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captain58sailin · 28-09-2014, 09:13

Not sure this applies to the question. Back in the 80s, I used to run fishing a charter boat, and worked as a deck hand (mate) on a head boat in FL during the winter. Whilst running the charter boats in AK, tips were never solicited or expected, but we did charge .25 cents a pound for fileting the fish. When we did get tipped, I felt that we had done a good job, the charters weren't cheap even back then. In FL, the charters were much cheaper, the wages to the Capt. and Mate were very much lower and fileting cost the same, tips there, were solicited, provision being, if they felt they got good service and no one was ever made to feel bad if they did not tip. Customers always got excellent service regardless. Now we are talking about 1 to 5 bucks per person on average. The tips were split between the Capt. and crew. I agree the whole tipping thing has really gotten out of hand, and employers use the tip jar as an excuse to keep the staff's wages lower than they should be. On the other side of that is the question. If the staff didn't get tips would the price of goods and services go up due to the employer having to pony up more in wages to the staff? In the case of this particular situation, I would say if you feel that you have received exceptional service then a tip might be in order. If the crew is just going through the motions and following a pre scribed script, then for me no. Most of the boat jobs like that in FL are fairly low paying because the beach people view the job as desirable and fun, and a lot of good people accept a lower level of pay because being on the water is their passion and they want to be there for the love of it, which employers take full advantage of, to keep their bottom line up.

svfinlandia · 28-09-2014, 10:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkJ

I'd give him a tip: Horse 12 in the Kentucky Derby. Can't lose, mate.
.

I Took the sailing course many years ago out of Annapolis. The instructor was an absolute jerk.
My tip for him was "get a life, and work on your people skills"!

ptrd55 · 28-09-2014, 13:37

Tipping is annoying, done by people with an inferiority complex

"Tell me your price and I pay"

arne · 28-09-2014, 14:14

Why would you tip? Do you tip the salesperson in a store that assisted with your purchase? I bet you wouldn't tip the guy in the chandlery.
I see no reason for ever tipping. You get quoted a price for your course and that is what you pay!
Same goes in a restaurant IMO. The price is on the menu and that is the price.

captain58sailin · 28-09-2014, 15:24

To Insure Prompt Service. T.I.P.S. It used to be customary to give a gratuity before being seated at a dining establishment and that would dictate the level of service and the seat you would receive. Of course it has changed somewhat over the years.

**Jim Cate** · 28-09-2014, 15:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by arne

Why would you tip? Do you tip the salesperson in a store that assisted with your purchase? I bet you wouldn't tip the guy in the chandlery.
I see no reason for ever tipping. You get quoted a price for your course and that is what you pay!
Same goes in a restaurant IMO. The price is on the menu and that is the price.

While I quite agree with your sentiments here, your background of living in Oz where tipping is thankfully unexpected will lead you astray! Failing to tip in some places will shorten your life expectancy... say in NY city.

It is a beastly custom IMO, one that should be avoided when possible.

And I personally wouldn't tip a sailing instructor no matter where the lessons were held!

Jim

barnakiel · 28-09-2014, 15:34

I would expect a tip FROM an instructor but I would never tip my instructor.

Where I live, waiters and bartenders get tips and maybe room service too. I think one can tip a cab driver. Cabs are inexpensive here.

b.

**JPA Cate** · 28-09-2014, 15:37

To the OP,

If you receive something extraordinarily good from the instructor(s) , if they have clearly gone far out of their way to help, then, perhaps, a gratuity might be in order, or an "attaboy" letter. But not for just doing his/her job. If you care to reward, reward only excellence, in order to encourage more of it.

As Captain 58 wrote, the beach people have their own reasons for having that job. If they're suffering financially, they could make a different choice.

Ann

Blue Crab · 28-09-2014, 18:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by captain58sailin

To Insure Prompt Service. T.I.P.S. It used to be customary to give a gratuity before being seated at a dining establishment and that would dictate the level of service and the seat you would receive. Of course it has changed somewhat over the years.

You have it exactly right. When was that?

nimblemotors · 28-09-2014, 18:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkJ

I'd give him a tip: Horse 12 in the Kentucky Derby. Can't lose, mate.
.

Good one. How about 'buy low, sell high'?

MarkJ · 28-09-2014, 19:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by nimblemotors

Good one. How about 'buy low, sell high'?

What race is it in?

sugarbird · 28-09-2014, 20:18

Tip for a live aboard sailing course is 10% of the cost of the course per person. Our experience was amazing and life changing...the tip was well earned. Ever been on a cruise ship? Try telling them about not tipping!

**Wotname** · 29-09-2014, 04:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkJ

What race is it in?

Started at 5 to 1 but finished at quarter past two.

deluxe68 · 29-09-2014, 04:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugarbird

Tip for a live aboard sailing course is 10% of the cost of the course per person. Our experience was amazing and life changing...the tip was well earned. Ever been on a cruise ship? Try telling them about not tipping!

+1

Tipping is expected in a service industry.