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Tipping a guide...

27K views 206 replies 83 participants last post by  the central oregonian 
#1 ·
How much do you tip a guide for a day's services? I'm not asking how much you SHOULD tip, WANT TO tip or WOULD tip you can afford it. How much really comes out of your pocket? Guides: How much do you get - high, low, average?
 
#121 ·
As a point of interest, I'd like to point a few things out. In Idaho, all guides must work for an outfitter. That outfitter owns a permit for fishing or rafting a certain section of river. Those permits have limited number of user days, restrictions regarding type of watercraft (power or float), and some even prohibit the use of watercraft. The permits are limited in number (new ones are rarely issued) and can cost upwards of $100k. Like any other business, outfitters have overhead such as advertising, lodge/office/shop costs, boat and gear replacement, shuttles, lunches, etc.

Now, as a guide working for an outfitter, I guide both whitewater and fishing trips.

First, I’ll address rafting trips. I’m up early fixing lunch and preparing the gear for the trip. During the day, I’ll negotiate class IV rapids, trying to keep the boat in the fun shit and out of the scary dangerous shit. In between rapids, I do everything from answer questions like “how fast are we going?” to giving short history lessons about the area. I know each rapid, at each different water level, and I have to adjust for skill levels ranging from “there’s no reason in hell that I should be out here” to “ I guide on the Class V Zambezi croc infested canyon and am here on vacation.” Through it all, I do everything in my power to keep my guests safe and entertained. At the end of the day, when you are sipping cold beers and watching the video, I am doing the lunch dishes and washing skunky wetsuits. Throughout the day, I’ve cooked your lunch and kept you safe in situations where you were oblivious to the danger. On a multi day trip, I do gourmet Dutch oven cooking, set up and break down camp, and entertain guests from sunup to well past sundown. During the day, we’ll fish our asses off, run some kickass (sometimes kick-your-ass) whitewater, and have a blast. At the end of the trip, as a client, you have to ask yourself, is 20% too much?

As for fishing trips, I bring my own gear for you to use. It’s high quality and well cared for. I purchased it with mostly with tip money. I pay for the shuttle and for the fuel to get you to my favorite water. I pay for or tie my own flies, which I freely hand out for your use. I’ll be happy to teach you a skill or two, as long as you want to learn. I’m also the world’s best cheerleader and am excited to be there watching you catch fish. I bust my ass to make sure you have FUN.

The bottom line is simple. We guides work in the service industry. Our job is to provide you with a pleasurable fishing/rafting experience. If you don’t get that experience because your guide is lazy, don’t tip. If your guide busts their ass, tip and tip well.
 
#176 ·
As a point of interest, I'd like to point a few things out. In Idaho, all guides must work for an outfitter. That outfitter owns a permit for fishing or rafting a certain section of river. Those permits have limited number of user days, restrictions regarding type of watercraft (power or float), and some even prohibit the use of watercraft. The permits are limited in number (new ones are rarely issued) and can cost upwards of $100k. Like any other business, outfitters have overhead such as advertising, lodge/office/shop costs, boat and gear replacement, shuttles, lunches, etc.

Now, as a guide working for an outfitter, I guide both whitewater and fishing trips.

First, I'll address rafting trips. I'm up early fixing lunch and preparing the gear for the trip. During the day, I'll negotiate class IV rapids, trying to keep the boat in the fun shit and out of the scary dangerous shit. In between rapids, I do everything from answer questions like "how fast are we going?" to giving short history lessons about the area. I know each rapid, at each different water level, and I have to adjust for skill levels ranging from "there's no reason in hell that I should be out here" to " I guide on the Class V Zambezi croc infested canyon and am here on vacation." Through it all, I do everything in my power to keep my guests safe and entertained. At the end of the day, when you are sipping cold beers and watching the video, I am doing the lunch dishes and washing skunky wetsuits. Throughout the day, I've cooked your lunch and kept you safe in situations where you were oblivious to the danger. On a multi day trip, I do gourmet Dutch oven cooking, set up and break down camp, and entertain guests from sunup to well past sundown. During the day, we'll fish our asses off, run some kickass (sometimes kick-your-ass) whitewater, and have a blast. At the end of the trip, as a client, you have to ask yourself, is 20% too much?

