Tipping a Guide?

[David 7]

I’m going on a charter next month on Long Island (stay tuned for pics). Have never been before but plan on tipping 20%, possibly more depending on circumstances. You’re supposed to tip even more than that if they clean your fish for you, but I’m pretty strict in the CPR camp, and will extend that philosophy to saltwater. We have to remember that these mates do this full time, it’s how they survive.

[Ratherbfishing]

My perspective may be unpopular with some but I guess I really don't understand the concept of an expected tip.  With waiters/waitresses, I feel obligated to pay a tip because without providing tips, the poor waiters/waitress's simply wouldn't/couldn't make a reasonable living.  But when a price for services is "contractually" agreed upon with a guide, isn't that what ought to be expected to be paid?  If a tip is the expected amount (in addition to the basic fee), shouldn't that then be factored into/included as the advertised cost for services rendered in the first place?  If a guide gets butt-hurt because a client doesn't provide an "adequate" tip, than either the guide needs to increase their rates from the git go OR they need to amp up their quality of services.

[WRB]

Never hired a guide in my lifetime. Fished with several pros who are guides but they were friends and only bought gasoline and sandwiches when fishing out of their boats.

My suggestion with the high cost of living today go with 25% or $100 whichever is higher if the guide did his job for you.

Tom

[MickD]

12 hours ago, Sphynx said:

f I felt the service rendered was subpar or undeserving of the reward, most frequently this comes in dining scenarios

In this situation I leave a few cents to make sure the server knows I didn't forget.  I'm lucky to have seldom had fishing guides who were not excellent.

[frogflogger]

Guided for several years I never expected or wanted tips. I was doing a job and was paid what I charged.

 

[Deleted account]

14 hours ago, David 7 said:

I’m going on a charter next month on Long Island (stay tuned for pics). Have never been before but plan on tipping 20%, possibly more depending on circumstances. You’re supposed to tip even more than that if they clean your fish for you, but I’m pretty strict in the CPR camp, and will extend that philosophy to saltwater. We have to remember that these mates do this full time, it’s how they survive.

Releasing fish in LI should go over well...

[TOXIC]

Couple of things, although I said earlier that I never expected a tip, be advised, if I passed on every cost I had to be a guide, you would never book me.  We work on a quantity basis to make up the shortfall of the per trip cost.  
 

I understand the waiter/waitress profession and not to derail the post but what do you think about this……I am throwing a party for my wife’s 60th birthday party.  We are catering in a brunch here at the house and then loading a party bus and going out to a local winery.  When I booked the bus included in the upfront cost was an 8% “partial gratuity” for the driver.  Now keep in mind we are just being shuttled to the winery from my house.  No drinking on the bus, no extra stops.  The bus was not cheap and if I tip in the 20-25% range it’s a big chunk of change.  Having been on the other side of this coin I understand the need to tip and I had a roommate at one time who was a limo driver so I know what they do.  Every time I tip it’s based on effort/work.  What are your thoughts about tipping a driver who takes you 30 miles round trip? 

[Jigfishn10]

I'm not a guide, nor do I have any desire to be one, but have a tremendous amount of respect for those who do.

 

Anyway, I work for a commercial construction corporation and tipping to me is like a holiday bonus. I don't expect one but really do appreciate getting one. 

 

The guides I tipped in the past expressed appreciation which made me feel good.

 

20% is starters for me.

[Benjamin Bunting]

I have been a deckhand and a captain on guide boats and never expected a tip but when I was the client I would always have up to $300 in cash on me and never tipped less than $40 to each deckhand and what was left went to the captain. This tip was for my guests on the charter too so if it was a day that deserved more than my $300, but the act of me tipping would always encourage them to chip in so the tip amount can vary drastically. The cost of the charter is really barely covering most expenses included in the charter price and a day on the water is better than any day at Disney World which costs a whole lot more.

[ajschn06]

I don't understand this.  It's not like I'm going out to eat.  A guided trip is pretty expensive, even if you think half days it's still what, $3-400?  Why would I be expected to pay more than the agreed upon amount?  If you want more money, charge more? 

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, ajschn06 said:

I don't understand this.  It's not like I'm going out to eat.  A guided trip is pretty expensive, even if you think half days it's still what, $3-400?  Why would I be expected to pay more than the agreed upon amount?  If you want more money, charge more? 

If you charge more, people would still tip. It’s a non verbal thank you 

[flechero]

1 hour ago, ajschn06 said:

I don't understand this.  It's not like I'm going out to eat.  A guided trip is pretty expensive, even if you think half days it's still what, $3-400?  Why would I be expected to pay more than the agreed upon amount?  If you want more money, charge more? 

