Welcome to ScubaBoard, an online scuba diving forum community where you can join over 205,000 divers diving from around the world. If the topic is related to scuba diving, this is the place to find divers talking about it. To gain full access to ScubaBoard (and make this large box go away) you must register for a free account. As a registered member you will be able to:
Participate in over 500 dive topic forums and browse from over 5,500,000 posts.
Communicate privately with other divers from around the world.
Post your own photos or view from well over 100,000 user submitted images.
Gain access to our free classifieds marketplace to buy, sell and trade gear, travel and services.
Use the calendar to organize your events and enroll in other members' events.
Find a dive buddy or communicate directly with scuba equipment manufacturers.
All this and much more is available to you absolutely free when you register for an account, so sign up today!
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact the ScubaBoard Support Team.
Is there any type of etiquette for tipping technicians who work on your dive gear? Is it expected? Do you do it, and if so, when?
They're getting paid a wage/salary to do the job already and the job usually costs you money already. But sometimes technicians do a bunch of stuff for free or go above and beyond.
I have never heard of it. I know our technician but rarely see him-just pick up stuff & pay for it. I've seen quite a few customers pick up repaired gear and no mentions of a tip. Can any repair technicians enlighten us on how they are paid--shop employees, on commision? Is it better pay than instructors? Than DMs?
Last edited by TMHeimer; June 7th, 2012 at 06:24 PM.
Is there any type of etiquette for tipping technicians who work on your dive gear? Is it expected? Do you do it, and if so, when?
They're getting paid a wage/salary to do the job already and the job usually costs you money already. But sometimes technicians do a bunch of stuff for free or go above and beyond.
My approach to this, for anything more than trivial, is to bring in a box of donuts or bakery sweets for the tech staff when I pick up my gear. With a suggestion to share them around with the sales staff, etc., and I do bring enough for that. It finesses the tip etiquette question while still leaving smiles on faces, and with nobody feeling like the wrong guy got tipped etc. I'm sure they might prefer cash, but as your question implies, that can be awkward. And they remember my name. Just my 2 cents.
...and the days go by, water flowing under ground, into the blue again, into the silent water, under the rocks and stones, there is water underground... - talking heads
DM's/instructors get tipped in lieu of getting a reasonable wage. Instructors generally get paid depending on the job. For example instructors are paid $30 per student for the classroom portion and the same for the checkout portion. DM's get zip at least in Denver. They are usually in training so they are paying!
Technicians get paid a wage but I have no clue if its reasonable. IMO the whole tip thing is kinda wacked and I would like to see everyone getting paid rather than relying on customers generosity as many suck when it comes to tipping. I tip wait staff and DM's on a boat, that's enuff. I honestly do not know how the tipping thing got started with restaurant staff or DM's but let's not start it for other jobs.
Mandatory tips are kind of whack (just pay them a better base wage, especially in restaurants), but sometimes if someone goes above and beyond, I feel some sort of motivation to give back to them.
At my LDS, I have a pretty good and friendly relationship with the technician. I see him there all the time, and he helps me whenever I need it. I always got the impression from this forum to generously tip DMs/Instructors/dive trip operators and support your LDS, so I guess I just generalized this support to the technicians as well.
I guess donuts or something non-monetary is a reasonable compromise.
...and the days go by, water flowing under ground, into the blue again, into the silent water, under the rocks and stones, there is water underground... - talking heads
14Likes
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Scuba_Noob
when you pry it from my cold dead fingers.
