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greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 3837
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 - 3:43 pm: | 
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Every year, I defy TS by tipping the Waste Management crew at Xmas (holiday, Festivus, whatever). After all, it isn't really a tip, more of an extortion fee. If you want all your garbage taken during the year......
We're having some work done on the house. It's generating some garbage. Nothing major or illegal and nothing that couldn't wait until take-away day, but why wait? So, I tell the contractor, put it at the curb on Monday or Thursday morning & the garbage crew will take it. Really? he says. Yeah, says I. We tip them for this very reason. It's bagged up and not paticularly heavy. But, if you are around, throw them $20 & I'll pay you back.
So, I get home from work last Thursday & he tells me that when he offered the guy $20, he conferred with the driver and asked for $30. My guy only had $40, which they took. And of course, I have to pay him back, so I'm very cranky about all of this.
How dare they? you ask. Wait! It gets better...
Yesterday, there were two (count 'em, two) more bags of trash. I could lift them myself (and I have the upper body strength of a squirrel). My guy takes them to the curb, and the garbage guy tells him that it will cost him (me) another $30. Rubbish! says my guy. I already overpaid you, the bank is closed. And with that, he tossed the two bags into the back of the truck.
Those WM guys are going to be very sorry the next time I'm home on a pick-up day. 'Cause I am going to make sure to let them know that they've gotten their 2005 tip very early. And it's too bad, since they usually get more than that from us. 
Greedy, greedy, greedy. TS was right. |
Dave
Moderator
Username: Dave
Post Number: 5202
Registered: 4-1998
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 - 3:53 pm: |
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It's about $70/ton to dump at the Essex Incinerator, so you have another few hundred pounds in your account with WM. |
Bobkat
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 7520
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 - 4:00 pm: |
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I don't think they are supposed to pick up contractors waste and that might be the reason they were looking for a tip. Especially with the contractor hovering. If the contractor, and his truck (presumably marked) weren't around they probably would have taken the extra bags without comment. |
Sgt. Pepper
Citizen
Username: Jjkatz
Post Number: 649
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 - 4:15 pm: |
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They once took our contractor waste with the contractor standing right there. In fact, I was a few bucks short and asked the contractor to float me the money. He did that right in front of the WM guys. They didn't bat an eye. |
mrmaplewood
Citizen
Username: Mrmaplewood
Post Number: 152
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 - 4:39 pm: |
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Tip a trashman? Rubbish! This behavior is exactly what you should have expected. If only there were Viagra for memory, they might have remembered your largess for five minutes. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 3840
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 - 4:59 pm: |
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Mr - you & TS would make a good couple. I think Viagara is the problem here - instead of going to the intended organ, it swelled up their...
well, let's just say they got major cajones. |
Valley_girl
Citizen
Username: Valley_girl
Post Number: 9
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 - 8:53 pm: |
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Perhaps it varies from crew to crew. We moved into Maplewood in early 2004, and the WM crew was absolutely AMAZING to us. My husband did a lot of renovation, both yard work and inside the house... and the WM guys took everything without a peep. They got tipped VERY well for Christmas as a thank-you, and hopefully the good service will continue.
On another note, the yard-trash crew DID ask for a tip for taking away a very large amount of tree branches (and trunks) from a tree we cut down. We thought it was pretty reasonable, all things considered. |
Joe R.
Citizen
Username: Ragnatela
Post Number: 173
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 - 9:18 pm: |
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They're not supposed to take it, but getting them to take it doesn't have to be a covert operation. I put 4 bags out full of carpet, carpet pad and tack strips. They didn't take it. I called the office and they agreed to take it for $6 per bag. They put it on my bill! |
Matt Foley
Citizen
Username: Mattfoley
Post Number: 86
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, February 10, 2005 - 2:00 am: |
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Tipping the trashman is expected (sort of). I've come to learn in S.O. that a x-mas tip gives one carte blanche for a few months. Springtime six pack is suggested, summer days are easier witha few Arizona Iced Tea cans. Another sixer in September is ok.
These guys have your leavings at THEIR dispose(no pun intended). They work hard,make our lives easier,and ask for nothing. When you need to make a few extra bags go away, you'll know what I mean. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 3851
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 10, 2005 - 7:11 am: |
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Matt- that's my point. After a generous Xmas tip, they had the nerve to hit my contractor for $40 for 3 bags of extra trash at the curb & then want more the next day for two small bags a 10 y/o could lift. |
AlleyGater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 68
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, February 13, 2005 - 12:05 pm: |
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Someone here Private Lined me when I complained about WM, essentially recommending we bribe the collectors, to convince them to take our two bags that have been sitting next to our house for over 6 months.
$20 later, the bags are still there. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5463
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, February 13, 2005 - 1:43 pm: |
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Did you tell them what you hope them to do? Or are you waiting for them to read your mind? |
AlleyGater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 71
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Monday, February 14, 2005 - 1:04 pm: |
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This thread, leads me to believe that being explicit requires you to pay them every time you want them to take something. See Greenetree's first post.
I believe my wife phrased it as a "hey thanks for the great work, we didn't see you guys over christmas but we wanted to buy all the guys a cup of coffee".
I think the idea was if we are nice to them they'll be nice to us. Personally, I think the issue is, I NEVER see the trash guys in the morning so I don't even know if it's the same guys all the time. I also don't know if my wife gave the money to one of our regular guys. So essentially I think we wasted the money.
What would you have reccomended? |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5470
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 14, 2005 - 1:47 pm: |
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I understand you get the regular crew all the time, so she tipped the right guy(s). As to your question, I would have supplemented the comment with a request to take the garbage you mentioned. |
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