As for fishing trips, I bring my own gear for you to use. It's high quality and well cared for. I purchased it with mostly with tip money. I pay for the shuttle and for the fuel to get you to my favorite water. I pay for or tie my own flies, which I freely hand out for your use. I'll be happy to teach you a skill or two, as long as you want to learn. I'm also the world's best cheerleader and am excited to be there watching you catch fish. I bust my ass to make sure you have FUN.

The bottom line is simple. We guides work in the service industry. Our job is to provide you with a pleasurable fishing/rafting experience. If you don't get that experience because your guide is lazy, don't tip. If your guide busts their ass, tip and tip well.
While I haven't taken more than a couple guided trips in my life, both when I was young enough not to be the one worrying about the tip, I will offer up my 2 cents on this subject.

This has been a fascinating read, mainly because the general outlook of typing is something that has always irked me.

If, as many people have posted, a tip is because the guide did wonderful things like teach me how to fish, put me over fishy spots, rowed well, conversated well, treated me with respect, was professional in all aspects of the day, then what exactly is it that I'm paying the 300-400 dollars for? Use of the boat?

This is not to say that I don't tip, or I wouldn't tip a guide, but that sort of thought process just baffles me. If all of those things are worthy of a tip, then I really have no idea what I'm paying a fee for exactly.

And since cooking lunch, washing the dishes, dealing with the gear, keeping me safe etc. etc. etc. is going above and beyond, as Ray claims in his post, then I think guides should give me one of two options:

Option A: Fully service trip, complete with lunch, clean dishes, boating safety, fishing lessons, solid conversation etc. with an approptiate tip factored into the cost

Or....

Option B: A guide who will do nothing more than row a boat down the river, leaving the rest up to me, for a much lesser price since all those "extras" were not factored in.

Again, I am not claiming that I don't, or wouldn't tip, but this mentality that I "should" tip because the guide is doing what I sort of consider his job is ridiculous. If I finish the day feeling that it was an overall enjoyable experience, then I am sure to tip as that is just the sort of person I am. However, I would feel no obligation to throw more money his direction simply because he cooked lunch. (Which, as far as I've been able to tell, is advertised as part of the overall guide experience on most guide ads I have run across)

Nick
 
#123 ·
Caddis Skater,

I don't understand how you formed your conclusion from my post that you quoted, which was a response to another post, but I'll accept that you did nonetheless. As far as I know however, you're the first person who's ever called me a cheap ass. Fortunately those who actually know me haven't, and I'll take some comfort in that.

First, I don't stiff waitresses. I've known for as long as I can remember that tipping is normal in the restaraunt industry. I read that TIP was coined to mean "to insure promptness." Whether it does or doesn't, I tip because I know it to be the custom. Also I understand that not tipping when one receives poor service may not convey the proper message to the waitperson. They may think the customer forgot to leave a tip. I read that the best thing to do if one receives especially bad service, leaving a nickel clearly sends the message that you didn't forgot, but thought the service was particularly substandard. I've only done that once, but felt like doing it one other time.

I don't take many guided fishing trips, but I have taken a few. I don't tip based on the number of fish caught and didn't say so if you read my post with any care. I simply maintain that since a tip is a gratuity, it is within the customer's wherewithal to base the tip on whatever he wants. That can be the number of fish caught if the customer so desires. Customers can tip based on whether they think the guide is good looking, has a clean boat, or whatever criteria they decide. It's his gratuity, so it's up to him and him alone, not you, nor me.

I honestly didn't know fishing guides were routinely given tips by customers until I read about it on an internet fishing bulletin board. Fortunately I had never taken a guided fishing trip prior to reading that, or my behavior might have gotten me labled as a cheap ass before you did it. Because I believe that clear communication between people is preferable to guesswork, I've talked to some of the guides I've fished with about tips. None of them has said they think I'm a cheap ass or that any tip they get is too low. To a man, and one woman guide, they just say that they appreciate the tips they receive, and that they do sort of expect them because tipping is more common than not.

