So he wanted me to know that his prices were going up and he was charging me per diem.
He basically left indicating that he was not for hire again.
The only indication that he was expecting a tip for his work was the story he told.
I have very seldom used a handyman, and I have never thought about tipping them.
Since he was the owner of the business, should he have included a tip in his bill?
Are we supposed to guess whether people are supposed to be tipped?
In no way would I begrudge anyone for taking the best-paying work they can find.
If only there were a reasonable standard forwhen tipping should be a norm.
But its different when youre dealing with a business owner.
Some employers dont even allow for tipping.
And, of course, a huge factor in the decision is what everyone else is doing.
The fact that your handyman didnt give you the option to simply pay the higher rate is odd.
He may not want to accept future jobs from you for any number of reasons.
You brew coffee at home, you dont walk into Target and you refuse to order avocado toast.
(Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)
You know which ones were talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries…
The way your handyman dealt with this was unprofessional.
I also think he did you a favor, though.
I have no idea if his story about the customer who tips $20 per gig is legit.
But you place a high level of trust in someone you hire as a contractor.
Find a new handyman.
Ask your friends or neighbors for recommendations.
Because with his approach, that person may wind up being his only customer.
Robin Hartill is a certified financial planner and a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.
Send your tricky money questions to[email protected].
