kasil Posted February 21, 2018 #1 Share Posted February 21, 2018 I have two private tour excursions set up where the tour company owner will be our tour guide. I generally give a tip to the guide and anyone else directly involved in giving the tour, but I've never been in this situation before. What's your opinion on tipping the owner? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT2407 Posted February 21, 2018 #2 Share Posted February 21, 2018 I have two private tour excursions set up where the tour company owner will be our tour guide. I generally give a tip to the guide and anyone else directly involved in giving the tour, but I've never been in this situation before. What's your opinion on tipping the owner? If you tip one person for doing a job, why wouldn’t you tip for the same job just because it’s the owner doing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wwcruisers Posted February 21, 2018 #3 Share Posted February 21, 2018 We've encountered this, with small, private tour groups. I've never had anyone offended by the offer of a tip, and a heart-felt "thank you"!:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted February 21, 2018 #4 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Some owners will refuse a tip....others will take it. Let your enjoyment of the tour guide you. There is no right or wrong and no "tipping guidelines". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zqvol Posted February 21, 2018 #5 Share Posted February 21, 2018 I have two private tour excursions set up where the tour company owner will be our tour guide. I generally give a tip to the guide and anyone else directly involved in giving the tour, but I've never been in this situation before. What's your opinion on tipping the owner? Why do you feel the need to tip anyone? The employees of these tour companies are paid normal wages, not the wages that food service employees are paid! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calliopecruiser Posted February 21, 2018 #6 Share Posted February 21, 2018 No, you don't tip the small business owner, whether it's a tour guide or a hairdresser. The reason some people tip is to make up for (perceived) low wages, but that's not the case when it's the owner. If the owners want more money, they raise their rates, whereas an employee doesn't have the ability to do that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nebr.cruiser Posted February 21, 2018 #7 Share Posted February 21, 2018 We've been on a few tours where the owner is the guide, with or without a driver. We always offer a tip, usually accepted with thanks, sometimes they state they will be giving it to, or sharing it with, the driver. Have never had anyone refuse a tip or act insulted! A couple of times in non-tipping cultures they acted quite surprised. I suspect, but have never asked, that guides and drivers do get a rate of pay for the tour which is perhaps less than other jobs, and they may be expecting to make up the lower wage with tips. If it is a very large touring company, usually the owner is not even around, or perhaps only at the starting point but acts more like a broker. In those cases we only tip the actual person doing the tour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmazedByCruising Posted February 21, 2018 #8 Share Posted February 21, 2018 No, you don't tip the small business owner, whether it's a tour guide or a hairdresser. The reason some people tip is to make up for (perceived) low wages, but that's not the case when it's the owner. If the owners want more money, they raise their rates, whereas an employee doesn't have the ability to do that. Trying to get my head around US tipping etiquette.. Let's say I go to a hairdresser who has 2 employees and all three of them, including the owner, do the exact same work. 2 expect to be paid 20% over what the bill says, and one doesn't? "I'd like an appointment next thursday. Yes, again with Mike please, certainly not Peter or Ivanka. I've got bills to pay, too". Owning a business myself I know that if I raise the rates I would end up with less money because my pennywise clients would run to my competitors. And I still need to pay my Peter and Ivanka. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCruisers Posted February 21, 2018 #9 Share Posted February 21, 2018 If the owner is our tour guide, we tip. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auntjoy036 Posted February 21, 2018 #10 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Mom and I took a wonderful private taxicab tour in Ketchikan, Alaska. The owner was our tour guide. I frankly did not think about the owner/employee distinction. I am used to tipping so I was prepared to tip. But also when the time we had contracted for was nearly up, my feeble, elderly Mom was happily browsing in a gift shop. When the tour guide saw me going to tell her "time's up," he stopped me. He said to let her shop as long as she wanted. He would not charge me for the extra time. I chose to pay over the agreed price when we got back. Either I tipped him or paid what I thought was right for the extra time. Either way he gave us a great tour then he spared me a struggle with my mother. That's worth extra. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calliopecruiser Posted February 21, 2018 #11 Share Posted February 21, 2018 2 expect to be paid 20% over what the bill says, and one doesn't? Well, that's a problem right there! No wonder you have a problem with US tipping "etiquette". So do I. I think they tip too often and too much; I think it's insulting to tell someone that they aren't expected or trusted to do their job properly without a "bribe". Personally, I'm of the "don't tip people for properly doing their job" school, and I think the fact that some food servers are allowed to be paid less than others is a shame and a sham. Owners have significant control of their income, far more than employees, and so even though I give in to social pressure to tip waitstaff, I will not tip people for properly doing their job when they are the people who can raise their prices, lower their expenses, adjust their overhead, or change their staffing. If you don't want to pay Peter and Ivanka, you don't have to -- you pay them because you want them working for you. That's your choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted February 21, 2018 #12 Share Posted February 21, 2018 With very few exceptions I do not tip an owner. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindsue Posted February 21, 2018 #13 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Owner or employee, if the person provides us with great service, we tip them accordingly! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John Bull Posted February 21, 2018 #14 Share Posted February 21, 2018 I've seen no mention of the ports / countries by the OP or respondents. :confused: JB :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyDawg Posted February 21, 2018 #15 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Owners have significant control of their income, far more than employees, and so even though I give in to social pressure to tip waitstaff, I will not tip people for properly doing their job when they are the people who can raise their prices, lower their expenses, adjust their overhead, or change their staffing. Owners can also choose how to 'pay' themselves out of the business to reduce their taxable income. For example, in various jurisdictions dividends from the business are taxed at a significantly lower rate than salary. I generally don't tip owners but do what you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjkacmom Posted February 21, 2018 #16 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Trying to get my head around US tipping etiquette.. Let's say I go to a hairdresser who has 2 employees and all three of them, including the owner, do the exact same work. 2 expect to be paid 20% over what the bill says, and one doesn't? "I'd like an appointment next thursday. Yes, again with Mike please, certainly not Peter or Ivanka. I've got bills to pay, too". Owning a business myself I know that if I raise the rates I would end up with less money because my pennywise clients would run to my competitors. And I still need to pay my Peter and Ivanka. I think not tipping the owner is no longer the case anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6rugrats Posted February 21, 2018 #17 Share Posted February 21, 2018 The reasoning behind not tipping the owner is they set their rate at what they should be paid. For example, if you book a tour through, "Tours by Locals," where your guide is essentially the owner, they specifically instruct you not to tip. I don't tip the owner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NMLady Posted February 21, 2018 #18 Share Posted February 21, 2018 If the owner is our tour guide, we tip. ;) So do we. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jocap Posted February 21, 2018 #19 Share Posted February 21, 2018 If the owner has set a price which suits him/her, then that's what I'd pay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Husky61 Posted February 21, 2018 #20 Share Posted February 21, 2018 I tip who I want, not what others on this forum do.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taglovestocruise Posted February 21, 2018 #21 Share Posted February 21, 2018 If you tip one person for doing a job, why wouldn’t you tip for the same job just because it’s the owner doing it. Because it is bad etiquette.. Tipping the Owner Technically, it is not considered proper etiquette to tip the owner of a business. Instead, the tip should go to the employees. If you frequent a business often, it's a nice gesture to tip generously in order to show your appreciation for services rendered, and to ensure great service in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Husky61 Posted February 22, 2018 #22 Share Posted February 22, 2018 Because it is bad etiquette..Tipping the Owner. Who says it is bad etiquette? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseGal999 Posted February 22, 2018 #23 Share Posted February 22, 2018 Trying to get my head around US tipping etiquette.. Let's say I go to a hairdresser who has 2 employees and all three of them, including the owner, do the exact same work. 2 expect to be paid 20% over what the bill says, and one doesn't? "I'd like an appointment next thursday. Yes, again with Mike please, certainly not Peter or Ivanka. I've got bills to pay, too". Owning a business myself I know that if I raise the rates I would end up with less money because my pennywise clients would run to my competitors. And I still need to pay my Peter and Ivanka. The 2 hairdressers working for the 'owner' PAY the OWNER rent on those chairs! Owner's do not get tips because they get 100% of the revenue. NOT 100% of profit, as there are operating expenses, but 100% of revenue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HELENPSL Posted February 22, 2018 #24 Share Posted February 22, 2018 I think not tipping the owner is no longer the case anymore. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisemom42 Posted February 22, 2018 #25 Share Posted February 22, 2018 The reasoning behind not tipping the owner is they set their rate at what they should be paid.For example, if you book a tour through, "Tours by Locals," where your guide is essentially the owner, they specifically instruct you not to tip. I don't tip the owner. You can't use logic with people who've forgotten the reasons why tipping started in the first place and whose rationale is "because I want to..." :rolleyes: Truly, our tipping culture has run amok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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