There is something about offering a small amount of money that is worse than offering none. Like leaving a waiter a penny.
If cash is part of the equation, pay the going rate. If it's not, then acknowledge that someone did you a favor. Anything in between could be perceived as an insult/cheap.
Yep it says I'm a cheap fuck. It was better for them not to pay and offer some other form of recognition if they weren't going to shell out some real money.
If cash is part of the equation, pay the going rate. If it's not, then acknowledge that someone did you a favor. Anything in between could be perceived as an insult/cheap.