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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to not tip the window cleaner every week??

49 replies

chocbutton · 16/07/2008 22:01

Was having a conversation with a neighbour about general this and that and our window cleaners came up - she mentioned that she tips them every week. I didn't ask how much but i don't do this Am I mean and tight fisted? I do at xmas but not every week surely? I really don't know if this is what you are meant to do, it's never come up before, and my windows still get cleaned!

So AIBU not to tip them? And what do you do for other things e.g hairdressers (I'd say yes), taxis (depends), waiters etc(yes).

I'd hate anyone to think I was taking advantage of them by not tipping but how on earth are you supposed to know????

OP posts:

maidamess · 17/07/2008 07:45

amiadawish...how many windows have you got?

bellavita · 17/07/2008 07:59

I pay £13 once a month to have the windows cleaned. I do not tip him but I do make him a cup of coffee. He just started a month before christmas so he did not get a tip then, but I will give him something this year as he has always turned up when he said he would.

JammyQueenOfTheSewers · 17/07/2008 08:02

I feel so dirty now. Been here 6 years and the windows haven't been washed (some have been done inside).

Was thinking of getting a window cleaner though, but we don't have access to the back other than coming through the house. Does that mean I can't get the back wondows done? Or do you think I could get one to bring his (assumption there I know) stuff through the house?

Original poster

chocbutton · 17/07/2008 09:45

amidawish, do you mean £5 or you you live in an enormous glass house?? My £7.20 doesn't seem so bad now

Anyway, it seems that my neighbour is the odd one out by tipping him all the time. Thank god for that Maybe he gets hers extra clean or something

I agree that you'd only tip when you had service over and above what you pay for, apart from christmas etc. But even that is funny isn't it, because no one tips me at christmas when I turn up to work and do my job

OP posts:

sagacious · 17/07/2008 09:58

Pay £10 every 6 weeks
He gets an extra £10 at Christmas.

Tipping every week is odd IMO

elmoandella · 17/07/2008 10:08

we don't tip. get it done once a month.

at xmas we give them come wine and cakes.

same for my gardener.

i do tip my hairdresser. but i only go a couple of times a year!! wish i had time to go more.

taxi's are a rip off so i no longer tip them.

give waiters 10%

strawberryfields · 17/07/2008 10:08

My window cleaner comes every 8 weeks in theory. Hasn't been for a while cause he broke both legs falling off his ladder...
But even so my windows don't look too bad considering its been about 6 months since they last got cleaned.
Mine charges £20 but we have quite a lot of windows and he does the conservatory too. Also fixes other little things he finds when up there!

strawberryfields · 17/07/2008 10:09

But no I wouldn't tip 'cept if he came near xmas

amidaiwish · 17/07/2008 11:44

no, i do mean £50
it is a 4 bed semi so i guess quite a few windows but not an enormous amount.
velux windows in the rear extension
french doors at the back.
and he does wipe down the frames/sills too
£50 is inside and out though... and he only comes about 3 times a year.
i used to pay £70!

am i a mug?

GrapefruitMoon · 17/07/2008 11:47

My house is similar to your's amidaiwish and outside only is £13...

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 17/07/2008 11:47

Just pay. Don't tip, except at Christmas.

amidaiwish - yes, you are. How long does it take him?

amidaiwish · 17/07/2008 12:17

dunno... he's coming today, i will time him and report back.

he does all the neighbours here, i will find out how much they're paying

Original poster

chocbutton · 17/07/2008 13:22

amidaiwish - has he been yet? mine take about 20 minutes to do about 10 windows, including french windows at the back. They also wipe windowsills etc. But that is 2 of them doing it at the same time. Actually hate being in the house when they come - feel I must look busy and industrious -would be if I was actually lying on the sofa watching TV with a packet of biscuits.

OP posts:

Blueeyedgal · 17/07/2008 13:37

LOL strawberry fields, god aren't I awful, just the bit about him falling off his ladder with him being a window cleaner. Sorry to laugh. Anyway, your cleaner actually uses a ladder, lucky you, round here, they have those stupid long brush hose thingy's. He forgot my landing window last time so was a bit with him. I don't tip, he charges me £10.00 every 8 weeks, extra £5 for conservatory now and then. Do tip hairdresser every time though, feel bad now if I don't.

hifi · 17/07/2008 13:55

bloody hell, mine are £35, we only have windows front and back as joined either side.i never tip if self employed or its their business, owner of a beauty salon for instance.

Blueeyedgal · 17/07/2008 14:01

Crikey Hifi, exactly how many windows have you got. Do you live somewhere posh like Kensington

dilbertina · 17/07/2008 14:02

I pay £12 every 4 weeks for all windows outside only. Never tip, there are always at least 3 of them and they take about 10 mins.

bergentulip · 17/07/2008 14:06

£5 every 6weeks. No tip.

strawberryfields · 17/07/2008 15:12

Blue, I'm ashamed to say I did snort a bit when I heard!
Hifi I think thats a bit much but if that's the going rate in your area not much you can do I guess.

hifi · 17/07/2008 16:38

agree, my mum has a large detatched and pays £4!!! we have 3 small sets on the front and the same on the bac, it is inside and out.out old window cleaner used to come down from up north for the weeend and sleep in his van as he could earn more here in a weeend than up north in a month.we are north london, a bit posh.

windygalestoday · 17/07/2008 16:43

my window cleaner cleans the front of my house (the back is too secure for him to get in) he cleans 3 upvc windows 1 door plus a small window, wipes ledges, sills and surrounds and does a quick dab on the door which i clean daily thanks to dirty kids and dog he comes every 2 weeks and charges me..........£1.50 he put his rates up but not mine some time ago cos in 6 yeas ive given him 3 lots of hot water and the odd squidge of fairy!!

elmoandella · 17/07/2008 17:09

think you are paying a bit much amaid awish, we got a large house, 3 sets of french door, tons of windows. we pay £12 to get it done by hand no hose.

Original poster

chocbutton · 17/07/2008 17:12

seems to be a wide scale of window cleaner charges out there -£1.50 to £50 is crazy. Maybe I'll offer mine a biscuit with their tea next time as their £7.20 seems ok to me! (and they are nice polite lads too, only quite young but think it must be their own business)

That last bit makes me sound like my mum

OP posts:

amidaiwish · 17/07/2008 18:48

right the window cleaner has just left, he arrived at 5.15

he does a really good job, all by hand.

have spoken to friends about it this afternoon and they all said that £50 was good for inside and out, especially if he doesn't have a fixed time period as their window cleaners all insist on monthly visits. He phones every couple of months then i say yes come, or no leave it another month etc.

and he's a nice bloke. i don't mind paying him £50. he's busy enough around here, i don't think he's ripping me off.

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