You're free to think guides deserve a tip for a hard day's work, and I'm equally free to wonder what makes fishing guides so different from other service businesses. A plumbing contractor is installing the rough in plumbing this week in the house I'm building. He's an independent contractor and isn't expecting me to tip him for his work, and he works his ass off too. And what about the roofers who nailed the shingles? They aren't expecting tips either. Yet they work damn hard. And the four carpenters who framed my house work like gorillas toting heavy beams and posts and install them perfectly level and plumb. They work hard, are paid by the hour, and aren't expecting tips, although I'm thinking of giving them Christmas gifts, as a gratuity if you will, because I really appreciate the work they've done. However, personally I don't see what makes you or any fishing guide any more deserving of tips than these service trades I mentioned above.

And if you're concerned about ending up with me as your cheap assed client, send me a PM, and I'll do you the favor of never hiring you. I guess I'd prefer to hire a guide who sees tips as a gratuity instead of an entitlement.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.
 
#124 ·
. Customers can tip based on whether they think the guide is good looking
I'm pretty sure this is where most of my tips come from. :rofl:

You're free to think guides deserve a tip for a hard day's work, and I'm equally free to wonder what makes fishing guides so different from other service businesses. A plumbing contractor is installing the rough in plumbing this week in the house I'm building. He's an independent contractor and isn't expecting me to tip him for his work, and he works his ass off too. And what about the roofers who nailed the shingles? They aren't expecting tips either. Yet they work damn hard. And the four carpenters who framed my house work like gorillas toting heavy beams and posts and install them perfectly level and plumb. They work hard, are paid by the hour, and aren't expecting tips, although I'm thinking of giving them Christmas gifts, as a gratuity if you will, because I really appreciate the work they've done. However, personally I don't see what makes you or any fishing guide any more deserving of tips than these service trades I mentioned above.

And if you're concerned about ending up with me as your cheap assed client, send me a PM, and I'll do you the favor of never hiring you. I guess I'd prefer to hire a guide who sees tips as a gratuity instead of an entitlement.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.
Salmo,

I completely understand your reasoning for stating that you tip a guide when it is earned. i respect that, and think more people should follow that ideal rather than tipping based on the fishing.

As far as your continuous comparison of a fishing guide to a carpenter, plumber or other "service industry" i think it is ridiculous. as i stated last time you brought about this argument, (see about half way down the first page), is your roofer teaching you how to roof so that your roofing skills will improve? is your plumber putting in a couple extra hours today because he thinks he didn't get enough done ( a good guide would if you haven't caught enough fish)? How much time did they put in off the clock to make your house better? Do you even know any of those guys first names? Do you think they know yours? I guess the difference between a plumber and a fishing guide is the personal connection, (and a plumber can probably afford to support a family) and it is definitely up to you whether this justifies a gratuity or not.

as a close guide friend of mine says about tips "it's never expected and greatly appreciated."
 
#131 ·
Well, I call B***SH** on this statement. I have never met a guide that work hard, goes the
extra mile day after day, that when the day is done, and the client shakes his hand
and walks away not leaving some kind of tip is not upset. :thumb: anyone more of you guides want to lie
about there feelings on this subject some more.
 
#126 ·
Believe it or not, Jergens, there were times when I was a tradesman that I did get tips or little freebies or a little extra money on a job. I was a framer, decker, mud stud, roofer, did lots of things for 20+ years.
Usually this came from a homeowner who suddenly realized I was really putting out some good work at a great price, teaching them about the process, saving them money, and giving them hints and tips to preserve the work being done and preventing future problems. In other words, for truly outstanding service from the heart. Spontaneously given on their part.
I was always surprised. I was always surprised. I was always surprised. Get it?
If a guide gives you that kind of service, then tip away. But I say set the bar high. Making it a customary ritual or having to discuss the appropriateness of spontaneous giving in a 5- page thread....yeah, there's an air of entitlement about it. (yawn)

I have to back the _G man here.
I tip guides, but always somehow feel like it's because I'm supposed to. And that cheapens it.
Maybe if they would accept a nice Hallmark card instead...
 
