quote:

Originally posted by 450:
To become a member of Zimbabwes professional hunters and Guides association you have to sign a code of conduct that states you are not to solicit for tips of any kind. Clients are encouraged to report any such behaviour to the association and the offending member will be dealt with accordingly.

That is all and good.

But any organization with a large number of members is going to attract some undesirables.

We have seen a number of crooked Zimbabwe professional hunters, who should ashamed of themselves.

All one has to do is read some of the hunt reports, to see who to avoid.

100% agree with you Saeed!!

A friend told me yesterday he had dinner in New York.

He left a 15% tip, and his server asked if he was not happy with the service!!!??

If it was me I would have taken the tip back!

quote:

Originally posted by 450:
To become a member of Zimbabwes professional hunters and Guides association you have to sign a code of conduct that states you are not to solicit for tips of any kind. Clients are encouraged to report any such behaviour to the association and the offending member will be dealt with accordingly.

I wish I’d known that before.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
A friend told me yesterday he had dinner in New York.

He left a 15% tip, and his server asked if he was not happy with the service!!!??

If it was me I would have taken the tip back!

First I would have been shocked and secondly I might have said "Now I am unhappy with the service".

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by 450:
To become a member of Zimbabwes professional hunters and Guides association you have to sign a code of conduct that states you are not to solicit for tips of any kind. Clients are encouraged to report any such behaviour to the association and the offending member will be dealt with accordingly.

That's good to know. I wished that I'd known that years ago. I had one Zimbabwean PH that put the hard sell on tips to a buddy of mine while we were hunting in Zimbabwe together. He came to me all upset about it, and I told him that I was going to tip the PH just what I felt like tipping him in spite of that. And, that's exactly what I did.

By the way, I agree with Mark and Saeed both. First, I would have told him that I was now unhappy with the service, and second, I would have taken the entire tip back.

Saeed, when I'm asked about tipping, I advise gratuities are optional. Sometimes I'm pressed to say more to which I try to explain that tips are something that each person should decide upon based on the experience, staff, accommodations, food etc. If they failed to take their quarry but had a great time and make good friends, let their conscious be their guide. Many hunters have told me they felt the cost of the hunt should cover any tips, thus they do not leave one. I tip those who give me their best effort.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Frankly, I am getting fed up with offers being posted where a tip is mentioned that it is not included.

A tip is up to the hunter to give if he feels like.

He does not need to be reminded of it.

Any hunt offer posted here where a tip or gratuity is mention as part of the offer will be deleted.

Quite right.

For the sake of discussion let's play the "devil's advocate":

Restaurants and hotels fall under the hospitality business where tipping/gratuities are an accepted part of the trade and nobody really seems to reject.

Some of these businesses, if not most, also charge a service and/or table cover levy excluding the tip which is optional to the customer who again in most cases, does not object to paying.

The hunting industry is also considered to be part of the hospitality business as it basically includes everything that one would get in a restaurant/hotel and more, i.e. the shooting part.

Seeing therefore that the ominous word "tip" is not welcomed when it comes to a hunt related service, would it be more acceptable/fair if the outfitter were to apply the standard 15% Service Charge to his bill, possibly with an added caption that "tipping is not required"?

I recall being told of one renown outfitter having done just that as the vast majority of his clientele came from a European country where tipping was not part of their custom, much like Australia and NZ.

You also have to remember with less and less cash being used i think tips will have to be incorporated into the package price and paid by transfer.

On this subject all I have to say is that NEARLY EVERY client asks me if a tip is included or what I suggest that they should tip. That is why I like to mention in my offers that the tip is extra or not included so they know the deal upfront. I always like to be upfront with all my clients.

I do not like it when an outfitter says they should be tipped X or Y regardless of the outcome of the hunt.

I also feel that tipping expectations in some places has become out of control!


Arjun Reddy
Hunters Networks LLC
30 Ivy Hill Road
Brewster, NY 10509
Tel: +1 845 259 3628

Arjun,

Spot on! I don't think I've ever had a first time safari client that didn't inquire about tips. Most hunters want to know what is customary.

Mark

The client is at liberty to ask any questions relating to his proposed hunt.

Isn't a tip supposed to be at the client's discretion?

Mentioning it, in the same sentence as "flights and hotel accommodation before or after the hunt" makes it sound like a necessity.

Which is wrong.

A client has to fly over.

He has to stay in a hotel if he wishes to.

But he certainly does not have to pay a tip.

I have seen lists published by some outfitters where they actually ask for specific amounts for specific individuals employed by them.

Like skinner so much, tracker so much, waiter so much, cook so much.

And the suggestion for the professional hunter really takes the cake.

Some were asking for $150 per day!!

ASKING for a tip is nothing short of BEGGING.

And it should be stopped.

I do not know anyone who hunts and does not leave a tip.

