Tipping Tradies - Do You Do It?

onetwothreefour on 05/06/2016 - 21:21

As the title suggests, do you tip tradies?

We have a tradie doing some renovation work at our house at the moment and I'm unsure of what the etiquette is when it comes to tipping. IMO he's done a good job, gave us a lot of recommendations, organised other tradies for us and met us at the house on his days off as he knew we'd be there, gave us advice on the new area we're moving to etc.

Is it necessary/normal to tip if you think they have done a good job?

I'm not thinking about tipping money but maybe a case of beer (utilising 5.5% off Wish Card and CR cashback at Dan Murphy's :-)) but was just wondering if it was normal or not.

Thanks

Poll Options

  • 3
    Yes
  • 55
    No
  • 6
    Sometimes, See Comments
General Discussion

Comments

  • cDNA on 05/06/2016 - 21:29
    +1

    Don't tip. They get paid well above the minimum wage.

    Beer sounds gewd!

    • onetwothreefour on 05/06/2016 - 21:34
      +3

      Maybe I'll just buy a case for myself instead.

  • mskeggs on 05/06/2016 - 21:48
    +3

    I usually sling a case of beer at removalists if they work hard.
    It sounds like you are getting pretty good service, so I would consider it, but it isn't normal.

  • Smiley82 on 05/06/2016 - 22:19
    +1

    I must be in the minority because I think yes!

    A good reliable honest tradie is hard to find, and once you have one (particularly if you have more work to do on your house…..) I think you should keep the relationship sweet.

    I've rounded my bill up if it was a cash job, and bought a cartons for others. I've also given the boys a six pack at the end of a long day, particularly if they were working on the weekend. Heck, we even got work done in exchange for two cartons in one instance!

    The upside was that we had amazing work done to our place by affordable and honest blokes who enjoyed working with us. They squeezed us in for work when we wanted it done sooner, and knew that they'd always get treated well and paid straight away, so they kept coming back.

    Our renovation work spanned over 12 months, and we saved thousands by keeping them onside (I.e them buying items for us at trade prices, passing on plumbing supplies at cost with no markup, using materials from previous jobs and not charging us etc).

    It does depend though on what you're already getting charged. Our hourly rate was quite cheap and I often thought the guys had under rated themselves for the skills they had. If you're paying top dollar already….a small token would be enough.

    • mskeggs on 05/06/2016 - 22:33
      +2

      A couple of friends who are tradies do speak very well of customers who look after the boys with some beer. It is probably more something you do on a Friday arvo when there has been a team working than one plumber who cleaned your drains though.

      • onetwothreefour on 05/06/2016 - 22:50

        Theres no real opportunity for me to have friday beers with him as i dont live in the house yet and am really just leaving him on his ownto do the work. Maybe I'll leave it as next time i meet him will probably be when he's finished a nd I'll be giving a big wad of cash anyway.

  • Randxyz123 on 05/06/2016 - 23:43
    +1

    If there has been a regular group of tradies at your house then yes it is nice to buy them a slab (case) of beer at the end of the project.

  • StewBalls on 06/06/2016 - 00:24
    +3

    I don't tip, but depending on how big the job is; as others have noted; if time permits, a carton/cold soft drinks/BBQ as appropriate is not out of the question for good tradies! :)

  • Vampyr on 06/06/2016 - 07:22

    Tradies make more than most other professions. Obviously important work, but our economy is screwed because of this..

  • fruit on 06/06/2016 - 11:10
    +1

    hahahahahah

    Tradies get paid loads.

  • cwongtech on 06/06/2016 - 14:13

    Maybe offer to pay in cash so the job is not "on the books".
    I.e. Tax-Free job.
    Apparently don't do this for stuff that requires a license though (i.e. electrician), so you have a receipt to prove who installed a potentially faulty lead that caused your house to burn down.

  • asausas on 06/06/2016 - 14:32

    If certain criteria are met, I would most likely offer a modest non-cash tip - without being extreme.

    meet worksmanship expectations
    meet time-commitments
    rate/job-price must represent fair value
    full tax-receipt is issued for the work

    • onetwothreefour on 06/06/2016 - 14:36

      3 out of 4, I'm paying cash so no tax invoice.

    • Davros on 06/06/2016 - 16:27

      Nothing special there, thats minimum requirement stuff.

  • Davros on 06/06/2016 - 14:35

    Do tradies give me a discount for providing them with work?

  • 2ndeffort on 06/06/2016 - 16:24

    As others have said, if the guy goes 'above and beyond the call' a slab of beer (VB is normally the tradies choice) would probably be well received.

    • onetwothreefour on 06/06/2016 - 16:31

      Jeez VB? I would be insulted if someone bought one of those for me! :-)

  • Davros on 06/06/2016 - 16:31

    Whats above and beyond in your eyes would probably be normal for older generation tradies.

    As an ex tradie myself, I wouldnt drink VB if you tried to fob it off onto me, really want to impress me, ask first.

  • FirstNameLastName on 06/06/2016 - 19:15

    I tip them by advocating them if I hear someone looking a tradie.

    (last xmas my neighbour put sixpack on the bin the garbo man.. now that's oldskool)

  • rbrb on 07/06/2016 - 09:35

    It's up to you entirely, if someone deserves a tip, be it beers or cash, then give it to them.

  • [Deactivated] on 07/06/2016 - 10:43

    if they've done an amazing job or gone that extra bit to get the job done, then yeah i've bought the tradie a carton of piss

  • BartholemewH on 08/06/2016 - 11:30

    Good trades are way harder to find than many would think. I know they're paid well above the minimum wage but if they went above and beyond then the cost of a carton isn't a big deal. If it's a small job, like a days work then of course not.

    Edit: I voted sometimes.

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