What's the protocol for tipping for instructors?

[Living4Experiences]

but by that logic though, boat crews shouldn't be tipped either...nor pretty much any other situations where we routinely tip. Waiters, barbers, etc..

It's not the same comparison. When you tip waiters, barbers, etc., you're tipping for a service, not education. When you take a class, you have paid for training and education. No tipping. Would you tip a college professor on "X" subject for his teaching? No. If you take a first aid course to learn CPR in your local community, would you tip the instructor? No. They are paid a fee to teach you. In fact, I think you may get a weird reaction if you tried to hand them money...IMO, of course.

 

[TMHeimer]

I took a number of courses here in Canada and in Florida and never heard of anyone tipping any of the instructors. As a DM on an OW course someone once bought me a beer. I do know of a shop in the U.S. where the instructor hints to the students to tip the assistants and those folks do quite well with the tips.

 

[pkchu_]

I didn't tip my instructor when I took my OW class but I've heard of people who tipped their instructor. The tipped ranged between $20-$50. Not sure if that's the norm and if the instructors expected tips but mine didn't made me feel that I had to tip her.

 

[TheBullfrog]

Yes, it's true, you pay an instructor. You also pay most people to do the service they provide, and then tip on top of that. I can assure you the money instructors make teaching you how to not die underwater, is not commensurate with the service they provide.

If an instructor goes above and beyond, tipping 10 bucks or 20 bucks.... is totally appropriate, and the instructor definitely appreciates it . This is not part of tip culture. This is a person providing an extremely valuable service that will provide a lifetime of enjoyment and adventure. And, they definitely work hard for it (or should do!)

Just my 2 cents.

I am not an instructor by the way.... Obviously

 

[Blackcrusader]

You also pay most people to do the service they provide, and then tip on top of that.

Maybe in the USA. Do you tip your mechanic for servicing your car, or your teacher at school or college, do you tip a nurse for giving you an injection? Do you add a tip to a screen when buying fast food?
Not I/

The tipping culture where people expect to be tipped for doing their job is wrong.
Tips are a gratuity and should never be "expected"

 

[TheBullfrog]

Maybe in the USA. Do you tip your mechanic for servicing your car, or your teacher at school or college, do you tip a nurse for giving you an injection? Do you add a tip to a screen when buying fast food?
Not I/

The tipping culture where people expect to be tipped for doing their job is wrong.
Tips are a gratuity and should never be "expected"

All the service providers you just quoted get paid a pretty decent wage. Also they work 40 plus hours a week. Instructors work intermittently, and the equivalent hourly pay is dismal.

 

[Blackcrusader]

All the service providers you just quoted get paid a pretty decent wage. Also they work 40 plus hours a week. Instructors work intermittently, and the equivalent hourly pay is dismal.

So I should tip somebody just because they took a job that does not pay well?
So these instructors do not have other paying employment?

 

[TMHeimer]

So I should tip somebody just because they took a job that does not pay well?
So these instructors do not have other paying employment?

Most of them do around here.

 

[JMarc]

If an instructor goes above and beyond, tipping 10 bucks or 20 bucks.... is totally appropriate, and the instructor definitely appreciates it . This is not part of tip culture.

This is the definition of tipping culture.

From my POV, the US tipping culture is extreme and I can easily imagine a culture where that would be insulting, or even be considered as corruption when you tip people -- like instructors -- who have to make an assessment about your capabilities.

 

[Sascha314]

Its an interesting question and the answer should be its country dependent.

I always find it hard to judge this, because in every country the tip amount is considered differently. For example to my knowledge in Japan you should not tip, they have a very different service mentality.

Personally I believe salary should be such high, that there is no tip needed. It should be reserved for exceptional help/information and so on. But I get one should "comply" with the country standards. I look for info before I get there, and include this in my "calculation" if I find this price is fair.
Back about 12 years on the US I was advices to give 5 US$ each dive during a course, which I gave afterwards.

So the question itself is a good one to me, but the answer is not clear to me.