Sorry if this has been discussed before. So we move-in to a doorman building (coop). 3 questions here I guess. 1. As we unpack, we are leaving LOTS of bags of broken down boxes in the stairwells, as is the typical trash policy. Some porter is doing A LOT of work to remove all of this for us. How much do we tip the porters for this, and how do you know which porter it is? 2. As for the doormen, it... [more]
Sorry if this has been discussed before.
So we move-in to a doorman building (coop). 3 questions here I guess.
1. As we unpack, we are leaving LOTS of bags of broken down boxes in the stairwells, as is the typical trash policy. Some porter is doing A LOT of work to remove all of this for us. How much do we tip the porters for this, and how do you know which porter it is?
2. As for the doormen, it seems to me that our move-in is not creating any extra work for them, aside from them seeing us go in and out a lot. Is it customary to tip the doormen during move-in?
3. If we move in mid-November, what is the tipping expectation at holiday time? My thought is to tip 100% of the convential rates as if we lived there all year. This way everyone should be pleased, we hopefully build good relationships, and it's a bit of an extra thank you for the doormen for their cooperation at move-in.
BTW, I've already had a lot of dealings with the Super and believe that everything is on good ground there.
Is any of this too chintzy or too generous? The biggest question is #1 -- where I have no idea what is appropriate.
TIA
[less]
Response by uwsmom
about 16 years ago
Posts: 1945
Member since: Dec 2008
just my personal thoughts:
1) we gave our super a thank you and $50 after we moved in. didn't give the porter anything but i think he left and another was hired right at that time. if you don't know which porter is doing all the work tippig could be challenging, but you could ask someone. i think it's nice to tip anyone who truly helped make your move easier.
2) i've never had a doorman but don't see a need to tip someone who didn't help with the move-in process.
3) i agree with you here and think you could just give a generous tip to super and porters at that time and in a card thank them for all their help with the move. you could give them early holiday cards.
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by uwsmom
about 16 years ago
Posts: 1945
Member since: Dec 2008
3 cont'd) though not too early b/c then it could look like you're trying to be cheap by consolidating. so maybe $50 to each person right now and then a nice holiday tip in a month or so.
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by front_porch
about 16 years ago
Posts: 5320
Member since: Mar 2008
I feel like tipping is tipping and thanking is thanking, and if a service person does something special for you, it's good manners to do both.
We just moved into a small (60-unit) co-op, so it was fairly easy to meet the two porters and explain that we were the new people, and that we were really really sorry about the boxes (We're have been shedding boxes for weeks, and are down to our last 80, I jest not). In a larger building, I might leave a note stating the same thing.
Then it seems to me when Xmas comes, you write in your card that you're the new people and you appreciate all the help with the move-in -- that plus your tip (I think 100% for a late-year move is generous, but I won't discourage you) should do it.
Hijack: we moved mid-year, what should we tip the staff in our old building? (We kept the unit and are renting it out).
ali r.
{downtown broker}
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by uwsmom
about 16 years ago
Posts: 1945
Member since: Dec 2008
i feel like thanking is thanking and tipping is buying loyalty and respect. isn't that terrible!?
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by blogo
about 16 years ago
Posts: 66
Member since: Dec 2008
Start out on the right foot. Tip well right away.
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by seg
about 16 years ago
Posts: 229
Member since: Nov 2009
Thanks everyone, but blogo - what does "tip well" mean, with regard to question #1? What is the appropriate tip to give a porter for helping bring up some smaller stuff up on a cart. But moreover, for removing multiple rounds of our trash bags full of broken-down boxes? $20? $40? $60? More?
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by drdrd
about 16 years ago
Posts: 1905
Member since: Apr 2007
Ali, I'd say that particularly since you still own your old unit, it's a no-brainer: tip what you ordinarily tipped. Hope you're loving the new place - & the old man, of course. ;)
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by uwsmom
about 16 years ago
Posts: 1945
Member since: Dec 2008
seg - againk just my personal opinion. i would go with $50 b/c $20 or $30 seems like too little imo and if you're going to give $40 then you might as well give $50. i think $50 seems like a significant amount to receive.
just my personal thoughts:
1) we gave our super a thank you and $50 after we moved in. didn't give the porter anything but i think he left and another was hired right at that time. if you don't know which porter is doing all the work tippig could be challenging, but you could ask someone. i think it's nice to tip anyone who truly helped make your move easier.
2) i've never had a doorman but don't see a need to tip someone who didn't help with the move-in process.
3) i agree with you here and think you could just give a generous tip to super and porters at that time and in a card thank them for all their help with the move. you could give them early holiday cards.
3 cont'd) though not too early b/c then it could look like you're trying to be cheap by consolidating. so maybe $50 to each person right now and then a nice holiday tip in a month or so.
I feel like tipping is tipping and thanking is thanking, and if a service person does something special for you, it's good manners to do both.
We just moved into a small (60-unit) co-op, so it was fairly easy to meet the two porters and explain that we were the new people, and that we were really really sorry about the boxes (We're have been shedding boxes for weeks, and are down to our last 80, I jest not). In a larger building, I might leave a note stating the same thing.
Then it seems to me when Xmas comes, you write in your card that you're the new people and you appreciate all the help with the move-in -- that plus your tip (I think 100% for a late-year move is generous, but I won't discourage you) should do it.
Hijack: we moved mid-year, what should we tip the staff in our old building? (We kept the unit and are renting it out).
ali r.
{downtown broker}
i feel like thanking is thanking and tipping is buying loyalty and respect. isn't that terrible!?
Start out on the right foot. Tip well right away.
Thanks everyone, but blogo - what does "tip well" mean, with regard to question #1? What is the appropriate tip to give a porter for helping bring up some smaller stuff up on a cart. But moreover, for removing multiple rounds of our trash bags full of broken-down boxes? $20? $40? $60? More?
Ali, I'd say that particularly since you still own your old unit, it's a no-brainer: tip what you ordinarily tipped. Hope you're loving the new place - & the old man, of course. ;)
seg - againk just my personal opinion. i would go with $50 b/c $20 or $30 seems like too little imo and if you're going to give $40 then you might as well give $50. i think $50 seems like a significant amount to receive.