So...I just read on abcnews.com that I'm supposed to tip my garbage collector for Christmas.

From what I understand it's a team of people...they come at 6am on Wednesday mornings. I have no idea if it's the same team every time (I assume so). Am I supposed to tape an envelope on my garbage can and have them split it?

Does anyone else tip their garbage men? It seems kind of odd to me.

that seems kinda odd. i'd always understood that garbagemen did relatively well. not that that disqualifies them from being tipped, but it also doesn't really seem like a job you tip for. especially as it's a constantly rotating team of guys...

I think this needs a poll. I've never heard of tipping my garbage collectors.


(For that matter, I don't think I could -- they drive by in an automatic truck with an arm that grabs the garbage bin and dumps it into the truck, how would I get them a tip?)

I'm still mad at them for breaking the handle off one of my barrels.

I've heard of it, just as I've heard of tipping: Postmen, exterminators, and most any other regular (weekly/monthly) service workers.

That said, I'd sooner tip my trash collectors into the back of their truck than give them cash as the service here sucks pretty bad.

Exterminators?

Exterminators?

Yeah, if you have regular monthly service. Around here that's pretty much a must thing unless you'd like to be carried away in your sleep by Palmetto Bugs.
(think giant ass cockroach looking things aka a "cockroach with a license plate".).

I think this needs a poll. I've never heard of tipping my garbage collectors.


(For that matter, I don't think I could -- they drive by in an automatic truck with an arm that grabs the garbage bin and dumps it into the truck, how would I get them a tip?)
Same here, but our collectors move our trash can to the automatic truck arm thingy and then bring it back to our driveway. Again, I haven't a clue about this one, though I didn't tip them last year and haven't had a single horse head in my bed, so I have that going for me.

Yeah, if you have regular monthly service. Around here that's pretty much a must thing unless you'd like to be carried away in your sleep by Palmetto Bugs.
(think giant ass cockroach looking things aka a "cockroach with a license plate".).
Makes me want to move to Georgia;)

Makes me want to move to Georgia;)
Oh, and those Palmetto bugs can fly, too. Yeah....that's fair.

I hope this thread doesn't become a Raiders Army/JeeberD tipping debate. Well actually this would make the thread more interesting.

Raiders Army/JeeberD tipping debate.

Is that like cow-tipping?

Everyone should factor circumstances into tipping situations. Im stuck in an area where my Postal Carrier is different 5 of the 6 days per week. We used to have a regular Carrier but 3 years ago it changed and now its different nearly every day. I see the same person 1 day per week. So my mail comes between 9am and 4pm.....never regular, I hate it. I cant tip in a situation like that.

Nice Guy Eddie (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0001606/): C'mon, throw in a buck!
Mr. Pink (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0000114/): Uh-uh, I don't tip.
Nice Guy Eddie (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0001606/): You don't tip?
Mr. Pink (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0000114/): Nah, I don't believe in it.
Nice Guy Eddie (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0001606/): You don't believe in tipping?
Mr. Blue (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0120483/): You know what these chicks make? They make shit.
Mr. Pink (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0000114/): Don't give me that. She don't make enough money that she can quit.
Nice Guy Eddie (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0001606/): I don't even know a fucking Jew who'd have the balls to say that. Let me get this straight: you don't ever tip?
Mr. Pink (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0000114/): I don't tip because society says I have to. All right, if someone deserves a tip, if they really put forth an effort, I'll give them something a little something extra. But this tipping automatically, it's for the birds. As far as I'm concerned, they're just doing their job.
Mr. Blue (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0120483/): Hey, our girl was nice.
Mr. Pink (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0000114/): She was okay. She wasn't anything special.
Mr. Blue (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0120483/): What's special? Take you in the back and suck your dick?
Nice Guy Eddie (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0001606/): I'd go over twelve percent for that.

