Gas dock attendant tipping

Hermit Cover · 06-27-2008, 10:26 PM

I think I get it....A Chris Craft, Cobalt, Sea Ray, Formula etc. owner with a 30+ footer would give a BIG, BIG tip....smaller Bayliners, (not that I have anything against Bayliners) would be capable of a big tip, A smaller aluminum Lund owner with a 40 hp outboard...a tip....a Jetskier....a buck....a kayaker...(do kayakers get gas?????) (I bet some do).... Sorry....just had to get that one in!

laker06 · 06-28-2008, 02:17 AM

I started working in my family's business at the age of 10 and have been paying for my own things for quite some time. I am also paying my way through college. I do not feel as though anyone owes me anything nor do I feel any sort of entitlement. I understand that being on the gas docks does not mean I should automatically get a tip and I certainly don't expect one from every boat that I pump gas for. I also do not think that just because you have a large and expensive boat that you are required to tip. Never in any of my posts did I say that it is a requirement of anyone to tip gas attendants nor did I personally attack anyone like some of you have chosen to do. My first post probably was not as clear as it should have been and I did not mean to create such a negative reaction. I guess my viewpoint may just come down to the way I was raised and my family's values. I was taught to give what you can when you can. So, if I owned a boat and was helped by a courteous gas attendant, then yes, I would tip them. Not because I could afford it, but because I know that every little bit helps.

ITD · 06-28-2008, 08:45 AM

Pats fan,

I hear what you are saying and it is certainly true in some cases, but I'll tell you, I've seen many more kids who get it. They are well mannered, want to work and don't have the entitlement mentality that the couple of generation before them have. There is hope, but the actions of those who don't know any better seem to speak loudest...

Rose · 06-28-2008, 09:14 AM

Don't worry, laker06, I understood what you meant. I went back to reread your initial post to see what the fuss was about. For me, your initial comment that a tip is greatly appreciated indicates to me that it's not expected as part of some sort of entitlement. If you truly thought you were entitled, you'd be standing in front of the 50" plasma TV (not paid for by you) playing "Guitar Hero" (not paid for by you) on your Wii (not paid for by you) all summer, not working at a gas dock.

NHKathy · 06-28-2008, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rose

Don't worry, laker06, I understood what you meant. I went back to reread your initial post to see what the fuss was about. For me, your initial comment that a tip is greatly appreciated indicates to me that it's not expected as part of some sort of entitlement. If you truly thought you were entitled, you'd be standing in front of the 50" plasma TV (not paid for by you) playing "Guitar Hero" (not paid for by you) on your Wii (not paid for by you) all summer, not working at a gas dock.

Hi, too, read your 1st post and don't see what the fuss is all about...

"As a current gas dock attendant and college student, I can say that any tip is greatly appreciated by all of us working on the docks. If each boat gave even one dollar I could buy several college textbooks and not have to take out a loan to pay for books."

To me, you do seem greatful, not like you're "entitled" to something. I'm sure you do a great job.

jonfinn · 06-28-2008, 10:36 AM

I tip at the gas dock if I can spare the money. To be perfectly honest, I save for my vacations every year. My annual "week on the lake" is a good way of peeling away all the stress!

Although I am very lucky I can afford to do it, I can BARELY afford to do it.

That means that with respect to tipping, I can only do it when I can do it (and I wish that were different).

Also, I have some close friends who are very wealthy. Many of them are more conservative than I with respect to tipping. I've learned that wealthy people get that way because they pay a lot of attention to their money.

Lastly, if I can't tip and the attendant clearly earned it, I will say so.

kjbathe · 06-28-2008, 12:05 PM

I think Laker06 ended up stating the right position. We all appreciate a little extra. The path that I think gets folks into trouble is when we assume that because someone can afford $100, they should be able to afford $102, or $105 or... That's never our call.

The time I spent working the gas dock is still near the top of my best gigs ever -- an hourly base rate plus 2 cents per gallon was incentive enough to hustle. I've never found another job where I could be outside, on the lake, radio on, reclined in a chair watching the boats go by, enjoying the sun, or the refreshing cool mornings in late August, taking a swim as wanted and making upwards of $20/hour with no manual labor or skill required at all (back when the pumps had handle locks, so we just had to plug them in and watch it go). It's good work if you can get it.

