Gas dock attendant tipping

Merrymeeting · 08-20-2009, 01:55 PM

Resurrecting this post in light of a conversation with my son earlier this week.

In the heat of last weekend, he and the other dock hands pumped over 2200 gallons of boat fuel on Saturday. One person received a small tip.

Clearly tipping at the gas dock is not widespread, certainly not as much as might be indicated in this thread.

Anticpating some of the comments that might be made on this,

None of the kids expect the tips or were complaining about it. I asked.
Despite some of the earlier notes to the contrary, this is minimum wage work. I know my son realizes he's lucky to be employed in this economy.
These kids do go out of their way to provide a high level of service. Helping with docking, meeting all with a pleasant greeting, caring well for repeat customers, etc.
They are hard working kids. In my son's case, to help him continue with his deans list accomplishments at school.

I recognize that we are in tough times. But I personally think it is sad that so few would think of tipping a dock hand. It is a lower-paid, service job, similar to a doorman or taxi driver. Why would the latter qualify and not the former?

sa meredith · 08-20-2009, 02:12 PM

$5 each time...regardless of amount of fuel $50/$100/$150...always $5

ishoot308 · 08-20-2009, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sa meredith

$5 each time...regardless of amount of fuel $50/$100/$150...always $5

Yup, pretty much my standard as well SA. These are good local kids and the help they provide with docking / undocking, pumping the gas on a hot day, cleaning up any spillage that may occur and just a simple pleasant greeting make the $5.00 tip money well spent in my opinion.

Dan

tc_mike · 08-20-2009, 03:32 PM

I also will always tip $5 during each trip to the marina.

brk-lnt · 08-20-2009, 04:22 PM

I usually do $20.

08-20-2009, 01:55 PM	#1
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,226 Thanks: 302 Thanked 800 Times in 368 Posts	Resurrecting this post in light of a conversation with my son earlier this week. In the heat of last weekend, he and the other dock hands pumped over 2200 gallons of boat fuel on Saturday. One person received a small tip. Clearly tipping at the gas dock is not widespread, certainly not as much as might be indicated in this thread. Anticpating some of the comments that might be made on this, None of the kids expect the tips or were complaining about it. I asked. Despite some of the earlier notes to the contrary, this is minimum wage work. I know my son realizes he's lucky to be employed in this economy. These kids do go out of their way to provide a high level of service. Helping with docking, meeting all with a pleasant greeting, caring well for repeat customers, etc. They are hard working kids. In my son's case, to help him continue with his deans list accomplishments at school. I recognize that we are in tough times. But I personally think it is sad that so few would think of tipping a dock hand. It is a lower-paid, service job, similar to a doorman or taxi driver. Why would the latter qualify and not the former?

08-20-2009, 02:12 PM	#2
sa meredith Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 986 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 32 Thanked 352 Times in 137 Posts	me $5 each time...regardless of amount of fuel $50/$100/$150...always $5

08-20-2009, 04:22 PM	#5
brk-lnt Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: South Down Shores Posts: 1,944 Thanks: 544 Thanked 570 Times in 335 Posts	I usually do $20. __________________ [insert witty phrase here]

08-20-2009, 03:32 PM	#4
tc_mike Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 42 Thanks: 23 Thanked 12 Times in 8 Posts	I also will always tip $5 during each trip to the marina.