Tipping a Super?

April 23, 2013 3:08 PM

do I need to tip my super after every repair? Or just at the end of the year?

the super my building is currently helping me repair my malfunctioning refrigerator and he's been doing a great job communicating the costs, time frame, etc. I'm about to reimburse him for parts and labor but as for tip, should I be tipping him after every job/repair? I plan on tipping him at the end of the year during the holiday but not sure if it was customary to tip after every repair as well.

Thanks!

posted by cm1088 to Home & Garden (5 answers total)

Not quite the same, but I tip my building manager for my office at the end of the year, and not after every single little thing he does for us. He bills me his small amount for that work, in any event.
posted by disillusioned at 3:10 PM on April 23, 2013

In NYC I would say you should be tipping after every repair, especially if you own the apartment. Otherwise he will just build up resentment toward you because he'll be expecting a tip and you'll be thinking you'll save it up until the end of the year.

It may be different elsewhere.
posted by dfriedman at 3:14 PM on April 23, 2013

Just a data point, in suburban NY, I call my super less than once a year about an issue and it is always resolved without me having to see him since he addresses the issue while I'm at work. I tip him $100 in December and say thank you for all the maintenance and upkeep he does throughout the year.
posted by Brian Puccio at 3:43 PM on April 23, 2013

Do you have neighbors in the building to ask what is done there?
posted by edgeways at 5:21 PM on April 23, 2013

In NY I'd do both. Tip after every job, and then a little something at the holidays.

Husbunny's super in NY (In a 3 unit building) was a horrible litttle troll who used to cut off the electricity just to fuck with us.

He got coal at Christmas.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:07 AM on April 24, 2013