Tipping A Guide

[Zack Hoyt]

Everyone hopes for a tip, but to expect one is a little presumptuous IMO. Most guides already charge a substantial fee for their services, and if they want to be paid more than that, they should say so up front and adjust their original price accordingly. Besides, I have trouble tipping anyone who makes the amount of money in a half day of work what I make in a full day, especially when their "work" is what I consider heaven. It would be different if I were a millionaire, but I'm not.

So you would rather the guide up his price and more than likely not put forth the effort it took to earn the tip?

[Coldspring]

How many of them would take some premium microbrew from your region?

[eric1978]

So you would rather the guide up his price and more than likely not put forth the effort it took to earn the tip?

No, I'd rather have what I offer my customers, which is the best service I can provide for a fair price. It's ridiculous to quote someone a price for a given service, then whine behind their back because they didn't give you more than you asked for. I am tipped occasionally, and I'm extremely grateful, but the tips are always completely unexpected and unnecessary.

And someone who provides mediocre work because he knows he's going to be paid the same price no matter the result is just a lousy person in my book.

[FishinCricket]

No, I'd rather have what I offer my customers, which is the best service I can provide for a fair price. It's ridiculous to quote someone a price for a given service, then whine behind their back because they didn't give you more than you asked for. I am tipped occasionally, and I'm extremely grateful, but the tips are always completely unexpected and unnecessary.

And someone who provides mediocre work because he knows he's going to be paid the same price no matter the result is just a lousy person in my book.

Well put, sir.

[ness]

Everyone hopes for a tip, but to expect one is a little presumptuous IMO. Most guides already charge a substantial fee for their services, and if they want to be paid more than that, they should say so up front and adjust their original price accordingly. Besides, I have trouble tipping anyone who makes the amount of money in a half day of work what I make in a full day, especially when their "work" is what I consider heaven. It would be different if I were a millionaire, but I'm not.

It's customary to tip a guide. If you want to be THE guide out there explaining why your fee is higher, then feel free.

Trout guides typically work for an outfitter, who takes the bulk of the fee in return for the permits, insurance and marketing costs. It costs money to provide guide services. It's not all gas, flies and sandwiches.

As to your earlier comment about having trouble tipping a guy that makes more than you. Well, what the heck's that got do do with anything? Anyway, those guys are working a fraction of the year. Taking the daily fee and extrapolating it to weekly, monthly, or especially annual income doesn't really work.

And heaven? Come on, Eric. Untangling leaders, retrieving flies from trees, tying on flies, telling them where to cast, etc. is heaven?

[ozark trout fisher]

No, I'd rather have what I offer my customers, which is the best service I can provide for a fair price. It's ridiculous to quote someone a price for a given service, then whine behind their back because they didn't give you more than you asked for. I am tipped occasionally, and I'm extremely grateful, but the tips are always completely unexpected and unnecessary.

And someone who provides mediocre work because he knows he's going to be paid the same price no matter the result is just a lousy person in my book.

Guides expect a tip. Most guides wouldn't get by if they didn't get tips from folks. It's just part of the price, and if you don't plan on tipping the guide then you shouldn't book the trip, period.

Of course if the guide is a half hour late, fishes the whole time, and yells at you when you get tangled, then you shouldn't tip them. But otherwise, you should. Guides don't make a hell of a lot of money as I understand, and if they do a good job I will reward them for it, just like you would a waiter at a restaraunt. Common courtesy.

I generally tip 15% if the guide does what is expected, and nothing more. 20% if they do a better than average job, and maybe a little more if they do a great job.

[eric1978]

Trout guides typically work for an outfitter, who takes the bulk of the fee in return for the permits, insurance and marketing costs.

If I took a trip and that was the case, I would take that into consideration. The only guides I've hired have been independent business owners.

Just for the record, the few times that I have hired a guide in my life, I have tipped them. I just think it's wrong to expect it.

My work is seasonal, too. So I save and budget. I don't cry about not getting tips on top of my regular salary.

And yeah, ness, compared to a day of my work, the chores that come with being a guide does seem like heaven. I'm not saying it's all gravy, but at least they get to be on the water.

Can someone tell me who it is that decides which occupations deserve tips and which occupations don't? I'd like to give him a call. It all seems pretty arbitrary to me.

[FishinCricket]

I'll start.. I sell and service autos and we don't expect a tip..

[Zach Bearden]

I do landscaping for a local resort and don't expect a tip. We keep the place looking good and all the critters at bay so you don't get bit.

[ness]

Charlie,

A little bird told me you guys fished the Thompson. So, how did it go?