Well in any given day I run a tab at where ever I happen to be so at the end of the day I usually give them at least 100 rupees, often much more, but then the bill is often quite large, works out to 15% usually and rounded up. Even if out for a meal I'll give them 15% and round it up which by the time you put everything in a line is usually 100 rupees-ish.
Take a beach shack for example. They'll sort me out a sun bed and put my towel on it for me before I even get to the beach, they serve me drinks and food all day long whether I'm in the shack, lying on a sunbed or having a paddle, again in scorching heat, they are polite, they're good Company. They'll go and get cigarettes for me if they don't have a brand I smoke. They'll keep the more persitent hawkers away. They'll keep cows off my fruit. They remember me year after year after year.
The room boys, there are usually 2, get about 400 - 600 rupees between them but it depends how well I feel I have been looked after and how much I have left in rupees.
Taxis are a slightly different matter because the tip is built into the fare when I first negotiate it - whatever everyone thinks I asure you we all over pay for taxis.
Maybe I tip too much but I tell you what, I can always get a table, I always get served quickly, I always have aa sunbed where I like it and my room is always immaculate and when you put all the days tips in a line it's cost me about less than a fiver, which I might add I spend every day on cigarettes alone in the U.K.
Spread a little happiness Pedro, go on, give 'em a pound. I dare you
Fritz. Lol. I really enjoyed your reply on this topic. Of course, what you said is correct-- it was all to do with a 'continuous' service. I fully agree with that.
Taxi drivers -- yes , i agree. I bet we all over tip them in London so as not to feel 'inferior'. Try under-tipping them and guage their response!!
I am now retired but worked in a 'customer service' industry and did not accept tips and did not see tips as a motivation to do my job well. but that is me.
Back to these 'baggage porters' at Goa airport. It is all relative. You don't over tip them in order to get good service when you next go to Goa and hope they will remember you. they know full well you are tired and unsuspecting and 'ripe' for a rip off. It is the same the world over. I would love to hear your comments Fritz if ever you visited the Philippines. I go there on a regular basis so maybe I have become hardened to these rip off mechants. They are so unwelcoming and pushy.
Fritz. do you , on departure , help them out with changing yur unwanted rupees into pound coins at an exorbitant rate? lol.
Taxi drivers -- yes , i agree. I bet we all over tip them in London so as not to feel 'inferior'. Try under-tipping them and guage their response!!
I am now retired but worked in a 'customer service' industry and did not accept tips and did not see tips as a motivation to do my job well. but that is me.
Back to these 'baggage porters' at Goa airport. It is all relative. You don't over tip them in order to get good service when you next go to Goa and hope they will remember you. they know full well you are tired and unsuspecting and 'ripe' for a rip off. It is the same the world over. I would love to hear your comments Fritz if ever you visited the Philippines. I go there on a regular basis so maybe I have become hardened to these rip off mechants. They are so unwelcoming and pushy.
Fritz. do you , on departure , help them out with changing yur unwanted rupees into pound coins at an exorbitant rate? lol.
Pedro
You are quite right, I don't over tip the porters thinking I'll get good service the next time I return. To be perfectly honest I doubt I'd recognise them but I think they might just recognise me, or perhaps that's wishful thinking.
And I'm sure you are right, they are trying it on a bit but for me that's fine. As long as I can see I'm benefiting I'm happy to tip away. I guess there's an argument as to who exactly is taking advantage of who or maybe that's the perfect deal, when both sides are very happy with the outcome.
I've not been to the Phillipines, must put it on my list but for now I have trouble going anywhere other than Goa.
What I do think is a rip off at the airport is the exchange rate you get from the official bureau de change and I never use it.
It's another reason why I give my £ 1 coins away, it's usually all the money I have left after paying £ 50 for four drinks and a stale sandwich at Gatwick before flying.
Oddly, I never change up my spare rupees when I leave because I know I'll be back there before too long but have never actually managed to arrive in Goa with anything other than sterling coins in my pocket. Somewhere I must have a big stash of rupees - or maybe that's how comes the wife always seems to have a few knocking about.
You are quite right, I don't over tip the porters thinking I'll get good service the next time I return. To be perfectly honest I doubt I'd recognise them but I think they might just recognise me, or perhaps that's wishful thinking.
