Tipping Question

[Spectreron]

Do you tip your yard, pool, trimming, etc. people?

[Yung Dum]

I tip my pool guy at Christmas. Yard guys -No.

[patfla06]

At our Tampa house we tip:
Pool guy
Lawn guy
Bug guy
Cleaning lady
Newspaper guy

In T.V. I don't know yet.
I would like to cut down on some of this.
I won't need a cleaning lady in T.V.! :)

[DougB]

At my Melbourne home, I tip everyone. In TV my wife and I do it all ourselves.

[PaPaLarry]

We usually give our lawn people a cold beer each time they come. Now they come later in day, when they are either through or almost through for the day. Nothing like a real cold beer after work!! The others, we give Christmas tip or present.

[Russ_Boston]

Just curious - since none of the people mentioned get tip wages (i.e. less than standard minimum wage like a food server) why would they get a tip?

Should you tip your cashier at Publix? Should you tip the receptionist at your doctor's office?

Better yet - should you tip your wonderful RN at The Villages Hospital Medical floor day shift: :) :)

Don't get me wrong - if you've got the cash to tip - tip away! But where does it end?

[FoPAA]

Us lawn guys love the Christmas bonuses, I say, if you can afford it, you should tip all your service folks. Don't forget the trash man, not the company, the guys that actually picks your trash up.

So how do people actually tip the garbage men? I have no intention of getting up before dawn to greet them with an envelope in my hand!

[olgreeneyes]

I'm with you Russ. In my job, only the workers that came in contact with the public got Christmas tips, while us insiders worked just as hard, and mostly midnights.
We personally give a small gift, usually food related, to the people that go out of their way to be helpful. If someone is performing their job and are getting paid to do so, why would you tip them extra?

[Bogie Shooter]

I tape it on top of the can with a big "THANK YOU!" written on the envelope.

Do you tip every week? I have a different crew all the time.

[ilovetv]

Just curious - since none of the people mentioned get tip wages (i.e. less than standard minimum wage like a food server) why would they get a tip?

Should you tip your cashier at Publix? Should you tip the receptionist at your doctor's office?

Better yet - should you tip your wonderful RN at The Villages Hospital Medical floor day shift: :) :)

Don't get me wrong - if you've got the cash to tip - tip away! But where does it end?

I agree. And most of our landscaping/tree trimming guys are the owner/operator who uses what we pay as he sees fit.

I do tip furniture movers who have made deliveries or pick up things to take to consignment store.....it's a relief to get big things moved easily and quickly.

[Russ_Boston]

I do tip furniture movers who have made deliveries or pick up things to take to consignment store.....it's a relief to get big things moved easily and quickly.

Yes I do usually tip drivers to my house (pizza - furniture etc.) because I believe their pay is kept low knowing most people tip.

I could have different garbage men each week as far as I know - never really noticed.

I did have one patient who gave me $10. I insisted that I couldn't take it but he shoved it in my pocket (literally shoved it in my pocket!). So I gave it to an aid who does collections for her church charity work.

[BobnBev]

I'm with you Russ. In my job, only the workers that came in contact with the public got Christmas tips, while us insiders worked just as hard, and mostly midnights.
We personally give a small gift, usually food related, to the people that go out of their way to be helpful. If someone is performing their job and are getting paid to do so, why would you tip them extra?

People will generally "go the extra mile" for you if you are a good tipper.

For instance, say an animal tears open your garbage bag and makes a mess.
A good tipper will be remembered and the mess cleaned up, or if the lawn guy
sees a broken window at the rear of your house, he will make you aware of it.

Nuff said.:ho:

[ilovetv]

I'm all for tipping if the workers (like restaurant servers) are getting state tipped minimum wage of $4.77 per hour. (see http://www.floridajobs.org/minimumwage/announcement_2013.pdf )

If it's an owner/operator doing the yard work etc., I assume his fees charged us are enough to pay himself well.

I wish somebody would clarify once and for all what size tip (if any) should be given to a beauty salon owner or manager who does my hair. I tip employee stylists, but when it's the owner/manager doing my hair and charging over $100 for color, cut, and styling, I cannot see tipping them (but I do to be on the safe side). I wonder every time about this.

[redwitch]

You tip them extra if they've gone the extra mile for you IMO. I don't tip professionals such as nurses or owners of lawn care companies, seems like it would be an insult to them plus they make well above the minimum wasge. When I had emergency surgery at TVH, I dropped by after and left some goodies for the nurses to enjoy to thank them for their great care. I will tip the actual guys who do the lawn work -- minimum wage is what they get and, during the winter months, that amount is drastically reduced as hours go down (yet the owner still manages to charge full rate for cutting).

My tip list includes the folks at the postal mail boxes. They are all subcontractors and have to bid so low to get the job they don't even make minimum wage. My mail lady goes out of her way for me, so I not only give her a small tip at Christmas but an occasional thank you tip when she drops something at the house for me that won't fit in my box. She certainly deserves the thanks.

And maybe that should be the rule of thumb -- if someone deserves a special thank you, give it to them. I'll also tip or gift at Christmas for jobs that you can't pay me to do like garbage pickup. Whether that thanks be in the way of a note to their supervisor (works great for grocery checkers and retail store clerks) or a monetary gift. Let people know they're appreciated, it makes them (and you) feel good and almost always guarantees extra service when needed.

