Tipping Revisited (insurance, inspections, income)

[xbure9x]

I know there was a thread a while back about tipping, but that mostly was referring to mail carriers, UPS drivers, etc., but I have a question about a different kind of tipping.

what is the consensus here on tipping people that perform a service for you that are in fact making the money on the job for themselves, not working for someone? for instance, you know a plumber who is in business for himself and works for himself, does he need to be tipped on a job? Or a guy that does carpeting who does all the work by himself, should he be tipped? I am of the opinion that they do not need to be tipped extra above the job price because they are getting all the money for themselves to begin with. In the case of a carpet guy who works for a carpet company, then yes, I would tip them and anyone else who works for someone else, but I feel people who work for themselves do not need to be tipped. My wife thinks they should get a tip anyway.

Discuss. thanks

[corky101]

This is what I go by; if it's their company you don't tip them, since the money all goes to them. However, if they go above and beyond the call of duty, then a nice thank you is in order. For example, we had our oil guy come to fix the oil burner (emergancy) on New Year's Eve, so I got him a gift certificate to a restaruant with a nice thank you note.

[totallyfrazzled]

I was raised with the philosophy that "one does not tip the owner". The logic being that the owner is already receiving all of the business's gross income for the specific job being done. So in the case of the one-man business such as the plumber, for instance, then no the owner/operator should not be tipped. Just MHO.

Here's an analogy: Does anyone tip their doctor, no matter how good of a doctor he or she is? Never. Because it's the same situation: The doctor is an owner/operator of a service/business that you chose to utilize and for which that medical "business" is getting paid, either by you personally or by a combination of you and the insurance coverage which you pay for.

[I_Love_LI_but]

Originally Posted by xbure9x

I know there was a thread a while back about tipping, but that mostly was referring to mail carriers, UPS drivers, etc., but I have a question about a different kind of tipping.

what is the consensus here on tipping people that perform a service for you that are in fact making the money on the job for themselves, not working for someone? for instance, you know a plumber who is in business for himself and works for himself, does he need to be tipped on a job? Or a guy that does carpeting who does all the work by himself, should he be tipped? I am of the opinion that they do not need to be tipped extra above the job price because they are getting all the money for themselves to begin with. In the case of a carpet guy who works for a carpet company, then yes, I would tip them and anyone else who works for someone else, but I feel people who work for themselves do not need to be tipped. My wife thinks they should get a tip anyway.


Discuss. thanks

I agree with your point of view.

[Kbinspections]

There is no need to tip an owner. The best tip you can give is a referral of family and friends to that owner.

[daveyjones978]

Originally Posted by Kbinspections

There is no need to tip an owner. The best tip you can give is a referral of family and friends to that owner.

Agreed.. I recently had a plumber come and do work at my house. $700 dollars later, I finally had my plumbing up and running (and some additional holes in my kitchen wall that I had to patch up at a later date). Although the guy was absolutely awesome, I didn't feel that I had to go above and beyond payment for his services - he came to do the job that was needed to be done.

However, anytime anyone has a plumbing problem, I refer this guy first and foremost.. I'd have to guess he's gotten at least a few hundred dollars of new business from my referral alone.. I think that's better than a one-time tip.

[nancy thereader]

I really never considered tipping the electrician or plumber. They are there to do a service for which they are well compensated. It is not like the newspaper or Chinese delivery guy .

[Chrisk327]

Not all doctors are owners, especially in larger practices, they can get paid just like everyone else.

I personally don't think tipping tradesman is appropriate. Certian jobs tips are "encorporated" into their compensation, hairdresser, delivery people, newspaper. As far as I'm concerned, everyone else gets a nice thank you.

[S.I.B.]

I take it on a case by case basis. When the cable guy came, he was up in my cramped and uncomfortable attic on a hot day (100+ degrees) for a while running cable, so I felt he deserved a little something "extra". On the other hand, when I had my carpet installed, the guys left a mess (small remnants and packaging) laying around so I didn't give them anything.

My Newsday delivery guy is always including envelopes asking for tips, but this idiot throws the paper under my car 2-3 times a week. My NY times guy, however, manages to get the paper on my doorstep every day. Obviously the NY Times guy is getting a tip and Newsday guy gets nada.

[nancy thereader]

My Newsday delivery guy is always including envelopes asking for tips, but this idiot throws the paper under my car 2-3 times a week. My NY times guy

I thought I was the only one who got those two papers everyday.