And I'm sure you are right, they are trying it on a bit but for me that's fine. As long as I can see I'm benefiting I'm happy to tip away. I guess there's an argument as to who exactly is taking advantage of who or maybe that's the perfect deal, when both sides are very happy with the outcome.
I've not been to the Phillipines, must put it on my list but for now I have trouble going anywhere other than Goa.
What I do think is a rip off at the airport is the exchange rate you get from the official bureau de change and I never use it.
It's another reason why I give my £ 1 coins away, it's usually all the money I have left after paying £ 50 for four drinks and a stale sandwich at Gatwick before flying.
Oddly, I never change up my spare rupees when I leave because I know I'll be back there before too long but have never actually managed to arrive in Goa with anything other than sterling coins in my pocket. Somewhere I must have a big stash of rupees - or maybe that's how comes the wife always seems to have a few knocking about.
Fritz. great reply.
Suggestion. If you are hungry at Gatwick Airport and have quite a few pounds to spare(notes and coins!!), visit the Wetherspoons Bar One in the departure lounge. Reasonable prices as Airport prices go.
I admit that I have a definite 'bee' in my bonnet with airport luggage porters. When I was last in the Philippines I played them at their own game. I took some very old Polish Zloty before they removed loads of zeros from their currency. I offered the rude, pushy porter either One Dollar or 20,000 Zloty. the greedy
chose the Zloty! probably worth about 5 cents. Serves him right, I say!
I always tell them that I am prefectly capable to take care of my luggage but they push and push and push. I have no time for them at all. Too many bad experiences with them over the years around the world.
Suggestion. If you are hungry at Gatwick Airport and have quite a few pounds to spare(notes and coins!!), visit the Wetherspoons Bar One in the departure lounge. Reasonable prices as Airport prices go.
I admit that I have a definite 'bee' in my bonnet with airport luggage porters. When I was last in the Philippines I played them at their own game. I took some very old Polish Zloty before they removed loads of zeros from their currency. I offered the rude, pushy porter either One Dollar or 20,000 Zloty. the greedy
chose the Zloty! probably worth about 5 cents. Serves him right, I say!I always tell them that I am prefectly capable to take care of my luggage but they push and push and push. I have no time for them at all. Too many bad experiences with them over the years around the world.
We have just returned from two weeks in Goa. From the guys at the airport, the room boys, the beach shack guys, the taxi drivers, waiters etc....we tipped them all. The way we see it is when you add up what you actually give them it ain't that much, they work their butts off and we noticed the level of service we got for instance at the beach shacks far outweighed that of people that obviously didn't tip. People respond better to you when you show them you appreciate them and it's nice to enjoy the response by having some banter throughout the day and enjoying first class service. That's what we think anyway.
Sounds like you have got it about right , whiskas
.
Although , as on the above post I would draw a line at £5 to get my cases back.
del949
.
Although , as on the above post I would draw a line at £5 to get my cases back.
del949
With whiskas on this one. However we are hopeless at leaving too much but having said that we do like to look after the people we have got to know over the past 3 years.
Hubby though is terrible at over tipping taxi drivers etc - thought he was Geordie Rockerfeller one night (yes honeybee speakling) and decided to tip the Tuktuk driver that we didn't take because he felt guility about using another one!!!! Nearly killed him. But I digress the porters at the airport this year were a nightmare (leaving) demanded 300 rupees for pushing through case on trolley!! Gave him 200 then wanted me to change his money and in the end because he was such a pain I gave in to some exhorbitant rate. Don't mind the quid but £2.50 and getting ripped off on exchange - not on. I agree they probably "pay" for this lucrative job but if they go on being so greedy at the airport they'll loose out in the end. I will just be rude next year - which I hate but there you go!
Hubby though is terrible at over tipping taxi drivers etc - thought he was Geordie Rockerfeller one night (yes honeybee speakling) and decided to tip the Tuktuk driver that we didn't take because he felt guility about using another one!!!! Nearly killed him. But I digress the porters at the airport this year were a nightmare (leaving) demanded 300 rupees for pushing through case on trolley!! Gave him 200 then wanted me to change his money and in the end because he was such a pain I gave in to some exhorbitant rate. Don't mind the quid but £2.50 and getting ripped off on exchange - not on. I agree they probably "pay" for this lucrative job but if they go on being so greedy at the airport they'll loose out in the end. I will just be rude next year - which I hate but there you go!