#128 ·
Joe and Keven have it right. We could actually put our college degrees to use and get a job that is constant and make more money, but then we are off the river and loose our guiding "edge". I guide in hopes of giving my clients the same enjoyment that I get when fishing by myself and teaching techniques that will help them when they fish on there own.

If you did not enjoy the trip or learn anything you should not tip. A fly fishing trip is the whole package from gear, food, and knowledge to spending a day on the river with good company. If your guide is a jerk, then they probably should not be guiding and they don't deserve a tip.

I think the tip comes down to how well your experience on the river with your guide went. If they fulfilled your expectations and more, they probably deserve a tip.
 
#129 ·
Yet the few very heartfelt "tips" or gracious gifts really stick in my mind because they were sincere. I was genuinely surprised by them because I had no expectation of a gift or tip when I was a professional carpenter.
This is where "never expected, always appreciated" starts to get a little hollow sounding. No offense Joe I'm poking at the attitude, not at you personally.

Five pages so far of "never expected....but expected. Kind of" and still running. (sigh)

Very few people in construction (the ones who actually break a sweat while they work, not the bossmen) make a good wage, let alone a secure living. So Keven,you are talking out your ass, my friend, while the _G man is hitting the point hard. You should listen to him.
And I say that in the most relaxed and collegial way.
carpentry, plumbing and other trades compensate according to knowledge...up front, based on level of training/skills/performance/experience. Guides ought to emulate that. There's pride in that. PRIDE.

Who's the real "service industry" when waitresses, doormen and guides get tips? Certainly not tradesmen.

I do a job that saves lives and requires a degree and specialized skills to perform. Think I even consider accepting tips?

grow up, boys. stop hanging off the gratuity titty, charge what you're worth without excuses, and be real pros. What will surprise you is, the sports will stop acting like you're their servant and they'll respect you more.
 
#130 ·
Oh man I made a huge scene at boggans in October refusing a tip.. Not sure I would suggest that as it was more trouble than it was worth.

I had a client tip me, and then after I had pocketed the money he asked me what I made per day in tips on average. I told him I would only tell him since he had already tipped me and the business transactions for the trip were over. It was pretty close to what he tipped but he reached for his wallet again. I objected and told him my honesty was not an attempt to chisel more money out of him and that I was going to leave any extra money on the table for the girls at Boggans, which I did with the extra 40 he set down there for me.

That caused quite a scene..
 
#134 ·
Hi,

I've guided for 8 years now and usually get a good $50 to $100 tip per trip, with the rare occasion that a $100+ tip is recieved, but I have also not received a tip (a handful of times out of hundreds of trips). I try to work hard for my cleints, but if I don't get a tip then I try to think back over the course of the day and identify areas where I can improve, then I hope to do a better job for the cleint the next time. I have given my best effort on guide trips when I did not recieve a tip, but was grateful for the booking. I do not work harder for big tippers vs those I know don't tip very well. I put forth an equal effort. I've had experiences when I know the customer only goes on a guide trip or two per year and really saves up. When that individual chips in an extra $20 or so, that makes a huge impression, as that seems like a sacrifice for them and they likely had a really good time. That's a pat on the back for the guide. I appreciate those moments, as I really enjoy the days I spend with cleints that are soaking up every minute, watching every knot I tie, taking mental notes on reading the water and becoming a better caster and angler as I instruct. I think of the day as a full experience with everything ranging from fish to the boat, fish to the fly, wildlife veiwing, good food and camaraderie. If your guide works hard for you and is really trying, than I do beleive a tip is appropriate, but it's not a given for a guide; it's an extra benefit. The amount doesn't have to be set, but will likely depend on the enjoyment of the experience for the cleint and his/her financial situation.

