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Author Topic:   Tipping At Gas Docks

Moose posted 06-10-2011 06:31 PM ET (US)
Recently I've been making an effort to buy ethanol free gas for my Whaler. In my previous life as a sailor I carried a couple of five gallon cans of gas per summer to the dock, with my Whaler I've generally been buying it on the road, so basically I've never had much exposure to the gas dock world.
I've bought gas twice this summer at a southern Lake Michigan marina. Neither time the attendant helped us dock or tie up, only one time did the attendant bring the nozzle to the boat, the other time I had to fetch it and about 30 feet of hose and then walk to the office to find someone to pay after the attendant disappeared.
I tipped the more helpful of the two slightly less than 10% of the gas purchase and didn't see or hear any type of reaction. No "thank you," no eye roll or huff that that would indicate I've committed a faux pas. The other attendant got stiffed as it was basically a self-service situation. What is the norm with tipping these guys? Are people throwing 15-20% on top of a $200 load of gas?
Thanks for any feedback.
Sixer posted 06-10-2011 07:11 PM ET (US)
I have never heard of tipping for gas, whether boat or car.
tom976 posted 06-10-2011 07:24 PM ET (US)
I fill up when necessary at the local gas dock... Tipping 10 percent or more is extremely generous. (especially with the crazy dock gas prices)
If it were me, I would only tip if they help. Meaning if they throw you a rope and get you stuff from the dock. Generally I would throw them 5 bucks or 10 if they help and get the bait etc. (with me there are no free rides, I worked hard for the money and if you want a tip from me you should do a bit of work too)
southshore fisherman posted 06-11-2011 09:37 AM ET (US)
I've never bought fuel at a fuel dock but I would tip the attendant if he/she helped me. I think you did the right thing in both cases.
When people help me, I help them.
Tohsgib posted 06-11-2011 10:49 AM ET (US)
If they help on $200 I would throw $5 or $10 max.
newt posted 06-11-2011 11:26 AM ET (US)
I tip $5 or so at the gas dock, but he kids are helpful. If they were not helpful, I would not tip.
JMARTIN posted 06-12-2011 10:44 AM ET (US)
Where were all you big tippers when I was a full serve station attendant? I would run out to the car, put in the desired amount and grade of fuel, clean the windshield and check the oil. If you wanted the tire pressure checked or the battery, no problem. Then I would take your credit card or cash, run back inside, process the transaction and return to your car with change or a ticket to be signed.
Jeepers, if our gasoline brand was having a promotion, I would give you a cheesy piece of cutlery or a glass for free.
Come to think about it, I never expected a tip, I was just doing my job.
John
Kevin Cook posted 06-13-2011 09:25 AM ET (US)
No tip at the gas dock but definitely tip at the pump out station.
Kevin
macfam posted 06-13-2011 11:40 AM ET (US)
Both fuel dock and/or pump out, I always tip $15-$15 depending on the amount of assistance/service.
Being in salt water, I like to use the freshwater hose to washdown and fill my freshwater tank. Sometimes I just stop by to use the water, and buy no fuel. The attendants remember, and allow me to use the hose......no problem.
East Marine where I buy my fuel is also the local Yanmar dealer. (I have a 315 Yanmar in my larger boat)It's always smart to have a good relationship with the local dealer for service and parts etc.
The prices at East Marine are also the best around for miles. I figure good tipping is a prudent investment.
BQUICK posted 06-13-2011 12:25 PM ET (US)
At $1.00 more a gallon, I'm not tipping. Seems already built in....
When it was 50 cents more per gallon I'd tip 5 bucks on 100 dollars
macfam posted 06-13-2011 12:43 PM ET (US)
That was supposed to be $5 to $15, not $15 to $15.
davej14 posted 06-13-2011 01:26 PM ET (US)
J Martin, you are revealing your age, LOL, but those were the days !