I wonder if those that think nothing of tipping the porters so hansomely stick their head through the door and pass a quid or so to the poor blighters on the other side of the screen that are humping every single bag off the trucks onto the luggage belt without any tips from the holidaymakers on the other side or is it a case of out of site out of mind Alan
No I don't tip them. It's difficult to get the coins to roll down the up conveyor. They just seem to keep coming back out onto the carousel.
Seriously though, I don't tip them but neither do I tip the chef at a restaurant, or my wife doesn't tip say the receptionist at the hair dressers.
There are jobs were a percentage of wages is assumed to be made up from tips and those where it is not.
The behind scenes boys, for me, fit into the not, and their salary should reflect this diifference. Not only that generally I tip for added value or service, not simply for carrying out their duties.
A waiter is slightly different (butonly slightly) because they are in the "a percentage of wages is made up from tips" group but they'll get a lousy tip if I get lousy service and vice versa.
Seriously though, I don't tip them but neither do I tip the chef at a restaurant, or my wife doesn't tip say the receptionist at the hair dressers.
There are jobs were a percentage of wages is assumed to be made up from tips and those where it is not.
The behind scenes boys, for me, fit into the not, and their salary should reflect this diifference. Not only that generally I tip for added value or service, not simply for carrying out their duties.
A waiter is slightly different (butonly slightly) because they are in the "a percentage of wages is made up from tips" group but they'll get a lousy tip if I get lousy service and vice versa.
Absolutely right Pedro..
Perhaps a new topic on tipping could be started? We are going slightly offtopic here.
gramps,
I suggest that if you feel so strongly about tipping,,,,don't do it.
For me, a pound to avoid the scramble around the carousel is well worth it, and I have better things to do on holiday than worry if I am giving too much.
Another point here would be that as charter flights full of holidaymakers do not arrive everyday and even then only through the season it's hardly a permanent full time job is it?
only wish they did it at manchester on the return
fritz,
don't know about Goa but over here tips to the waiter are generally pooled so that the back room staff do get there share (or so i am told).
del949
I suggest that if you feel so strongly about tipping,,,,don't do it.
For me, a pound to avoid the scramble around the carousel is well worth it, and I have better things to do on holiday than worry if I am giving too much.
Another point here would be that as charter flights full of holidaymakers do not arrive everyday and even then only through the season it's hardly a permanent full time job is it?
only wish they did it at manchester on the return
fritz,
don't know about Goa but over here tips to the waiter are generally pooled so that the back room staff do get there share (or so i am told).
del949
I myself work in a service industry so I know how important tips can be to a persons income. However, I also realise that that tips should NOT be expected- it is up to the individual being served to decide if that service merited an additional expense. In my experience the theory of tips being "pooled" and then shared equaly amongst all staff members is likely as polititian being 100% truthful in his(or hers) election manifesto!
This leads me to tip, where I believe it was worthwhile, and to tell the recipitent to "pocket it before anyone else wants some"!
This leads me to tip, where I believe it was worthwhile, and to tell the recipitent to "pocket it before anyone else wants some"!
Hi all, I have been watching this thread with interest. We have been visitng
Goa since 1991 and we have never used the portering service offered by these people in the brown jackets. I normally give an extra 100rps to the taxi driver who takes us to the hotel as at least he is working for his living and not trying to scam the tourists. I have also read that maybe they have to buy their jobs ? If the tourists did not give the "porters" anything over the odds eg 20rps per piece of luggage as recomended by the Indian government then the jobs would not be worth buying and it would help to rid Goa of the gangmasters that we all hate in our own countries. This is just my thoughts on a situation that we would not accept in our own country so why should we promote it in someone elses. We have all heard the tales of the Yanks over here in the second world war and how much money they had and threw it arround, maybe we are the same in India. B
Goa since 1991 and we have never used the portering service offered by these people in the brown jackets. I normally give an extra 100rps to the taxi driver who takes us to the hotel as at least he is working for his living and not trying to scam the tourists. I have also read that maybe they have to buy their jobs ? If the tourists did not give the "porters" anything over the odds eg 20rps per piece of luggage as recomended by the Indian government then the jobs would not be worth buying and it would help to rid Goa of the gangmasters that we all hate in our own countries. This is just my thoughts on a situation that we would not accept in our own country so why should we promote it in someone elses. We have all heard the tales of the Yanks over here in the second world war and how much money they had and threw it arround, maybe we are the same in India. B
traveltheworld.
