Tipping the guys at the marina?

[maytrix]

Thanks for all the input. Looks like we'll just do the BBQ. I'm not a fan of all the tipping that seems to go on these and don't want to add to it when I don't need to.

[psneeld]

Originally Posted by maytrix

Thanks for all the input. Looks like we'll just do the BBQ. I'm not a fan of all the tipping that seems to go on these and don't want to add to it when I don't need to.

Your BBQ is actually a tip...a token of gratitude.

I have bought pizza at the end of a season and at the end of a 3 week stay at one highly transient ICW marina. It goes a long way for good service.

The ICW marina staff said no one had ever done something like that for them (probably thousands upon thousands of boats). It turned out to be less than $2 a day tip to the entire staff that went out of it's way to get us courtesy cars, check on things while we were away, get our mail, etc, etc.

It made such an impression the owner has kept in touch and hopefully when we go back this year...that $50 "tip" will pay itself many times over.

My buddy cooks hot dogs for the marina workers a couple times a year and he gets better service than probably anyone else there, including the real money bag tippers.

[captain58sailin]

That may have more to do with the personality of the guy cooking hotdogs versus the big tipper.

[captain58sailin]

You can never go wrong feeding a crew.

[bengearing]

Originally Posted by psneeld

Some look at tips as more of a gift than part of the payment.

That's right. A tip is a gift and shouldn't form any part of the actual payment of the service received. That's why giving people bottles of wine, throwing bbq's etc is still tipping. It's purely a form of showing gratitude over and above just saying it. I suppose its like bringing the missus flowers as well as saying sorry.
I'm from oz and we don't tip, you get paid to do your job, if you're good at it people may tip you.

[SailFastTri]

All of the arguments already posted are valid. However, I've been in a job where they paid minimum wage and it was all about the tips. My kids have parked cars, and also depended on the tips. Here in the US restaurant wait-staff, launch drivers and dock hands make a lower wage and depend on tips to make their efforts worthwhile. People who work the pumpout don't get paid enough for that crappy job, are exposed to disease (e.g. hepatitis and e-coli) and deserve a tip. The pumpout boat operator is usually a part-time town job that pays little, and has no benefits -- except the tips.

If you consistently use the same place the staff gets to know who appreciates them and who doesn't. It's not just a matter of tipping -- it's more likely you'll looked after if you're polite too. Left something unsecured and a storm is coming while you're away? Maybe they'll secure it for you and/or call you on the phone. Maybe not if you're an SOB who acts like they're lowly servants. The service quality does vary based on your reputation.

[psneeld]

Originally Posted by captain58sailin

That may have more to do with the personality of the guy cooking hotdogs versus the big tipper.

No, all pretty good guys, just the lesser able to give person still doing it goes a long way. All are appreciated...just some take on a different level.

Had a guy tip me with a "lucky" silver dollar the other day...he could have easily pulled out another bill from two large wads of cash...one all hundreds and the other was all 50's/20's..but the silver dollar had meaning, some for him, some for me...so it was a bigger "tip" in my mind than had he pulled a bill out and gave it to me without thought.

Funny thing was he definitely wasn't flash...was from a very affluent resort community...but seeing him on the water in rags for clothes and a nasty 14' Carolina skiff fishing/crabbing boat...made me smile at the old "first appearance" line....

[Tony B]

At restaurants I usually tip at 20% - rarely lower, but many times much higher because of the price of the meal. If we are travelling and stop someplace like the Waffle House and have a $13 total bill and the service was really good, I will leave about $5. That comes out to almost 40%. I'm looking at the amount and not the dollars. On the other side of the coin, if the bill is around $100, I will leave only $15 - which is only 15%. I really don't give a crap what others might think about it. It does bother my wife though.

My feeling towards that is: Is this girl worth 3 times more than the Waffle House girl because she is younger, prettier and works in a more expensive place? Sometimes the service in the expensive place is less than a cheap place.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by bengearing

I suppose its like bringing the missus flowers

I can't test that theory myself - but those with wives / partners could perhaps do so by giving them Ten bucks, whenever the occasion seems appropriate...........

Let us know how that goes .

[Wrong]

Originally Posted by Teknav

...a little different situation for this oddball - ME...When making a refueling stop...the windshield/windscreen is cleaned inside and out, the plane's tanks are topped off with fuel, the plane's floor and seats are vacuum cleaned, the floats are checked and drained if necessary, oil level is checked, and the list goes on... A $20-$50 USD tip is warranted for all these extras. In some countries, tipping is an insult and is frowned upon; a pound or two of chocolate would substitute for tipping money. I have yet to see anyone in the world turning down a gift of chocolates. Hershey's miniature bars by the pound are accepted everywhere; don't leave home without them!

Mauritz
Gives credit where it is due...

Remember the old days when you got that kind of service at automobile gas stations?

