Feeding/tipping landscapers for a big job *today*

The landscapers were supposed to be here between 8-9. It's now 9:30 and they haven't arrived or called. I was told that if it wasn't raining too bad, or thundering, that they would do the job anyway. And that if they WEREN'T doing the job, they would call.

I am prepared with coffee and donuts, I always feed people who do work that lasts more than an hour.

However... This visit is costing me about $3,000. Would you tip in that situation? I only have a couple of 20's in my wallet and there probably will be at least 4 guys here, if they show up.

Last time they did work for me, they did more than I asked them to and even raked my leaves for me. Kind of a spring cleanup. I tipped them then.

What would you do?

Re: Feeding/tipping landscapers for a big job *today*

I recently had the same thing. All new landscaping big job 3500.00. We gave them breakfast and lunch and tipped each guy 20 bucks. I also had a cooler filled with water and gatorade outside for them too.

Re: Feeding/tipping landscapers for a big job *today*

wow, i feel like a cheap-skate. i never do anything! well, not true.. an occasional tip here and there.
when i ask dh if we should tip he says "yeah, don't pee into the wind."

but, i think in the future i will be doing the cooler with drinks, i think that's a great idea!!

Re: Feeding/tipping landscapers for a big job *today*

We did the cooler and drinks and were later told by the owner how much it was appreciated by the guys. We offered lunch but they declined saying they were going to run to the deli or pizza place when they took a break.

Re: Feeding/tipping landscapers for a big job *today*

Re: Feeding/tipping landscapers for a big job *today*

Well they're still not here and no phone call. So I guess at this point, it's not happening. Even though it hasn't been raining for over an hour.

I hate being dissapointed and feeling so unimportant that I don't even warrant a courtesy phone call.

Re: Feeding/tipping landscapers for a big job *today*

Re: Feeding/tipping landscapers for a big job *today*

Re: Feeding/tipping landscapers for a big job *today*

Not calling back is a major pet peeve of mine. Especially with the economy the way it is now, I'd think that contractors, landscapers, etc, would be trying their hardest to get jobs.

I had this general contractor come to my house in June for a HUGE job, would have been a 5 figure job for him. He asked me to give him a week to put together an estimate, I called him after 2 weeks, he asked for 1 more week he was almost done with it. Well, if I hadn't decided to call around, I'd STILL be waiting for that estimate. No, phone call, nothing. It just makes me go

Re: Feeding/tipping landscapers for a big job *today*

I always tip but I never feed anyone. I don't get where the idea that they should be served a meal by a customer. I will offer beverages but I would never do a meal thing. I don't think I'm being cheap.

Re: Feeding/tipping landscapers for a big job *today*

The arborist doing the job just showed up. Without his team.

I got a song and dance about the rain, severe thunderstorms, all that. That his team went home. They didn't have my phone number on the paperwork to tell me all this. The office is less than a mile from here. No one could have stopped by to tell me? Probably because I was watching the weather satellite like a hawk and knew that the thunderstorms were gone by 8, and the rain was over by 10, 10:30.

So I gave him an annoyed earful, I didn't freak out or anything, not that it helps me at all. They want to reschedule for Monday. Monday was supposed to be our 'go out and have fun' day. He said we don't need to be here for the whole thing... I just don't trust them now like I did before.

He made sure to mention that he's going to have to pay his guys extra since it's a holiday. I said, that's not going to change MY price, right? He said no, not at all. So I ignored the comment.

I'm not feeding them. They'll be lucky to get a tip, if they show up on time and do a good job.

I'm not feeling so warm and fuzzy about these guys anymore.

Re: Feeding/tipping landscapers for a big job *today*

If we have any jobs going on, I make sure there are always cold drinks available: Gatorade, bottle water, soda, bottled Crystal light. We've never provided lunch b/c they always bring their lunch with them.

If the job takes a week or so, we give them a case of beer when they're done.

We tipped once and that was for a big job (20K) and I had to fight my DH to tip them. (They were wonderful with my DD.) My DH was a laborer (logger/tree work) for a decade and his attitude was that they always brought their own food & drink and they never expected anything from anyone. They were there to complete a job and that was it. He and his crew never got tips and he doesn't feel other laborers should either.

Message edited 8/30/2008 7:18:55 PM.

Re: Feeding/tipping landscapers for a big job *today*

we offered pizza lunch to them since it would be chepaer and there was a lot, they said they would rather have $$$ to get sandwiches, I was annoyed and gave them nothing! would have easily been 10 a perosn at a deli