Woulda, coulda, shoulda (What was she thinking department)

[ed_rex]

Among my passengers there seems little in the way of consensus about my status. Professional, like a Greyhound driver, and so beyond tipping, or more like a long-haul cab driver and thus, deserving of a cash thank-you?

Thus far, things range from nothing at all, to a handful of change, to my very first passenger, a pilot by name of Mike, who has

Comments

[mijopo]

Perhaps you could be more like Americans about this, they never seem to have any reluctance about asking for tips. On one occasion I had a limo-type service to the airport and it had a fixed fee. At the end of the trip, perhaps because it was fixed fee, I neglected to think to give him a tip. The driver simply said, politely but firmly, "Gratuities are also very much appreciated." Embarrassed I quickly rectified the situation, and rather than being resentful, I was actually grateful that he'd pointed out my error.

It's harder to know what to do, though, if they know that they should tip but give only a piddling amount, but often times people tip poorly out of ignorance, so if you've established rapport with the person, I don't think it would hurt to say something like, "I'm certainly not trying to pressure you, and I don't know your financial situation but thought I might mention that tips are a significant component of my income and people often tip more this level of service." Although I suppose your colleagues might have wiser

If I only had the noive

[ed_rex]

The forthright approach sounds completely logical - and quite probably impossible given my psychological type. Still, maybe I can approach it by tiny degrees?

I'm reminded of one of my very first jobs, selling subscriptions to the Toronto Star over the phone. I lasted two days; I might have made two sales.

on the other hand, a friend of mine, one of my fellow students, was making something like $15 per hour - in 1982!

Some people have an automatic disdain for salesmen, but I rather admire the talent that makes for a good one.

[abomvubuso]

Gee, quite a day you got there, eh? And that debut buck - you should totally put it in a frame! :)

Hmm ...

[ed_rex]

You know, maybe I'll do just that. It would make an amusing conversation-piece.