Do you tip the guy at the gas pump?

C

chazaroo

New Member
Dec 4, 2006
415
Florida
Boat Info
1996 Sundancer 250
Engines
single 5.7 w Bravo III
We're new to boating in FL and we stopped for gas at a marina. The guy at the dock handed us the hose, took the credit card, etc. Do you tip these guys? If so how much? Help! We don't want to be cheap but we don't want to buy the guy a condo either. What's considered fair? :huh:
 
I tip dock hands when they help me dock but only if they "help". I don't tip at the fuel pump. Feel like I get raped at the pump and tipping would be just saying thank you. :smt013
 
If the dock hand offers me assistance, is polite, attentive, offers the pump out, water, calls out the gallons to me if I'm alone, he or she gets a tip. 5-10 bucks

if a dock hand at a marina takes my trash when he sees it in my hands or offers me a ride in their cart to the office or somewhere, get me some provision or some other help they get 20
 
Dancin Dave said:
If the dock hand offers me assistance, is polite, attentive, offers the pump out, water, calls out the gallons to me if I'm alone, he or she gets a tip. 5-10 bucks

if a dock hand at a marina takes my trash when he sees it in my hands or offers me a ride in their cart to the office or somewhere, get me some provision or some other help they get 20
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Big ditto, If they give good service then they get a tip. Always good to see the younger ones working and learning about good service.
 
If you don't want to tip, that is not impolite since the hands are not working for tips. However having said that, it don't hurt to grease the wheel everyonce in a while when someone goes out of their way to do a little something extra in helping out. :grin:
 
I never really thought about it but now that you brought it up I will certainly give a few bucks to those guys/gals that run out to help me docking, keep the boat from hitting the dock, greet you with a smile. Let them know that I notice the difference between them and some of their peers. It may not be much but maybe they can buy a softdrink or two.
 
I always tip. I usually put between 60 to 90 gallons in and figure I can afford five bucks for a college kid working for minimum wage (or close). My nephew had a friend who worked at the docks and he says they really remember you. He commented once, that at my marina, some of the largest boat owners NEVER tipped.

The dock hands make sure I make a smooth landing and they make sure I get off the docks OK. I always pump my own gas but they will always find me a rag, etc.

BTW - I don't take it out on the kids at the dock that the gas price is outrageous, its just a summer job for most of them, so I tip.
 
I too usually tip, but the tip is in direct corilation to the amount of "customer service" I receive.

If I pull up, and I tie up and he just hands me the nozzle, then takes my card, then he'll probably get butkiss. However, if he gives a nice greetings, offers a hand to help tie up, pumps in and pumps out for me, then sure, no problem. I'll offer 10%.

The prices their charging is amazing and their making a killing (I think :smt017 ). But with those prices they ALL should be full service. All you should have to do is have everyone get off the boat, then watch! :grin:
 
I didn't want to seem like the cheap dude here but just handing me a nozzle and me standing there filling up the boat and doing all the work while they stand there doesn't warrant a tip IMO. Again, docking is a different story and it's usually the same kid helping with both.

It costs me over $1000 to fill up this boat so tipping 10% is out of the question. For docking, I usually give them 10-20 bucks if they help and help well. Tips are not an entitlement IMO.... I grew up working in a restaurant and worked in that industry through college. The entitlement "tip attitude" today bothers me as it wasn't that way when I was working that industry... yeah... I know... "I also walked 5 miles to school in 3 feet of snow uphill both ways"... I'm getting old and cranky... but you have to work for it. NO ONE has ever offered to help fill up my boat... it's always "self service".
 
Gary, I'm with you. The tip-anticipation kills me! Every expects to be tipped. I go to normal gas stations around here in Texas and there's a tip jar by the cash register .... FOR WHAT! :smt018

They need to realize tips are like driving, it's a privilege and not something your entitled to! Geez, kids these days. :huh:
 
I told a very polite and helpful dock hand once at a casino that I would give him 10% of my winnings...when we came back to the boat he anxiously ask how I did. I handed him a $10 and his reply...how much did you put in (the slots). I said oh yeah your're right and I took the $10 back! The expression on his face was priceless :grin:

We both had a good laugh, he got his $10 back and gave us a hand with the lines.

I usually tip but they earn it, in one fashion or another.
 
