Re: [Paddlewise] Tipping Guides/Instructors

Rob Cookson wrote:

>I'm wondering how you folks feel about tipping guides/instructors.

I feel that tipping, in general (not just the paddlesports business)
should be for services above and beyond the call of duty. 
Unfortunately, the rest of the country (US) doesn't see things that way.

When is the last time someone tipped the lowly apprentice carpenter
framing their new home; the underpaid cement mason who toils and sweats
to pour your nice concrete driveway; your neighborhood auto mechanic?  I
sometimes see a disparity in that people who are not in a service
industry are not tipped, nor can they expect tips for their labors, yet
are expected to tip the person in the service industry who works for the
same wage.

I feel that restarateurs should pay their wait staff a wage commensurate
with their experience, abilities, and the effort expended in a day's
work.  Guide services should pay their guides a salary that reflects
their efforts.  People eating at restaurants and retaining guide
services should expect to pay more for the services, with the knowledge
that the person serving them is valued and paid well by their employer.

>I'm in a fairly unique situation in that I'm very well paid for my services

Excellent!  I commend you and your employer.

>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.  

Agreed, but I don't think that tipping for tipping's sake is necessary,
or even desireable.  The guide should get a tip for busting their butt;
not just because a tip should be generally expected.

Still, I generally tip for a meal, or to a guide.  I don't want to
appear disingenuous about someone doing their job.  I'd rather, though,
only tip when someone serves me with extra gusto, but know that the
person will still be paid by the employer for providing only a baseline
level of service.

>There is usually a lot more
>work that goes on behind the scenes that is never seen by the client.

This is true in almost every instance where money changes hands.  I
don't think it's right that some industries expect tips as a rule for
their employees, while the buying public would scoff at the notion of
tipping a worker in another industry.

>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.

Absolutely.  Businesses of all kinds need positive feedback--lots of
people take the time to complain about something that went wrong, but
few take the time to praise a job well done.

Shawn
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