Having new windows installed in my home. Does one normally give a tip to the installers? Ed
TIPPING?
- Thread starter Eddie
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I wouldnt tip but id offer them a drink and a sandwich
I actually worked in that field( home construction/remodeling/finish carpentry/etc... )right before I got sick and had to stop working. Had I not got sick I would still be in business with my Brother doing just that. No, you do not tip for work done( ever ).
If the installer/carpenter acts like they expect it they are not someone I would ever deal with again. A simple thank you and nice job, assuming they did actually good job( not a given ), is all you need do and all they should hope for. If you want to offer a cold or hot drink( depends on weather )that is something nice to do but not mandatory.
Lunch is nice too but I would only do that for someone who has worked a long time on the project vs just a day or two. Maybe do it as a thank you for a person and/or crew who worked extra long hours and extra hard to get the project done on a tight deadline or something like that. My Brother and I( the finish carpenters )worked 3 weeks straight once and 14+ hours a day to get a huge new house project done along with all the other contractors( plumber, electrician, heat guy, tile guy, etc... ). It was a NIGHTMARE! I have never been so tired and glad a project was over as I was when we loaded up our tools and left on that last day.
The homeowner bought everyone a nice lunch on the final day as a thank you for all our above and beyond work and for getting the house done on schedule( they actually were PITA's who kept adding/changing things on us and yet still wanted it done in the same time frame ). Only time I ever accepted anything beyond the agreed to payment.
IMO people in that field make more than enough money if they bill properly that tipping is just not required. Obviously it is your money and do what you want but tipping should not be something you feel compelled to do. It is not the norm in that field. I would almost never even consider, nor expect or accept, monetary tips for that kind of work.
If the installer/carpenter acts like they expect it they are not someone I would ever deal with again. A simple thank you and nice job, assuming they did actually good job( not a given ), is all you need do and all they should hope for. If you want to offer a cold or hot drink( depends on weather )that is something nice to do but not mandatory.
Lunch is nice too but I would only do that for someone who has worked a long time on the project vs just a day or two. Maybe do it as a thank you for a person and/or crew who worked extra long hours and extra hard to get the project done on a tight deadline or something like that. My Brother and I( the finish carpenters )worked 3 weeks straight once and 14+ hours a day to get a huge new house project done along with all the other contractors( plumber, electrician, heat guy, tile guy, etc... ). It was a NIGHTMARE! I have never been so tired and glad a project was over as I was when we loaded up our tools and left on that last day.
The homeowner bought everyone a nice lunch on the final day as a thank you for all our above and beyond work and for getting the house done on schedule( they actually were PITA's who kept adding/changing things on us and yet still wanted it done in the same time frame ). Only time I ever accepted anything beyond the agreed to payment.
IMO people in that field make more than enough money if they bill properly that tipping is just not required. Obviously it is your money and do what you want but tipping should not be something you feel compelled to do. It is not the norm in that field. I would almost never even consider, nor expect or accept, monetary tips for that kind of work.
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Depends on the crew, but I might offer them coffee in the morning and a cold six-pack at the end of the day. And, I agree that they like to show off their work--if they don't you probably won't like the job.
Originally Posted By: Eddie
Having new windows installed in my home. Does one normally give a tip to the installers? Ed
I have a few customers who tip my guys. One of my best customers, a great guy gives the men a tip when they walk in the door. The logic behind it is quite simple and quite smart, he feels he'll get a better job that way. The guys are really stoked because it is always a nice crisp $100 bill to each man on the larger projects. Giving them money after the job is done is a nice gesture, but the job is already done. He's a psychiatrist and explained the psychology behind it when I thanked him on their behalf.
Having new windows installed in my home. Does one normally give a tip to the installers? Ed
I have a few customers who tip my guys. One of my best customers, a great guy gives the men a tip when they walk in the door. The logic behind it is quite simple and quite smart, he feels he'll get a better job that way. The guys are really stoked because it is always a nice crisp $100 bill to each man on the larger projects. Giving them money after the job is done is a nice gesture, but the job is already done. He's a psychiatrist and explained the psychology behind it when I thanked him on their behalf.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
Look impressed when they're done. FIL is a carpenter and he loves when people drool over his work. Craftsmen gotta feel appreciated.
Big difference between high quality craftsmanship and idiot contractors doing [censored] work.
Look impressed when they're done. FIL is a carpenter and he loves when people drool over his work. Craftsmen gotta feel appreciated.
Big difference between high quality craftsmanship and idiot contractors doing [censored] work.
