Tips for painting

This involved more than just "skim coating". As in applying the mesh layer, then the plaster,(hand troweled) etc.

If you are happy with the job, tip 5 percent to the workers. That is what I did recently and they were very happy.

>300 mercer - what was the total cost of the job?

$5500. I did not negotiate with them as their prices were very good already.

Thanks 300mercer - this gives me a ballpark number for each guy.

Interesting.

Are the workers all paid below the minimum wage, thus necessitating the tipping?

No Matt - they're definitely being paid well.

But then again, we all know your attitudes in regard to tipping.

You realize that at some point, if the employees are being paid "well", the tip is actually viewed as elitist and condescending ...

If the painters are 'day workers' who have been hired by a GC to do the job, then tipping is ok. If, though, he/they own the business or are their own contractors or have been hired by your contractor then you do not need to tip.

No one including contractor says no to the tip.

I hear that they do a lot of tipping in columbiacounty.

Cow tipping.

is this meant to be provocative?

this?

why would you post something like this? what is your point?

what does 'this' refer to?

really?

is that a question to answer a question to answer a question to answer a question to answer a question?

On a separate note, do you know when to use the word "this" vs. the word "that"? If not, no big deal. I've already gotten over your use of the "Respond to All" button on your email.

I'm going to press the Respond button at the bottom of this box to post my reply.

"If the painters are 'day workers' who have been hired by a GC to do the job, then tipping is ok. If, though, he/they own the business or are their own contractors or have been hired by your contractor then you do not need to tip."

And how does one find this information out? Just come out and ask them?

Should I ask them for their citizenship papers while I'm at it?

My post was confusing and got a bit twisted around. Let's try again--

If you hire a painter at a set rate to paint your apartment you don't need to tip. He is the vendor: You've negotiated the rate with him and are paying him directly for the job. You also, IMO, don't need to tip individual workers if you have hired a GC or designer on a larger job--you might instead consider a bonus to the GC at the end but this is not mandatory. On a larger job there may be a larger number of workers in rotation and tipping individually could be challenging.

I would, however, tip the workers directly if they are sub-hires/day-workers on a short-term job (you call up a vendor, he sends a couple of guys for two days to paint your living room).

bramstar

bramstar, i hear you. TIP in this case is purely optional which is why only 5% of the cost and a reward for a job well-done - similar to non-banking bonuses.

Tip the painters.

It's backbreaking work. Ever watch them paint a ceiling?

Subway mechanics to backbreaking work too. Are you tipping them?

Aren't subway mechanics in the union, Matt?
They could always train to become conductors.
Very cushy.

Matt:
It's Sunday.
You coulda been meeting Mr.hot Realtor in the Bronx to look at those apts. he posted about.
Now, how much would you tip him?

I'm afraid to contact him. Not sure if he'd be interested.

*sniff*

Oh Matt:

Never act out of fear.

So what happened to Mr. Hot Realtor's post???

He got off.