Tipping at Misool Eco

[Lu Y]

Here is what a decent operation in Raja Ampat writes about tipping a week stay,
Extract below from their website FAQ page. That's Cove Eco resort, FYI 1,5M IDR =100USD

Why would an operation that charges you twofold need more tips?

I like the Cove Eco response, but is the amount per night or per stay?

The fact they give you the option to contribute to the tip box or give directly to the person is great and should be the standard like in most other countries. I spoke with a few good guides, they all hated the pooling system, and they said those rules are in place mainly because some office staff are jealous.

Not all guides or waiters or housekeeping are equal so I don't see why anyone doing a below average job should share the tip of the top performers.

 

[Luko]

I like the Cove Eco response, but is the amount per night or per stay?

It should be understood it's for a whole stay.

spoke with a few good guides, they all hated the pooling system, and they said those rules are in place mainly because some office staff are jealous.

What I hate even more is the owner telling me who to tip while most hardly accept customers telling them how to run their operation : I guess next step would be giving them a direct access to your bank account so they can distribute your money as they'd wish.
Some should remember it's not the customers neither to cope with their salary policy nor with their staff management problems. If some good employees complain about not receiving tips, the ops could also raise their wage.

At Cove I tipped both on the tip box for the employees and individually for the guide and boatmen I spent a week with almost the full day.

 

[Lu Y]

It should be understood it's for a whole stay.


What I hate even more is the owner telling me who to tip while most hardly accept customers telling them how to run their operation : I guess next step would be giving them a direct access to your bank account so they can distribute your money as they'd wish.
Some should remember it's not the customers neither to cope with their salary policy nor with their staff management problems. If some good employees complain about not receiving tips, the ops could also raise their wage.

At Cove I tipped both on the tip box for the employees and individually for the guide and boatmen I spent a week with almost the full day.

From what I understood, the good employees don't complain about not receiving tips, the bad ones complain and pushed for the pooling system haha.

The most ridiculous one I heard was if a staff accepts individual tip (despite the policy) and gets caught, he's not allowed to share the tip box for 3 months, so they are really scared.

 

[chillyinCanada]

The more that I have thought about it and experienced environments where the tip box is in place, the more I like the idea. I might not have face to face time with those in the kitchen and often don't chat with the boat driver but everyone at the resort is making sure that I enjoy my trip. My hope then is that the tips are shared out on a percentage basis that works for the group. I tip my good dive guides with bits of gear.
I used to bring CDs back in the day for gifts to various persons but who needs CDs anymore.

 

[Centrals]

Tip box is the best.
Old but not broken scuba equipment is most welcomed.

 

[CWK]

Indonesia has minimum wage r

 

[CWK]

The minimum wage for Sorong is IDR 4.5million per month which is about USD300. The minimum wage is low because the cost of living is low.

If Misool Eco Resort charges USD1,000 per guest per night, this is USD30,000 per guest month. A 10% tip would be USD3,000 per guest per month, which is minimum for 10 workers. So if you leave a 10% tip, you are leaving minimum wage for 10 workers for the duration of your stay.

By all means tip if you wish but a living wage in Misool is very low and there is no reason for Misool Eco Resort to not pay their workers a living wage given that they charge guests about USD1,000 per night.

 

[Centrals]

This is Indonesia.
How much of the tips will eventually pass on to the staffs?

 

[CWK]

This is Indonesia.
How much of the tips will eventually pass on to the staffs?

This is indeed Indonesia and Indonesia is not a tipping country. Employees ar paid a wage. However foreigners conditioned by tipping cultures want to tip.

People conditioned by tipping cultures are walking ATMs and everyone knows that the Pin is ‘tip’. As long as they are happy to pay above and beyond what is required then let them do so. Perhaps Garuda should leave a tip box at check in counters in case their foreign guests want to leave a tip.

The economic model that I am used to is to offer a superior product which increases demand for the product, which in turn allows increases to the price of the product. This has clearly happened at Misool Eco Resort which has been able to increase prices beyond all other resorts. The resort is incentivated to remunerate their staff well so that the staff offer a superior service, which in turn allows resort to continue increasing prices and profits. There is no need for tipping in this economic model. People from non tipping cultures understand this. People from tipping cultures, on the other hand have a conditioned reflex that they don’t appear to be able to surpress. I have no objections to ATMs dispensing cash.

 

[chillyinCanada]

This is indeed Indonesia and Indonesia is not a tipping country. Employees ar paid a wage. However foreigners conditioned by tipping cultures want to tip.

People conditioned by tipping cultures are walking ATMs and everyone knows that the Pin is ‘tip’. As long as they are happy to pay above and beyond what is required then let them do so. Perhaps Garuda should leave a tip box at check in counters in case their foreign guests want to leave a tip.

The economic model that I am used to is to offer a superior product which increases demand for the product, which in turn allows increases to the price of the product. This has clearly happened at Misool Eco Resort which has been able to increase prices beyond all other resorts. The resort is incentivated to remunerate their staff well so that the staff offer a superior service, which in turn allows resort to continue increasing prices and profits. There is no need for tipping in this economic model. People from non tipping cultures understand this. People from tipping cultures, on the other hand have a conditioned reflex that they don’t appear to be able to surpress. I have no objections to ATMs dispensing cash.

Doesn't Misool Eco Resort also support the community in other ways too? My understanding was that they do, ergo, no fishing is going on etc.