To Tip or Not to Tip???

[daniel f aleman]

Hmmm, that statement implies a couple of things. First of all are you saying that Dive Masters aren't professionals? I wonder why you'd make such a blanket statement as never tip an instructor.

Secondly not all of us are independent instructors. I get paid per student. Let's pretend I get paid a zillion dollars a student but I give much more value than the student expects. Sure my dive master has done a wonderful job of hauling tanks back and forth but let's pretend the instructor is perceived as the one that gave 2 zillion dollars worth of value.

No tip for the instructor but that tank hauler gets a few bucks?

Al,

I think that you should price your courses as to the value that you offer. If an instructor does extras, outside of course offering, then you're acting as a Divermaster, or acting by another name, and you should be tipped (compensated) for it. Remember, tips are income but they are definitely different than wages.

Dan

 

[747pilot]

My OW instructor gave me a lot of personal time. The class was through my LDS and the instructor only got 1/2 of the $295 the shop charged for private lessons. I figured out what he made per hour and it was about $5.50. I personally think that is way too little. Yeah, I know, he could work for another shop or go out on his own but he didn't, and I was the beneficiary. I gave him a $100 tip and almost felt bad that it couldn't be more. He did a great job and deserved it. My advice is do what your heart says to do. If you are impressed with the service, show it. Don't do it "just because".

 

[Cacia]

I never put many in a tip jar.

A tip should be handed to a person with a verbal thank-you. The jars really annoy me.----like a big hint.

 

[Divmstr223]

I never put many in a tip jar.

A tip should be handed to a person with a verbal thank-you. The jars really annoy me.----like a big hint.

I agree with you on that one..... I hate feeling the OBLIGATION to tip (even though I will anyway)..I like to do it on my own and because they did a good job. The tip jar feels like an EXPECTATION and that was my whole arguement to begin with. But, it is the way it is I guess...

 

[ItsBruce]

This is completely wrong. Do NOT ask for and do NOT accept any service that you will not tip for - carry your own bags, go to a self-serve restaurant instead of one that uses waiters, etc. Tips are payment for services done for you.

Huh?

I tip because it is expected of me. However, this thread and this kind of comment makes me want to rethink. If someone who has no duty to do something for me comes over and helps me out, that is surely worth a tip. If someone is paid by their employer to do something for me and I am paying their employer, why should I be paying them, too? In 22 years, I've never received a tip for providing a service. I've managed to keep people from going to jail. I've gotten people out of jail. I've kept people from losing their homes. That would seem like quite a service. Who here can say the same thing? But, I've never received so much as a dime for a tip. My employer was very well paid. I was paid decently. But never so much as a dime for a tip. Why, then when I pay a bunch of money to stay in a hotel should I pay extra to the guy who the hotel pays to bring my bags to my room?

Amazingly, until I read this thread, I never gave tipping a second thought, I just always tipped. So someone help me reconcile all of this.

 

[friscuba]

Your instructor, in this case, is doing Divemaster work, and absolutely should be tipped. Actually, most working Divemasters are instructors.

You are really confusing. First you say never tip an instructor, then you suddenly say an instructor is doing divemaster work, even though he's teaching students, so it's apparently OK.... I don't get it.

I've only got 7 years as a working Instructor under my belt and I can't figure out what you mean, how's a student supposed to be able to differentiate between when his Instructor is Instructing or doing DM work during a class?

 

[duckster3d]

You are really confusing. First you say never tip an instructor, then you suddenly say an instructor is doing divemaster work, even though he's teaching students, so it's apparently OK.... I don't get it.

I've only got 7 years as a working Instructor under my belt and I can't figure out what you mean, how's a student supposed to be able to differentiate between when his Instructor is Instructing or doing DM work during a class?

I'm with you Daniel F Aleman can't seem to make up his mind on tipping. several times throughout this thread he has changed his tipping oppinon.

I'm an instructor that has been teaching for 20 years. some students tip some students don't they all get the same treatment from me, just some were brought up to tip, and others weren't.

as to rise prices instead of expecting a tip, well Daniel, NOT ALL INSTRUCTORS ARE INDENPENDENT AND CAN SET THEIR PRICE. Most work thru a shop and teach for the few dollars that the shop offers them to teach. Out of that we have to pay our insurance, dues, our gas to get to the dive site, add in maintenance for the car, and equipment and replace equipment every now and then. For most of the classes i teach i don't even break even. so i do feel an instructor should get a tip,(if he does a good job, shares tidbits of diving, helps get you through areas where you have trouble, and such)

as to someone elses questions why we tip bell staff, and others. well next time your in the hotel lug your own bags to the room, clean your own room, change the sheets, and maek the bed, clean the toilet. then don't tip them, again these people doing these jobs, don't make the big bucks you pay for your room, the company does, and as for the lawyer, don't even go there, after paying 1500 for one to go to court just for the judge to say continued till ? not even the same ballgame. compare what you make an hour to what a bellboy, or maid, or waitress makes an hour.

 

[fairybasslet]

Hypothetical question. Do dive boat staff declare their tips on their taxes? I'd like to see a waiter get away without declaring any tips.

My way of thinking right or wrong. If a DM leads dives everyday, like on a liveaboard or at a resort, of course I'll tip. They take the time to point out critters so you can get photos and they generally make your dives more enjoyable.

If it's a day charter, and they carry my tanks on board, or if they do anything above and beyond, (like after my knee surgery they would take my weight belt or give me a boost up the ladder) of course I'll tip, and tip well. But I've been on boats where I carry my own tanks and gear, the dives are unguided, and the DM is just there on the boat with the captain. I tip anyway because it is customary, but what am I tipping for? Didn't I just pay some money for that service anyway?

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

I never put many in a tip jar.

A tip should be handed to a person with a verbal thank-you. The jars really annoy me.----like a big hint.

I totally agree. I also hate the tip talk at the end of a dive. That's a great way to not get a tip from me.

This is completely wrong. Do NOT ask for and do NOT accept any service that you will not tip for - carry your own bags, go to a self-serve restaurant instead of one that uses waiters, etc. Tips are payment for services done for you.

If an instructor does extras, outside of course offering, then you're acting as a Divermaster, or acting by another name, and you should be tipped (compensated) for it. Remember, tips are income but they are definitely different than wages.

Dan most boat crew are paid by the boat owner. Most bellboys also get a wage. Most waiters get a wage.

When I get a troublesome student over the hump, turn them into a diver after they've given up on themselves am I acting as a divemaster because that's usually when I get a tip, as an instructor.

I must really be a divemaster I guess.

 

[HowardE]

Hypothetical question. Do dive boat staff declare their tips on their taxes? I'd like to see a waiter get away without declaring any tips.

Technically... any tips received as a worker are subject to Income Tax (in the United States) - I can't say what the rules are for other countries.

Line 7 on the IRS 1040 Form says : Wages, Salaries, Tips, etc.