Don't Forget to Tip the Garbage Men for XMAS

[timtex]

I'm on the fence with this one. Sometimes I do sometimes I dont. A couple of years ago I put beers in a trash can. They left me a thank you note.

 

[yettitheman]

Heh, our garbage experience was... lacking.
There would be several weeks in the year where they would not pick up our trash. And, somehow, prices kept going up...

So, we bought a flame thrower and I have fun burning trash now....
Obviously, now we have to recycle the rest, which is funny to us if you think about a trunk full of paper, glass, and metal and driving 20 miles to the reclaim center

But, it's a little better for the environment, and we don't pay delinquent mafia-er Garbage Men anymore

 

[darien87]

The recycling guy did it again yesterday. There were some boxes that had been broken down and placed directly next to the bin and they were still there this morning. Screw that guy! So am I supposed to tip him to pick up those boxes NEXT to the recycling bin?!?!? He should be doing that already!!

We also have garbage men that never have to get out of the truck. The mechanical arm comes down and does all the work. It's pretty cool to watch actually.

I waited tables for many years. The last place I worked at was a Maggiano's, which is kind of an upscale Italian restaurant. I often walked out of there with $200 in my pocket on a Saturday night, and that's after tipping out the bar, my busser and the food runners. I never expected a big tip. But I always tried to anticipate my guests needs, (bringing them refills before they asked, etc.) But when you have food runners bringing the food and if you have a good busser, it frees you up to be able to hang out with the table and talk, which is what I always tried to do. I always asked my tables what brought them out that evening, and if it was a special occasion, (birthday, anniversay, etc.), I would bring them free deserts or something else to try to make the night special. I remember nights when I was slammed and didn't get to spend much time with my tables and I'd still get a 20% tip. Sometimes I'd actually feel bad because I didn't think I deserved such a big tip. But I always did my best to earn it.

I HATE servers that just take your order and then you never see them again. Those people only get 10% from me. I won't completely stiff a server, because I've been there, but a gratuity has to be EARNED.

 

[MatthewB.]

Just remember after the holidays, don't leave large boxes which advertise what you just got out by the trash. Theives are out in full force after the holidays taking notes on who just got a new Plasma/LCD TV or reciever. Last year I saw my neighbors got a ton of electronic goodies and hoped that nobody with ill intent happened to drive by. Cut em in small pieces and place in your recycle bin.

 

[Cpt.America]

Just remember after the holidays, don't leave large boxes which advertise what you just got out by the trash. Theives are out in full force after the holidays taking notes on who just got a new Plasma/LCD TV or reciever. Last year I saw my neighbors got a ton of electronic goodies and hoped that nobody with ill intent happened to drive by. Cut em in small pieces and place in your recycle bin.

Good tip!

 

[STRONGBADF1]

What service do you need? I put my garbage out.. and just need it emptied. I'm not asking for much.

Hi Chris,

I don't...thats why I don't tip my garbage men. They service us well. If they didn't I would try tipping (bribe) them at the holidays to see if things got any better. If it didn't I would just switch companies. We have at least 3 to choose from.

SBF1

 

[ChrisJam]

Odds and ends

We use a private garbage company. We're allowed a big container, plus two extra bags a week. Our garbagemen are good, and always take whatever we have out there, even it it's the occasional 8 extra bags after a long week and a big party. We try not to abuse that, though. Then again, we think nothing of putting a third extra bag out, because some weeks we only have the container.

Earning $25/hour is darned good for someone with little education. OK, some garbagemen will have had college, but what are the odds?

This city's trash collection--both public and private--is done by truck. The garbageman rolls the trash can to a lift mechanism on the truck and the truck does the heavy work. Yes, the extra bags have to be thrown in by hand. If we have any really heavy bags, I always out them in the container. All our extra bags are pretty light.

Someone posted that earning $100/hour isn't good. Depending on perspective, that can be absolutely right, though most Americans would be happy to earn that much, assuming full-time work.

Chris

 

[Sheep]

I find it ironic that a thread topic like this gets more feedback and attention than a flagship display or loudspeaker review.

You can thank me for that. Want those threads to get more posts? Give me a tip

SheepStar

 

[Alex2507]

I find it ironic that a thread topic like this gets more feedback and attention than a flagship display or loudspeaker review.

I've never had a flagship anything or even heard any of the speakers that you review. However when it comes to garbage could write my own reviews.

