[Paddlewise] Tipping Guides/Instructors

Hi All,

I don't think I've seen this topic tossed around here before.

I'm wondering how you folks feel about tipping guides/instructors.  I mean
tipping in the sense of monetary gratuities or gifts not capsizing, though
if you want to capsize your instructor just remember that all's fair in love
and war.

I'm in a fairly unique situation in that I'm very well paid for my services
and I don't encourage or need tips.  Sometimes students want to tip and are
offended if I try to refuse them.  I think that my situation is unique and
that many guides or instructors are not well paid and tips are a large part
of their income.  This was certainly true when I was a full time guide in
Maine.

I would suggest that in general if you take a trip or class and the guide
does a good job and goes out of their way to make sure your trip is a
positive experience you tip them at the end.  There is usually a lot more
work that goes on behind the scenes that is never seen by the client.
Interestingly I find that east coaters tend to tip guides and west coasters
don't.  Which strikes me as funny because I find that in the food industry
the west coasters seem to be the big tippers.  This is just based on my
limited observations.

On a similar note, it is great when clients take the time to drop the
outfitter a short note telling them of any positive or negative experiences
they had on the trip.

Anyway how do you folks feel about this?

Cheers,

Rob Cookson
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety"
Benjamin Franklin


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