Gas dock attendant tipping

NHKathy · 06-28-2008, 09:05 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, 09:36 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, 11:05 AM

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!

06-28-2008, 11:05 AM	#3
kjbathe Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 286 Thanks: 3 Thanked 22 Times in 12 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!

06-28-2008, 09:36 AM	#2
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.