If he doesnt like lifting heavy stuff, and clinging to a stinky truck, then he can do something else. I still don't see how that makes doing monkey work worth THAT much money.

I feel like sending you to red chicklet hell for knocking hard work and talking bad about monkeys.

 

[Lightning Steve]

I feel like sending you to red chicklet hell for knocking hard work and talking bad about monkeys.

I've told people before, they could get monkeys to do my job but it would cost more in bananas then what I get in dollars.

 

[Clownfish]

Anyone know what the term "TIPS" stands for???

To Insure Prompt Service.

Want better service at your favorite place /bar /garbageperson /mailstaff/ barber?

Give them a tip.

No, you don't have to, but if you don't want to be the "cheap-O" service staff doesn't want to deal with, give them a little extra. You might even consider it a bribe...

I've thrown out entire houses, yup, tons of trash. It was boxed, bagged, and tied. With a whole house re-model, I'd wait for their truck, and help them out, AND give them a thanks with a handshake! With a 12 pack, or a $20. One truck told me to keep the cash, they would take the trash for free, they didn't accept 'tips' but thanks were always welcome...

To the investment guy, how would you feel if one of your clients handed you a $100 bottle of booz at Christmas? Or a $50 tip with a thanks...

Do you think you might give that person just a little better service?

 

[Haoleb]

My garbage men don't do anything special, but I give the UPS guy, FedEx guy and mail man nice electronics gifts every year. Last year it was an MP3 player. This year it's a small photo frame. Now THOSE guys work hard for me in particular... and never leave boxes unattended, etc.

I'll have to agree with you here, Fed ex here is pretty lazy, but our UPS guy rambles his big box truck all the way up our nearly 1 mile gravel road to deliver packages, At times the road has been quite bad but he has always come up. Even though I expect him to get it here somehow, I would be more than happy to drive to the pavement to meet him.

 

[Davemcc]

I don't know how the garbage systems work where you all live but here it's a municipal service. All the garbagemen are union workers making a generous public service wage, full pensions, generous public service benefits packages and generous vacation time. To be honest, I would quit my job right now to become a garbageman here but like all the other golden work opportunities, you have to know somebody in City Hall to get these jobs. In this economy, their job security as unionized public employees is rock solid. While I sit here and wonder if I'm going to have a job and be able to make my mortgage and car payments next year, these are the guys that can continue to live their lives as if the economy is rolling along as strong as ever. These are the guys that can finance a new car, new house or expensive hobbies without having to worry about getting a pink slip that crashes their lifestyle. Tell me again why I should tip these guys?

 

[Rickster71]

I don't know how the garbage systems work where you all live but here it's a municipal service. All the garbagemen are union workers making a generous public service wage, full pensions, generous public service benefits packages and generous vacation time. To be honest, I would quit my job right now to become a garbageman here but like all the other golden work opportunities, you have to know somebody in City Hall to get these jobs. In this economy, their job security as unionized public employees is rock solid. While I sit here and wonder if I'm going to have a job and be able to make my mortgage and car payments next year, these are the guys that can continue to live their lives as if the economy is rolling along as strong as ever. These are the guys that can finance a new car, new house or expensive hobbies without having to worry about getting a pink slip that crashes their lifestyle. Tell me again why I should tip these guys?

I've just returned from bringing out my garbage, and attaching a card with $40.
The truck with the robot arm will pick it up.

Even though my wife and I are excellent tippers; Davemcc and itschris are making more logical sense, than most would care to admit.

 

[Tomorrow]

I don't know how the garbage systems work where you all live but here it's a municipal service. All the garbagemen are union workers making a generous public service wage, full pensions, generous public service benefits packages and generous vacation time. To be honest, I would quit my job right now to become a garbageman here but like all the other golden work opportunities, you have to know somebody in City Hall to get these jobs. In this economy, their job security as unionized public employees is rock solid. While I sit here and wonder if I'm going to have a job and be able to make my mortgage and car payments next year, these are the guys that can continue to live their lives as if the economy is rolling along as strong as ever. These are the guys that can finance a new car, new house or expensive hobbies without having to worry about getting a pink slip that crashes their lifestyle. Tell me again why I should tip these guys?