Very well put indeed. I could not agree more with you.
Someone said that they wished they had the same at Manchester-- I think if they did the porters would throw their £1 coin back in their faces!
I suppose 'tipping' can be a psychological thing. It can give people a 'feel good factor' or a 'feeling of superiority' if they are seen as 'good tippers'. They probably feel as though the recipient of the 'tip' sees them as being a 'success in life'. I suppose everyone's basic need level in life is 'to be liked'. Money and possessions go a long way for people to reach that need level.
Ooops , getting a bit deep here, better stop, otherwise we will need to open a thread on 'Psychology'. lol. That's my tip , for what it is worth and it comes free of charge.
Very well put indeed. I could not agree more with you.
Someone said that they wished they had the same at Manchester-- I think if they did the porters would throw their £1 coin back in their faces!
I suppose 'tipping' can be a psychological thing. It can give people a 'feel good factor' or a 'feeling of superiority' if they are seen as 'good tippers'. They probably feel as though the recipient of the 'tip' sees them as being a 'success in life'. I suppose everyone's basic need level in life is 'to be liked'. Money and possessions go a long way for people to reach that need level.
Ooops , getting a bit deep here, better stop, otherwise we will need to open a thread on 'Psychology'. lol. That's my tip , for what it is worth and it comes free of charge.
Hi all, I only tip if i recieve good service, i dont tip in the hope that i will recieve good service in the future. Although i'm not strickly speaking in the service industry i do come into contact with the general public through my proffession, i have always been taught that you treat people with respect and adopted a helpful & friendly approach, no matter what their own approach may be or if there may be a chance they offer me gratuities (which i am not allowed to accept by the way).
I personally find the men at the airport intimidating the way they all flock around you and start grabbing at your bags, this year i was determined that i retreive my own bags from the carousel so i positioned myself inbetween both of them and was told to move away (not in a friendly or polite tone of voice i may add), i politely informed the person that i was waiting for my bags and i would like to retrieve them myself and i stood my ground.
it was the taxi driver that recieved my tip because he was the one that handled by bags and assisted me through the barrage of grabbing hands.
jayne
I certainly would not encourage anyone to tip at the airport, unless they were unable to handle their own baggage.however i do accept that it can be a very confusing place to arrive after an overnight flight, especilly for first timers, as said earlier some of these guys are being given almost the equivelent of a weeks wage for many working Goans in just one tip! One thing I have learnt is that if you want to tip an individual for instance a waiter in a restaurant it is better to give him the tip in his hand rather than in the "bill folder"with the change etc and this way the individual keeps the intended money rather than it shared with all and sundry including often the managers and owner! Not sure if this practice is widespread but it does seem to operate in the eating places and bars we frequent around Candolim.
With you there Johnny G, the beach shack we use in Candolim has a very good lad who ensures that you get your beds in the morning complete with your towel, how he remembers who's is who's is beyond me 
comes at regular intervals and asks if you want a drink and one of the waiter in the hut is very attentive always friendly & polite, remembers our name and is very attentive for example remembers what we like to drink, provides excellent service, but on the other hand the other waiter is another story, the only time we recieved even a smile from him was when he knew it was near to the end of hoilday and he might get a tip, well he didn't but the other two did and it didn't go into the shared pot either it went into their pocket.
Tipping shouldn't be a matter of course or done to make us feel good, it should be done to reward those who just do their job with that little bit of extra effort
Jayne
comes at regular intervals and asks if you want a drink and one of the waiter in the hut is very attentive always friendly & polite, remembers our name and is very attentive for example remembers what we like to drink, provides excellent service, but on the other hand the other waiter is another story, the only time we recieved even a smile from him was when he knew it was near to the end of hoilday and he might get a tip, well he didn't but the other two did and it didn't go into the shared pot either it went into their pocket. Tipping shouldn't be a matter of course or done to make us feel good, it should be done to reward those who just do their job with that little bit of extra effort
Jayne
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