Nice Guy Eddie (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0001606/): C'mon, throw in a buck!
Mr. Pink (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0000114/): Uh-uh, I don't tip.
Nice Guy Eddie (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0001606/): You don't tip?
Mr. Pink (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0000114/): Nah, I don't believe in it.
Nice Guy Eddie (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0001606/): You don't believe in tipping?
Mr. Blue (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0120483/): You know what these chicks make? They make shit.
Mr. Pink (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0000114/): Don't give me that. She don't make enough money that she can quit.
Nice Guy Eddie (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0001606/): I don't even know a fucking Jew who'd have the balls to say that. Let me get this straight: you don't ever tip?
Mr. Pink (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0000114/): I don't tip because society says I have to. All right, if someone deserves a tip, if they really put forth an effort, I'll give them something a little something extra. But this tipping automatically, it's for the birds. As far as I'm concerned, they're just doing their job.
Mr. Blue (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0120483/): Hey, our girl was nice.
Mr. Pink (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0000114/): She was okay. She wasn't anything special.
Mr. Blue (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0120483/): What's special? Take you in the back and suck your dick?
Nice Guy Eddie (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0001606/): I'd go over twelve percent for that.

I got two words for that: "Learn to fuckin type." Cause if you're expecting me to help out with the rent, you're in for a big fuckin surprise.

I've heard of it, just as I've heard of tipping: Postmen, exterminators, and most any other regular (weekly/monthly) service workers.

That said, I'd sooner tip my trash collectors into the back of their truck than give them cash as the service here sucks pretty bad.
Tipping any of these people is a joke.

So...I just read on abcnews.com that I'm supposed to tip my garbage collector for Christmas.

From what I understand it's a team of people...they come at 6am on Wednesday mornings. I have no idea if it's the same team every time (I assume so). Am I supposed to tape an envelope on my garbage can and have them split it?

Does anyone else tip their garbage men? It seems kind of odd to me.

Hmm, how do you know the garbage team celebrates Christmas?....
Just kidding, I don't want to start a Christmas debate, there is another thread for that.

I do not tip the garbage, mail or any other daily, monthly service group. I do have a dog walker that walks the dog regularly. I do tip her, but she actually comes into the house and takes care of my dog.

Considering how in Kc we pay an extra 1% tax just for trash pickup and snow plow service (both of which SUCK)

No way in hell will they be getting tipped.. and i'm a very conscienous tipper (never below 15% unless its horrid service)

Considering how in Kc we pay an extra 1% tax just for trash pickup and snow plow service (both of which SUCK)

No way in hell will they be getting tipped.. and i'm a very conscienous tipper (never below 15% unless its horrid service)
Where I live, garbage collection isn't paid via taxes, we pay a quarterly fee.

Where I live, garbage collection isn't paid via taxes, we pay a quarterly fee.

Me too.

Still, some people tip garbage men. Proper technique is taping an envelope to the inside of the garbage can lid. Me, I tip the maids, my barber and now my day care provider.

The day care provider is problematic. We want to do something to recognize her efforts with our most precious possession. But, a Chrismas time tip/gift may not be entirely appropriate, given she is islamic.

Me too.

Still, some people tip garbage men. Proper technique is taping an envelope to the inside of the garbage can lid. Me, I tip the maids, my barber and now my day care provider.

The day care provider is problematic. We want to do something to recognize her efforts with our most precious possession. But, a Chrismas time tip/gift may not be entirely appropriate, given she is islamic.
I don't see why. It's the holiday you celebrate. Giving someone a gift on your major holiday isn't a personal attack against them or their religion.

If I was given a gift during someone's celebration of Kwanzaa I wouldn't think it's inappropriate. Sometimes you have to just let go of this whole, "OMG - I don't want to step on anyone's toes or offend them!" Sometimes a gift is just a gift :).

I hope this thread doesn't become a Raiders Army/JeeberD tipping debate. Well actually this would make the thread more interesting.
Actually I tip 20% now at restaurants (excluding fast food, ala Resevoir Dogs as earlier quoted).