Enjoy every moment of it and we'll see you out there!

wildwoodfam · 06-28-2008, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rose

If you truly thought you were entitled, you'd be standing in front of the 50" plasma TV (not paid for by you) playing "Guitar Hero" (not paid for by you) on your Wii (not paid for by you) all summer, not working at a gas dock.

Isn't the term "working at a gas dock" a bit of an oxymoron....C'mon Rose, we've all had that "rigorous" summer job!

The second post from Laker06 was much better stated. I stand by my reaction to his initial post, but feel better about what he truly believes about tipping from the writings in his second post.

BTW - we always tip - unless there is a reason not to....but the summer workers get the benefit of the doubt from my family everytime! Be it - ice cream servers, waitrons, or even gas dock "workers"

Merrymeeting · 06-28-2008, 10:03 PM

As my son is working this summer as a dock attendant to cover his book and other college expense fees, I believe that the rule is that everyone should tip, early, late, often, and liberally. Especially if they are in Wolfeboro at a dock famous for its moving webcam!

Rattlesnake Guy · 06-29-2008, 09:28 AM

Laker06,
Your clarification has earned you the benefit of the doubt in my eyes. Taking the time to restate your feelings has probably saved a lot of withheld tips this summer. The fact that you want to use the money for books and not for party money says a lot about your upbringing and character. I am impressed.

I heard a great bumper sticker the other day on the radio. "The best way to take advantage of the system is hard work". I suspect that the vast majority of the customers you work with have worked very hard for what they have. I am glad to hear you are on that same path.

RG

Rose · 06-29-2008, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildwoodfam

C'mon Rose, we've all had that "rigorous" summer job!

Alas, I never had a summer job. The only summer job I wanted was to be "the boy" at Ames Farm Inn (anyone who stayed there years ago will know what I'm talking about), but since I'm a girl and it was the late 70's/early 80's it wasn't going to happen.

In protest, I got a permanent part time job in the town where I grew up.

By the way, being "the boy" at the Farm was definitely rigorous...my brother came out a very sinewy, strong son-of-a-gun by the end of the summer.

SAMIAM · 06-29-2008, 08:07 PM

What did you expect her to say,Rattlesnake guy?....that she was using the money for weed?.......of course she'll say the money is for books,caring for her aging parents...or maybe the church.She'll probably throw you a snarl if you interrupt her while she's texting her boyfriend.
Oh well, guess I'm a sucker because I always tip.

Merrymeeting · 08-20-2009, 02:55 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, 03:12 PM

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

ishoot308 · 08-20-2009, 04:08 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, 04:32 PM

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

brk-lnt · 08-20-2009, 05:22 PM

I usually do $20.

06-27-2008, 10:26 PM	#1
Hermit Cover Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Hermit Cove Posts: 354 Thanks: 20 Thanked 68 Times in 40 Posts	Size matters.... I think I get it....A Chris Craft, Cobalt, Sea Ray, Formula etc. owner with a 30+ footer would give a BIG, BIG tip....smaller Bayliners, (not that I have anything against Bayliners) would be capable of a big tip, A smaller aluminum Lund owner with a 40 hp outboard...a tip....a Jetskier....a buck....a kayaker...(do kayakers get gas?????) (I bet some do).... Sorry....just had to get that one in!

06-28-2008, 08:45 AM	#3
ITD Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 2,937 Thanks: 479 Thanked 695 Times in 390 Posts	Pats fan, I hear what you are saying and it is certainly true in some cases, but I'll tell you, I've seen many more kids who get it. They are well mannered, want to work and don't have the entitlement mentality that the couple of generation before them have. There is hope, but the actions of those who don't know any better seem to speak loudest... Last edited by ITD; 06-28-2008 at 09:35 AM.

