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Tip cable guy for installation?

W

whistleclient

Platinum Member
The cable guy is coming to my place to install cable internet (and only internet) tomorrow. It's one of those situations where they mail the modem ahead and insist on an appointment for installation.

Do I tip him? If so, how much?
 
I don't understand the American fascination for tipping on every god damned thing.

The guy is a professional (and probably salaried/contract) cable installation guy, this isn't a restaurant, he's just doing his fucking jerb.
 
RbSX said:
I don't understand the American fascination for tipping on every god damned thing.

The guy is a professional (and probably salaried/contract) cable installation guy, this isn't a restaurant, he's just doing his fucking jerb.
Click to expand...
My reaction entirely. Myself, I tip in restaurants because it's "expected." Everywhere else, nope.
 
tangent1138 said:
The cable guy is coming to my place to install cable internet (and only internet) tomorrow. It's one of those situations where they mail the modem ahead and insist on an appointment for installation.

Do I tip him? If so, how much?
Click to expand...
Did they say he would be there between noon and four? That you have to wait around for four hours for him?

I have a tip for him. Don't make me wait half the day for you.
 
No. He is already paid to do his job. Whether it is enough or not is between him and his employer.

If you make him jump through hoops then tip.
 
I had a dish network installer come out and give up, telling me that I couldn't get signal at my house. I called Dish back and they sent out another guy who spent over three hours in the backyard, on top of the house, on the garage, etc, chasing a signal. He finally mounted a dish on the tree. *That* was worth a tip. I tried to give him $30, but he wouldn't take it. His response? "Man, I get paid to do this, you don't have to tip me".

My point is that I think some people expect a tip for doing their regular job, or a mediocre job when it's really what they're getting paid to do.
 
By all means...tip the guy at least $20 for his hard work.




(if the OP is stupid enough to ask...maybe he's stupid enough to actually do it!) 😛
 
Normally I would not.

I did once because the guy did a job that was a jillion times better than any other cable/internet installer I'd ever seen. He knew what he was doing, he made the cable super unobtrusive, polite, etc. I told him exactly why he was getting the tip and to keep up the good work.
 
Offer the guy something to eat/drink when he gets there. Many folks treat service really poorly, so that sort of thing is definitely appreciated.

Last time I did it, I ended up with my cap removed. At the time, it meant 27 mbit internet from Comcast in my apt. Last time, the Fios installer reran a couple of my coax runs that she thought looked bad, without me even suggesting it.

My father is a retired contractor (construction/renovation), but he started very small, basically doing minor repairs to make ends meet. He can still remember his first clients and whether they treated him well, and he certainly went above and beyond for those that did. You'd be surprised what offering a guy a cup of coffee can do sometimes.
 
Yeah, I'd offer the guy a beverage but tipping? Not a chance unless he did something significantly beyond activating the cable jack in my dwelling.
 
Why the hell would you tip someone to do something so basic?

Plug in the modem, refresh your IP, and cancel the appointment.
 
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I tipped my Dish guy $20 for setting up 3 receivers on two floors, took him about 3 and a half hours. He did a nice cabling job outside.

Cable guy on the other hand, I never tip because I despise Comcast. Either way, the cable guys have taken less than 15 minutes anyway, which in my book isn't enough for tip.
 
tangent1138 said:
The cable guy is coming to my place to install cable internet (and only internet) tomorrow. It's one of those situations where they mail the modem ahead and insist on an appointment for installation.

Do I tip him? If so, how much?
Click to expand...

Offer the guy a cup of tea or coffee. Let him know he is welcome to use the toilet.

If you treat service people like a human, you will get a better job.



My friend lets contractors have a swim in her pool and makes them lunch. She hasnt had any bad jobs yet.
 
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