Dear Ms. Demeanor: Do I tip the FiOS guy?

By Jamie Lauren Sutton | August 15, 2012 - 10:53AM

Dear Ms. Demeanor,

The good news: Our building is now wired for FiOS. The bad news: The FiOS guy has to spend the day in my apartment installing it. Do I tip him?

Some neighbors are forking out $20.00.

Fiberoptically yours,

Roadrunner Refugee

Dear Roadrunner Refugee,

Ah New York... The song should go, "If you can make it here, you'll be tipping everywhere."

A tip is lovely, of course, and I think necessary when someone has gone above and beyond (such as drilling through built-ins to install cable). For a routine matter performed by a someone with whom you do not and will not have an ongoing relationship, it is really up to you.

Just FYI - In some circles it IS customary to tip one's etiquette columnist.

Shackled to Time Warner,
Ms. Demeanor

Ms. Demeanor is channeled by a longtime Manhattan vertical dweller and real-estate voyeur who writes under the pen name Jamie Lauren Sutton. She is here to commiserate, calm and correct. Please email your quandaries to msdemeanor@brickunderground.com and put "Dear Ms. Demeanor" in the subject line.

See all of Ms. Demeanor's advice here

Brick Underground articles occasionally include the expertise of, or information about, advertising partners when relevant to the story. We will never promote an advertiser's product without making the relationship clear to our readers.