Not to threadjack, but when you guys stay at a motel, do you tip the cleaning lady?

Actually I tip 20% now at restaurants (excluding fast food, ala Resevoir Dogs as earlier quoted).

Not to threadjack, but when you guys stay at a motel, do you tip the cleaning lady?

Rarely, very rarely, since I hardly ever see anything that resembles even decent service from that quarter. Higher-end hotels, budget-oriented places, doesn't matter, I have worse luck with hotels/motels than I have with getting food prepared as ordered ... and that's some really bad luck lemme tell you.

I do, sometimes...when I can remember.

Interestingly, 99% of the time I'm in a hotel because of business. I'm really not a cheap guy, but I feel weird spending my own money on a business trip. Sure, you can expense things, but at my new company it's only with a receipt. So, I very often skip the housecleaning tip when I'm staying at a place only one night. If I stay more than one night, I generally tip $5 a day, but that's when business trips start to bite you in the butt. Very often you spend $1000 on a business trip and get reimbursed $900 because of the receuipt situation.

I do, sometimes...when I can remember.

Interestingly, 99% of the time I'm in a hotel because of business. I'm really not a cheap guy, but I feel weird spending my own money on a business trip. Sure, you can expense things, but at my new company it's only with a receipt. So, I very often skip the housecleaning tip when I'm staying at a place only one night. If I stay more than one night, I generally tip $5 a day, but that's when business trips start to bite you in the butt. Very often you spend $1000 on a business trip and get reimbursed $900 because of the receuipt situation.
I don't know how your company works, but a lot of them allow you to expense tips (up to a certain amount per day).

I got two words for that: "Learn to fuckin type." Cause if you're expecting me to help out with the rent, you're in for a big fuckin surprise.
Gotta Love the Reservoir Dogs :D

I don't know how your company works, but a lot of them allow you to expense tips (up to a certain amount per day).
Right - but this is the only company I've ever worked for that REQUIRES a written receipt for anything you want reimbursed. Try getting a receipt from housekeeping :)

tip my garbage collector for Christmas

We did this when I was young. We'd put a couple of fifths of liquor in a small bag with a Christmas card out with the trash (not kidding). We'd do a similar thing for the mailman. Of course, we don't do this anymore, but back when we DID do it, lots of people were doing it.

-Chas

Next thing you know, they'll ask me for a tip at Jiffy Lube.

By the way, congrats CraigSca on starting the 100th ever thread about tipping! Although I have to give you credit, this one did have a little twist on the normal tipping etiquette thread, throwing in the garbagemen thing.

So...I just read on abcnews.com that I'm supposed to tip my garbage collector for Christmas.

From what I understand it's a team of people...they come at 6am on Wednesday mornings. I have no idea if it's the same team every time (I assume so). Am I supposed to tape an envelope on my garbage can and have them split it?

Does anyone else tip their garbage men? It seems kind of odd to me.Our garbage PERSON sits in the truck and lets the automated arm pick up our can. She doesn't even bother to pick up the can if the arm knocks it over when setting it back down on the curb.

I'm really not inclined to tip someone to sit on their ass.

Sheesh, you guys are pretty judgemental about the trash collectors. With that said I don't know if tip is the correct word as would be Christmas gift or the PC "Holiday Bonus". I have always given my garbageman a gift at Christmas. For one, I always do consturction during the summer and he has been really cool about bending some of the rules. Plus he even came around one day and helped me move some concrete from the back. (I am lucky that they come to my house later in the day)

It is when the gift is expected that I send nothing. My paper carrier leaves a postage paid envelope with his name on it around Christmas. You can bet he has never seen one cent.

Rarely, very rarely, since I hardly ever see anything that resembles even decent service from that quarter. Higher-end hotels, budget-oriented places, doesn't matter, I have worse luck with hotels/motels than I have with getting food prepared as ordered ... and that's some really bad luck lemme tell you.

