I would almost consider tipping the PDI guy if I didn't catch things that he missed. Items should not be missed by someone that does the job for a living. As a first time RV buyer who read a few checklists on this site and pointed them out to the PDI guy, I was less than impressed.
I don't tip someone for simply doing thier job, except a waitress who only works for tips.
2007 Forester 2941DS
2005 KIA Spectra
Zamboni, Long Haired Mini Dachshund
You can have my RV, when you pry my cold dead fingers from the Steering Wheel
westernrvparkowner wrote "I try and tip whenever a service person performs a service beyond the minimum." Are you kidding??? For performing beyond the minimum? Maybe if he/she performed above the norm, but not for performing above the minimum. Every employee is expected to do a good job. How many people would be hired if they told their expectant employer that they were going do to anything less than a good job?
This whole tipping thing is getting out of hand; everyone thinks they should receive a tip for the job they are being paid to perform. Don't get me wrong; I do tip, but for only outstanding, great service.
My mail delivery man goes far above and beyond what he is paid to do. Therefore, at Christmas I do reward him with a small gift. He does not expect anything for his outstanding service throughout the year; it is my choice to reward him.
I tip any service person, if I feel they have gone out of their way to provide me with exceptional service. If the guy gives you a quick once over and is done, no tip, but if he spends 3 hours with you going over every one of your questions-- whether about your coach or rving in general, yes.
Recently, I contracted with a concrete contractor to replace my sidewalk. He gave me the price and I accepted. However, when I came home from work I found him still there because what we both thought were brick steps turned out to be solid concrete and it tool a lot longer.
He did not ask for more $ but I tipped him anyway.
Alaska is next! Still trying to fit the pontoons to the RV so We can get to Hawaii!
I have offered a $20 bill to two guys who each did a GREAT and un-rushed PDI. One accepted it and was very thankful; the other declined saying it was his pleasure! I took him to lunch instead and since then he has helped me big-time twice and has become a friend. I certainly appreciated each of them!!
mowermech wrote: What IS it with "tipping" these days? It seems some people think nearly EVERYBODY deserves a tip!
IMO, the extortion needs to be outlawed, and all businesses should have to pay a living wage!
Yes, I tip wait persons. But, that's ALL!!
Totally agree.
There are some services where tipping makes sense. The hairdresser, servers. But even that IMO is ridiculous, restaurants in particular, as I feel like they can get off paying their wait staff two bucks an hour and their customers pay the rest of their wages.
IF we went around tipping every single person at a business who was helpful and provided a service we'd all go broke. And a tip jar at Starbucks? Why do they get tips? I don't see McD's staff looking for tips. Where is the line drawn? And i bet Starbucks employees make more on the hour than McD's staff.
westernrvparkowner wrote: I try and tip whenever a service person performs a service beyond the minimum. If they are delivering the RV to you and someone is going to spend time helping you get familiar with the rig, I think that merits a tip. The Delivery driver and the guy who is going over the rig are just normal people making a living. They are not super rich doing it for fun. An extra $20.00 may just make their day. You probably have just spent over $20,000 for the rig, so $20.00 is 1/10th of 1 percent. You never know when that kindness will be returned 100 times over. Your rig might be in the shop and only one of three rigs can be finished by the weekend. That guy might recognize your rig and tell the shop foreman you are a great guy and if only one rig can be done, finish that one. I tip delivery drivers, give the mailman, the UPS guy and the FEDEX guys something at Christmas. My packages are never left in the rain, I get help with the heavy stuff and people treat the stuff I am buying with care. Spread a little money and like fertilizer, it will grow good will.
But...this is the job they are paid to perform. If we use your logic, why not tip the lady who smiled at us as she was ringing our groceries? Does a guy doing a PDI on a camper somehow merit more than the other people who provide you service when you go somewhere? As for tipping Fed Ex drivers, no way. Fed Ex is already way too high, let them pay their own employees. And we never have the same mail carrier or Fed Ex driver, so tipping won't help keep my packages out of the rain. But if a fed ex driver is consistently putting packages in places that are not suitable, they should be dealt with by their managers. Some of the carelessness I've seen of Fed Ex is simply outrageous. Now we are supposed to pay them just to make sure they do it right? No. Let Fed Ex pay them.
I own a TT, but it sure isn't fancy and it doesn't mean that becuase I bought it I am financially well off enough to drop twenties in everyone's hand who provides a service. I know i'd never accept a tip from someone while I am working. I am already paid to do the job. I do the job very well for my own personal satisfaction. NOt to get a tip.
It's nice you can spread money like fertilizer. Some of us live on a budget. I'm not poor, but not rich either. I like to watch my pennies because in this economy never know when you might get laid off. And the people performing these services should be doing a good job because that is 1) what they are paid to do and 2) no employee today is safe. Lay offs occur everywhere, it should behoove them to do the job right without expecting a tip for it.
* This post was
edited 05/03/12 06:14pm by JayWalker2009 *
Raymon wrote: westernrvparkowner wrote "I try and tip whenever a service person performs a service beyond the minimum." Are you kidding??? For performing beyond the minimum? Maybe if he/she performed above the norm, but not for performing above the minimum. Every employee is expected to do a good job. How many people would be hired if they told their expectant employer that they were going do to anything less than a good job?
This whole tipping thing is getting out of hand; everyone thinks they should receive a tip for the job they are being paid to perform. Don't get me wrong; I do tip, but for only outstanding, great service.
My mail delivery man goes far above and beyond what he is paid to do. Therefore, at Christmas I do reward him with a small gift. He does not expect anything for his outstanding service throughout the year; it is my choice to reward him.
NOT EVERYONE DESERVES A TIP!!!!
Ray
Good point but if it is really outstanding by all means tip. We lost a fuel pump late on a Saturday afternoon outside of Collins CO bout 10 yrs back. I managed to sputter the rig off I-70 into the parking lot of a motel. While checking in (since camping was out) we inquired about a local mechanic. She said the best in town is 1/2 block down and dialed the number. He said he was not open on Sunday but had agreed to meet another RV that morning to look at a problem. He said I'll see what I can do. The other RV did not show but he did shortly after 8, diagnosed, ordered part delivered, did the work and we were ready to hit the road by 11:am Sunday morning. This included dropping the fuel tank to access the pump. He burnt 1/2 a Sunday off to help us and the bill was less than I expected for emergency work. I paid that with plastic. We then gave him fifty bucks and told him to have a really good steak dinner than night. That service was well worth the tip.
Greg
You cannot stop growing old but you don't have to grow up.
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