 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: DougR
Date: 2007-02-17 17:05
Apparently (and I can't believe I'm just hearing about this) in my major urban area, it's not unheard of--and evidently, among professionals, pretty common.
Do you tip? How much? and for what?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2007-02-17 17:18
I always find out what the people in the shop like ahead of time (bagels, donuts, chocolates, etc.) and come well equipped with fresh treats. The chocolate pretzels from Trader Joe's and Tim Horton stuff always goes over very well.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: mk
Date: 2007-02-17 20:21
never hear of it....but why not if you are satisified with their services. Any monetary tip would surely be appreciated considering most do not tip at all.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2007-02-17 20:50
Then again...who's tipping you for a good job?
I'm all for tipping when that's understood as part of one's salary (eg restaurant staff). But else...I don't know. I pay for good work and I expect good work, be it with the car or elsewhere. Do you tip your dentist?
(I do, however, occasionally but regularly send a card or an email thanking for the good work and yadda yadda).
I think this subject highly varies with environment and culture.
--
Ben
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Max S-D
Date: 2007-02-18 03:16
I don't tip my repairmen. They are very good (Daniel Deitch for clarinets, Lee Kramka for saxes, both in San Francisco), and they charge accordingly. If there is a condition (a deadline or something) that will make it harder for them to do their jobs, they factor that into the price, I think.
Getting an instrument worked on is expensive, and these guys have worked out exactly what they feel their time and materials are worth, which I am willing to pay. More than that is not necessary.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EEBaum
Date: 2007-02-18 05:58
I don't tip per se, but a tech that does a fantastic job on small repairs will tend to get my dedicated business on larger jobs, as well as business from everyone and their dog by word of mouth when I won't shut up about what great work they do.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: stevensfo
Date: 2007-02-18 07:55
-- "I don't tip per se, but a tech that does a fantastic job on small repairs will tend to get my dedicated business on larger jobs, as well as business from everyone and their dog by word of mouth when I won't shut up about what great work they do." --
I think that's the correct way to do it. Where we live it works very well. Perhaps too well. There are plumbers, electricians, builders, doctors etc with long waiting lists because everyone recommends them.
I've always found the whole process of tipping a bizarre idea. Why a waiter, but not a garage mechanic? Why a taxi driver but not the bus driver... etc
Of course every country is different.
Decades ago in France, a service charge was introduced for restaurant bills to try and stop waiters having to rely on tips to support them. People are still arguing over whether to tip or not.
Steve
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Erdinet
Date: 2007-02-18 12:47
I use Bill Singer for my saxophone major repairs and overhauls. I find that with his prices are so ridiculously lower and the almost obsessive way he cares for the instrument, it is almost criminal to not tip him. That being said, he was so surprised, he hardly knew what to do the first time I offered him a tip. It is far from common practice in the grerater New York area to be sure. To my mind, if you are cool with tipping, do it. If not don't.
"There is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over."
-Frank Zappa
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tobin
Date: 2007-02-18 13:33
The bare bones of the situation is that a tip is a bribe!
As someone who spent years tending bar I have been well compensated for my ability to quickly make old fashioneds, sidecars, etc...
I once attempted to refuse an exorbitant tip (I was young I guess) and the gentlemen told me: "I was a bartender once. I own hotels now. Keep the money."
Tips is an acronym meaning "TO INSURE PROMPT SERVICE"...we should actually tip ahead of the service.
I'll haggle with my repair guy in the upwards direction. I don't think I've won many times. But it is generally appreciated, as is my business.
If you feel it's worth it, try. If they want to take the money they will.
James
Gnothi Seauton
Post Edited (2007-02-18 13:34)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: bawa
Date: 2007-02-18 17:56
Yes, it does varies with places.
Here you are not expected and you would not tip anyone at all, not even a waiter, it being assumed everyone is paid decently for their hard jobs and that this is included in the bill.
You might leave a token tip at a restaurant if you are very pleased. Otherwise it is not expected. In any case it would be very small change at most.
I think someone like a clarinet repair tech would be very taken aback and not know how to take it if you tried to give a tip.
You would of course appreciate a job well-done in words.
In fact, one of the most stressful part about traveling for us is working out the tipping!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Koo Young Chung
Date: 2007-02-18 22:40
Aa a violin repairman,I get letters and cards often.
Those things are much more appreciated than a few bucks.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2007-02-19 01:33
Okay since I'm from Iceland I'm not familar with tipping. I find it okay to give tip if you like the service but to included in the final price is just for me very rude. I've never done it here in Iceland but I do it very often when I go abroad just to be polite.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: leonardA
Date: 2007-02-19 03:25
My tech often does small repairs and adjustment and refuses to charge me. When that happens the next time I come in I bring him some chocolate covered popcorn, which I know he likes. I know he appreciates it. Otherwise, I don't tip.
Leonard
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: C2thew
Date: 2007-02-19 16:31
I tip my woodwind tech a jamba juice. After sitting down working on instruments all day, he really appreciates the smoothie.
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chalumeau Joe
Date: 2007-02-19 16:47
Here's an overview of tipping:
http://people.howstuffworks.com/tipping.htm
See, in particular, Section 2, "The Psychology of Tipping."
Seems that tipping is motivated more by guilt than by gratitude.
Joe
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2007-02-24 22:17
I've been tippedby being told not to worry about the change, but I don't expect it.......
OT....just got back from the ER......I've got 4 stitches in my left index finger "pad" and one in the right...guess I won't be playing for a few days and next time I'll be more careful cutting key cork....first time this has ever happened in all my repair days...just being damned stupid with a sharp blade!!!
jbutler
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: larryb
Date: 2007-02-25 13:11
jbutler, looks like you've taken the meaning of "tipping" too far. Get well.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: katie_netie
Date: 2007-02-26 03:18
most repairmen are independant... so the price you're paying them (often marked up) pretty much includes the tip if you ask me.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: johnnymo0829
Date: 2007-02-26 13:53
I had one repairman that I would always give a sixpack to when I got my horn. I usually will not tip, but my repairman that I go to is a friend of mine who usually cuts me a break so I always give him something extra.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: pewd
Date: 2007-02-26 14:07
guess i'll have to tip john a box of bandaids when he finishes my clarinet
sorry, i know thats off topic
wonder how it will play with blood on the key cork
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BassetHorn
Date: 2007-02-26 15:28
I am good friends with my repair guys, he gives me great service, fair fees, and from time to time I take him out for a meal.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ginny
Date: 2007-02-26 15:38
I prefer tipping cows or outhouses frankly.
Tipping seems so tacky to me, as if they aren't professional and are some sort of beggar. I would be very offended if offered a tip for my professional services. Playing for tips is like busking, I can't imagine repair for tips.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: diz
Date: 2007-02-28 02:41
gratuities are fine for waitstaff who earn a pittance ... but if I get a tradesperson to repair it and it's done well, that's what I pay for, I ain't tippin' ...
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2007-03-03 00:12
Paul,
I'm doing better, but still don't have any feeling in my left index finger tip. It's very difficult to play clarinet right now. I cleaned up before shipping the clarinet!! LOL!
jbutler
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
