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CapeGunner
.224 member


Reged: 09/11/06
Posts: 19
Loc: New York-Hudson Valley-USA
How much do you tip?
      #169486 - 14/10/10 04:24 AM

First and probably only time I'll ever go on a guided hunt so I need help. My son and I are going after Moose in Canada later in the fall. The cost is $4,200 each. Assuming all goes well, decent food, decent lodgings and everything under the outfitters control is good how much should you tip the guide? If we both hunt with one guide is this different that if we each have a guide. These folks work hard for a living and I don't want to stiff anyone but I'm also not made of money. Any help would be appreciated.
Frank

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mikeh416Rigby
.450 member


Reged: 24/02/03
Posts: 6051
Loc: The beautiful Oley Valley, PA....
Re: How much do you tip? [Re: CapeGunner]
      #169488 - 14/10/10 04:49 AM

As a minimum, I would start around $400.00 each. Anything above that I'd consider a bonus.

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Sville
.400 member


Reged: 23/03/10
Posts: 1189
Loc: Sweden
Re: How much do you tip? [Re: mikeh416Rigby]
      #169492 - 14/10/10 05:34 AM

Interesting subject. When you hunt in Africa I assume you tip PH and trackers. How much do you tip them and are there others you should tip? /Staffan

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FATBOY404
.400 member


Reged: 14/11/09
Posts: 1730
Loc: QLD
Re: How much do you tip? [Re: Sville]
      #169497 - 14/10/10 08:19 AM

Tipping is my pet hate.
It isn't in our culture.I believe that if they cant make money from what they are charging they should put their prices up.

It does cause trouble in camp because everyone tips the trackers and skinners as they get to know them during the hunt but people like the cooks and camp staff miss out.

My last hunt was a little sour at the end as everyone was milling around trying to get a bit more money even after I had tipped them the evening before.

I tipped $700 us which I believe is heaps as I only work for wages as well and my hunt was about $16000 us anyway.

Just my thoughts.

Cheers Neale.

--------------------
"WHATEVER BLOWS YOUR HAIR BACK"

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AspenHill
Sponsor


Reged: 08/01/03
Posts: 1528
Loc: Vermont, USA
Re: How much do you tip? [Re: FATBOY404]
      #169506 - 14/10/10 12:44 PM

I detest the tipping culture as well.

--------------------
~Ann

Everyday spent outdoors is the best day of my life.

Aspen Hill Adventures

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NitroXAdministrator
.700 member


Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39877
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
Re: How much do you tip? [Re: FATBOY404]
      #169514 - 14/10/10 05:32 PM

Quote:

Tipping is my pet hate.
It isn't in our culture.I believe that if they cant make money from what they are charging they should put their prices up.

It does cause trouble in camp because everyone tips the trackers and skinners as they get to know them during the hunt but people like the cooks and camp staff miss out.

My last hunt was a little sour at the end as everyone was milling around trying to get a bit more money even after I had tipped them the evening before.

I tipped $700 us which I believe is heaps as I only work for wages as well and my hunt was about $16000 us anyway.

Just my thoughts.

Cheers Neale.





I don't use nor recommend any outfitters that "recommend" big tips and tipping rates. Nor do I respect them.

Sometimes a safari costs thousands of dollars per day. If an outfitter only provides "grass hut" and "board" to black staff or a dollar or two per day wages at the most, why is it the responsibility for the client to pay substitute wages? I think my $1000+ a day covers it.

I also know how badly appy PHs and some PHs are paid.

Yet some outfitters are extremely well off.

My first safari I paid sensible tips to the trackers, skinner, cook and waiter, based on the PHs recommendation. I didn't tip the Professional Hunter as I wasn't aware one needs to tip a "professional".

I do tip what I consider sensible amounts and if it is not enough to some, tough luck. I ask the PH what is sensible but make my own decision.

Thank God, tipping is 99.99% unknown in Australia.

Hell I need to work for every dollar I make.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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NitroXAdministrator
.700 member


Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39877
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
Re: How much do you tip? [Re: FATBOY404]
      #169515 - 14/10/10 05:37 PM

Quote:

My last hunt was a little sour at the end as everyone was milling around trying to get a bit more money even after I had tipped them the evening before.



Neale,

Who was this outfitter again?

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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eagle27
.400 member


Reged: 24/01/09
Posts: 1165
Loc: Rolleston, Christchurch, New Z...
Re: How much do you tip? [Re: NitroX]
      #169517 - 14/10/10 06:00 PM

Ah I love this subject and have vented my spleen over on the other forum about the practice of tipping. Like our Aussie cousins we Kiwis find this practice abhorrent and foreign to our way of doing things.

I always have a chuckle when hearing North Americans bitching over having to tip in Africa or in some other country, or wondering how much is enough so they don’t offend anyone, or how little they can get away with, when it appears to be a practice introduced by them and in common practice, even rife, in their own country. I maybe doing Canadians a disservice here by lumping you all together so I do apologise in advance if you generally don’t support the practice of tipping.

IMO this practice is demeaning and immoral. If a human being cannot perform a service for another and be paid a fair price for that service without having to grovel like a beggar for more, then it’s a pretty sad world we live in.

