UPDATE: Here is the 2014 version of Curbed NY's tipping guide.
We're into the second week of December, which means it's time to revisit the annual holiday tipping guide. Most building staff in New York City prefer to receive their holiday tips in early December, so to help you dole out the dollars, Curbed has once again posted a tipping guidelines memo originally sent out by a Two Trees Management super back in 2005 (original here, and years' worth of Curbed tipping advice over here). But what worked for Two Trees' staff and tenants eight years ago won't necessarily work for the rest of New York in 2013. The good folks over at the Brick Underground always provide a comprehensive guide, and this year, they hit the streets to hear from the building workers themselves.
Once again, Brick Underground's general tip range remains the same:
Super, resident manager: $75 -$175 on average (broad range: $50 - $500)
Doorman, concierge: $25-$150 on average (broad range: $10 - $1,000)
Porter, handyman: $20 - $30 on average (broad range: $10 - $75)
Garage attendant: $25 - $75 on average (broad range $15-$100)
In their conversations with doormen, Brick Underground found that tips averaged $25 to $75 per apartment, but in wealthier neighborhoods like the Upper East Side, the numbers were much higher. Several doormen noted that tips often depend on the residents' financial year, so it can widely vary. Rent.com recently conducted a national survey of renters, and they found that 11 percent of renters in staffed buildings are penny-pinching and will only be tipping a combine $20 (BrickU points out that renters as a whole tip less than owners). They also found that 28 percent of renters won't be giving any tips at all. Tipping, of course, isn't mandatory, but forgoing the gifting custom may put you on the frostier side of service.
· BrickUndergound's 2013 Holiday Tipping Guide [BrickU]
· The Tipping Point archive [Curbed]
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