Have You Ever Been Tipped ? ..........

Peladu

The reason I ask is because I was almost tipped for the first time in eighteen years of being a carpenter. I finished a master bathroom and at the end of the final walk through (two weeks before last Christmas) the husband and his wife were more than happy. I say the basic goodbyes and reached to shake the mans hand. He puts, I’m guessing four, one hundred dollar bills into the palm of my hand. I immediately said no thank you and never took the cash. He said, “You saved us over a thousand, you have to take something.” I told him that all I wanted was for him to tell people about my quality and that would be more than enough. I walk out of the house and he says, “your going to get this one way or another.” I just laughed, waved goodbye and went home.
Now here is where it just got interesting; Today as my wife was opening up the mail she comes to me and asks, “Who are these people?” I looked and it was the aforementioned customers. Inside are two cards, individually addressing both of my kids. The woman wrote (on both cards) “To [my kids name] Thank you for letting us borrow your dad. This is a little present from us to you. We hope you enjoy it. Have a happy and healthy new year” Inside the card they gave each one of my kids $200 worth of gift certificates to Toys R Us. So here I am with $400 worth of gift certificates to Toys R Us, for my kids. They do not know, and maybe they wont, I don’t know what to do. If it wasn’t so late I would have made my kids call them to thank them, but gonna have to wait until tomorrow. I thought that was a slick way around getting me to take the money. I just wanted to share this. Up until it happened to me, I never have heard of a contractor being tipped, have you?

DecksEtc

There is another post that discussed this topic awhile back.

In my opinion, you're not doing anything even remotely "wrong" by accepting the tip - either for yourself or your kids. It sounds like you have an excellent relationship with these clients but one thing occurred to me, you may be insulting them by not taking it. From what you've told us, they seem pretty insistent on you getting the tip, despite your objection(s). It sounds like you've got yourself a great reference either way.

Good job!

IHI

Been tipped with many different items, cash, checks, gift certificates to restraunts, etc...I always do the turn it down song and dance with the "just refer me to anybody looking to have something done" but if they persist take it. It doe'snt happen everyday, and when it does, kinda feels funny in a weird way, makes me feel like I owe them something

When I tip others for things they do, like me, they turn it down...but I always find a way to get it to them, most people are the same way and if they know you have kids they use that excuse...take the wife and kid out to eat, buy your daughter something, take youra wife somewhere, etc...

just enjoy it, you earned it.

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Glasshousebltr

My second ex wife was tipped once, but I think she was mistaken for a cow.

Bob

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747

Proper way to handle that. Would be have your kids write them a note thanking them and telling them what they bought at toy r us. Also make sure they say my dad wanted us to thank you for him also. Something to that effect. Do not leave them hanging. That would be extremely RUDE.

go dart

now thats a great customer

Eric K

I've been tipped before a couple of times. Never 400 bucks but, one customer always makes me and the guys fresh sandwichs w/ sides and dessert for lunch, worked there late once and got a full course steak dinner (best I've ever had) I've gotten 1/2 gallon of absolute vodka, 100 buck bonus, ect. Little tips but very appriciated and always declined the 1st time.

Peladu

I didn’t get the vibe that they felt insulted, ‘cause then I would have taken it just to keep the peace.
They were smiling the whole time, so I didn’t and still don’t think they took it bad, but thanks for the input.

Thanks! Man you have been tipped a lot.
Sounds like you get along well with your customers also.

And that’s why she’s your X…….hahaha

I totally agree with you. Had the kids call this morning, but the answering machine picked up so I hung up. I want them to talk to them personally. I think that’s a great idea about having the kids send a note. I am going to have the kids draw them a thank you card and send it in the mail even after they talk to them. Thanks

Not only because of that, but they were cool from the time I showed up to measure for the bid, all the way through the end. I could tell that they were good people from the start, this time my gut feelings were right.

Oh man, I think I gained ten pounds an a basement job I did over the summer for a older Italian lady. She loved to cook and we loved to eat whatever she came up with. Me and my guys hated to leave that job.

Grumpy

First year in the biz I got a tip. We did a guys gutters, then we were doing his neighbor's roof. LOL the guy who's gutters we did brought us a 12 pack while we were working on his neighbor's roof. SMART! We sat on the roof occasionally hitting our hammer in the same spot so the home owner would think we were still working. We quit early that day. I left that job as soon as I realized how ghetto we were.

First year running my own business, a customer called out about an emergency repair. I went out the next day, and already figured in a few extra bucks for the "rush" but she gave me an extra $50 also.

Grumpy

One other thing. I used to shovel snow for my elderly next door neighbors when I was a kid. I did it because they couldn't and it needed to be done. Anyways I learned then to decline once, but if they insist then you accept.

DecksEtc

I always shovelled the elderly lady's driveway next door and I wasn't allowed to accept anything. She let us use her driveway for street hockey - it was the only paved driveway in the neighbourhood so that sort of qualified as my "tip". Like I said, my parents wouldn't let me accept any money, no matter how much she insisted - it was a big driveway too, it fit about 10 cars! I did get $10 in a Christmas card every year - my parents let me keep that.

Tom R

Hey, Peladu

Here's a discussion we had a while back

http://www.contractortalk.com/f11/tips-anyone-5238/

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Peladu

Thanks Tom for the link,

Sorry about the repost guys .... I shall use the Search Button in the future.

The thing that I thought was interesting was when Teetorbilt said that he gave completion parties. Wow, I can’t remember the last time I was at one of those, if I had to guess I would have to say the early 90’s. My guys don’t know what a completion party is. And even if I told them that we were going to have one, they would laugh, because they know me to say, “Your job is never done!”. So, if I were to have a completion party then I could never use my quip with them.

:wondering if I just hijacked my own thread?:

Tom R

No, that's alright, always good to get new input, - - it was just my way of bein' lazy tonight.

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jwatkins

I did a master bath remod for a guy that ran a hotel in Des MOines. It wasa part of a national chain. Got done gave him a bill that was about 5k over original est., they added alot of stuff. He gave me his card and told me to pick a place to go for the weekend and a good date siad he would cover it all as long as I stayed at a Marriot. Needless to say we went to Kansas City for a race and the hotel covered it all. except the race. Huge suite food drink(alot of that of bud light and bacardi). Called the guy after word and thanked him. All he said was hope i got a good look at the lobby cause he wanted a bid to make his lobby the same. Ended up landing the 95k job. Kept my crew and me full of food and drink the whole time!