How much do you tip your building super?

It’s that time of year again… just wondering what the going rate for a holiday tip would be for a live-in building super?
Thank you..

I think we gave a $100 tip last year. He goes above and beyond what is needed and really looks out for the building and people that live in it.

I'd say the range is from a minimum of $30 to a maximum of $100 - and it all depends on what the super had provided you in services. If nothing outside of just being the live-in super, than use the lower range - but if your super has unclogged your toilet, fixed a leak, repaired the boiler, etc. than threw those extra bucks his or her way.

Since I just moved in, I wasn't planning on tipping the landlord this year especially cnsidering it has taken weeks to accomplish things that should have been done before I moved in.

BUT for next year, do I tip the LL?

scarlett wrote: Since I just moved in, I wasn't planning on tipping the landlord this year especially cnsidering it has taken weeks to accomplish things that should have been done before I moved in.

BUT for next year, do I tip the LL?

You don't have to tip your landlord ever. But it would be wise to tip your super this year even if you just moved in. Maybe not as much as if you'd been there the whole year, but at least an acknowledgement that you appreciate him/her. You really want your super to be on your side.

My grandfather tipped a bottle of nice liquor. A well aged scotch or a good brandy. I always thought it was classy.

Should find out if they're in AA first, I guess.

DrabRabbit wrote: My grandfather tipped a bottle of nice liquor. A well aged scotch or a good brandy. I always thought it was classy.

Should find out if they're in AA first, I guess.

Or find out their other cravings/habits... a coffee gift basket, gourmet cookies, etc... Things don't have to be super expensive to be appreciated.

My first year here I lived in a doorman building and couldn't possibly have afforded the traditional doorman tips, so I spend an entire day baking a huge basket full of cookies, brownies, gingerbread, and so on. It was a little disconcerting to see how quickly they demolished it, but they LOVED it.

Livetotravel wrote: fixed a leak

Is this in a rental? I mean, I'm all for tipping but if the heating pipe burst in my apartment cause it's old and the super fixed it, I'm supposed to be grateful and pay money out of my pocket because my landlord runs a slum?

I'm torn on tipping supers, mostly for the above reason and ones like it.

Innocent X wrote: [quote=Livetotravel] fixed a leak

Is this in a rental? I mean, I'm all for tipping but if the heating pipe burst in my apartment cause it's old and the super fixed it, I'm supposed to be grateful and pay money out of my pocket because my landlord runs a slum?

I'm torn on tipping supers, mostly for the above reason and ones like it.
Maybe, but the super doesn't own the building. And if in your example, this problem building has several apartments with leaky pipes, which do you think the super is going to fix first?

Oh, I get it. It's just a shitty system. For the amount of rent paid in this town.

So glad to see this thread b/c I have been wondering this same thing. My super only came aboard in August or Sept. (so less than half the year), but I absolutely love him. I plan on tipping him very well now that I know the approx scale. He deserves every cent he gets and probably more! What I pay in rent in no way benefits him, so I don't think he should be penalized for the ridiculous prices charged by the landlord.

Innocent X wrote: [quote=Livetotravel] fixed a leak

Is this in a rental? I mean, I'm all for tipping but if the heating pipe burst in my apartment cause it's old and the super fixed it, I'm supposed to be grateful and pay money out of my pocket because my landlord runs a slum?

I'm torn on tipping supers, mostly for the above reason and ones like it.

I hear you, but often the super has little control over the purse strings that can transform a slum into a livable home. Your super might be begging your landlord to buy a new plumbing system and your landlord might be a cheap jerk. If your super is helpful and nice, it's classy to give a holiday tip -- only one within your budget though.

Subject: I only moved in September

And I don't see my super much, how much should I tip him? Is $30 a joke? Or a nice gesture?

What about for a non-live-in super? Is the scale different?

Carnivore wrote: [quote=Innocent X][quote=Livetotravel] fixed a leak

Is this in a rental? I mean, I'm all for tipping but if the heating pipe burst in my apartment cause it's old and the super fixed it, I'm supposed to be grateful and pay money out of my pocket because my landlord runs a slum?

I'm torn on tipping supers, mostly for the above reason and ones like it.
Maybe, but the super doesn't own the building. And if in your example, this problem building has several apartments with leaky pipes, which do you think the super is going to fix first?

So the "tip" is more like a bribe, or like a payment in exchange for special favors? But then you'd have to pay more than the other three people with leaky pipes for this to work in your favor.

leet wrote: [quote=Carnivore][quote=Innocent X][quote=Livetotravel] fixed a leak

Is this in a rental? I mean, I'm all for tipping but if the heating pipe burst in my apartment cause it's old and the super fixed it, I'm supposed to be grateful and pay money out of my pocket because my landlord runs a slum?