Pretty much the same here. I pay for service, usually $20, if the dock hand does a good job of getting us settled with lines, shore power, hose, etc. Some of the young people who work at the local marina where I buy most of my fuel don't even know how to tie a boat up at the pump by the end of September. No tips for them. In fact, I mentioned the poor service to the owner of the marina. He needs to train these kids so they can earn tips in my view.
 
I've only been boating two years but have never had a fuel attendant fill the tank. They're often helpful with lines and docking, but always hand me the nozzle. Maybe it's a spill liability thing?

We buy fuel at our marina/boatel. The fuel attendants are usually the same kids that help us when we splash in the morning and come in at night. I tip when we buy fuel, but will usually give a little more since they help us more often than just when fueling(thankfully we don't have to buy fuel every trip out!). My tip does vary depending upon the kid and how helpful he/she has been recently, though.

Jeff
 
I tip if the gas dock guy (or girl) is attentive and offers help. I like to fill my boat up by myself however, I don't want a dirty green fuel hose being dragged across my transom trunk only to leave marks. I have them hand me the hose and I will fill my tanks, AFTER I repeat "This is Diesel - RIGHT". I am not a big tipper - usually $5-6 Bucks as I go to the same fuel docks all the time and get to kinda know the kids. Most of them are just college or high school kids just starting out so I give them something.
 
Four Suns said:
I grew up working in a restaurant and worked in that industry through college. The entitlement "tip attitude" today bothers me as it wasn't that way when I was working that industry... yeah... I know... "I also walked 5 miles to school in 3 feet of snow uphill both ways"... I'm getting old and cranky... but you have to work for it. NO ONE has ever offered to help fill up my boat... it's always "self service".
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+1000

I too worked in restaurants as a server through college and I worked hard for my tips. I did not assume I would get 15%+, I worked for it. Some folks, no matter what you do, simply do not tip or do not tip well.

I also pumped gas at a marina gas dock on the weekends when I was 12 and 13. I made $2.50 an hour. I never received on tip and never even knew what a tip was.

The guy that hands me the fuel hose at our marina also owns the marina. Tough to justify giving him a tip. When traveling though, if a dock hand goes the extra mile and helps me out, yes I will tip him.
 
Somwhere in the etiquette book it says you don't have to tip the owner of the establishment.

If they catch a line and help me dock, they always get a tip, either at the fuel dock, resturants, marina, etc. <how much maybe determined on attitude and futher help> I always keep a few $5 and dollar bills onboard to be sure I have cash to tip if someone helps me out. <ever see the guy get off his big, expensive yacht, then tell the dock guy he doesn't have any cash?.....we'll, that ain't me, on either account>

And what about those resturants that automatically add 17% to the check, then leave the tip line open on the credit card receipt, but I guess that's another thread........

And how coming tipping never started for flight attendants? You get a beer and pay for it <if you are not riding up front> and you would usually tip for that.....just wonderin' <instead of workin'>.....
 
Our yacht clubs hosts an anuual shrimp festival to raise money. Part of the proceeds go to the Childrens Hospital.

I worked the beer truck this year. We put out a tip jug and worte "For the kids" on it. Those that left a nice tip got their beer a lot faster with a smile on my face, that is for sure.
 
Our marina's dock girls (and one boy) are very nice. I always make sure to tip and they remember me and my family. If we have had coversations in the past about something that was going on in my life, they remember and ask about it. They always fill up and I never have to, I usually have other things to do. I would feel bad if I didn't tip especially after they pump out my head.

I would never tip an owner and I would expect an owner to refuse a tip. Our marina manager is a crab ass and worthless. In the off season she is the only one there, so I have no choice but to deal with her, but I would never tip her. I miss our old manager. :smt089

Now if you want to really debate who not to tip is those punks at ice cream or coffee stands that don't do anything. Their job is to serve you your item and they get paid for it...transaction complete! It really pisses me off to see that plastic cup sitting there with tips written on it. :smt013
 
I think a tip for someone is reasonable if they go above and beyond the call of duty. If you work at a marina gas pump then your job is to greet everyone with a friendly smile, help them dock, help them gas up, and help them pull off. Should they go beyond that and make your purchase less painful then I think a tip is reasonable. I have always tipped the gas attendant at the dock but sometimes wondered why? What did they do? And my tip is usually a flat fee not a % of how much I just spent with them...... Damn, I wish I had the chance to work at a marina during the summers of high school or college hanging out on the water, looking at all the hot boats and women, instead of working in restaurants and road construction. Can't ever remember getting a tip for clearing someone's table or pouring concrete for 8 hours in 95 degrees.
 
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