc.

 

[41plym]

If they went above and beyond certainly. A tip will go a long way the next time you use them.

 

[quickfarms]

When doing residential work I always try to explain what we are doing and try to make shore the client is happy with the work product.

Usually the additional benefit is receive are a good supply of non alcoholic drinks, sometimes it is money.

For me the best thing is to have the area clear so we can get to work.

 

[KSJeff]

I had two guys come in a texture all of our ceilings and replace a few sections. They did a great job and were very clean. I tipped the boss 50 and gave the guys $100 each. That was on a 2K bill. Don't think I've ever tipped on a service call for anyone except our septic guy. He actually crawled in the tank and cleared out roots on the inlet. I gave him almost all the money I keep in the house which was $400 or so. I would have given him another hundred if I had it. He was very surprised though.

 

[Shiftless]

A very well to do friend and neighbor is nearing the end of a $100,000 plus remodel of his back yard. I’ll ask him if he is gonna tip the guys.

 

[ludakris04]

For me the best thing is to have the area clear so we can get to work.

This is one of those things that I see many of my neighbors don't care about. I see it as a benefit for both me and the tradesperson.. I don't worry something could get damaged, and they don't have to worry about things getting damaged, or moving things.

Ex. Neighbor had someone come pressure wash their house. Those guys spent a lot of time moving furniture off of the deck, the porch, etc..

 

[vavet]

I tipped the movers, but not the tradespeople who worked on the house or my detached garage.
I wouldn't say you're wrong for it because I'm having a hard time distinguishing what they do from what other tipped employees do. They are providing labor to provide a service to you personally. The level of effort/skill they expend directly impacts what you get out of the interaction.
That's not unlike a bartender, hair care professional, taxi driver, restaurant server, tour guide, or housecleaner and I certainly would expect to tip any of those people. OTOH, I would not tip a flight attendant, pilot, college professor, or bus driver and it seems those professions have the same traits.

 

[oldwino]

I’ve never been one to tip tradesmen but I have a guy near my vacation home that I have do odd jobs (mowing an acre, splitting and stacking firewood, cleaning second story gutters, etc). He charges a very reasonable rate and is super dependable. Always slip him an extra $25 or 50 bucks.

 

[dougf]

I tip if they show great care in what they do, go above and beyond, and show they actually care about their trade, craftsmanship, and reputation. It's easy for me to reward people like that to show them customers DO in fact notice and appreciate their professionalism. I feel this motivates them (hopefully) to continue to care instead of get burned out. Now, people who show up late, have a bad attitude and do the bare minimum, no tip.

 

[Jinks]

Depends on the work & the person. Needed a patio replaced back when concrete work was high. Good concrete man (I'd seen his work) quoted me the max. I passed. A couple years later the bottom fell out of that market. I had him back & he quoted me half of the previous price. I tipped him well. He said "you didn't have to do that". I told him I did it because prices are down & he still does excellent work. Next time I needed some concrete work I called him again. Prices were up so he quoted the max. He didn't get the job & won't get another call...... I have a couple of guys that do projects for me now that keep their prices low & do good work. They still make money & stay busy. I always tip them well.

Deliveries charge, so it's their responsibility to pay their delivery people. A tip is a form of payment, you have to show me you did something to earn that extra payment.

 

[Grimpala]

Tipping in this country is getting out of hand. Everyone wants a tip for doing what they're paid or agreed to be paid to do. If the drywall quote was $400, then pay the invoice when done and be done with it.

 

[CoogarXR]

Like others have said, I only tip when something extra was involved. Like I had a carpet layer back out on me, after I moved all the furniture out, and had it stacked in the hallways. I got a recommendation for another carpet layer from a friend. I called him and explained my predicament, and he actually came right over within an hour. I was so grateful, I tipped him handsomely.

 

[tominboise]

Yeah, they got done early and did a good job, but also the job I expected, so no tip today.

 

[engineer2]

10 years ago I had the wood trim on our house painted. Took 3 guys most of the day and they did a good job. I gave them each $20 mainly because the total price was cheap. The owner thanked me and said it is rare that anyone tips nowadays.
They did it for $700. I supplied the paint. I had quotes as high as $4,000.

 

[mikedodge]

It depends. If they're a lot cheaper then someone else and do a really good job or they do extra work that wasn't expected of them I might. Or if it's someone we use repeatedly and they give us a good deal or do a job that they don't normally do then they'd get something extra too. If they're not doing anything special nope...

 

[Toomanytools?]

If you hire a trades person to come and do a job, that you received a quote for I would not expect to tip them. If though they went above what was required, example stayed 2 hours later to do something not quoted for then sure. If I was going to have those same people come back for more work later I also may tip. I agree though tipping has gotten out of hand. When I worked construction , I very much appreciated the owners bringing me a cold drink or lunch, but never expected that or a tip.

 

[Radio Flyer]

Tipping in this country is getting out of hand. Everyone wants a tip for doing what they're paid or agreed to be paid to do. If the drywall quote was $400, then pay the invoice when done and be done with it.

Exactly.....

My wife is a Dental Hygienist and it drives her nuts. She always asks why she is expected to tip the hair dresser, but no one ever tips her? After all, most people's mouths are nastier then their hair.

 

[mepstein]

I tend to tip people that I expect to use again or who have provided me more than I expected.
I wouldn't usually tip the counter person who hands me my food - They are making a regular wage, not a server wage but I will tip the counter person of the Italian restaurant that I frequent often and for the last 25 years. The owner knows I tip his people and will often throw a desert in the bag and makes custom dishes for me with extras at no charge.
I recently tipped the guy who schedules repairs at my local auto repair shop. He always fits me in even though there is a 2-3 week wait. I gave him a $20 Wawa card. I've been going to the same shop, again for 25 years.

