Tip the tree guy?

July 23, 2021 6:41 AM

New homeowner, unfamiliar with expectations for the services others provide us. We have an arborist currently out in our yard trimming a tree for us. He quoted us a very reasonable price for the work he's doing. Should we include a tip as part of our payment?
posted by mcbeth to Home & Garden (10 answers total)

I would not tip an arborist or landscape guy, though I have occasionally provided beer at the end of the job when it's been hot.
posted by jquinby at 6:55 AM on July 23, 2021 [2 favorites]

I don't think I've ever tipped landscapers or tree people before as they generally make a reasonable hourly wage and don't rely on tips the way others might.

I'd say if he owns the company then there's no need to tip him. If he's working for someone else and he was friendly and did a good job then there's no harm in slipping him an extra $20.00.
posted by bondcliff at 6:57 AM on July 23, 2021 [4 favorites]

Arborists make good money (at least in our area). I have not tipped for this service in the past.
posted by furnace.heart at 7:00 AM on July 23, 2021

I wouldn't tip but I would offer a cold beverage, and I'd leave a good review and/or recommend him to other people.
posted by cpatterson at 7:03 AM on July 23, 2021 [1 favorite]

If he's an actual certified arborist def don't tip in cash. That would be like tipping a nurse or a lawyer. Maybe not quite, but it's a highly skilled profession based on extensive technical training, and I don't known of any culture where we tip those people.
posted by SaltySalticid at 7:35 AM on July 23, 2021 [1 favorite]

I think of an arborist like a plumber or electrician, a highly specialized professional. I don't tip them. I do keep water bottles on hand to offer in these circumstances, especially in Texas.

Annually, I tip the housecleaner, dog walker, and the lawn mowing dude or more like an annual "bonus" for a valued member of my household team. I tip the food delivery people and when I use a 3rd party "man with a truck" delivery service (Burro App), I tip them.
posted by magnetsphere at 7:43 AM on July 23, 2021 [1 favorite]

I don't tip our arborist, but I did be sure to leave a positive review on Yelp for him.
posted by BlahLaLa at 10:58 AM on July 23, 2021

I never tipped our tree guy except the time I asked him to cut the dead tree into 18" sections so I could split it and use it for fire wood. Normally, they just cut it up so it fits in their truck or they turn it into chips. I asked for the 18" sections after he quoted a price.
posted by AugustWest at 11:14 AM on July 23, 2021

I work in a highly skilled, pretty decent paying industry and once in a blue moon someone tips me, and it's SO CUTE. Like, many warm fuzzies. So I would say - don't not tip him!
posted by euphoria066 at 1:29 PM on July 24, 2021

I have tipped my tree guys before. They seemed quite happy when I did.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 2:04 PM on July 24, 2021 [1 favorite]