That's My Story

TIPPING Pt. 1 – Published January 2005 – Western Outdoor News

In the course of my job working here in Mexico, I do get my share of questions dropped on me daily. That’s natural. However, the number one question that flies by me via phone, e-mail or in person is not about the weather, bait, skippers, road conditions or bait. Most of that can be found on the internet or talking to someone else, I suppose. The one subject that I get asked about most is tipping. That’s right…the T-I-P (“To Insure Personal Service”)

Frankly, it’s a subject that gets a lot of discussion, but I feel awkward answering it and many people seem to feel awkward asking me about it. In fact, in the same way that you ask someone if you have a piece of pepper in your teeth, guys lean over and talk out of the corner of their mouth, “Hey, Jonathan, what do you think about the tip?”

Let me put it this way. As far as I’m concerned, tipping is a personal thing. It’s discretionary. You can drop a buck or some pesos on someone or not. I admit there have been times when I’ve been so disgusted with service that I left a penny or nothing at all simply to express my disgust. However, its like showing up to class in high school. If the person at least shows up and is half cheerful and does their job, they get a “tip.” Not leaving one is socially unacceptable, I know. But how much is too much or too little especially if you’re in another country…don’t understand the language…and sometimes it’s your first time in another culture?

No pun intended, but here’s my “two cents” having now lived and worked in Mexico for almost 10 years. Here’s the most important part of this column. You can either leave a tip or not. For folks like bellmen, taxi drivers, maids, I’ve found that most travelers, Americans included do NOT tip. For waiters, fishing captains, tour guides, it would really be a major faux pas to smile and walk away. In fact, I usually hear about it when one of my own waiters, guides, captains or dive masters does not get a tip. (Yes…they do talk about you!) and assume they must have done something wrong not to get a tip.

That being said, even a small tip is tremendously appreciated. It at least recognizes and is a token of “professional service.” I know you may have encountered exceptions, but someone like a captain, guide, divemaster or even waiter normally takes their job professionally. Believe me, your guy might look like he’s been cleaning fish all week or his taxi might look like a rattle trap, but that person worked very hard to have that boat or that car and most people do NOT have that kind of property or else worked and trained very hard to become a “guide” or divemaster. Therefore, recognition of the service is often more important than the actual amount of the tip. It would be akin to someone calling you “Sir” at your favorite hoity restaurant. There’s a certain pride that goes with it. It’s even more important in Mexico.

When I worked as a divemaster regularly, folks would spend thousands on their trip then press a 5 dollar tip into my hand at the end of the week like they had just given me a fifty. Believe me, I was thrilled. Bottom line, a little goes a long way.

However, here’s a little more insight. This is where “tipping” really does “insure personal service” in most cases. Because maids, bellmen, etc. are not used to getting tips, not only does a little go a long way, but even leaving a buck on your nightstand really pays dividends. Look at this this way, the person who cleans your room; works at the hotel reception; or carries your bags might make a whopping ten bucks a day and forty to sixty bucks a week. You’ve now dropped a a smiling George Washington into their hands.

Put it this way, how would you feel if someone put 10 percent of your daily bread into YOUR hands after you read this column? It kinda changes your attitude a bit, doesn’t it? Perks you up a bit doesn’t it? You bet those extra towels will be there. You bet they’ll remember next time they see you dragging across the lobby with all your fishing equipment and your ice chest in tow. Need a little extra salsa at dinner or topping off that frosty marguerita? I’d remember the someone very well if they put 10 percent of my wages in my hand right now. Yessiree, Bob!

Back home, that dollar would get you a” stink-eye” stare from your waiter-waiting-to-be-an-actor or 18-year-old Bill Gates moonlighting as a parking attendant with the 500 dollar iPod blasting in his ear. In Mexico, that simple dollar just marked you as a VIP, not just because you have money, but culturally, because you actually recognized good service by a person who takes pride in their work. I always carry a few one-dollar bills in my pocket just for that reason and why I often recommend to my clients to bring a wad of one-dollar bills. They may not actually use them, but they do come in handy for just such things. Mexico is still a place where an actual one-dollar bill goes a long way not only to “insure personal service”, but to “insure an even better vacation.”

Next week, I’ll tell you about your fishing tips and why too much is as bad as not enough!

That’s my story.