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Tip big box store installers?

Morning! I have Backyard Products from Lowes installing a shed for me today. Wasn't sure if I should tip them some extra cash. Would you?

I do if I feel they did a professional job otherwise not considering they are getting paid for labor anyway.

I admit, I've been remiss about "tipping" work like that. But I do, nearly all the time, offer appropriate refreshments... like coffee and dounts in the morning, or a cold soda or iced tea if the weather is warm. I guess I've never even thought about a cash tip. I suppose, if you think they did an exceptional job for you, a "tip" could be appropriate.
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Keep your eye on the ball, your shoulder to the wheel, your nose to the grindstone, and your ear to the ground. Now, try to work in that position!!!

Usually I tip waitresses/waiters, taxi drivers, and barber/hairdressers and only if they provide good service. If that hairdresser gives me a haircut like Larry, Mo, or Curly or the taxi driver is rude or gets lost they can kiss the tip goodbye.

Some employers don't allow their employees to accept tips, most notably McDonald's/Burger King/Wendy's.

I've never heard of tipping installers but I've given them a glass of water on a hot day. Many times I have to clean up the mess the installers leave behind (rats nests of wires, sloppy work, etc). Cable/satellite companies are notorious for sloppy work. Phone companies get second place prize for this award as well.

If you do give them a drink, make sure it is non-alcoholic and non dehydrating. I would go for the water or powerade.
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I've experienced ImOn (when they were McLeod USA), Mediacom, Comcast, and Time Warner and I currently have DirecTV. They are much better than broadcast TV.

I have not and will not cut the cord.

Nope they are not a tipped employee. I'll offer then drinks and possibly pizza but they are paid to do a job. Not to mention Lowe's and HD both have a no tips allowed policy for employees. If they are an actual employee that's a fireable offense. If they are a contractor they might be jeopardizing future work. I for one don't want to be the person costing someone hundreds or thousands of dollar for a $20 tip. Sometimes being nice does more harm then good.

It's OK to tip anyone in any kind of job if you feel they deserve it. If they refuse it or say they can't accept it, don't push the issue.
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If someone refers to herself / himself as a "guru", they probably aren't.

That is what I did, they refused drinks, lunch and a tip. Great people, husband and wife team.

anyone who does work in,or at your house and is not the owner of the company gets tipped. if they deserve it.

Tip if you feel they deserve it. I've even tipped the cement truck driver $40 for going beyond what was expected. I do not tip begrudgingly, regardless of protocol.

The real tip they get is repeat business and word of mouth advertising. People don't think of that and skip right to instant gratification. *wave to gen y*

My experience working in the field everyday as an installation tech, working in a manner to earn referrals always in back of mind:

Odds of receiving a cash tip are most likely to come from a blue collar household

Odds plummet if they have >$60,000 cars in drive, Don't tread on me bumper stickers on their truck and/or white carpet

Once in a blue moon a fat cat will blow my generalization clear out of water
Last year I did nice work on a difficult job for a high roller and he gave me 5 $100 bills on way out the door - hee haw!

Re: Tip big box store installers?

These are "professionals" that do a job only one way: Correctly.
They sell their service, they don't see a product that comes with a service (material is not a product that comes with a service!).

Tipping is reserved for the type of services that can vary quite a bit in quality, such as service at a restaurant, hotel room service, hair cuts, and what not. I tip taxi drivers because sometimes they get me home when I'm so intoxicated that they need to check my driver's license to find my home... well, I don't do that ANYMORE, I pass out AT HOME now.

I try to generally tip any worker doing work for me if they do a good job. Whether they accept it is up to them. But when I was doing grunt work for customers, I appreciated the gesture of customers just considering to tip me. Even though I was allowed to accept tips. As one poster stated above. It is the ones that look like they have nothing that usually offer a tip. The richer they appear, the less often they consider tipping.

I have been asked by rich people to do things that were out of the scope of my job description. Seeing that they had money, I would take some extra time to help them out with their request. Only to get shafted in the end by only a thank you.

Yes, if they did a good job.

I gave a box store installer a tip one time. He got pissed at me. I told him how to properly install the J around a window vs what he was doing.

A buddy of mine called me because he had 2 hacks installing his siding through a box store. They didn't appreciate my 2 cents at first but they were happy after I took time to show them how to properly install it. They did an ok job. I found out they never installed siding before they just were the guys who usually installed insulation panels, etc.

I wouldn't pay a box store installer on a cold day...

For me to build it solo would be a project that is a bit out of my league.