 

[Zeke]

My wife worked in a beauty salon and told me that protocol was that operators (most lease their stations) get tips but the owner does not even if working a station. She says this is the expected way. So, I go into a one man barber shop and what am I supposed to do? Well, I tipped the guy even though the haircut wasn't great. I always wished I hadn't.

I solved that problem. I have long hair. But never a pony tail like Zeke <<<<

 

[Grimpala]

My wife worked in a beauty salon and told me that protocol was that operators (most lease their stations) get tips but the owner does not even if working a station. She says this is the expected way. So, I go into a one man barber shop and what am I supposed to do? Well, I tipped the guy even though the haircut wasn't great. I always wished I hadn't.

I solved that problem. I have long hair. But never a pony tail like Zeke <<<<

I tip my barber. The cut is $16 and it's a mix of both; I like Randy and don't mind the extra $4 and I don't want 4 singles in my pocket. I never have cash unless I've grabbed a twenty from the safe on the way to the barber.

 

[kwb]

I do a bit of handyman sort of stuff from time to time. I know I am often undercharging compared to most but it keeps me active, makes a reasonable rate of return for my time and materials.

I have gotten tips which are always appreciated but never expected.

When (and it is rare) I have work done on the house - always try to provide lunch, drinks, etc. and have the site as ready as possible for them to get in and get the work done. While I am trying to be a good customer it also isn't without reasons. If I feed them they tend to get back to work sooner than if they wander off to get lunch somewhere. If I have the site prepped for them that lets them do the skilled work that I either can't do or don't want to do and should be a faster turnaround to get the job done. For a fixed bid - they make a bit more, for time and materials I pay a bit less.

 

[LeonardY]

I had my HVAC replaced. I set out bottled water for them.
I asked the owner what the guys would like for lunch. He told me not to worry about it. A little later one of the guys handed me his phone and it was the owner. He asked if I would like a steak sandwich. I said sure and I would pay for the guys lunch. His response was "Don't worry about it."
He came back with lunch for everyone and I tried to give him money to pay for the lunch. He said, "I'm treating you because you hired us."
It's been several years and he always contacts me with a thanks for referrals. I don't mention the lunch in the referrals.

 

[rharman]

We tipped the two worker guys who replaced our HVAC $100 each. Crawling around in the attic for 3-days? Absolutely. And, they really did a nice job - cleaned up every day, answered all my questions, etc. I did ask the owner first if it was OK. He's been my HVAC guy for years.

We had a plumber out to replace a dozen angle stops under the sinks. He worked fast & clean. Bumped up against a sink drain in the laundry room and cracked the PVC tail piece. Came right to me, explained it, and said he was leaving to get the parts as he didn't have the low-profile 90° piece on the truck. No charge for that repair. I tipped him $20 - "Buy yourself lunch".

I won't tip the owner though. He makes his money on the overall job.

 

[MBfreak]

Being my own crafts guy, I do not tip myself.
But if SO is well pleased I usually get a nice rhubarb pie with coffee when the work is done.

Ola

 

[Walkers]

I hire subcontractors from time to time when I work beyond what I can do. Often I am there to oversee the job. I will frequently drop off a cooler of water/Gatorade and keep it stocked for the duration of the job. I will also frequently buy lunch for the crew. Keeping them onsite and happy results in quicker, higher quality work. Usually the jobs don’t last for more than 4-5 days, but generally they are done in a day.

 

[CN Spots]

I tip the septic pumper guy. Gotta keep him happy.

 

[gmcgeo]

I use to get tipped every once in a while, however i never thought it would happen. nor did i look forward to a tip.

I got paid well at my job. but when i did get a tip i felt good about it

 

[rayra]

I tipped the movers, but not the tradespeople who worked on the house or my detached garage.
I wouldn't say you're wrong for it because I'm having a hard time distinguishing what they do from what other tipped employees do. They are providing labor to provide a service to you personally. The level of effort/skill they expend directly impacts what you get out of the interaction.
That's not unlike a bartender, hair care professional, taxi driver, restaurant server, tour guide, or housecleaner and I certainly would expect to tip any of those people. OTOH, I would not tip a flight attendant, pilot, college professor, or bus driver and it seems those professions have the same traits.

You seem to be conflating body services with the creation of durable goods.

And the OP, did they make a quilt or flower arrangement for you? Don't you mean Trades, rather than Crafts?

The 'tip' is built into their building rates / markup.

 

[Monza Harry]

I feel that tipping is WAY out of control when the debit/CC machine asks for a tip and it starts at 15% [and up to 30%] in a restaurant for a meal that is more often than not not well prepared/correct and we were poorly served eg; I get a water and a pop and I'm trying to eat my meal and no refills were offered on either during the whole meal, and the machine "suggests a 30% tip on an $80 meal, I'm hesitant to pay a lousy waitress $80+ an hour! I have worked in restaurants and have asked wait staff their table numbers etc. then done the math and if we all fell for the suggested tips they all would be earning those numbers [maybe more! I realize that those numbers apply to Friday and Saturday Prime time only but still most of that is tax evaded. Also I know from my personal experience [5+ years], that is NOT shared with the cook/dish/busing staff, whom often make the real difference in the wait staffs tips. Now I hired a friend to help with a roofing project and we talked money, he "KICKED ***" and we were finished in less than 1/2 of the time my previous helper and I were, He ended up with double the money discussed. So perceived work verses their pricing and extras should be your guide, Plumbers, electricians, are typically well paid to begin with, roofers, construction people (variable within the separate and the trade(s) itself that one is) waiters, haircare etc. not so much [lots in the minimum $ range]. But if your barber is driving a 2 year old (or less) Beemer/Benz etc. (?) then your guess is as good as mine. Harry