Hope that makes since, and is helpful, thanks, David
www.dreamflyfishing.com
 
#135 ·
Jergens,

I suspect that we both know life is unfair. My understanding is that good looking waitresses get more in tips than plain looking ones. So maybe you're right about why you get yours (jkg). You're not the first who's thought an analogy of fishing guides to tradesmen is rediculous. Nonetheless, the comparison still seems valid to me. The roofers aren't teaching me about roofing because that isn't part of the deal, but that's not why I didn't tip them. BTW, the waitress doesn't teach me how to wait tables, so be careful that your comparisons don't become too awkward. The various contractors I'm hiring are only putting in hours off the clock if they made an error in their bid proposals, and I paid them extra for tasks that weren't in their contract. And yes I do know their names. I'm my own general contractor for my house construction project.

I'm not sure if the fact that my plumber is making a family wage and the guide is not meets the threshold qualification for tips as a custom or entitlement. People working at McDonalds don't make a family wage either. What I've learned in threads like this is that some guides are their own boss and that some obtain their guide work through lodges, outfitters, or fishing shops. There is a similarity among guides who work for others and don't get to set their own guide fees and wait staff who work for a restaraunt and don't get to set their own wage. But the guide who is an independent businessman can and does set his own fee. The rules of the marketplace say that he sets it at the level he believes his service is worth or whatever the market will bear. Of course, competition from other guides will also influence the fee he decides to charge. I guess I figured the independent guide is in a position similar to my plumber, and both set their fees according the the market concepts I just referenced.

But not everyone is going to see it the same way, and that's just fine. By virtue of internet fishing bulletin boards I've learned that tips are customary and often expected in the guiding business, so I accept it at that. So I find myself tipping guides for two reasons. The first is that it is an accepted custom. The second is that some guides I've fished with have truly impressed me with their efforts, and I know that I personally can't afford to work for that little.

BTW, I've done a little guiding in the past. It was fun. Met interesting people. Worked from 7 AM to 11 PM. I only did it because I had other income than guiding during that time. I truly couldn't afford to guide as a full time job. But that was me.

Aaron,

I think you've captured the essence here. You, Joe, and Keven are foregoing higher incomes in order to guide because that is what you'd rather do. That is perfectly fine. It's great when people can do what they want to do. However, the fact that you voluntarily took a lower income job doesn't entitle you to tips. No matter how hard you work at guiding, no matter how many extra hours you put in, flies you tied for your clients, etc., none of that entitles you to tips. You took the job voluntarily, and you know what it pays. Tips are what you get from earning your client's gratitude such that he extends you the "gratuity" of a tip.

I think Spaz is on the mark for pointing out that many of the guides express their opinions on the topic as though tips are an entitlement. I think the gratuity:entitlement concept is the difference with the distinction that spawns much of this debate.

Caddis Skater,

Looks like you're the poster child for the entitlement aspect of the tips for fishing guides discussion.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.
 
#138 ·
I don’t have a problem tipping a good guide because it is customary and it is a nice thing to do, but the idea just doesn’t make sense to me to be honest, even after the explanations on here. What confuses me is that most of the people on this thread have stated that the reason you tip is because the guide is working hard, trying to keep you safe, teaching you things, sharing their expertise, making lunch, etc.... but isn't that what the initial $400 (or whatever) covers? I should hope a guide who I am paying good money does that for me. I pay for a guided trip, so that someone who knows more than me will guide me, hopefully keep me safe, work hard to give me a good experience, etc. Nobody pays me extra just because I do what is expected at my job.
As a general rule, I think we should learn to be appreciative to others for who they are and what they do, and this often is expressed in every-day life by giving gifts, notes, pats on the back, words of appreciation etc; so if you look at it from that perspective I have much less trouble understanding tipping a guide that you have enjoyed or appreciate (since a hand shake doesn't go very far economically :eek:). I have a friend who guides and he has had clients tip him by giving him equipment from big to small. One client had been using a fly-rod that he had personally built and after my buddy casted it a few times at one point during the day he made an off-hand comment about how nicely it casted so after the trip the client handed it to him and said thanks. So as a show of appreciation I have no problem with tipping guides.
I guess I just don’t understand people saying they should get a tip because they basically fulfilled their expected contract or because they were good at doing their job (kept the client safe, made lunch, worked hard). I thought that is what it meant to "guide" someone. That just doesn’t make sense to me.
 