 

On 7/17/2021 at 9:48 PM, Ratherbfishing said:

My perspective may be unpopular with some but I guess I really don't understand the concept of an expected tip.  With waiters/waitresses, I feel obligated to pay a tip because without providing tips, the poor waiters/waitress's simply wouldn't/couldn't make a reasonable living.  But when a price for services is "contractually" agreed upon with a guide, isn't that what ought to be expected to be paid?  If a tip is the expected amount (in addition to the basic fee), shouldn't that then be factored into/included as the advertised cost for services rendered in the first place?  If a guide gets butt-hurt because a client doesn't provide an "adequate" tip, than either the guide needs to increase their rates from the git go OR they need to amp up their quality of services.

 There is no difference in the food scenario.  With your reasoning, the food should just cost more and the waiter paid more.  Some guides own the business and can price it how they want and others work for a service and don't have that ability.  (just like a waiter)

 

If you really understand the concept of gratuity, this isn't difficult.

 

There is a huge difference between a true guide and an on the water uber....  for the agreed upon price, you ride on the boat and have access to water/fish.   Here is where the gratuity comes in- A good guide will hustle and help you read water & conditions, with tackle selection, casting, fishing theory, finding and catching better fish and in some case even more.  You will usually take away knowledge that will help you find and catch in the future, in any water.  The uber ride, plus a little more, is the agreed to price... the gratuity covers your appreciation for the rest. 

 

Bottom line-  If you appreciate their hard work, tip them well....  if you don't, they will likely find them already be booked on the dates you want to go back out.  ?

[the reel ess]

On 7/16/2021 at 2:35 PM, Captain Phil said:

 

Tipping a guide is greatly appreciated.  It's not mandatory.  If your reason for booking a guide was entertainment and you got what you paid for, you should tip whatever you are comfortable with.  Some of my paying customers were tournament fisherman looking for local knowledge.   I considered them a business to business transaction and never expected a tip.  If they did well in their tournament, I was happy for them.  At the time, a full day bass fishing trip ran about $350 a day.  $50 tips were common.  If the customer told me up front we were fishing for a trophy and he caught one, I got $100 or more.  Here's a photo of one happy angler below.  If we had a bad day, which happened sometimes, I refused to accept a tip.  The life of a fishing guide is tough work.  There are much easier ways to make a living.

 

 

These are good points. Some folks can barely scrounge the basic charter together even sharing it with a friend. Then some folks won't bat an eyelash at a $400 day for just themselves. I had a striper guide once who wanted to set the hooks for us and hand us rods. He told us if we limited the trip was over. I was no kid even back then. I don't think a 20% tip should be expected from a guy who just stunk it up all day. I also think it is definitely expected for a great day or a new PB. I'd gladly tip well for a new PB.

[J Francho]

16 hours ago, ajschn06 said:

I don't understand this.  It's not like I'm going out to eat.  A guided trip is pretty expensive, even if you think half days it's still what, $3-400?  Why would I be expected to pay more than the agreed upon amount?  If you want more money, charge more? 

C'mon man.  

[Jigfishn10]

Can't agree more @J Francho

[TOXIC]

This topic usually brings some strong opinions out and can get out of hand pretty quickly.  Thankfully that’s not the case here.  Just for a little perspective on what I would have to charge for an all inclusive price.  In order to determine what would be a starting point I would have to take all my expenses, add them up and divide them by the estimated number of trips in a season.  Then add in what would be a fair profit margin.  Let me run down a partial list of costs, most expensive first…

Boat payment - nobody wants to go out in an old beat up boat.

Insurance - lots of expense here.  Boat insurance, truck insurance, liability insurance, health insurance if this is my only source of income.

Maintenance - truck expenses for oil, tires, insurance, boat maintenance for motor, insurance, repairs, tires and brakes on trailer.

Licenses - Captains license if required, fishing license including other states if like me you are in a tri state area, business licenses to conduct business in some counties.  
Fuel - Can be a major expense for both truck and boat and fluctuates so it’s hard to estimate cost.  
Launch fees - Differs between locations and bodies of water.

Gear - Many clients do not have gear or baits.  Has to be factored in. Rods/reels of different levels of skill.
Business Expenses - Phone, website, business cards, advertising.

Promotional Expenses - Trade show participation including booth space, display cost.  
Clothing - Weather specific for both me and clients.
 

Thats just off the top of my head.  Although some of these costs are one time fees and others can be offset by sponsorships, you then add in another facet of expenses including working shows for sponsors, doing seminars, writing articles and in my case traveling all over the country doing grand openings for Bass Pro and Cabelas.  Granted some of those expenses are covered but as with a lot of costs my time is worth something and that is not considered profit.