MATTANZA posted 06-13-2011 01:56 PM ET (US)
when i used to have my boat slipped, i'd fill up on the water. i made it a point to always tip at least $5.00. it really makes a difference. i gave one of the kids that always went out of his way to help me $50 tip on his birthday. these guys would see me coming and move boats and make room, bring the hose to me, and help me cast off. imho tips help... to insure promp service. not to mention it made me feel good too.
BQUICK posted 06-13-2011 02:30 PM ET (US)
Last time I tipped $10 instead of $5 and the attendant just sat down and started reading her book again. No thanks.
I had to get the lines myself. In the days when tipping was the norm you actually got something for it.....
Tohsgib posted 06-13-2011 03:06 PM ET (US)
As a kid I don't remeber tipping at docks but I was young and usually the owner or his wife was the one pumping(small towns). I don't believe in tipping the owner with cash. Might drop him off some fish but not frog's tongues. I pumped gas for 7 years in high school & college. On a VERY exclusive island in NJ and the only station for miles...I maybe made $100 the ENTIRE 7 years time. These scumbums would come in with their Jaguar and hover over you to see if you spilled a drop, then make you check every fluid in the car and check the tires and MAYBE...MAYBE you got a buck...NEVER if the car had a NY plate(no offense).
I would sometimes mess with people and open the hood and look down...then look up with a surprised look on my face, then look down again and then walk up to their window and say "Madam....you will not believe this but somebody stole your engine!" I swear 4 out of 5 women would be like "Oh my God...how could that happen? It seemed to drive fine until I stopped here!" Man we would laugh for hours on that stuff. Then there were the chicks in Bikinis....washing windows was never so much fun. Then the people who asked how to get to SeaSide. We would tell them to go down to the end(Barnegat Light) and wait by the lighthouse for the ferry. You only did this at the end of your shift as there was no ferry.
Taylor posted 06-13-2011 03:32 PM ET (US)
You've ruined my day... I've never tipped at a fuel dock, never even thought about it. Now I'm going to feel guilty. Do people really tip there?
kwik_wurk posted 06-13-2011 03:35 PM ET (US)
So I have never tipped at the dock. The level service is varied, some tend lines, some just wait for a card.
However, I do have a gas card at my marina, that allows me to get gas 24/7, at unattended pumps. Which is really nice, I pass the gas dock every time I head in/out.
kglinz posted 06-13-2011 04:18 PM ET (US)
You guys gotta kidding. I filled up last week for $949. What do think I should tip? Hundred? hundred and a half?
Moose posted 06-13-2011 05:09 PM ET (US)
That's one of the reasons I was interested in some feedback on this, as Tohsgib mentions, the tipping of the owner dilemma.
At the place I've bought gas this spring a member of the family that owns the place (who is likely 50+ years old, one of two heirs to a very valuable business and from all indications over the past couple of decades likely makes a nice income from the business) waited on me one of the two times. I thought about the situation as the gas was pumping... "do I flip the well paid daughter a fiver, etc., for kind of helping me pump $91 of gas?... she's not some 17 year old local high school kid..." She disappeared while the pump was still running, so that solved that problem for me.
Thanks for the responses everyone.
Binkster posted 06-13-2011 06:39 PM ET (US)
Nick
WTF, back in the day when you stopped in for gas in Jersey you didn't even shut the motor off. The gas jockey is bound to steal something, like your rotor in the dist. when "checking your engine" or pulling a couple of plug wires off. Using the rest room was also a no-no. Your hubcaps on the far side of your car would disappear. Forgetabout your gas cap. NYers were wise to your antics, most of the time we just drove off without paying, and then stop in the first McDonald's in Pa. or Delaware and feast on the gas money we saved and laugh about the dumb Jerseyites. They thought every NYer was in the Mafia becuase we would give them the Italian Salute when we drove off.
