Originally Posted by
Fish_ON
Cyama, let's just say your number of 180 days year is closer. @350/day...that's 63k/year. @$375/day...that's $67.5k/year. For working less than 1/2 the days of the year. I bet 80+% of people in this country would sign up for that type of income, work and time off per year. As I said, I am NOT picking on fishing guides. Simply that anyone who makes that type of income shouldn't expect to be tipped...irregardless of what their job may be. I will say this, I wouldn't ever feel obliged to tip anyone that makes that kind of money. Now, If I feel like a fishing trip or any other service provided was beyond expectations...I would definitely consider tipping. I would just say that when I pay that amount of money for that type of service, I believe I am paying for outstanding service in the rate. If I get that service, I believe I got what I paid for. If I don't, then I wouldn't book that service again. Either way, most of the time...I don't think about a gratuity being appropriate.
If it's about how much money they make that affects your thoughts on this take a closer look at opperating expenses; they eat up a huge chunk of that daily rate. Between gear, gas, vehicle, insurance, permits, parking passes, and (depending where) a gauntlet of various agencies. For the school I work for, off the top of my head we have to pay fees to: BLM, El Dorado county, Sacramento county, State parks, Forest service, and I'm forgetting a couple of biggies still...Then there are some of the specific operations requirements that we need to meet at various locations in order to utilize them, some of which have made it very costly to flat out cost prohibitive to even offer those options. Not sure if that last one effects many fishing guides, but I would suspect that in some places it might; there are probably other regulatory issues that affect their bottom line as well. I think you might be surprised to see just how much is actually left over; it's kind of insane really.
For me personally it's kind of irrelevant how much they make or not though, the very few times I've shared a guide with my Dad we have been pleased to extremely pleased with the knowledge, help, service, and experience we got. As I said, the tip is a means to communicate the appreciation (for me); and we tipped accordingly to those hard working and personable guides. I think there will always be a pretty big difference of thoughts on this matter, so go with your gut. Personally I would hate have great day with an awesome guide, and then have an ending to the day that left a bit of a sour feeling by stiffing them on the tip.
JB
"Lord help me to be the person my dog thinks I am"
- unknown
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