When I provide a service for pay, I provide that service to the best of my ability and do not expect to receive any other payment other than that agreed upon for the service. My talent is not for sale to the biggest, flashest or brashest tipper. Take your practice and shove it where it will see no daylight.

There I’ve done it again.

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Ben
.400 member


Reged: 22/08/08
Posts: 1917
Loc: Northern Territory, Australia
Re: How much do you tip? [Re: eagle27]
      #169519 - 14/10/10 06:11 PM

Amen, gents. Baffling stuff for an Aussie contemplating his first trip to Africa.

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Huntersheart
.224 member


Reged: 23/03/10
Posts: 27
Loc: Qld,Australia
Re: How much do you tip? [Re: Ben]
      #169526 - 14/10/10 08:21 PM

I think it depends on a number of factors.
Generally dangerous game tips appear to be higher than most other species but I think the best judgement is made at the end of a hunt and how successfull the hunt was . On dangerous game I tend to use $50.00 a day as the base for the PH and then a $100 in total for the main tracker then smaller amounts for the other staff. Most people are happy with any amount but remember many Europeans do not tip- even the PH .

US and Alaskans seem to guide you to a band of 5-10% of the cost of the hunt.
Generally cheaper hunts mean lower tips but be considerate if the guide has put a lot of effort into the enjoyment/success of the hunt as you will run across a wide range of competency and some of which deserves very little additional consideration.

The only complaints received are from camp staff who are taken advantage of by concession holders who pay staff very little and they are forced hang around like flies when its tip time.Stuff them - its not your problem.Having said that there are quite a few people-skinners,cooks,drivers,cleaners who need consideration no matter how small.

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tophet1
.400 member


Reged: 15/09/07
Posts: 1873
Loc: NSW, Australia
Re: How much do you tip? [Re: Huntersheart]
      #169527 - 14/10/10 08:27 PM

I have made it quite clear on two occasions that I don't tip as it is not part of my culture and have had no problems at all.

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FATBOY404
.400 member


Reged: 14/11/09
Posts: 1730
Loc: QLD
Re: How much do you tip? [Re: tophet1]
      #169532 - 14/10/10 09:22 PM

NitroX.
It wasn't the out fitter it was the camp owners.

WHAT HUNTERSHEART SAID.

--------------------
"WHATEVER BLOWS YOUR HAIR BACK"

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NitroXAdministrator
.700 member


Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39877
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
Re: How much do you tip? [Re: FATBOY404]
      #169533 - 14/10/10 09:28 PM

What do guys here think of the often made suggestion of giving the entire "camp" tip, to the camp manager to dole out?

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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FATBOY404
.400 member


Reged: 14/11/09
Posts: 1730
Loc: QLD
Re: How much do you tip? [Re: NitroX]
      #169534 - 14/10/10 09:31 PM

John.
Where I was you could be sure that they wouldn't pass it on.
I went to each area and tipped them as a group ie,head skinner,head cook,head waiter and so on.

--------------------
"WHATEVER BLOWS YOUR HAIR BACK"

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bonanza
.400 member


Reged: 17/05/04
Posts: 2335
Loc: South Carolina
Re: How much do you tip? [Re: FATBOY404]
      #169537 - 14/10/10 10:42 PM

About 10 degrees to the right.

--------------------


"Speak Precisely" G. Gordon Liddy.

"Life is absurd, chaotic and we must define its purpose with our actions" Abert Camus

"I''m the dude playing a dude disguised as another dude."

"Yo! Mr. White"

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GroovyMike
.300 member


Reged: 07/04/09
Posts: 229
Loc: NY
Re: How much do you tip? [Re: bonanza]
      #169540 - 14/10/10 11:40 PM

If the service is not good, the person is lazy etc, no tip at all. It has not been earned.

If the service is good but not better than average I tip 10%.

If the service is excellent - as much as I can afford as high as 25% for outstanding service.

I do give the PH a tip for staff if they have earned it, beyond that if service is outstanding I also tip directly and always if I have asked the staff member to do something for me like if I ask the skinner/butcher to find my bullet.

--------------------
Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

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Ripp
.577 member


Reged: 19/02/07
Posts: 16072
Loc: Montana, USA
Re: How much do you tip? [Re: GroovyMike]
      #169541 - 15/10/10 01:01 AM

I tip 10 to 15%---if something very unusual happens I may do a bit more--if its a horrible trip--might not do even 10%...

what I despise is the whinning from staff the moment you get to camp on how poorly that are paid..usually nip that one in the bud immediately..

personally think if you give a chunk of money to the camp mgr. to dole out--he will probably keep the bulk of it...my personal belief but humans have three basic emotions..greed, greed and greed..

Ripp

--------------------
ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..

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NitroXAdministrator
.700 member


Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39877
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
Re: How much do you tip? [Re: Ripp]
      #169543 - 15/10/10 01:39 AM

Quote:

personally think if you give a chunk of money to the camp mgr. to dole out--he will probably keep the bulk of it...my personal belief but humans have three basic emotions..greed, greed and greed..



Ripp,

Yes I learned that years ago in Kenya on a game viewing safari.

We collected money for a tip for the staff and some fool gave it all to the head cook to hand out and he kept ALL of it.

So we put together a much smaller amount to hand out personally to the rest of the staff. Which is really silly.

***

I didn't mind tipping the gov't game scout well on my last safari as I got a free elephant out of him as a cull.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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