Plotman posted 06-13-2011 06:40 PM ET (US)
I've never heard of anyone tipping at the fuel dock.
martyn1075 posted 06-14-2011 11:10 AM ET (US)
I never heard of it either. Jeez I feel like a real cheap skate now. I would say if someone goes out of there way to help you and your family and it saves you time or solves a problem you couldn't fix then why not give back a bit.
Martyn
Tohsgib posted 06-14-2011 11:25 AM ET (US)
Guys...relax! I never heard of it either until I belonged to a yacht club and I think those attendants deserve something when tying up a 45' boat, etc. With the price of fuel and if the attendant helps you dock and cast off, a couple bucks is nice but not necessary in a Montauk. I think the guy by me does a great job because my wife and her friend are useless at both fending off or chipping in for gas(friend).
Plotman posted 06-16-2011 11:32 PM ET (US)
At any private yacht club I have ever been to, it was forbidden to tip the staff. There was a mandatory "service charge" on most purchases (not fuel) and it was used to tip out the staff.
At the club I grew up in, accepting a tip was grounds for dismissal for any staff member.
They were paid well though, and always had tons of applicants for any job.
Binkster posted 06-17-2011 12:12 AM ET (US)
Plotman sez;
At the club I grew up in-----
Sounds like your parents were members of the Bushwood Country Club (Caddyshack). Probably a bunch of snobs and you lived off daddy's credit card. I had you pegged right when I said you had no whaler repair or do it yourself experience, you just wrote out a check. LOL
Still waiting for a picture of a Whaler(or any boat you restored or even worked on)
burning_hXc_soul posted 06-17-2011 08:41 AM ET (US)
Tohsgib said:
"Then the people who asked how to get to SeaSide. We would tell them to go down to the end(Barnegat Light) and wait by the lighthouse for the ferry."
Haha, I can just picture somebody sitting by Andy's angrily waiting for the "ferry" Was Andy's there at that time?
Tohsgib posted 06-17-2011 01:51 PM ET (US)
Hell Andy's has always been there! We would ride our bikes there from Cedars just because they had YooHoo.

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Author	Topic: Tipping At Gas Docks
Moose	posted 06-10-2011 06:31 PM ET (US) Recently I've been making an effort to buy ethanol free gas for my Whaler. In my previous life as a sailor I carried a couple of five gallon cans of gas per summer to the dock, with my Whaler I've generally been buying it on the road, so basically I've never had much exposure to the gas dock world. I've bought gas twice this summer at a southern Lake Michigan marina. Neither time the attendant helped us dock or tie up, only one time did the attendant bring the nozzle to the boat, the other time I had to fetch it and about 30 feet of hose and then walk to the office to find someone to pay after the attendant disappeared. I tipped the more helpful of the two slightly less than 10% of the gas purchase and didn't see or hear any type of reaction. No "thank you," no eye roll or huff that that would indicate I've committed a faux pas. The other attendant got stiffed as it was basically a self-service situation. What is the norm with tipping these guys? Are people throwing 15-20% on top of a $200 load of gas? Thanks for any feedback.
Sixer	posted 06-10-2011 07:11 PM ET (US) I have never heard of tipping for gas, whether boat or car.
tom976	posted 06-10-2011 07:24 PM ET (US) I fill up when necessary at the local gas dock... Tipping 10 percent or more is extremely generous. (especially with the crazy dock gas prices) If it were me, I would only tip if they help. Meaning if they throw you a rope and get you stuff from the dock. Generally I would throw them 5 bucks or 10 if they help and get the bait etc. (with me there are no free rides, I worked hard for the money and if you want a tip from me you should do a bit of work too)
southshore fisherman	posted 06-11-2011 09:37 AM ET (US) I've never bought fuel at a fuel dock but I would tip the attendant if he/she helped me. I think you did the right thing in both cases. When people help me, I help them.