#141 ·
Tipping a guide...Keven

I apologize for misspelling your name Keven. Your post #139 seems heartfelt and makes a lot of sense.
In my initial, much longer draft of my post #129 I went into a lot more detail and one long explanation I edited out was that I am not objecting to any particular person, only commenting on the attitude of entitlement which is so obvious in this thread...despite all claims to the contrary. Nothing personal.
There was no intention of a personal attack, and yet if you were upset enough to send me a venomous PM then I guess I hit a nerve.
I suggest you go back to my posts, imagine we're sitting at a boat launch bullshitting after a long day's fishing, and read my posts out loud in a friendly tone of voice, because that's how they are intended.
Let me clarify "talking out of one's ass". There seems to be a lot of emotional attachment here to a practice (tipping) which ultimately disempowers or subordinates the person receiving it. Yet because the recipient is getting money, it will be defended to the last and you'll even get upset about it in the process. I'm just asking you to take an objective look at that. Getting upset about it only proves my point further.

I stand by my suggestion-be up front, ask for what you're worth and decline the tip for professional reasons. Empower yourself. If a client insists on paying more, tell him to donate the money to CCA or WSC. Then questions and 5-page threads about the issue will become moot.
I'm out of this one. sorry, _G...guess I pissed on the hornet's nest.
 
#142 ·
Tipping a guide...Keven

I apologize for misspelling your name Keven. Your post #139 seems heartfelt and makes a lot of sense.
In my initial, much longer draft of my post #129 I went into a lot more detail and one long explanation I edited out was that I am not objecting to any particular person, only commenting on the attitude of entitlement which is so obvious in this thread...despite all claims to the contrary. Nothing personal.
There was no intention of a personal attack, and yet if you were upset enough to send me a venomous PM then I guess I hit a nerve.
I suggest you go back to my posts, imagine we're sitting at a boat launch bullshitting after a long day's fishing, and read my posts out loud in a friendly tone of voice, because that's how they are intended.
Let me clarify "talking out of one's ass". There seems to be a lot of emotional attachment here to a practice (tipping) which ultimately disempowers or subordinates the person receiving it. Yet because the recipient is getting money, it will be defended to the last and you'll even get upset about it in the process. I'm just asking you to take an objective look at that. Getting upset about it only proves my point further.

I stand by my suggestion-be up front, ask for what you're worth and decline the tip for professional reasons. Empower yourself. If a client insists on paying more, tell him to donate the money to CCA or WSC. Then questions and 5-page threads about the issue will become moot.
I'm out of this one. sorry, _G...guess I pissed on the hornet's nest.
I suggest you take an economics class. Tipping is used to encourage a "high" level of service in a variable service economy. This includes fishing guides along with waiters/waitresses. We don't tip them because its tradition or customary. We tip them because their service is variable. The incentive of a tip increases the chance of excellent service over just great service. You don't tip for any other reason...not because of skill or how much they are paid. People that don't get this never will. Its actually really simple. Your points only make sense in the land of Bizzaro where economic principles don't apply. Comparing Guides to Tradesman only works in economics 101 in this land of Bizzaro. Carpentry, Plumbing is a commodity....thats why there are unions....thats why there is a union wage.....because variable service is not expected.....you simply get the job done to code.....if one union plumber is sick that day you can fill the job with the other. People not from planet Bizzaro know that tipping can and most likely ensures service better than excellent and is welcome when we only get a few days a year to fish with a guide or experience a nice restaurant.
 
#151 ·
"argue for your limitations, and you get to keep them."
-Richard Bach





(aside from andycarey's 4 wise points)
I'm waiting with bated breath for the NEW insights bound to arrive on page 6 or 7 of this travesty.:rofl:
 
#155 ·
In my opinion, guides are not in the service industry. Last time I was with a guide he didn't serve me anything or provide me with a finished product. Instead, I see them as consultants. I paid him to share his knowledge and tell me were and how to fish the particular river we were on.