Didn't tip then either, because extending this kind of service is what they were paid to do. Ahhh. The good old days!

[FLLCatsailor]

I always tip when pulling up to a fuel dock, or a marina. It might add 10-20 dollars a day to my dockage/fuel cost, but the level of service I receive is well worth the extra money.

When I worked in the charter industry it would be amazing to see how fast my dock guys would work for someone who just gave them a $20, versus someone who didn't... Is it right... Maybe not... It is effective... Absolutely...

[donradcliffe]

It depends on where you are. I'm in the state marina on Mackinac Island, and there is a sign saying tipping the staff is not allowed. I never tip the dock boys for helping me tie up, put I do tip someone who wants to do the dirty work with the pumpout.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by psneeld

Clueless MF's....

Nice touch

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by maytrix

I was wondering if it is standard practice to tip the guys at the Marina and how much is typical?

The marina we are in is pretty basic and mainly power boaters. They have slips right at the base and then moorings/docks in the river. We are on one of the 3 moorings they have outside the river in the harbor. So unlike many of the others, we do not use their launch service, we just keep our dinghy hooked to a corner of their dock (at no charge - I guess sometimes they do charge for this).

We've had them pull and repair our outboard from our sailboat and they do keep an eye on our dinghy and when some patches we had repaired were leaking, they did put some air in from time to time.

So, as we are getting closer to the end of the season (a few months left now) I was starting to wonder about tipping and what would be appropriate. We are also hoping to pick a weekend in the next month to bring some food and BBQ up some lunch for them as they have a BBQ grill at the marina.

Thanks in advance!

As seen....the OP was not talking about the fuel docks but rather the general service the yard was providing. I have been here for 10 months now doing a refit. The store at the yard has provided me friendly helpful service. Friendships have been formed. I setting off tomorrow to go south and am dropping off a plate of snacks at the store for them.

[Wrong]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

I agree with your point about imposing our norms on others. That's my point. To say no tips, not never, is to ignore local cultural standards. In some places it is the norm. In other places it is not. But as to your second comment, how do you know it's free-tipping travellers that are driving up costs? Perhaps it's smart local business people who see an opportunity to make more money. Isn't this just the free market at work? What is a service (or good) worth in a market economy? What someone will pay. Any business, and by extension any government, will charge what they think will maximize their profits. You can hardly blame others for trying to do that -- unless you're a socialist ..

Mike, after you are actually 'out there' for awhile, you'll take notice of what I'm talking about. How many people are willing to 'show their money' when involved in a monetary exchange where there is no set price? Foolish to say the least if they do. But, this is fundamentally what cruisers are doing by merely sailing their big, flashy boat into a port. Then, to make things worse, they toss their money around giving so-called 'tips' to people who are expected to do the job they are doing for the pay they are receiving. What do you predict will happen? This is not a case of 'smart local business people' seeing an opportunity to make money. Individual largess has nothing to with what we typically consider an economy dependent upon supply and demand. And yes, these people receiving the largess will go on to maximize their take by eventually demanding more and expect 'tips' from everyone.

What excuse do you propose for the port authorities and immigration raising our fees? Capitalism at work? Or, is it they simply see lots of expensive, big boats carrying people with apparently very deep pockets they want to mine? This is going to be the biggest drain on your $500/month. I know, because my resources are just a bit more than yours.

Notice once you're 'out there' the ports that gladly take your fees but don't provide a dinghy dock, restrooms and water at the jetty for those of us paying them the money. You can bet most of the time your 'fees' are going into their pockets. If the 'fees' weren't so high, I'd have no complaint, and expect like many other cruisers it's just the way it is. But, it's out of control and we're being ripped off big time. A $300 port fee for a two month stay in Cartagena? $1,200 for the privilege of sailing the Maldives after you've anchored in about 100' of water so they can charge you for coming to your boat? $800 will get you a year in Australia with lots more benefits in proportion to what you pay. Still a lot, but comparatively more reasonable.

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Very true. We (meaning the West) have done tremendous damage to cultures around the world, often under the banner of 'doing good.' But this is nothing new. Dominant cultures have always abused less potent neighbours. The Romans brought their empire to the "barbarians" of the north. Later, Europeans "civilized" the North American peoples. We have a long history of couching conquest in the colours of charity.

Look, I'm going to be a $500/month cruiser when we leave. I have no desire to see costs go up. But that doesn't mean I want to squeeze every penny out of everyone I meet, and certainly not those whose livelihoods, and perhaps lives, depend on my tips. If tips are the norm, and the service I receive is up to snuff, then I tip. If tips are not part of what is done, then I would not, and would dissuade others from tipping.

So, we agree. If tipping is a cultural norm, fine. Otherwise, no. I don't think anyone in this thread has talked about squeezing money from others. But, on $500/month you will be required to negotiate pretty hard when you need something.