To tip or not?

I'm getting the windows in my apt replaced and I was wondering if I should tip the guys when they've installed them... and if so how much?

I'm useless with this sort of thing and would appreciate some advice - thanks!

tip the window installers? huh? i can't imagine why.

now if they give you a swedish massage while they're there. . . maybe.

I got window guards done in my place and did tip them ($30 for 2 guys, 1 did most of the work). I myself never know if I should tip car service guys or pay what they quote for the ride. I usually tip furniture delivery guys or people who come into my home to do some work (if they are not the ones getting the $$$ from the sale. Ex, I don't tip a handyman b/c he charges by the hr, but the window guys were just working for the company I bought the guards from).

I think the contractor you're paying should pay their workers, you shouldn't need to tip. You agreed on a price for the work. It's up to them to pay for the labor.

Thanks for your thoughts.

I don't expect/want a swedish massage! Absolutely not!

I agree that the contractor should pay but I just don't know if I'm expected to give a tip...

I guess I'll just see how it goes.

neither obligated nor expected.

waitrons, taxi drivers, then call it day.

I generally go with anytime it's questionable, I tip, and here's my reasoning: probably, there are other people out there who question this as well, and so, whether it's appropriate or not, these people occasionally get tips and also occasionally don't. If they occasionally get tipped, I might as well be one of the people who tip, because I figure I'm already paying for that window installation / futon delivery / erotic massage, what's 10-20 bucks more if it's going to make this person's day that much better.

I think I got this from having worked several jobs where people occasionally tip, like delivering sandwiches to events catered by the deli I worked at - people don't know if they're supposed to tip you or not. They are.

Also, I briefly worked as an erotic masseuse.

On the topic of tipping, how do you guys feel about car service drivers? When I first started taking them, people told me you do not need to tip, but that just feels wrong.

I tip car service drivers. I tip for coffee sometimes just because I feel guilty that people are trying to get by on low wage jobs, but I also think coffee is already overpriced enough and starbucks should pay it's workers (not me). Isn't that one of the points of take out? You pick it up and then go elsewhere to eat, so you don't pay for service. I do tip food delivery people, of course.

BTW, how much do people tip hairdressers? I'm getting a cut today.

mixergirl wrote: On the topic of tipping, how do you guys feel about car service drivers? When I first started taking them, people told me you do not need to tip, but that just feels wrong.

Yes to car service drivers, no to window installers.

offer them a beer or something... A beer can go a long way after some labor.

So I got my lovely new windows installed (Yay! They close! Yay! No rain indoors!), and I didn't tip.

I don't know whether on Friday the 13th not tipping is going to be supremely bad luck/karma, but will have to wait and see I s'pose.