topic Re: I also have a tipping question in Community Chat

I also have a tipping question

haddon9 — Sun, 11 May 2025 00:08:48 GMT

Another poster had a question about tipping for her hair. We all know that tipping is expected at a hair salons & restaurants.

My question....we just had the lawn guy weed & mulch. He and his assistant were here for 5 hours and he charged $950.00. He likes to be paid in cash and I don't mind as long as I know how much it will be. We only found out once he finished but I had gone to get cash out during the week.

I had $960.00 in cash and told DH to tell him to keep the change. Would you tip for something like this? He is his own boss and can charge whatever he wants to.

Situations like this confuse me. Where does the tipping end?

Re: I also have a tipping question

Love my grandkids — Sun, 11 May 2025 00:13:19 GMT

I have family members who for years had a lawn service. The crew worked for a company. I don't know what the cost was but I do know my family members tipped them well every two weeks. I come from a long line of good tippers.

Re: I also have a tipping question

cjm61 — Sun, 11 May 2025 00:14:51 GMT

@haddon9 I'm not sure why there are multiple posts regarding tipping lately. I'm unaware of anything that would cause this. With that said, I believe the tipping amount is based on what YOU feel is right. I don't follow this percentage thing. If a service was amazing I may tip close to the amount that my bill was. Other times, if service was extremely poor, I tip what I feel is deserved.

Tip what you feel comfortable with and can afford so when you walk away you feel good about it and don't worry about it being too much or not enough.

Re: I also have a tipping question

Kachina624 — Sun, 11 May 2025 00:16:59 GMT

@haddon9. H3ck no! Using my stumb)ing math, I figure each of the two men made $96/hr each, on which they'll pay no tax. I think that is very generous.

Re: I also have a tipping question

RescueLover — Sun, 11 May 2025 00:25:06 GMT

Hi! @haddon9 🤗

I asked my Husband and he said you didn’t need to tip him.

Mainly because he had a set price for you to pay.

Whether he had 5 guys or 100 that’s his decision how many guys he needs to use.

Re: I also have a tipping question

Desertdi — Sun, 11 May 2025 00:27:11 GMT

The last time I had my trees trimmed...it was $5,000. Sorry, but that was ENOUGH...

Re: I also have a tipping question

shoekitty — Sun, 11 May 2025 00:44:56 GMT

Here it costs a lot to buy the mulch. Evenwhole sale you pay 300 or more for yard full, depending on type. I might have given him 40 bucks. I am sure they don't expect anything. I am sure he bought mulch, put gas in car so it isn't 100% profit. I agree it doesn't matter how many men. The more men, the faster they get done. I don't really think how much profit they will make. I just think how much I appreciate it, how well a job. . Sometimes I feel led to give more, sometimes I leave it ,and don't feel guilty. All, in all they really don't always expect it in many jobs. It's a gift. Or suppose to be anyway. I agree tipping in certain circumstances is harder. Certain jobs, like hair serving we have a guideline.

ETA. Correct errors

Re: I also have a tipping question

haddon9 — Sun, 11 May 2025 00:37:44 GMT

@Kachina624 You make a very good point....I know he likes getting paid in cash for a good reasn.

@RescueLover Thanks for asking. I do find some of these situations confusing. I would never tip my contractor who is doing work to our kitchen, family room & basement. He sets the price but as another poster mentioned they do tip for lawn service.

@Desertdi I hear you! A few years ago we paid something close to that to have three trees taken down and a few others trimmed back.

Re: I also have a tipping question

Iwantcoffee — Sun, 11 May 2025 00:44:34 GMT

I don't tip lawn service, grown men making a good living.

Re: I also have a tipping question

skatting44 — Sun, 11 May 2025 00:45:44 GMT

Yea, support people not paying their fair share of taxes by tipping and paying in cash.

