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really dumb question

13 years ago

I'm having hardwood flooring installed this week. We got the quote for both the hardwood and its installation from a retailer who then has a private contractor do the installation. This is my dumb question - do I tip the guys installing my floor? I never know about this stuff! When people deliver furniture, I tip, and these guys are doing a heck of a lot more work than that.

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Comments (8)

dawnp
13 years ago
I definitely don't think you have to. They are being paid by their contractor.

Sometimes, if I like the guys and they do a really good job I tip them.

I don't think it is expected.
hudsonleigh
13 years ago
I agree -- I don't think you have to tip the installer.
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nanny2a
13 years ago
When our floors were done, the flooring guys helped me move some heavy pieces of furniture ,(which we were supposed to do). They also went out of their way to accommodate my schedule, as I insisted on being there all the time they were laying the floor, but had to leave a few times because of other appointments. Because they were so accommodating, and worked after business hours twice while doing the work, I did give the installers a tip. It wasn't necessary, but I felt they'd bent over backward to do a great job, work with MY schedule, and they cleaned up so well afterward that I didn't have to do ANY cleaning. That, in itself, deserved a tip, because the process left a LOT of wood dust.
drybean
13 years ago
We just had hw floors installed, and it didn't occur to me to leave a tip. They didn't act like they expected one, either.
If they had helped me move furniture, or gone out of their way to accomodate my schedule (worked on weekend, etc.) , then I probably would have.
orh1024
Original Author
13 years ago
okay - well, they are moving furniture, although we are being charged $75 a room for them to do that (and we don't have a lot of furniture at all). For those that did tip, was it a percentage of the total job or just $50 a person or something like that?
sashasmommy
13 years ago
We weren't even home when the installers put our floor in. I saw one guy the first day just to let him in the house and I gave him a key (house was empty at the time), and never saw any of them again. So, no, we didn't tip, but I told my husband to pay them a little extra when he sent the payment because they did go out of their way a bit, though I'm not sure he remembered to do it. But, we recommended them to someone who is having their floors done, so they got some business out of us.
missmary - 6b/Central Maryland
13 years ago
I tend to be a tipper. There are reasons... plus, it's just who I am. I think everyone has to find their own comfort zone in this, and be true to themselves.

Having said that... I usually tip deliverymen. I don't tip skilled tradesmen like electricians or plumbers, and I don't tip owners of companies if they perform a service (my exterminator owns his business).

I usually don't tip more than $20 or $25 per person for a big installation or lengthy job (like rug installers). If it's a short, quick, in and out delivery, I tip $5 or $10 per person.

I say as I give them their tip, "thank you for your ____(fill in the blank: "work", "help", "being careful", etc.)____. Sometimes I wish I could give more, but I don't or can't. So, sometimes I'll say that. I don't explain "why" it's not more, I just make the statement, "I wish it could be more". Sometimes I say "Maybe you can buy lunch with it", or something like that. So, then they realize that that it's like I did buy them lunch, or dinner.

Rarely do these service or repair people seem disappointed. They are usually very thankful.

There are probably as many different ideas, opinions, and ways to do this as there are people. I've found what I'm comfortable with, and I hope it helps you find your comfort zone, too.
kathleenca
13 years ago
Sometimes, if a tip doesn't seem to be right, I'll buy doughnuts to "start the day off right."

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