There's a reason for this. Virtually all motel/hotel cleaning staff are paid either by the room or by the bed (some hotels employ people to clean the rooms and separate people to clean/change the bed). In either case, they're paid cents per unit (room/bed) cleaned.

So, their motivation is to speed through the work, which explains why you'll see stuff getting missed.

dola -

And I won't be tipping our garbage collectors (not that I do anyway, usually) this year because the company (Groot) has been double-billing me for a year and continues to send me threatening letters (cc'ed to the village office) for non-payment on one of the accounts.

Maybe for Christmas they'll get a gift-wrapped letter from my lawyer. :)

For the record, I do not tip our garbageman.

Just to play Devil's Advocate here, do you guys who don't tip the garbageman do it because the company gets extra money, etc. and you assume the garbageman gets a piece of it or should take some responsibility for the company for which he works?

If you do, then how is that any different from leaving a tip for a waitress who provides good service, but the food is overpriced or poor? There are some obvious differences here since you can select your restaurant and you can't necessarily select your waste removal company, but some things are the same.

I think I read that members of message boards are supposed to tip the worst speller on their board. I think it is something like 10% of gross salary. I'll be expecting the checks sometime in the next week or so guys.

I delivered papers for a few years as a young lad... I loved the end of the year since that is when everyone put out a little "thanks" for my efforts. the end of the year happens to be about the same time as the holiday... coincidence in my mind. It's a bonus, not a christmas gift. Anyways, the one who didn't give out any acknowledgment of my efforts got lousy service. It didn't need to be money mind you... so now I always make sure I acknowledge the service providers each year (including garbage cxollectors).

I delivered papers for a few years as a young lad... I loved the end of the year since that is when everyone put out a little "thanks" for my efforts. the end of the year happens to be about the same time as the holiday... coincidence in my mind. It's a bonus, not a christmas gift. Anyways, the one who didn't give out any acknowledgment of my efforts got lousy service. It didn't need to be money mind you... so now I always make sure I acknowledge the service providers each year (including garbage cxollectors).


that's funny you mention tipping the paper boy/man/person ect. I just moved (like on Sat.) and in my paper at my new place, which is 10 miles from my old place, was a card from the paper guy and an envelope with his address to send him a x-mas tip. I probally would tip him, but I did not get service that I thought was acceptable for a tip (i.e. late/missed papers) so I threw it away. If he thinks by giving me bad service will earn him a tip next year he's mistaken. Good service earns good praise i.e. a tip. But his best service better be in the month leading up to him putting that tip card in my paper again.

The "tip card" is more likely to lead to me NOT giving a tip than giving one. I'll tip you if and when I feel like it, I don't need prompting.

Is that like cow-tipping?
Figures this comment would come from a Georgian. :D

I rarely if ever tip monthly service providers such as garbage men, exterminator, postal carrier, etc. However, we have a pet sitter for the dogs when we go out of town for the weekend, and we tip her. In fact, for the past week when she came while my wife was out of town, the bill was $80 and we gave her a $10 tip. I just got my hair cut and added $6. I give at least 20% at restaurants. But there's something about tipping the others that just strikes me as unnecessary. I don't know why.

But tipping is one of the main reasons I will probably never go on a cruise. If I'm spending thousands of dollars, I just want people to do their jobs, not do something I would expect to be done but nonetheless feel obliged to pay extra for that service. Service while dining on a cruise I would tip for; the rest mostly strike me as people fighting to do the things you would ordinarily do for yourself, but beating you to the punch so they can stick their hands out.

Maybe the difference I'm seeing is between a "service" and a "job," in my mind. Trash collection and bug exterminating are relatively straightforward "jobs" that can be performed without taking extra care; watching my pets and making sure my hair looks decent, OTOH, requires some degreee of care. Maybe if the garbage man went above and beyond and put my trash can away, or the postal worker actually delivered my mail when someone parked a bit too close to my mailbox (instead of driving right by), then I would see it as something other than just performing a function instead of a service.