06-28-2008, 12:05 PM	#7
kjbathe Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 284 Thanks: 3 Thanked 21 Times in 11 Posts	Nothing negative I think Laker06 ended up stating the right position. We all appreciate a little extra. The path that I think gets folks into trouble is when we assume that because someone can afford $100, they should be able to afford $102, or $105 or... That's never our call. The time I spent working the gas dock is still near the top of my best gigs ever -- an hourly base rate plus 2 cents per gallon was incentive enough to hustle. I've never found another job where I could be outside, on the lake, radio on, reclined in a chair watching the boats go by, enjoying the sun, or the refreshing cool mornings in late August, taking a swim as wanted and making upwards of $20/hour with no manual labor or skill required at all (back when the pumps had handle locks, so we just had to plug them in and watch it go). It's good work if you can get it. Enjoy every moment of it and we'll see you out there!

08-20-2009, 02:55 PM	#13
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, 03:12 PM	#14
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

06-28-2008, 02:17 AM	#2
laker06 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I started working in my family's business at the age of 10 and have been paying for my own things for quite some time. I am also paying my way through college. I do not feel as though anyone owes me anything nor do I feel any sort of entitlement. I understand that being on the gas docks does not mean I should automatically get a tip and I certainly don't expect one from every boat that I pump gas for. I also do not think that just because you have a large and expensive boat that you are required to tip. Never in any of my posts did I say that it is a requirement of anyone to tip gas attendants nor did I personally attack anyone like some of you have chosen to do. My first post probably was not as clear as it should have been and I did not mean to create such a negative reaction. I guess my viewpoint may just come down to the way I was raised and my family's values. I was taught to give what you can when you can. So, if I owned a boat and was helped by a courteous gas attendant, then yes, I would tip them. Not because I could afford it, but because I know that every little bit helps.

06-28-2008, 09:14 AM	#4
Rose Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 498 Thanks: 62 Thanked 71 Times in 32 Posts	Don't worry, laker06, I understood what you meant. I went back to reread your initial post to see what the fuss was about. For me, your initial comment that a tip is greatly appreciated indicates to me that it's not expected as part of some sort of entitlement. If you truly thought you were entitled, you'd be standing in front of the 50" plasma TV (not paid for by you) playing "Guitar Hero" (not paid for by you) on your Wii (not paid for by you) all summer, not working at a gas dock.

06-28-2008, 10:36 AM	#6
jonfinn Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Weymouth, MA Posts: 37 Thanks: 1 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	I tip at the gas dock if I can spare the money. To be perfectly honest, I save for my vacations every year. My annual "week on the lake" is a good way of peeling away all the stress! Although I am very lucky I can afford to do it, I can BARELY afford to do it. That means that with respect to tipping, I can only do it when I can do it (and I wish that were different). Also, I have some close friends who are very wealthy. Many of them are more conservative than I with respect to tipping. I've learned that wealthy people get that way because they pay a lot of attention to their money. Lastly, if I can't tip and the attendant clearly earned it, I will say so.

06-28-2008, 10:03 PM	#9
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,226 Thanks: 302 Thanked 800 Times in 368 Posts	As my son is working this summer as a dock attendant to cover his book and other college expense fees, I believe that the rule is that everyone should tip, early, late, often, and liberally. Especially if they are in Wolfeboro at a dock famous for its moving webcam!

06-29-2008, 09:28 AM	#10
Rattlesnake Guy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 1,254 Thanks: 423 Thanked 366 Times in 175 Posts	Laker06, Your clarification has earned you the benefit of the doubt in my eyes. Taking the time to restate your feelings has probably saved a lot of withheld tips this summer. The fact that you want to use the money for books and not for party money says a lot about your upbringing and character. I am impressed. I heard a great bumper sticker the other day on the radio. "The best way to take advantage of the system is hard work". I suspect that the vast majority of the customers you work with have worked very hard for what they have. I am glad to hear you are on that same path. RG

06-29-2008, 08:07 PM	#12
SAMIAM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 2,913 Thanks: 338 Thanked 1,691 Times in 594 Posts	What did you expect her to say,Rattlesnake guy?....that she was using the money for weed?.......of course she'll say the money is for books,caring for her aging parents...or maybe the church.She'll probably throw you a snarl if you interrupt her while she's texting her boyfriend. Oh well, guess I'm a sucker because I always tip.

08-20-2009, 04:32 PM	#16
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.

08-20-2009, 05:22 PM	#17
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]

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