Lots of people, especially in the private sector make Christmas bonuses...although probably a LOT fewer in this particular economy. Public service employees receive no such largesse. Dave, I'm sure you make more money and have more job security than many folks in your neck o' the woods. Nevertheless, how would you react if one of your customers gave you a gift of a Christmas bonus or tip this week? Would you consider the same issues you listed above "Hey, I make MORE than that guy"? Or would you be thankful and happy and have positive feelings toward the giver?

Yes, it's a (paid) job for the garbage guys. Yes, they make more money than some others...also less than others. And yes, they are still humans with families, feelings, and attitudes toward the world.

For me, and we have very little compared to most, including the garbage guys...there is still much joy in the giving...not so much for the "now they owe us" attitude, but for the delight and appreciation that the receiver enjoys. It IS better to give than receive, my friend. You do it in many (non-monetary) ways on this forum. Your attitude on this tipping issue is a bit surprising to me.*

*EDIT: If giving/receiving were restricted to or defined by economic strata position, then we'd have....communism.

 

[captiankirk28]

PAY IT FORWARD

 

[Davemcc]

Your attitude on this tipping issue is a bit surprising to me.*

On this issue, I'm surprised that you are surprised. Union workers get bonuses and benefits by contract, not by tips. In fact, where I work there is a corporate policy preventing me from accepting work-related gifts.

I was interested in reading about Chris' comments on the disparity between high end and budget restaurants. We have a few places we like and generally set a minimum of 20%. However, at one place the bill for two is usually about $35 plus a $7-8 tip. Another place is fantastic food and leaves us stuffed full with leftovers often for under $20. I can't see leaving a $4 tip for equal service just because the owner set the menu prices at such a low price. At this place, I will leave an $8 tip on a $20 bill.

My wife likes me to pick her up a coffee in the morning. It's $1.65 and I generally give them $2 because I know they are underpaid yet still make a good coffee and keep the lineups moving quickly. I pretty much tip everywhere you would normally expect to tip and usually pretty generously but I draw the line at unionized civil servants.

 

[adwilk]

This thread is fascinating. Obviously any position where gratuity makes up the majority of the employees compensation is completely warranted and amounts should be performance based.

Cases, like the garbage dude, where their compensation is based on a wage not decided by the customer, the customer must decide when "a little extra" is deserved.

I've worked in service industries where tips were not expected but in some cases received. I was very grateful but also knew that it was COMPLETELY unnecessary... What happened to taking pride in your work and doing the best job you can every day because thats what you do? Its also why i no longer work in those industries. I take pride and can honestly say that i treated every customer the way i would expect to be treated. It seems today that there is a standard protocol for those jobs and going above and beyond that "standard" is just not an option.

If you've got a guy doing something for you, garbage, mail, fedex or scrubbing your toilets and you feel that they are doing something that requires them to step out and do something that is TRULY not required of them, then there is no time like the Holidays to take care of them. However, i warn of enabling mediocrity.

 

[Adam]

I find it ironic that a thread topic like this gets more feedback and attention than a flagship display or loudspeaker review.

Well, at least you didn't say that you're suprised. If you are, then you need to hang out here more often, brother.

The recycling guy did it again yesterday...Screw that guy!

Word. One time I didn't break down two small boxes, and the recycling dude pulled them out of the container and threw them on my yard. Sweet. I'm sure that was a lot easier than just dumping them in the big crushing maching.

However, they've been much better lately. They took a container of magazines, and that thing wasn't light.

EDIT: BTW - maybe I'm just extremely cheap, but I never even considered tipping the sanitation engineer or the postal worker. Here, though, we don't get real personal service. We also have the mechanical arms on the garbage trucks, so the the driver (there are several different ones - depends on the day) wouldn't even notice. We also have community mail boxes, so I almost never even see the postal workers (we also have a few different ones of those).

 

[itschris]

Anyone know what the term "TIPS" stands for???

To the investment guy, how would you feel if one of your clients handed you a $100 bottle of booz at Christmas? Or a $50 tip with a thanks...

Do you think you might give that person just a little better service?

No, when I was an adivsor, I got was made substantial commissons and fees and I worked my a** off for my clients. My "tip" is by doing the best I can, they'll refer others to me, which they did frequently.

My issue is that it's just become expected... that somehow it's assumed. Free Pizza delivery isn't really free... my $30 haircut isn't really $30. It's odd that I shouldn't get a good... even great haircut for $30 unless I'm willing to pony up another $5-$8.