Tipping in rental buildings.

start here:

http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/talk/discussion/15787-holiday-tipping

Rip up the letter, carefully place the pieces in a fresh envelope, and shove it under the neighbor's door.

If you prefer to tip by yourself, do so. I would. I tend to tip more generously than most people and I while they all earn it in my view, I also sort of want "credit" and goodwill for my recognition of the staff's contributions. I've no desire to just blend into the more penurious crowd.

I second NYCMatt. The level of service varies tremendously and I see no reason to share this with any committee. Some of the doormen will rush to help me load my car, and others watch and do nothing to help, even those who in the past I have tipped most generously. I guess they're more affluent than I,but why the fshould I reward them.

I've lived in rental buildings for many years and I've never heard of anyone doing what you describe that your neighbor did. We've always received a holiday card from the various buildings "signed" by the employees with their full names and job titles. In one building, they left a box at the concierge desk into which you could place an envelope with a check to be divided up amongst the employees or you could hand out individual gifts to employees (your option). I would recommend ignoring the letter from your neighbor. What you do or do not tip is no one else's business.

Let's assume that your neighbor is a caring person who has the welfare & goodwill of the staff at heart; there is no reason to be rude. Inform your neighbor in a pleasant manner that you intend to tip individually & that's it. Easy. Happy Holidays.

Seriously, why would you cooperate with neighbors in a rental building who will likely not even be around within 24 months.

And also, the whole idea is not for the welfar and goodwill of the staff, but rather a way to collect a big pot but one that is smaller than if people gave individually. And the organizer is looking for extra "credit" with the staff. F em.

i agree with drdrd's advice. no need to be nasty to anyone.

I agree too. While your neighbor is guilty of being a busy-body, she's probably just that type & *thinks* this kind of thing will be appreciated. No need to be rude to neighbors but you certainly do not need to comply. Just use a friendly matter-of-fact tone and say, "thank you for your offer but I prefer to tip the staff individually."

Ok I know we've talked about this before, but can we bring this topic up again:

Specifically how much are people in my situation tipping?

I am in a huge Glenwood building. There are like 3-4 doormen who work different times of the day. I see 1 or two at most. There are like a bizillion porters and other staff that I never directly interact with, but always smile and say hi when I pass them in the halls. Then there are the garage guys who actually do hard work all day long.

So far I haven't seen or heard anything like a collection fund for the building.

Look, I am far from rich and almost my entire take home is taken up by rent and parking (I know, I know, it's a temporary situation). Is giving $50 to the guys I really interact with and $25 to the people I interact with infrequently and $0 to the people I've never interacted with appropriate, or will I get bad service for the next year if I do this?

I really hate this shakedown mentality, and I do want to give something to the guys who have done stuff for us, but I can't afford more.

thoughts?

Robot: I'm in a huge Related building. Last year they put out a box where you could put either individual tips or a pooled amount that the resident manager would distribute. Does your building do something like that? There is a huge range in our building, from studios to 4BRs, so I assume the staff is pretty used to people giving what they can afford. I wouldn't worry too much. I know for a fact that there are people who give nothing, so anything you do give at least shows appreciation.

drdrd, sometimes it's best not to engage too much with a certain type of neighbor. This person might make your life much more difficult in this building. I agree with you in theory but not in practice. Might be better just to ignore the neighbor.

Thanks for all of your comments. I don't think my neighbor (whom I have never met) is doing anything sinister or inappropriate, I'd just prefer to keep my decisions a little more private. I also put off by the strong suggestion that longer term employees should be paid more. In this building, it is some of the newer guys who work hardest and I'd prefer to reward them.

The discussion to which CC posted a link is actually rather helpful, if you can stomach wading through the potty-mouthed barbs and endless drivel about broken toilet seats.

I agree, the person who brought up the toilet seat should have never mentioned it. We also could have done without the toilet plunger story.

now, you're going to pollute this thread?

you don't get to ask me questions, understand?

To answer your original question, I haven't heard of the "pooled tipping fund" policy before. Agree you should be polite about it, as it may be well-intentioned, but individual tipping is vey much the market standard.

10 yrs in rental buildings in Manhattan - I have always given individual amounts to each employee. Never heard of a building pool before.

I live in a huge building and last year received a list of *87* (I counted) people I should presumably tip. (Yeah, sure.) It included titles like "Backup Assistant Weekend Plumber." As if that wasn't bad enough, the next week, the building sent around another list with a handful of people they forgot to include in the original 87. I was so put off by the ridiculousness of these lists that I tipped no one except for the package room guy we're friendly with. I would appreciate a building pool rather than a crazy list of 100+ names.

lad, I am with you 100%. I also tip only those whom I utilize.