Not sure if any of that makes sense, but it's as close to a rationalization as I can come up with on the spot.

The "tip card" is more likely to lead to me NOT giving a tip than giving one. I'll tip you if and when I feel like it, I don't need prompting.

I agree with you fellas on this one... also, if you are on a service route that requires a tip you should probably have some kind of relationship with the poeple you are doing business for... know who they are and such. Take the factors into account and go from there.

But tipping is one of the main reasons I will probably never go on a cruise.

From what I gather secondhand, I believe most of those things are actually built into your bill now instead of being paid directly to each person. It's listed as "tips & gratuities" or somesuch & basically you have to jump through a hoop or three to get it taken off. Personally I think that sucks even more than the hand-sticking-out, but if you could just manage to not think about it, you could probably cruise without dealing with the direct aggravation.
(Not saying you "should", just pointing out that I believe you "could" ... IF you were just dying to go on a cruise otherwise)



Maybe the difference I'm seeing is between a "service" and a "job," in my mind. Trash collection and bug exterminating are relatively straightforward "jobs" that can be performed without taking extra care

I guess that's kind of situational. In the cash of the trash people, I'm pretty much with you (especially since mine suck so bad & so consistently that they're on the verge of losing their contract with the county), but on the exterminator, I was actually pondering what to give him as a bonus before this conversation ever came up. He's just more ... thorough, I guess it would be, than anyone who has had this route in the past 12 years. And I never have a end-of-the-month bug problem, which isn't something I could say before he took on the route. He also goes out of his way to notice things that aren't directly in his required routine, has treated some outdoor areas that weren't technically in the contract, etc. Combine that with my knowing that he's a reasonably decent guy who is just trying to make a living at this until he can maybe launch a business for himself ... well, it adds a certain amount of "feelgood" for me too I suppose.

I guess that's kind of situational. In the cash of the trash people, I'm pretty much with you (especially since mine suck so bad & so consistently that they're on the verge of losing their contract with the county), but on the exterminator, I was actually pondering what to give him as a bonus before this conversation ever came up. He's just more ... thorough, I guess it would be, than anyone who has had this route in the past 12 years. And I never have a end-of-the-month bug problem, which isn't something I could say before he took on the route. He also goes out of his way to notice things that aren't directly in his required routine, has treated some outdoor areas that weren't technically in the contract, etc. Combine that with my knowing that he's a reasonably decent guy who is just trying to make a living at this until he can maybe launch a business for himself ... well, it adds a certain amount of "feelgood" for me too I suppose.
See, that makes sense, because you've noticed things that particular person has done above and beyond what you see his job as being. With our exterminator, (a) he comes only once every 3 months; and (b) it's alweays during the day when I'm at work, so I never get to see him work. And my wife likes him and all, but never alks about how he's done something extraordinary. And we still see certain bugs every now and then, so regardless of whether that's in his control or not, I can't say that he's done such an amazing job that we've no longer got a bug problem. To me, he's just doing his job.

YOU TIP ALL GARBAGE MEN THE FOLLOWING:

A CASE OF BEER PER MAN.
You must be in a cold weather area for this to work.
Leave it out by the garbage with a ribbon on it. NOT WITH
THE GARBAGE.

(b) it's alweays during the day when I'm at work, so I never get to see him work. And my wife likes him and all, but never alks about how he's done something extraordinary. ... To me, he's just doing his job.

Open your eyes man... he may be DOING more than his job... ;)

So you're saying...maybe my wife is taking care of the tip?

So you're saying...maybe my wife is taking care of the tip?
Maybe he was saying that taking out the garbage isn't the only thing he gets paid for...

Dola,

Sorry, just couldn't resist.

OK, I've seen this guy...and if anyone's doing the paying, it would be him.