I charge enough where I don't expect tips.

 

I charge enough where I don't expect tips.

That true but it always makes me feel good when I see or my help tells me they got one from a customer.

 

We rarely receive tips .
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I don't get a lot of tips, I do get a few real nice Christmas bonuses.

I usually tip the "loaders" at the nursery and home depoit

 

I don't get a lot of tips, I do get a few real nice Christmas bonuses.

I usually tip the "loaders" at the nursery and home depoit

That's what I meant by tips "Christmas bonuses".

 

It's their money. If they want to tip, great. If not, oh well as long as they pay their bill. I've had very few tips until this Christmas. Several small Christmas "bonuses" or "tips", one of which was $200!
Do I expect tips?.....no. Do I like them?......heck yea.
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I charge enough where I don't expect tips.

I never would change my price if I expected a tip. The price is what the business needs to make the desired profit.

To leave the decision with the customer as to whether the needed profit will be reached is not how to price work.

 

Tipping is a personal thing. Some people don't, some do, and, I suspect it is also regional to a certain extent. I've been mowing for 10 years, and, up until this year, I think I might have received a total of an extra $20 or so through the years. On the last mow of the season, one customer tipped me the amount of an extra mow ($110), which was really nice of them.

As for the original post, I agree. If you don't want to tip, fine, that is your business, but don't use the service schedule as an excuse.

 

The only tips I get are on how to do my job better. Usually they're wrong

 

The only tips I get are on how to do my job better. Usually they're wrong

LMAO
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Hard to say what was bothering the guy who posted that. But obviously he has a little resentment. You could tell it in his tone, even if it was just writing.

The resentment could come from the fact that his yard care crew really DOESN'T do anything in the winter months. And if that's the case, that's too bad. There's always something you can find to do - even if there's no lawn to mow. I used to hear people complain about that very same thing all the time - that their previous company charged them all year but did nothing or never even stopped by for some months during the winter. So we designed all of our packages to where our clients would still get some good, valuable services all winter, even if we did come less often and for not as much time each week. I think charging someone for doing nothing is going to lead to more resentment. Companies should find a way to figure out something to do, so customers don't feel this way.

That said, he's still a jerk for posting that. If he agreed to those payment terms and that service schedule than he has no right to complain about it, which is essentially what he's doing there.

Our lawn care crews get a fair amount of Christmas tips / bonuses. They always love that. It's actually very wise on the homeowner's part. Because who are you going to be more likely to stay a little longer and do little extras for? The guy who always tips you every Christmas? Or the guy who is stand-offish and never talks to you?

I learned a long time ago that it really helps a lot to reward people who serve you. You get all sorts of perks and extra leniency when you do that. I bring in gifts every Christmas for everyone at my bank, service centers I use regularly, etc. And aside from being just a nice thing to do, I always get extra priority and favors throughout the rest of the year - because they look at me as one of the people they really LOVE doing business with. A little tip or gift goes a LONG way, sometimes.

 

I sent out a final $440 fall clean up bill and got a $400 tip on top of that with a thank you note for doing a great job throughout the season, that was my one and only tip this year. Best customer on earth very high end resi.
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Jim "dissertation"Lewis. lol
You are correct though, a little thoughtfulness works wonders, sometimes.

 

Jim "dissertation"Lewis. lol

I know, right?? That guys is always running on and on and on....

 

When I first started with a push mower in the trunk of my car and a weed eater brand trimmer and no blower that's when I got tips. Some of which were up to $100.

Now that I have all commercial equipment, truck, trailer, etc...Haven't seen a tip sense. Its hard to keep customers because they go find someone cheaper. I remind them they won't find the same quality of work but they don't care they just want it cut and who ever can do it cheapest is who they want.

 

I don't know if I came across wrong bad with my answer, but what I mean is I just feel weird taking tips, I know that sounds goofy.

 

This has been discussed before and going down the same ole road. I will try not to accept a tip. The main reason is in my mind I will usually do something extra and not charge because they tipped. I have had customers in the past use the tip as leverage. So my policy was not to accept the tip. Well since the last blog on this I have changed my policy. My mother passed away December 23 of 2011. She always support St. Jude. So every tip I receive is sent to St. Jude with my mom and customers name.

 

So every tip I receive is sent to St. Jude with my mom and customers name.

Noble gesture.

 

Huh??? What the heck is your basis for that ridiculous policy? Why anyone would turn down money offered to them for free is beyond me. You already have everything your company and family needs or wants??? If so, you must be the only one. Aside from always having something good to put the money toward, I think it's also rude to turn down a tip. People are offering that from the goodness of their heart and you basically tell them, "No thanks. I don't need your generosity." That's sort of a slap in the face. How rude! Being willing to accept gifts from people when they are offered is a good trait, not a bad one. I'm not sure where you got this screwy notion that it's somehow noble to turn down tips, but it's not. A tip is someone telling you, "Hey, you deserve even more than I'm paying you. I really appreciate all your work. Take this as a token of my appreciation." Then you turn that down?? How rude.

In some places tipping is discouraged and considered insulting and in other places tipping is expected from customers.

Tipping implies that the person receiving the tip is a low wage earner who needs more of the wealthy person's money in order to make a decent wage.

If you are a professional and handle yourself in a professional manner and use tact when explaining your company's policy, it doesn't come across as "rude"…it comes across as classy.

 

ding ding ding

winner winner catfish dinner cry me a river if you honest believe you rank up there with a property owners perception someone whom deserves a Tip

in they're eye's your the yard guy get over yourself

I charge enough where I don't expect tips.

 

Well, I haven't received any tips since about 1999, when I stopped being the one who was actually doing the work, mowing, etc.

But our workers still get a lot of tips each year, as I said above.

I think people tip because they really appreciate you and want to show that appreciation. To turn that down is just rude.

No, it's not expected. I never expected a tip. Still don't. That would be silly. What we do doesn't require tips at all. But if someone appreciates our workers so much that they want to give one, we'll always accept it with a smile and a "Thank you, very much! Merry Christmas!"

 

Well, I haven't received any tips since about 1999, when I stopped being the one who was actually doing the work, mowing, etc.

But our workers still get a lot of tips each year, as I said above.

I think people tip because they really appreciate you and want to show that appreciation. To turn that down is just rude.

No, it's not expected. I never expected a tip. Still don't. That would be silly. What we do doesn't require tips at all. But if someone appreciates our workers so much that they want to give one, we'll always accept it with a smile and a "Thank you, very much! Merry Christmas!"

That's a good approach. It's different between companies that are owner operators and companies with employees. I like the idea of pooling the tips for your employees as a Christmas gift to show your appreciation...we rely on our employees. As an owner operator I could see myself being bashful and saying oh no that's not necessary, I appreciate it...but if they insisted I wouldn't say no. I would just find a way of making it up to them whether it was another gift back or just doing something around the yard for free. I have good relationships with my customers and speak to them all the time so my appreciation wouldn't be lost and I have plenty of opportunities to give it back.
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I only have one customer who tips me very nicely at the end if the season. I make sure he is well taken care of during the growing season because I know that he will take care of me at the end if the year. A little extra here and there goes a long way. This customer has brought me more clients although they don't tip lol.
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One of my customers throws me a $20 maybe 2 or 3 times a year, so I just take an extended lunch break and buy the guys lunch at Wendy's right down the street.

 

We rarely receive tips .
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Funny that after I posted this I received a gift card for a local restaurant as well as a tip from two different clients.
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