Re: I also have a tipping question

pdlinda — Sun, 11 May 2025 00:48:30 GMT

@Love my grandkids Yes, I, too am a GOOD TIPPER! Especially here in Phoenix, AZ in the summer with triple digit temps into OCTOBER...those grocery delivery people getting all my gallons of water up to the second floor are HEROES to me and I always give at least a $10 tip in addition to whatever the service charge I pay to the store.

Re: I also have a tipping question

shoekitty — Sun, 11 May 2025 00:52:14 GMT

@skatting44 wrote:
Yea, support people not paying their fair share of taxes by tipping and paying in cash.

@skatting44 I sure do. I always check license here in California. Some ask cash because they are not paying credit card fees. Beside why would I worry about fair share. That's a joke. I probably pay more taxes than many CEOS raking in millions. Life isn't fair.

Re: I also have a tipping question

lynnie61 — Sun, 11 May 2025 00:52:33 GMT

I serve part time and I am a good tipper, but 950 for the yard work, I would not be tipping. When I got my roof done, I did tip the crew. They put on some stainless gutter guards I bought. The roof job was expensive, but every crew member was kind, professional. I tipped each of them.

I have a tree down from the storm. The owner quoted a lot. I doubt I will be tipping them. It's going to be several weeks until they get to me.

I do tip my trash guys. They always walk the bins back to the side of the house. Not often but a few times a year. And I leave them water or pop every week. One week, I wasn't home due to an emergency, they went and emptied the bins I didn't get to the curb that day. Now, that is nice. They could have drove on by.

Re: I also have a tipping question

Meowingkitty — Sun, 11 May 2025 00:56:45 GMT

I have a guy who comes out twice a year. He does a great job. He rakes and blows the rock. Trims all the bushes, puts down pre emergent for weeds. He's $700. Sometimes he does it all by himself, sometimes he has a helper. I don't tip. If he's by himself he's getting about $125 an hour.

Re: I also have a tipping question

jannabelle1 — Sun, 11 May 2025 00:58:42 GMT

I'm glad I've never been asked to pay almost $1000 in cash for services. It bothers me that the guy is doing that to avoid paying taxes, but that's just me. My answer to your question would be that paying each lawn guy $95/hour in cash is plenty, and a tip has most likely already been figured into the cost.

Re: I also have a tipping question

Janey2 — Sun, 11 May 2025 01:01:24 GMT

Owner who wants cash,no. I might have tipped the helper. When I tip I make it a point to give a separate tip to each worker. Never know if each person will get their tip.

Re: I also have a tipping question

RescueLover — Sun, 11 May 2025 01:02:37 GMT

True. Good point. @skatting44 It’s not illegal to accept cash and not report it.

He’s avoiding paying any taxes. So basically that’s his tip.

@haddon9 You’re Very Welcome.

We had contractors do siding in the bitter cold this past winter and they showed up everyday til the job was done, so I gave each guy a gift certificate to Dunkin Donuts, a box of Russell Stovers Chocolates and fresh chocolate chip cookies to thank them.

Re: I also have a tipping question

skatting44 — Sun, 11 May 2025 01:11:41 GMT

It is illegal to falsify business records so when they ask a customer for cash and the business owner does not record this in his records of income the business made to the IRS.

Re: I also have a tipping question

haddon9 — Sun, 11 May 2025 01:14:06 GMT

It's perfectly legal to pay for services in cash. I have no idea just how he pays his taxes. I am not going to ask him. Yes he likes cash.

So does my hair stylist or he would charge me another 3% for CC fees.

Re: I also have a tipping question

RescueLover — Sun, 11 May 2025 01:14:51 GMT

@lynnie61 🤗

I REALLY like your idea of leaving water or pop for your recycling/refuse guys. Never thought about doing that.

I do give each of them a box of Russell Stovers Chocolates at Christmas. Been doing that for years.

And I like taking pop and sometimes chocolate chip cookies to the car wash crew on HOT summer days.