Christmas Tipping - what do you do? (Portland: rent, how much)

[sayulita]

On occasion in this forum, I've read about folks tipping various service personnel at Christmas. I'd like to know what folks in Portland do. Is it mainly an East coast thing? I personally hate the idea of it and don't think its customary here, but I could be wrong. Who do you tip and how much? Garbage haulers, mail carriers, paper deliverer, building managers/superintendents, etc?

[Xanathos]

Garbageman: Part of a union, average salary from what I understand is in the 40-55k a year range. They don't even have to leave the truck to do their job anymore. They don't need a tip.

Postal carrier: Part of a union, average salary from what I understand is in the 50-60k a year range. If the conditions are harsh, they take the day off. They don't need a tip.

Paper deliverer: Back when it was a kid on a bicycle, I would give him something. Now it's some 40 year old guy in a truck who keeps putting a paper on my driveway that I don't even ask for, making me go out to grab it just so I can throw it in the trash. He doesn't need a tip.

Supers: Own a house, so don't have one. I wouldn't tip a landlord, though. I mean, that's what you're paying rent for.

I don't think Christmas tipping is an East Coast thing or any other thing. I think it's largely something that doesn't happen nearly as often as some would like you to think as they attempt to make it some sort of social standard. Much like waiters who try and claim a customary tip for a meal is 25% these days.

[Daisy32673]

Originally Posted by sayulita

On occasion in this forum, I've read about folks tipping various service personnel at Christmas. I'd like to know what folks in Portland do. Is it mainly an East coast thing? I personally hate the idea of it and don't think its customary here, but I could be wrong. Who do you tip and how much? Garbage haulers, mail carriers, paper deliverer, building managers/superintendents, etc?

I worked in the service industry (bartender) for years and do not think its customary (but definitely a nice gesture!) to tip the above mentioned service positions - in PDX at least. I am curious to see what other Portlanders say. I think the whole idea of tipping has gotten completely out fo control. It seems everyone, everywhere has a tip jar set out.

[Xanathos]

Originally Posted by Daisy32673

I worked in the service industry (bartender) for years and do not think its customary (but definitely a nice gesture!) to tip the above mentioned service positions - in PDX at least. I am curious to see what other Portlanders say. I think the whole idea of tipping has gotten completely out fo control. It seems everyone, everywhere has a tip jar set out.

Now see, you do a worthwhile thing in terms of getting a tip. Make me a great gimlet, and you get a couple of bucks...times however many I drink. Concoct something truly special for me and you'll get as much as 50. What you do is an art form. Pushing a button from the inside of a garbage truck and letting some machine lift a trash can to dump it is not.

[WeebleWobble]

+1 on Xanathos' comments although, my old roommate used to tip the gas attendants a couple of bucks around the holidays. Although he was making very good money at the time. It certainly isn't a requirement.

[sayulita]

When I said it might be an East coast thing, I think I meant New York. I've read several times about tipping the doorman, the superintendent, newspaper and postal carriers in New York City. And whenever I get my Oregonian bill, there's a line to add a tip. I've lived here for 35 years and have occasionally read something about people tipping here. I'm used to tipping food service workers, but I agree that it has gotten out of hand. I just wanted to know if I'm committing some sort of terrible faux pas by not tipping other service sector workers. They DO get paid a fair wage and really, aren't most jobs "service" related? I'm really interested to see other comments.

[Xanathos]

Originally Posted by sayulita

When I said it might be an East coast thing, I think I meant New York. I've read several times about tipping the doorman, the superintendent, newspaper and postal carriers in New York City. And whenever I get my Oregonian bill, there's a line to add a tip. I've lived here for 35 years and have occasionally read something about people tipping here. I'm used to tipping food service workers, but I agree that it has gotten out of hand. I just wanted to know if I'm committing some sort of terrible faux pas by not tipping other service sector workers. They DO get paid a fair wage and really, aren't most jobs "service" related? I'm really interested to see other comments.

Always tip your doorman. For a multitude of reasons. Your doorman hails cabs for you. Your doorman helps you with your bags when you're overburdened. Your doorman has connections to get you the best restaurant reservations or hard-to-get show tickets for that hot date you've got coming up - so long as he likes you and you take the time to talk to him as a person as opposed to looking at him like he's a piece of furniture outside the lobby. When I lived in New York, I would regularly bring my doorman chocolates or hot chocolate or yes, some dead presidents. That's quid pro quo. He took care of me, so I took care of him. After all, all he HAD to do was open the door for me or hand me my mail.

[Nell Plotts]

A tip should be for extra service so if the garbage man has done something beyond what it routine tip them immediately (they may not be on your route during the holidays). I have tipped caregivers in a nursing home who, again, were special.. they are low wage and that could make their holiday nicer. Postal workers are well paid, tips are not customary in Oregon.

We may tip our building staff at holidays (first year with that issue).

[iamscott]

It is way out of hand how everyone expects a tip, we should never tip someone for doing a job they are already paid for. The only time I will ever tip is if I am at a nice restaurant and they go above and beyond what is expected from them in terms of great service.

[sayulita]

Originally Posted by Xanathos

Always tip your doorman. For a multitude of reasons. Your doorman hails cabs for you. Your doorman helps you with your bags when you're overburdened. Your doorman has connections to get you the best restaurant reservations or hard-to-get show tickets for that hot date you've got coming up - so long as he likes you and you take the time to talk to him as a person as opposed to looking at him like he's a piece of furniture outside the lobby. When I lived in New York, I would regularly bring my doorman chocolates or hot chocolate or yes, some dead presidents. That's quid pro quo. He took care of me, so I took care of him. After all, all he HAD to do was open the door for me or hand me my mail.

Except we don't have doormen here. Or taxis to hail. Or hard-to-get tickets. Just the larger hotels have doormen as far as I know. It must have been nice to have them in NYC.