I'm torn on tipping supers, mostly for the above reason and ones like it.
Maybe, but the super doesn't own the building. And if in your example, this problem building has several apartments with leaky pipes, which do you think the super is going to fix first?

So the "tip" is more like a bribe, or like a payment in exchange for special favors? But then you'd have to pay more than the other three people with leaky pipes for this to work in your favor.

I have been making my living off tips for 11 years now so from my perspective it is less of a bribe and more like entering into an agreement; "If you take care of me, I'll take care of you." Good tipping and nice gestures are noticed and appreciated and the recipient will usually put a little more effort out so the relationship can continue.

don't get me wrong, i love my super.

but aren't most (or only "many"?) supers unionized employees with union benefit packages, living in free or heavily subsidized apartments with potentially subsidized utilities?

seems pretty different from a waiter legally making less than minimum wage.

i get it that tipping is how it's done; it just seems crazy to me.

sweet tea wrote: don't get me wrong, i love my super.

but aren't most (or only "many"?) supers unionized employees with union benefit packages, living in free or heavily subsidized apartments with potentially subsidized utilities?

seems pretty different from a waiter legally making less than minimum wage.

i get it that tipping is how it's done; it just seems crazy to me.

Hey, quit hating on Schneider!

sweet tea wrote: don't get me wrong, i love my super.

but aren't most (or only "many"?) supers unionized employees with union benefit packages, living in free or heavily subsidized apartments with potentially subsidized utilities?

seems pretty different from a waiter legally making less than minimum wage.

i get it that tipping is how it's done; it just seems crazy to me.

Depends on how big the building is. If the building has only one or two full-time employees, they do not have to be union and will have minimal benefits beyond what's in their agreement with the managing agent and/or coop/condo building. Prior to my move, I was in a 30-unit co-op in Brooklyn Heights. Standard super tip was $50-$100 and he deserved it - he performed his regular duties well and was always available after hours for plumbing repairs, helping to hang curtain rods, etc.

My building is quite small - just me and the landlord and his whole family at this point. The landlord has fixed things that needed to be done and there is no super in addition to him. Do I still have to tip him? I would do a bottle of wine or something, but they don't even celebrate a holiday this time of year and I am pretty sure they don't drink. Any ideas?

my super does nothing for my building or me personally (unless you count catcalling as a service) We even have to change our own lightbulbs in the damn hall because the post office won't deliver mail if the bulb is out. Needless to say, I won't be tipping

Carnivore wrote: [quote=sweet tea]don't get me wrong, i love my super.

but aren't most (or only "many"?) supers unionized employees with union benefit packages, living in free or heavily subsidized apartments with potentially subsidized utilities?

seems pretty different from a waiter legally making less than minimum wage.

i get it that tipping is how it's done; it just seems crazy to me.

Hey, quit hating on Schneider!



OMG look at those bellbottoms. Was there EVER a time in real life when building supers wore pants like those? Disco super.

scarlett wrote: My building is quite small - just me and the landlord and his whole family at this point. The landlord has fixed things that needed to be done and there is no super in addition to him. Do I still have to tip him? I would do a bottle of wine or something, but they don't even celebrate a holiday this time of year and I am pretty sure they don't drink. Any ideas?

Don't tip your landlord.
If you want to show holiday appreciation for the New Year since you love your LL so much, and you want to give them a small food gift, go for it - but absolutely no obligation to do so and it is not expected.
Tipping is for service people.

Here's a NYT thing about the coded relationship know as tipping

I tip the newspaper delivery guy, and I always want to give the postal carrier some cookies or something because she's excellent.

Bump, seems like the same stuff comes up every year.

...and for the same people. i'm lookin' at you, scarlett

Good thing I'm cute!!!!!! Dang, I am so redundant. Shutting up now.

pitu wrote: I tip the newspaper delivery guy, and I always want to give the postal carrier some cookies or something because she's excellent.

Great idea, but where do you put the gift? Inside your mailbox or on top of it or somewhere else? I want to give my mail carrier something, but I'm not sure where to place it for him to get.

Dumb question, but it bothers me.

sweet tea wrote: don't get me wrong, i love my super.

but aren't most (or only "many"?) supers unionized employees with union benefit packages, living in free or heavily subsidized apartments with potentially subsidized utilities?

seems pretty different from a waiter legally making less than minimum wage.

i get it that tipping is how it's done; it just seems crazy to me.

Not most or even many are unionized. I honestly don't know the numbers but I know a few supers in PS and have also worked as one in PS and Soho. I never met a union super or even knew of one in those neighborhoods. There are probably a few but outside of those obvious upper Manhattan golden pavilions they are few and far between.

if my building even had a super, rather than a guy who occasionally showed up to stand in the hallway, i'd tip him... nothing. cause he does fucking nothing. most of the "super" duties are performed by tenants.


fuck it though, they ain't gonna raise the rent i ain't gonna cry.

i'm drunk.