 

 So, a waiter or waitress who gets tipped is not on the hook for all the costs the restaurant owner has.  As a guide you are the restaurant owner, waiter, busboy, cook, etc…. Goes back to the old saying, “How do you make a million dollars as a fishing guide?  Start with 2 million.”??

[ajschn06]

6 hours ago, J Francho said:

C'mon man.  

[J Francho]

2 hours ago, ajschn06 said:

Is that the look you get when you don't leave a tip?

[ironbjorn]

I make it a point not to tip food servers or delivery drivers, or anything like that. I do this because the sleezy owner/boss/corporation should be paying a living wage instead of expecting the customer to purchase the product AND pay employee wages. Tip culture in America is cancerous and unique and needs to die. 

 

HOWEVER, guides, carpenters, roofers, plumbers, or whoever else is of skilled work, not expecting me to pay their wages, providing outstanding service, doing an excellent job, always gets slid a pretty penny. I see this as a massive difference where a job well done by a skilled professional is worth the thanks in coin, but the expectation that I'll pay unskilled workers who hate their jobs so that Mr. Corvette "I can't pay living wages because I buy big houses and fancy cars" doesn't have to can go right to hell.

[Mike L]

26 minutes ago, ironbjorn said:

I make it a point not to tip food servers or delivery drivers, or anything like that. I do this because the sleezy owner/boss/corporation should be paying a living wage instead of expecting the customer to purchase the product AND pay employee wages. Tip culture in America is cancerous and unique and needs to die. 

 

HOWEVER, guides, carpenters, roofers, plumbers, or whoever else is of skilled work, not expecting me to pay their wages, providing outstanding service, doing an excellent job, always gets slid a pretty penny. I see this as a massive difference where a job well done by a skilled professional is worth the thanks in coin, but the expectation that I'll pay unskilled workers who hate their jobs so that Mr. Corvette "I can't pay living wages because I buy big houses and fancy cars" doesn't have to can go right to hell.

So the young kid who can’t get a better job yet….
 

Or the college kid not on a full ride who’s trying to buy books…

 

Or the single Mom…

 

Or the retired guy who is only living on Social Security…

 

None of them deserve a little extra for doing their best to serve you if they may be under educated or partially disabled????

 

 

Better yet don’t answer. 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[ironbjorn]

1 hour ago, Mike L said:

So the young kid who can’t get a better job yet….
 

Or the college kid not on a full ride who’s trying to buy books…

 

Or the single Mom…

 

Or the retired guy who is only living on Social Security…

 

None of them deserve a little extra for doing their best to serve you if they may be under educated or partially disabled????

 

 

Better yet don’t answer. 

 

 

 

 

Mike

My answer is and will forever be, a living wage. It's happening and will continue to happen and will absolutely happen in full force within the decade. 

 

I'm not against these workers. I'm for them. I wish that they would be so disgruntled that none of them would work for a week and nobody would take the jobs to tank the industries and force change.

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, Mike L said:

So the young kid who can’t get a better job yet….
 

Or the college kid not on a full ride who’s trying to buy books…

 

Or the single Mom…

 

Or the retired guy who is only living on Social Security…

 

None of them deserve a little extra for doing their best to serve you if they may be under educated or partially disabled????

 

 

Better yet don’t answer. 

 

 

 

 

Mike

Thank you! 

[gim]

2 hours ago, ironbjorn said:

I do this because the sleezy owner/boss/corporation should be paying a living wage instead of expecting the customer to purchase the product AND pay employee wages.

 

While I do agree that people in the food service and hospitality industry have been under paid and under appreciated for a while, the time may now be coming where a change is ocurring.  Culvers and Chipotle have recently posted entry level jobs for almost $25/hour to fill their positions.  A Burger King recently had all of their employees quit on the same day and the restaurant had to close.  These places won't be able to operate if they can't get employees to do their grunt work so they're either going to have to start paying them better or risk closing some locations.  The CEOs and executives won't like it because it will drop their stock options and commissions but oh well that's how they'll have to operate if they want people to work for them.

[ironbjorn]

1 minute ago, gimruis said:

 

While I do agree that people in the food service and hospitality industry have been under paid and under appreciated for a while, the time may now be coming where a change is ocurring.  Culvers and Chipotle have recently posted entry level jobs for almost $25/hour to fill their positions.  A Burger King recently had all of their employees quit on the same day and the restaurant had to close.  These places won't be able to operate if they can't get employees to do their grunt work so they're either going to have to start paying them better or risk closing some locations.  The CEOs and executives won't like it because it will drop their stock options and commissions but oh well that's how they'll have to operate if they want people to work for them.

And that's what my aim is; not against the worker. These employees need to fulfill their rage and tank the industries.

[J Francho]

I support a living wage but I'm also not a cheapskate.