Tohsgib	posted 06-11-2011 10:49 AM ET (US) If they help on $200 I would throw $5 or $10 max.
newt	posted 06-11-2011 11:26 AM ET (US) I tip $5 or so at the gas dock, but he kids are helpful. If they were not helpful, I would not tip.
JMARTIN	posted 06-12-2011 10:44 AM ET (US) Where were all you big tippers when I was a full serve station attendant? I would run out to the car, put in the desired amount and grade of fuel, clean the windshield and check the oil. If you wanted the tire pressure checked or the battery, no problem. Then I would take your credit card or cash, run back inside, process the transaction and return to your car with change or a ticket to be signed. Jeepers, if our gasoline brand was having a promotion, I would give you a cheesy piece of cutlery or a glass for free. Come to think about it, I never expected a tip, I was just doing my job. John
Kevin Cook	posted 06-13-2011 09:25 AM ET (US) No tip at the gas dock but definitely tip at the pump out station. Kevin
macfam	posted 06-13-2011 11:40 AM ET (US) Both fuel dock and/or pump out, I always tip $15-$15 depending on the amount of assistance/service. Being in salt water, I like to use the freshwater hose to washdown and fill my freshwater tank. Sometimes I just stop by to use the water, and buy no fuel. The attendants remember, and allow me to use the hose......no problem. East Marine where I buy my fuel is also the local Yanmar dealer. (I have a 315 Yanmar in my larger boat)It's always smart to have a good relationship with the local dealer for service and parts etc. The prices at East Marine are also the best around for miles. I figure good tipping is a prudent investment.
BQUICK	posted 06-13-2011 12:25 PM ET (US) At $1.00 more a gallon, I'm not tipping. Seems already built in.... When it was 50 cents more per gallon I'd tip 5 bucks on 100 dollars
macfam	posted 06-13-2011 12:43 PM ET (US) That was supposed to be $5 to $15, not $15 to $15.
davej14	posted 06-13-2011 01:26 PM ET (US) J Martin, you are revealing your age, LOL, but those were the days !
MATTANZA	posted 06-13-2011 01:56 PM ET (US) when i used to have my boat slipped, i'd fill up on the water. i made it a point to always tip at least $5.00. it really makes a difference. i gave one of the kids that always went out of his way to help me $50 tip on his birthday. these guys would see me coming and move boats and make room, bring the hose to me, and help me cast off. imho tips help... to insure promp service. not to mention it made me feel good too.
BQUICK	posted 06-13-2011 02:30 PM ET (US) Last time I tipped $10 instead of $5 and the attendant just sat down and started reading her book again. No thanks. I had to get the lines myself. In the days when tipping was the norm you actually got something for it.....
Tohsgib	posted 06-13-2011 03:06 PM ET (US) As a kid I don't remeber tipping at docks but I was young and usually the owner or his wife was the one pumping(small towns). I don't believe in tipping the owner with cash. Might drop him off some fish but not frog's tongues. I pumped gas for 7 years in high school & college. On a VERY exclusive island in NJ and the only station for miles...I maybe made $100 the ENTIRE 7 years time. These scumbums would come in with their Jaguar and hover over you to see if you spilled a drop, then make you check every fluid in the car and check the tires and MAYBE...MAYBE you got a buck...NEVER if the car had a NY plate(no offense). I would sometimes mess with people and open the hood and look down...then look up with a surprised look on my face, then look down again and then walk up to their window and say "Madam....you will not believe this but somebody stole your engine!" I swear 4 out of 5 women would be like "Oh my God...how could that happen? It seemed to drive fine until I stopped here!" Man we would laugh for hours on that stuff. Then there were the chicks in Bikinis....washing windows was never so much fun. Then the people who asked how to get to SeaSide. We would tell them to go down to the end(Barnegat Light) and wait by the lighthouse for the ferry. You only did this at the end of your shift as there was no ferry.
