How much should I tip my doormen?

[Zeze]

Unlike the $330 jean thread, I'm not trolling.

Just this year I moved to the 'luxury high rise apartment' right off of NYC. It's 36 floors of 10 units per floor.

We have a gang of doormen that does general work of:

* basic security round the clock
* open door for you if you are burdened
* notify handymen if there's problem in your unit
* basic concierge service (never used them, nor know what they offer)

They look like this (though not as nice):

Now I'm totally new to this, but apparently around Christmas time, you're supposed to tip them for their work year round. They already sent all of us a flyer wishing us happy holidays with all their names and headshots. And they're extra nice this month.

I have another friend who lives in Silver Towers in upper east. They do the same thing and she tipped them $200 (wtf).

Fiance and I are thinking $50 total. Or is it necessary?

 

[slayer202]

you need more than that, especially if you plan on splitting it up between a bunch of people....

are there certain people you know better? they should get more. anything less than $20/person and you shouldn't even bother(absolute minimum)

 

[Zeze]

you need more than that, especially if you plan on splitting it up between a bunch of people....

are there certain people you know better? they should get more. anything less than $20/person and you shouldn't even bother(absolute minimum)

That's another Q. Are the tips pooled? When I hand it to someone, I have a feeling he'll just pocket it for himself. That is fine, but I need to know it, so I can give it to the person I want.

 

[slayer202]

ask someone. you should probably give to the people you want, and then maybe there's a shared pool for the people you might not see often.

 

[Vageetasjn]

They're not pooled. Another point of the flyer is to help you keep track of who you've tipped (remember that episode of Curb?). So check off the people you get to as you go along. $50-100 each is pretty standard in doorman buildings. It's just part of the total cost of living there.

 

[amdhunter]

Friend of mine is a doorman somewhere around 66th street on the East side. Usually the maintenance guys get $50 while the doormen get $100. Kinda messed up the guys that do more work get so little, and most of the time the maintenance guys get stiffed.

I usually give my super a bottle of Bacardi.

 

[Sluggo]

Unlike the $330 jean thread, I'm not trolling.

Dammit, I was going to say enough enough for a nice pair of jeans.

 

[Thebobo]

About 45 degrees

 

[Zeze]

They're not pooled. Another point of the flyer is to help you keep track of who you've tipped (remember that episode of Curb?). So check off the people you get to as you go along. $50-100 each is pretty standard in doorman buildings. It's just part of the total cost of living there.

Nobody really stands out to tip one person. Yet it's too little to spread by 5.

 

[bigrash]

I think $50 is fine.

 

[zokudu]

5 Doormen? I would give ~150. Split 5 ways $30 seems reasonable if you don't have any particular one you appreciate more.

 

[dawheat]

I don't know what 'right off NYC' exactly means, but tipping is unfortunately expected in NYC, though it is dependent on the neighbourhood and building.

Upper east and west buildings will expect more, residents of larger units will be expected to be more generous (3BR vs 1BR), the more upscale the building, the higher the expectations.

It's expected that you tip each person individually (most people make out cards to each person and put the money inside). They much prefer to receive it individually when possible.

I'd say if you're living in the equivalent of the upper east:
Super: 100-250
Each Doorman: 75-150
Each Handyman, porter: 40-50

I know some younger kids who live in hells kitchen who give way less:
Super: 50
Each Doorman: 40
Each Handyman, porter: 20

And yes, tipping sucks but I try to keep in mind it covers the year. For each doorman, it works out to something like $2 a week - for getting the doors, letting my car occasionally be parked in front, getting my packages and dry cleaning - it's not insane.

 

[zokudu]

Right off NYC mean Hoboken I believe. Just over the river in NJ. Go check the Sandy thread his apartments location is very impressive.

 

[NetWareHead]

Tipping the doorman? Maybe if the guy opens the door for you or presses the elevator button while you have full hands, slip him a dollar two or three next time you see him.

But tipping the doorman for the holidays? These guys are basically security guards and guards don't get a tip. I'm pretty sure doormen don't make waiter's wages (less than minimum wage, rest is made up with tip). Pretty ridiculous if you ask me

 

[OVerLoRDI]

Is the sofa in the lobby still there?

 

[Gothgar]

I'd tip each about what you suggested.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

I don't know what 'right off NYC' exactly means, but tipping is unfortunately expected in NYC, though it is dependent on the neighbourhood and building.

Upper east and west buildings will expect more, residents of larger units will be expected to be more generous (3BR vs 1BR), the more upscale the building, the higher the expectations.

It's expected that you tip each person individually (most people make out cards to each person and put the money inside). They much prefer to receive it individually when possible.

I'd say if you're living in the equivalent of the upper east:
Super: 100-250
Each Doorman: 75-150
Each Handyman, porter: 40-50

I know some younger kids who live in hells kitchen who give way less:
Super: 50
Each Doorman: 40
Each Handyman, porter: 20

And yes, tipping sucks but I try to keep in mind it covers the year. For each doorman, it works out to something like $2 a week - for getting the doors, letting my car occasionally be parked in front, getting my packages and dry cleaning - it's not insane.

Right off nyc means hes a pretentious douche that lives in nj but wants to sound like hes in nyc.

 

[KeithTalent]

I always gave them a crisp c-note in a Christmas card.

KT

 

[EPCrew]

It depends on how your building handles the holiday gifts. My building has a box next to the doormen that is supposed to be chopped evenly amongst all of the employees. If you play favorites, then you would generally give an additional tip or gift to them as a token of your appreciation. IMO, $50 to split amongst all of them is very light.

In my old building, I've generally tipped the super about $100 and $50 to each of the doormen and maintenance crew. There are a TON of workers in my current building plus outdoor security guards so following last year's model wouldn't fall within my budget this year. I haven't figured out how I plan to readjust yet.

 

[rsutoratosu]

We got a lot of people to tip, in addition to doorman, mailman, garbage men, recycle garbage men too

 

[EPCrew]

good point. i've never really tipped the mailman in the past either but my current one has been great. i should add her to my list.

 

[JoeyP]

Is the sofa in the lobby still there?

Probably not, if it is an Italian Leather Sofa.

 

[KeithTalent]

Probably not, if it is an Italian Leather Sofa.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuCUqCu9BcY

KT

 

[Dr. Detroit]

$50/head seems reasonable if you plan on living there during the next 12-months..

If you use there services often I would give them more.

 

[herrjimbo]

if you have to ask, don't tip.

what the hell happened to people? can't tip without asking? how about tipping what you want to tip?

do you honestly think the doormen are going to stop doing their jobs if you don't tip?

or are you afraid they're going to point in your direction and tell the whole world that you tipped poorly, or didn't tip at all?

just tip them what you feel is appropriate.







sorry for the rant. just seems to me there's entirely too many threads about tipping.