[Russ_Boston]

When I had emergency surgery at TVH, I dropped by after and left some goodies for the nurses to enjoy to thank them for their great care.

A practice that we highly encourage:)

[Shimpy]

Just curious - since none of the people mentioned get tip wages (i.e. less than standard minimum wage like a food server) why would they get a tip?

Should you tip your cashier at Publix? Should you tip the receptionist at your doctor's office?

Better yet - should you tip your wonderful RN at The Villages Hospital Medical floor day shift: :) :)

Don't get me wrong - if you've got the cash to tip - tip away! But where does it end?

I agree. I once went into a supermarket and they had a tip jar at the meat counter. Also several pizza places have a tip jar where you pick up a pizza which you called in for.

[CraigAC]

I'm all for tipping if the workers (like restaurant servers) are getting state tipped minimum wage of $4.77 per hour. (see http://www.floridajobs.org/minimumwage/announcement_2013.pdf )

If it's an owner/operator doing the yard work etc., I assume his fees charged us are enough to pay himself well.

I wish somebody would clarify once and for all what size tip (if any) should be given to a beauty salon owner or manager who does my hair. I tip employee stylists, but when it's the owner/manager doing my hair and charging over $100 for color, cut, and styling, I cannot see tipping them (but I do to be on the safe side). I wonder every time about this.



Good idea to tip your hair stylist. I've seen a few Villagers with blue hair and always wondered if that was a result of someone forgetting to tip on their last visit.

[JSR22]

I received the yearly bill for $60 for the Sun. There is a line to add a tip. Is $1.00 a week ($52) a decent amount? The Delivery is so reliable I want to make sure I am doing the right thing.

[Russ_Boston]

I received the yearly bill for $60 for the Sun. There is a line to add a tip. Is $1.00 a week ($52) a decent amount? The Delivery is so reliable I want to make sure I am doing the right thing.

As a former paper boy forever - yes $1 a week seems right.

[justjim]

I was a paper boy---never got a tip that big but more power to the paper boys/girls! My general rule is 20% ---maybe because it's easy to figure.

[Barefoot]

I wish somebody would clarify once and for all what size tip (if any) should be given to a beauty salon owner or manager who does my hair. .. I wonder every time about this.

I always thought the amount of tip depends on how pleasant and co-operative the beautician was, and how happy you are with the final result.

[CFrance]

We tip the garbage collectors at Christmas by leaving a case of beer on top of the can. Maybe since there are no cans in TV we should camoflage it in a garbage bag. We tip the mailman. he goes out of the way for us.

I tip the hairdresser 25% (I've read that is the correct percentage) and give $5 to the person who washes my hair. No Christmas tip because it seems like a lot of $ every month.

I tipped the UPS guy in MI because he was there so much, and always left treats for the dog. Lots of times I would come home to find the dog parked at the glass front door, staring at the package on the porch with a treat on top of it.

[Suzi]

I have been told the postal workers cannot accept $$$. In MIchigan I give my mail person vouchers for car washes he can enjoy anytime he decides. My hairdresser always gets a NICE gift (something I know she would love but not buy for herself). Nail tech gets a Starbucks gift card. I never tip the garbage persons. Small tip to the paper person. I have a young college student that works at the gas station who will always fill up my tank. Always give him (and his predecessors) an envelope....kids are freezing and I don't have to....besides they can use the $$$for a gift for their mom !

[redwitch]

I have been told the postal workers cannot accept $$$. In MIchigan I give my mail person vouchers for car washes he can enjoy anytime he decides.

Federal employees cannot receive tips or gifts. However, the folks that work in the mail drops for each village here are not federal employees. They bid for the jobs and are considered independent agents/self-employed and, thus, receive no benefits, no overtime, no perks of being a government employee. It ain't just the private sector that finds ways to short-change employees.

[PaPaLarry]

Federal employees cannot receive tips or gifts. However, the folks that work in the mail drops for each village here are not federal employees. They bid for the jobs and are considered independent agents/self-employed and, thus, receive no benefits, no overtime, no perks of being a government employee. It ain't just the private sector that finds ways to short-change employees.
I always tipped my Letter Carrier, regardless if he's a Federal Worker. Prompt and reliable service means a lot to me, plus he always left packages with neighbor if I wasn't home. Now, here in The Villages, I tip my Mail delivery person at Christmas. They hold your mail for you, when you go away for a few days or so. I even get their cell phone number, in case I need to call them in an emergency.

[CFrance]

I always tipped my Letter Carrier, regardless if he's a Federal Worker. Prompt and reliable service means a lot to me, plus he always left packages with neighbor if I wasn't home. Now, here in The Villages, I tip my Mail delivery person at Christmas. They hold your mail for you, when you go away for a few days or so. I even get their cell (Acase I need to call them in an emergency.

It is always nice to remember your postal worker, even if it's illegal. We send gift cards to their home address. Who's to say where it came from or why? Our mail carrier in MI was a gem. Never failed to properly forward mail, brought treats for the dog, caught any errors we made in the forwarding process, and even helped post posters for a neighbor's runaway dog. And found him! When she retired, we threw a big "route" party for her.

Our postman here does much the same.I know his address too.