Taylor	posted 06-13-2011 03:32 PM ET (US) You've ruined my day... I've never tipped at a fuel dock, never even thought about it. Now I'm going to feel guilty. Do people really tip there?
kwik_wurk	posted 06-13-2011 03:35 PM ET (US) So I have never tipped at the dock. The level service is varied, some tend lines, some just wait for a card. However, I do have a gas card at my marina, that allows me to get gas 24/7, at unattended pumps. Which is really nice, I pass the gas dock every time I head in/out.
kglinz	posted 06-13-2011 04:18 PM ET (US) You guys gotta kidding. I filled up last week for $949. What do think I should tip? Hundred? hundred and a half?
Moose	posted 06-13-2011 05:09 PM ET (US) That's one of the reasons I was interested in some feedback on this, as Tohsgib mentions, the tipping of the owner dilemma. At the place I've bought gas this spring a member of the family that owns the place (who is likely 50+ years old, one of two heirs to a very valuable business and from all indications over the past couple of decades likely makes a nice income from the business) waited on me one of the two times. I thought about the situation as the gas was pumping... "do I flip the well paid daughter a fiver, etc., for kind of helping me pump $91 of gas?... she's not some 17 year old local high school kid..." She disappeared while the pump was still running, so that solved that problem for me. Thanks for the responses everyone.
Binkster	posted 06-13-2011 06:39 PM ET (US) Nick WTF, back in the day when you stopped in for gas in Jersey you didn't even shut the motor off. The gas jockey is bound to steal something, like your rotor in the dist. when "checking your engine" or pulling a couple of plug wires off. Using the rest room was also a no-no. Your hubcaps on the far side of your car would disappear. Forgetabout your gas cap. NYers were wise to your antics, most of the time we just drove off without paying, and then stop in the first McDonald's in Pa. or Delaware and feast on the gas money we saved and laugh about the dumb Jerseyites. They thought every NYer was in the Mafia becuase we would give them the Italian Salute when we drove off.
Plotman	posted 06-13-2011 06:40 PM ET (US) I've never heard of anyone tipping at the fuel dock.
martyn1075	posted 06-14-2011 11:10 AM ET (US) I never heard of it either. Jeez I feel like a real cheap skate now. I would say if someone goes out of there way to help you and your family and it saves you time or solves a problem you couldn't fix then why not give back a bit. Martyn
Tohsgib	posted 06-14-2011 11:25 AM ET (US) Guys...relax! I never heard of it either until I belonged to a yacht club and I think those attendants deserve something when tying up a 45' boat, etc. With the price of fuel and if the attendant helps you dock and cast off, a couple bucks is nice but not necessary in a Montauk. I think the guy by me does a great job because my wife and her friend are useless at both fending off or chipping in for gas(friend).
Plotman	posted 06-16-2011 11:32 PM ET (US) At any private yacht club I have ever been to, it was forbidden to tip the staff. There was a mandatory "service charge" on most purchases (not fuel) and it was used to tip out the staff. At the club I grew up in, accepting a tip was grounds for dismissal for any staff member. They were paid well though, and always had tons of applicants for any job.
Binkster	posted 06-17-2011 12:12 AM ET (US) Plotman sez; At the club I grew up in----- Sounds like your parents were members of the Bushwood Country Club (Caddyshack). Probably a bunch of snobs and you lived off daddy's credit card. I had you pegged right when I said you had no whaler repair or do it yourself experience, you just wrote out a check. LOL Still waiting for a picture of a Whaler(or any boat you restored or even worked on)
burning_hXc_soul	posted 06-17-2011 08:41 AM ET (US) Tohsgib said: "Then the people who asked how to get to SeaSide. We would tell them to go down to the end(Barnegat Light) and wait by the lighthouse for the ferry." Haha, I can just picture somebody sitting by Andy's angrily waiting for the "ferry" Was Andy's there at that time?
Tohsgib	posted 06-17-2011 01:51 PM ET (US) Hell Andy's has always been there! We would ride our bikes there from Cedars just because they had YooHoo.