For comparison a consultant with 10 years experience charges roughly $100-150/hr (very broad generalization) and does not provide supplies and equipment. Compare this to a guide with the same number of years experience who charges $400/day and provides supplies, equipment, transportation, etc. Do the math and guides are charging a cut-rate price for their advice.

You might say, "it's fishing and I wouldn't pay $100/hr to show me how to fish", and I would tell you to then go spend the hours, days, years it took the guide to get his experience. It would cost me a fortune to take a summer off to fish, let alone years.

This is just an alternative analogy. I don’t' have the time to cover every single variable involved so before the trolls fire up the key boards just remember I'm not here to argue semantics. I'm not a guide, outfitter, or any other way related to the fishing industry, but I do tip guides.
 
#156 ·
Well Brett, that would be a useful thing to look at.
I don't know of any consultants who are tipped on a regular basis. They charge what they're worth up front. I imagine some might be insulted if you offered a tip.

when I try to list folks who can reasonably expect a gratuity with many/most transactions,
I think of waitresses, doormen, bellhops at the airport, cab drivers, maids...help me out here, are there some folks on the technical/professional tier who get tips too?

BTW, I've tipped every guide and deckhand without fail, because when in Rome you do as the Romans do...which I think entitles me to ask the simple theoretical question I am asking.

the dichotomy here is this-guides claiming to be specialists of a sort, and professionals, but subscribing to a pay structure that screams "service industry" like the other jobs I mentioned above.
What seems to be pissing everyone off is that I say if you are a professional, a consultant, and you have high-level skills to offer, then consider structuring your business practice, including fee-for-service, along the same lines.

also BTW, I have a lot of respect for guides, their knowledge, what they do; but we wouldn't be a forward-thinking forum if we didn't question the assumptions of our sport once in awhile, would we?:D
peace,
Bob
 
#158 ·
Well Brett, that would be a useful thing to look at.
I don't know of any consultants who are tipped on a regular basis. They charge what they're worth up front. I imagine some might be insulted if you offered a tip.

when I try to list folks who can reasonably expect a gratuity with many/most transactions,
I think of waitresses, doormen, bellhops at the airport, cab drivers, maids...help me out here, are there some folks on the technical/professional tier who get tips too?

BTW, I've tipped every guide and deckhand without fail, because when in Rome you do as the Romans do...which I think entitles me to ask the simple theoretical question I am asking.

the dichotomy here is this-guides claiming to be specialists of a sort, and professionals, but subscribing to a pay structure that screams "service industry" like the other jobs I mentioned above.
What seems to be pissing everyone off is that I say if you are a professional, a consultant, and you have high-level skills to offer, then consider structuring your business practice, including fee-for-service, along the same lines.

also BTW, I have a lot of respect for guides, their knowledge, what they do; but we wouldn't be a forward-thinking forum if we didn't question the assumptions of our sport once in awhile, would we?:D
peace,
Bob
The difference is VARIABLE SERVICE. Floating down a river with a guide results in variable service. A guide can do alot of things in that float to provide variable service to increase you enjoyment. He can row bank to bank more....He can make a better lunch....he can change more flies.....he can have better equipment.....he do all sorts of things. An accountant cannot provide variable service when doing your taxes. Tipping him will not result in a better number thus making your experience better. I think what is "pissing" people off is the analogy you are using for your argument is not correct.
 
#157 ·
Consultants don't get tips because they milk the client upfront:rofl:, but they do get bonuses at the end of the year which is usually a percentage of their profit margin for that year. I don't expect a bonus, but I would be PISSED if I didn't get one.

This is just a guess, but if they charged a realistic $$/hr based on experience they wouldn't get clients, but charging a flat rate and "hoping" a tip is included provides them with a "steady" (I use this term loosely here) flow of income.

I don't doubt your respect and there always needs to be a "devil's advocate". That's why I posted.:beer2:

-Brett
 
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