For just windows? No. However, when we had our current home built, almost every Friday at noon we grilled up some lunch for everyone on the job site. Especially since we're relatively rural, it was a gesture that was appreciated by all.
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Originally Posted By: rickmeseke
I wouldnt tip but id offer them a drink and a sandwich
+1. Id offer them drinks and ask what they need at the start, then lunch, and only give some cash at the end if they really went over and above. Key is to make them feel welcome and like youre interested in them at the start, not the end. Then theyll be more careful throughout.
I wouldnt tip but id offer them a drink and a sandwich
+1. Id offer them drinks and ask what they need at the start, then lunch, and only give some cash at the end if they really went over and above. Key is to make them feel welcome and like youre interested in them at the start, not the end. Then theyll be more careful throughout.
A cup of coffee and a cold drink go along way, lunch OMG! You'd be surprised how many people treat workers in their homes like they're animals.
Lots of time I have no idea the exact quality of the work completed until I've had days, weeks, or months to test/utilize the product under all conditions. What looks good on day 1, is often a nightmare 30 days later, or as the warranty runs out. I'd feel doubly bad if I had tipped them as well for a job "well done." With windows, are you sure they are wind, rain, and weather tight? That's the real litmus test. What if you just had several sky lights replaced?
So for this 3-4 hour job, I will offer some soda, coffee etc. Ed
Yeah thats fine for a 3-4hr job. Water bottles is always nice.
Originally Posted By: Eddie
Having new windows installed in my home. Does one normally give a tip to the installers? Ed
I did when I had 24-25 windows & patio doors in my former house replaced 15-16 years ago. I tipped each one of a crew of 4 $50.
They did better job than I expected(may be I didn't expect much), they also re-screen the garage side door without charge. May be it was a hot day and they sweat like crazy so I felt a little guilty.
Having new windows installed in my home. Does one normally give a tip to the installers? Ed
I did when I had 24-25 windows & patio doors in my former house replaced 15-16 years ago. I tipped each one of a crew of 4 $50.
They did better job than I expected(may be I didn't expect much), they also re-screen the garage side door without charge. May be it was a hot day and they sweat like crazy so I felt a little guilty.
I don't know how many windows you have or how long the install will take, but as noted, perhaps offer them some drinks, snacks or sandwiches, and if you allow it, tell them that using your bathroom is okay and point out exactly which one is okay to use.
My wife typically makes tradesman coffee at estimates and on the job with baked goods. They enjoy that and her and the price seems adjusted typically.
Originally Posted By: Kruse
tell them that using your bathroom is okay and point out exactly which one is okay to use.
THIS ^^^ would be far more appreciated by me than a monetary tip! Many homeowners do not allow workers to use the facilities and it can be an issue on an all day job or even a 1/2 day job. Especially when you are in a place where you can't just duck behind something to go and/or it is a long drive to get somewhere that you can. Being able to go at the project is a real bonus.
Just be prepared if you do for "some" of them to be real slobs and make a mess of the bathroom. Some of the guys I have worked with wouldn't be allowed inside my dog kennel they are such slobs. I always cleaned my feet before going in the house and made sure not to mess up the bathroom in anyway when we had a homeowner who was kind of enough to allow us in. My Brother and I even kept towels in the tool trailer just in case and we would bring them with us to wipe our hands after washing so we didn't ruin the homeowners towels with construction related dirt and debris( that or wash hands outside at a spigot before going in ).
This is one that will be( or should be )appreciated very much by the crew. Great addition to the post Kruse.
tell them that using your bathroom is okay and point out exactly which one is okay to use.
THIS ^^^ would be far more appreciated by me than a monetary tip! Many homeowners do not allow workers to use the facilities and it can be an issue on an all day job or even a 1/2 day job. Especially when you are in a place where you can't just duck behind something to go and/or it is a long drive to get somewhere that you can. Being able to go at the project is a real bonus.
Just be prepared if you do for "some" of them to be real slobs and make a mess of the bathroom. Some of the guys I have worked with wouldn't be allowed inside my dog kennel they are such slobs. I always cleaned my feet before going in the house and made sure not to mess up the bathroom in anyway when we had a homeowner who was kind of enough to allow us in. My Brother and I even kept towels in the tool trailer just in case and we would bring them with us to wipe our hands after washing so we didn't ruin the homeowners towels with construction related dirt and debris( that or wash hands outside at a spigot before going in ).
This is one that will be( or should be )appreciated very much by the crew. Great addition to the post Kruse.
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