I am not a rich man, nor an I a cheap Bastard.
I have been on a 21 day and a 30 day Safari.
I tipped the "Staff" more than the PH's suggested.
My Tip to the PH's was a little more than $100.00 per hunting day.
They worked hard and deserved it.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
I am not a rich man .... I have been on a 21 day and a 30 day Safari.
...
My Tip to the PH's was a little more than $100.00 per hunting day.

Tony

With all due respect and no offence intended, actually the opposite as you are a generous man and I admire your hunting style, knowledge of doubles, and enthusiasm for elephant hunting.

Any guy that can buy two safaris totally 51 days and multiples of elephants at the end of his career is not a poor man.

Good luck to you and hope your future hunts are just as successful.

***

But the term "cheap bastard" is a pure "Americanism" applied to "tipping". Probably a term waitresses in cheap diners apply if they do not like their "tip". Very 'classy'. Not!

Differences in cultures, if service staff insulted me in this way, I would ask to see the manager or owner and at the very least never patronise their establishment again.

Here is my thinking on the subject of tipping.

I tip the staff, not the owner of the operation.

Lets face it, if you check into a hotel and spend a few days there, you tip the waiters, bar tenders, the girl who cleans your room. You might tip the cook if an extra good meal or special dessert is made just for you. I don't know of anyone who tips the hotel owner and his wife. They make their living from the prices they charge which are fixed to insure them a profit. The staff on the other hand are usually only paid a minimum wage and suppliment their wages with tips for good service.

Therefore, On a hunt with a guide who is also the owner of the company, I will tip the staff, trackers, skinners, drivers, room maid and cook if she is not married to the owner. If the guide is married to the cook and she is part owner of the company. The guide/owner and cook/owner will not get a tip. They have been paid what they ask for the service provided.

By the way, when I first started international travel for my job. An old guy I worked for told me that, "When in Rome do as the Romens do"

NitroX

I saved for many years. I worked 2 jobs around 60 hours per week. I put money back just for African Safaris.
No I am not "poor". Nor am I "rich".
My money is "finite".
However I do not mind tipping a little more than the norm for a job well done.

As my hunting money runs out I may have to be a little more frugal.

on the subject of tiping professional hunters I don't see a relationship of daily fees. Some have sujested 10% of the daily fees but your pro hunter helped you get trophy animals! so his or her tip shopuld based on a percent of trophy fees (5%,10% 15% ect).
The Outfitter or owner sets daily rates and should have everything included without a tip!
around camp the pro hunter is working for the owner, duties hes being paid to perform.

quote:

Originally posted by NitroX:
You continue to make a big assumption without providing any evidence that tips are part of the cost and price structure.

Tips are a market force and represent a portion of a PH's income. If some invisible force reduced tips by half in one season, it wouldn't take long for PHs to demand a higher wage from outfitters and outfitters to raise daily rates accordingly. This isn't an assumption that needs proof...it's common sense. If you don't tip, you are putting upward pressure on daily rates and being subsidized by those of us who do tip. Pardon me for not appreciating your culture of "gifts" very much. But it is good to know, if I ever come hunt buffalo in Australia, that I can tell the PH and staff to shove it when it comes time to tip.

Best,

John

Haveing spent time in Au I know tipping is not the norm there. The way I understand it, nor is it common in much of europe?
if thats true JTG, how does a PH and staff make out if the owner books mostly aussies and europeans that season?
When I'm in Namibia with my friend, a capt in the PD there, he always tells me not to tip, as they dont want that practice to run the service industry.

The reason that your friend the captain does not want you to tip is because he does not want you to start an "expectation" of tips, as sooner or later he will be expected to shell some cash out for tips as well. It does not matter to me where you are in the world, if you are satisfied with a service what does it hurt to show some appreciation to the individual that provided it. Who cares if it is customary/common or not. If you can't spare something for this person, what the hell are you doing there spending big money to begin with. JMHO

Woody

Woodrow, you are dead wrong. It's the goverments policy not to become a tip expecting country. They want the workers to be paid a fair wage, and to do their job well, because they have and enjoy their job, not for expecting a handout. I dont go there thinking I know more about how they should run such things then they do. And besides my friend is 3 times my size!!

TSJ, I don't want to be argumentive but I will add two things to this.

1. A tip is not a handout unless you make it so.
2. Show me one Government than knows anything even remote to what is best for their working class of people.

nuff said

Woody

Woodrow, look no further then SA, which is what Namibia did. When and where does it stop? How do you stop things from becoming bribes from tipping once started? The new president is useing 1 mercedes and a police escort, instead of a whole motorcade. He flew to the US in buisness class instead of in a private plane. He is trying to lead by example to the young people that work and a fair wage is the fair way for all. You are trying to say you know better then that?

JTG made an interesting point... Is it customary to tip on an Aussie Buff hunt or any Aussie hunt for that matter?

quote:

Originally posted by SA_Hunter:
So, i'm on a ranch here hunting Cape Kudu which is going to cost me R2200.00 fo a trophy sized bull

Will you PLEEEEASE let me know where in the Eastern Cape you are getting trophy sized kudu for R2,200? I'm just dying to go shoot one

quote:

Originally posted by bulldog563:
JTG made an interesting point... Is it customary to tip on an Aussie Buff hunt or any Aussie hunt for that matter?

It would be nice if someone could answer this question! Since Australians think Yanks are ridiculous for tipping, should we not consider offering a dime after hunting for Buffalo there? I have to say, Nitro...you have convinced me enough to change my behavior while hunting at least on one continent.



Best,

John