Do you tip the guy at the gas pump?

when travelling, the guy that directs me to the slip, helps me get in, shows me the power/cable/water hookups, assists with those hookups (even though i am capable myself) makes sure everything is working and follows up later on, gets an extra $10-20 (depending upon length of stay). the doofus that points like the ghost of christmas yet to come gets nothing. at our marina, i'll tip the guy doing the pump out, b/c it is nasty. dont marina's require you to pump your own gas so that if there's spillage, the $300,000 cost of containment is not on them??? i have always pumped my own fuel (even as a kid 1000 years ago on my dad's boat) and as someone above said, i would do myself even if they offered. no one is as careful with your boat as you are.
 
I tip if they are single, cute, and young....ha ha - the advantages of being single :)

It does depend though on the service, if they do give a hand, then I give a couple bucks as well - nothing crazy usually $5 or so (or if end of the shift, a beer works as well!)

Gary, I know you mentioned about them not helping pump - some areas I have been won't allow the staff to actually help in pumping - they can hand you the hose, but that's it - I believe liability if any fuel spills... Then it's your fault, not theirs...
 
BrentJones said:
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
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Sorry a little off topic but Brent's got it right 100%. I can't stand going to the local Duncan Donuts and seeing a tip cup there. Are you kidding me? How about putting a tip cup at every register in every supermarket or Walmart checkout lane. No way!! I will, however, throw a tip to the guy at the gas dock if they go out of the way to help.
 
This thread cost me almost 50 bucks this week. Thank you for the mentioning. It was very noticeable - the difference between do-it-yourself, and full service. I wouldn't have had any idea to tip had I not read this. It was our first cruise.
 
I always tip and people always notice, especially because I have an small, old boat and I don't think they expect it.

Most of the kids on the gas docks around here will take your lines, fill the tank and generally be helpful. I don't give them a percentage, I just give them a few bucks. They appreciate it.

A few bucks here and there makes a big difference to someone working for $10 or less per hour. I don't think a percentage is necessary. Just a few bucks for a few minutes of their time.
 
BrentJones said:
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
:smt013
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Our marina has college kids that work the gas docks in season. I always tip them well. Off season when all the kids are gone, it is just the manager that pumps gas and helps with the few boats that come and go. I feel awkward about tipping her. She is awesome, but is it insulting to tip a salaried professional? Should I tip her too?
 
The dock that I get gas from is right on the edge of a no wake zone and it can get a bit rough. The college kids generally do a good job of keeping my boat off the dock when some dude goes by making a wake.

I usually tip them $10-20. Depends on what I have in my pocket.


There is another fuel dock where the staff don’t do anything but flip the switch on the pump. They won’t even come down to the floating section to help me tie off. I don’t generally feel like that set up deserves a tip.

I guess my strategy is if they help me. They get tipped.
 
94SD370 said:
Our marina has college kids that work the gas docks in season. I always tip them well. Off season when all the kids are gone, it is just the manager that pumps gas and helps with the few boats that come and go. I feel awkward about tipping her. She is awesome, but is it insulting to tip a salaried professional? Should I tip her too?
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NO! Went to Boardwalk Burgers (Maryland, awesome not-fast-food burgers) yesterday. The owner was working the counter, when paid with card it asked Leave a tip? Hell no, I ain’t tipping the owner.
 
jmauld said:
The dock that I get gas from is right on the edge of a no wake zone and it can get a bit rough. The college kids generally do a good job of keeping my boat off the dock when some dude goes by making a wake.

I usually tip them $10-20. Depends on what I have in my pocket.


There is another fuel dock where the staff don’t do anything but flip the switch on the pump. They won’t even come down to the floating section to help me tie off. I don’t generally feel like that set up deserves a tip.

I guess my strategy is if they help me. They get tipped.
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^^^^ THIS 100% all and exactly THIS^^^^
 
I only get gas at my home marina -- mostly since me slip is right next to the fuel dock and we get a small discount anyway.

Normally during the summer it's college kids so I tip them for sure.

I just realized that with the weather being bad, and running the dink so much, I didn't fill up at all this year. I'm still running on the full tanks from the end of last season :eek:
 
I get gas at my own marina; not much choice since there's only two places to fuel up on the lake. There's always someone to catch you landing and help tie and they always pump the gas. I generally get a pump out also so I give the kid a moist towelette and $5. Next year I should probably raise it to $10
 
Giving a college kid a $10-20 tip does not change my day but if he gets a few of those tips it helps his weekend or more…

Most of them make minimum wage as a summer job.

If they aren’t helpful it definitely changes the percentage they get…
 
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I give the kids at the yacht club 20 bucks if they do all the work fueling me, and 20 bucks if they pump us out. For $1000 worth of diesel fuel I think that’s fair if I don’t touch a thing.
 
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I generally always tip at the gas dock. I'm often single handed and so it's really more about them handling the lines and getting me tied up and shoved off then about the gas pumping. That I usually manage myself, less feet making marks. $5 or $10, and if I get a pump out double
 
MiLoII said:
and if I get a pump out double
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DO you guys actually have people do the pump out for you? We get charged for a pump out, yet we have to sit there and hold the pump.
 
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