At HIS description.

If some wish to add it to their price, that is their choice.

Hopefully they will price themselves out of business.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
A friend told me yesterday he had dinner in New York.

He left a 15% tip, and his server asked if he was not happy with the service!!!??

If it was me I would have taken the tip back!

Being an European we are not used to the tipping which you experience in the USA and in the hunting industry. The tipping is creating a lot of discussion amongst us hunters and I have experienced some strange situations. One sutation often comes to my mind and that took also place in New York in 2007. I was in New York for a couple of meetings and a dinner with some potential business partner. WE agrred on having dinner at a restaurant that these guys know of. Probably a nice restaurant as the the butler wore a tuxedo. Anyway, I was a bit early and there was a big bar there, I sat down and asked for a glass of white wine which according to the list cost 9 dollars. I gave the bartender a 20 note, got my wine, but no change. I sat for a couple of miniutes and watched the bartender working. After a couple more minutes I asked the bartender to come over and asked him about my change. I looked at me for some long seconds and then asked; which country are you from. Norway I said. He looked at me again for some seconds, turned again, fetched 11 dollars and " slammed " it in the bardisk in front of me. He did not look in my direction again.

I was stunned about the behaviour, but probably more of the bartenders thinking. Did he think that serving a glass of Chardonney costing 9 dollars should allow him a 11 dollar tip ? A 122 % tip .. Beats me...

I understand that tipping 25-30% is not uncommon in the US. It is almost obligatory and they expect it. We Europeans have a problem with that, but 122% take the cake as we say it ..


Morten

quote:

I understand that tipping 25-30% is not uncommon in the US

Utterly, ridiculously, STUPID!

Imagine one trying to find a hunt that fits his budget, and then being asked to fork 30% more over the agreed price!

quote:

Imagine one trying to find a hunt that fits his budget, and then being asked to fork 30% more over the agreed price!

It can be done and is being done by some outfitters by subsidizing tips and other expenses embedded in hiked trophy fees other than those the client is unaware of unless a surcharge shows in the price list.

The more unscrupulous ones have been known to pocket part/all of the assigned tip amount from the client.

The current hunt offers are only permitted to be advertised without mentioning tips or gratuities which could pose an uncomfortable situation at the end of the hunt and can be misleading for the client when it comes to the thorny subject of "to tip or not to tip".

quote:

The current hunt offers are only permitted to be advertised without mentioning tips or gratuities which could pose an uncomfortable situation at the end of the hunt and can be misleading for the client when it comes to the thorny subject of "to tip or not to tip".

It shouldnot.

If the client wishes toleave a tip, that is his choice.

Price does not Include
• Trophy fees
• Stay and meals outside camp
• Preparation, documentation and cost of packing of trophies €1,000
• Transfer to camp and return from Yaounde plane or road
• Shipment home of trophies
• Tips and gratuities to PH and staff – 1,000 euros if main species taken
• Hunting licence €1,200. A second license will be required if taking more than 2 class A species. Each licence allows 2 species from A and 4 from B/C group.
• Gun rental 375 H&H + 12 bore €250 + ammunition

This offer escaped scrutiny.

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:
Price does not Include
• Trophy fees
• Stay and meals outside camp
• Preparation, documentation and cost of packing of trophies €1,000
• Transfer to camp and return from Yaounde plane or road
• Shipment home of trophies
• Tips and gratuities to PH and staff – 1,000 euros if main species taken
• Hunting licence €1,200. A second license will be required if taking more than 2 class A species. Each licence allows 2 species from A and 4 from B/C group.
• Gun rental 375 H&H + 12 bore €250 + ammunition

This offer escaped scrutiny.

Where is it?

We cannot look at every offer.

Link please.

We live 30 miles from town, and because of covid we haven't eaten out in a sit down resteraunt in a long time.

The local BBQ place (Rudy's a chain) is decent, and I pick up BBQ there about once or twice a month.

They don't have tips, don't accept tips and it is not a thing.

Good quality food, and their prices are the same or lower than anyone else.

Every other little diner around wants you to tip 20-40%. It is on their buttons, you have to go to the next screen to find the 5% button or no tip button.

Morten,

The bartender you described is an asshole and pinned you as a rube that he could swindle. I bet you're not the only one he'd done that to. Even in the most expensive places here a dollar or two would have been plenty for a tip if you chose to leave one.

Seth,

I've not seen a 40% tip on those bill paying machines and anything over 20% to my mind is ridiculous for a food tip. If you're in a place where you pay through the machine and the waitress is not handling the bill that's one part of service that your not getting so in my mind the tip goes down proportionately.

Mark

Mark up until a week ago I had not seen a waitress since March.

We finally have sit down dining in Southern New Mexico.

Most of the places doing this (the big tips) are drive throughs or regular diners that you have to get take away.