Tipping

rhill1 · Jul 27th, 2008, 09:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by machadinha

No idea, but for that money I bet anyone would make damn sure to be a great driver

Hey, at least you made someone's day.

(I believe it was recently estimated here Goan cab drivers make around 7000 Rs. a month on average. Don't complain next time you feel treated like a walking cash dispenser.)

Glad to know from other of your posts too you had a good time though.

If anyone needs a driver in Delhi...I recommend the following person who would have to be the nicest and best person.
Naraim Singh-Rand [driver with Kumar Tourist Taxi Service]. Naraim was OUTSTANDING!!!!!! He even spent a lot of time looking for a cord so i could attach my aussie cord to it so i could recharge it. Just the nicest & most HONEST person. his mobile in Delhi is 011 9871287612. Please call him.

rhill1

Nick-H · Jul 27th, 2008, 14:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by machadinha

(I believe it was recently estimated here Goan cab drivers make around 7000 Rs. a month on average. Don't complain next time you feel treated like a walking cash dispenser.)

Indeed!

How much was in in relation to the charge for the day might give you a clue.

Some drivers own their vehicles, and pay a percentage to the company they are attached to, others are employees.

But how do visitors comprehend that the people who serve them in the hotels, or that they meet in shops, are being paid maybe 2,000, maybe 3,000 a month, when they may feel worried if they don't have ten times that amount in their wallet? I know I certainly gave some absurdly large tips on my early visits here. It's taken me a long time to feel ok about going out with only a couple of hundred Rs in my pocket because it is all I'll need (and also because if I go out with several thou I somehow find a way to spend it

).

Rhill... you probably sponsored a child's education. It's not all bad.

On the other hand, those drivers who hang around outside expensive hotels and the like, and ask for ridiculous amounts of money are just on the make and should be shunned.

rhill1 · Jul 27th, 2008, 14:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Indeed!

How much was in in relation to the charge for the day might give you a clue.

Some drivers own their vehicles, and pay a percentage to the company they are attached to, others are employees.

But how do visitors comprehend that the people who serve them in the hotels, or that they meet in shops, are being paid maybe 2,000, maybe 3,000 a month, when they may feel worried if they don't have ten times that amount in their wallet? I know I certainly gave some absurdly large tips on my early visits here. It's taken me a long time to feel ok about going out with only a couple of hundred Rs in my pocket because it is all I'll need (and also because if I go out with several thou I somehow find a way to spend it

).

Rhill... you probably sponsored a child's education. It's not all bad.

On the other hand, those drivers who hang around outside expensive hotels and the like, and ask for ridiculous amounts of money are just on the make and should be shunned.

Nick H,
If i have sponsored some kid's education, great!! I just think that for people like Naraim, it is my PLEASURE to tip him hansomly. If i can help him, it is my right.
rhill1

I did only give twice to beggars...that is another story isn't it?

Nick-H · Jul 27th, 2008, 15:34

Well, I'd give to beggars, personally, but it is tough to know who's genuine and who is not.

Not personal, just for argument's sake... what you gave to that driver could maybe have got somebody off the street, got needed medical treatment for them, or sent one of their children to school. On the other hand it might also have gone straight into the pocket of a gang boss.

The thing that people just seem unable to take on board is that, in the scheme of things, the drivers are not badly paid. Your driver's basic wage is going to much better than that helpful receptionist --- but did it occur to you to give her several thousand rupees? Again, I don't think it did to me, in my early tourist days, despite the information, translations, even phone calls made to Tamil speakers for me. At the guest house I stayed in for five weeks, I gave the receptionist a silver necklace that cost as much as her salary for the month. The room boys, although genuinely helpful also had priapic upturned palms, and made plenty out of me; she never asked for anything.

Drivers are on to a good thing. They are not badly paid in the first place, and are uniquely placed to angle for good tips from tourists. Tip all you will, but isn't a tip supposed to be a little extra, not to make someone rich?

rhill1 · Jul 27th, 2008, 15:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Well, I'd give to beggars, personally, but it is tough to know who's genuine and who is not.

Not personal, just for argument's sake... what you gave to that driver could maybe have got somebody off the street, got needed medical treatment for them, or sent one of their children to school. On the other hand it might also have gone straight into the pocket of a gang boss.

The thing that people just seem unable to take on board is that, in the scheme of things, the drivers are not badly paid. Your driver's basic wage is going to much better than that helpful receptionist --- but did it occur to you to give her several thousand rupees? Again, I don't think it did to me, in my early tourist days, despite the information, translations, even phone calls made to Tamil speakers for me. At the guest house I stayed in for five weeks, I gave the receptionist a silver necklace that cost as much as her salary for the month. The room boys, although genuinely helpful also had priapic upturned palms, and made plenty out of me; she never asked for anything.

Drivers are on to a good thing. They are not badly paid in the first place, and are uniquely placed to angle for good tips from tourists. Tip all you will, but isn't a tip supposed to be a little extra, not to make someone rich?

How much would a driver working for a company make per month??

shashank.aggarwal · Jul 27th, 2008, 16:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhill1

How much would a driver working for a company make per month??

In Delhi, last time asked, 4 years back, it was Rs.6000, PF, medical and all were also there...he was working for a company that used to operate vehicles for corporates...

But I agree with Nick, Drivers are part of lower middle class, in the social structure..

nayan · Jul 27th, 2008, 21:16

Just for a comparison----

We are indians. We went on a trip to kinnaur and Spiti this year in april. Its a very remote area in the high Himalayas and the terrain is out of this world and often landslides occur (it occured in our case too), cell phones donot work for a major part of the road and if anything goes wrong its solely the local knowledge of your driver that will save you .... so in a totally diferent league to day trips in a metro like delhi.

We hired a Chevrolet tavera SUV for 8 days for the trip at 2000 per day. So the total bill was 16000 at the end of the trip. we paid the driver (he was excellent and I have recommended him all over Indiamike)a tip of 1000 for the ENTIRE trip and he was very very pleased.

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Jul 27th, 2008, 15:34	#34
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,792	Well, I'd give to beggars, personally, but it is tough to know who's genuine and who is not. Not personal, just for argument's sake... what you gave to that driver could maybe have got somebody off the street, got needed medical treatment for them, or sent one of their children to school. On the other hand it might also have gone straight into the pocket of a gang boss. The thing that people just seem unable to take on board is that, in the scheme of things, the drivers are not badly paid. Your driver's basic wage is going to much better than that helpful receptionist --- but did it occur to you to give her several thousand rupees? Again, I don't think it did to me, in my early tourist days, despite the information, translations, even phone calls made to Tamil speakers for me. At the guest house I stayed in for five weeks, I gave the receptionist a silver necklace that cost as much as her salary for the month. The room boys, although genuinely helpful also had priapic upturned palms, and made plenty out of me; she never asked for anything. Drivers are on to a good thing. They are not badly paid in the first place, and are uniquely placed to angle for good tips from tourists. Tip all you will, but isn't a tip supposed to be a little extra, not to make someone rich?

Jul 27th, 2008, 21:16	#37
nayan Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: hyderabad/tokyo Posts: 1,145	Just for a comparison---- We are indians. We went on a trip to kinnaur and Spiti this year in april. Its a very remote area in the high Himalayas and the terrain is out of this world and often landslides occur (it occured in our case too), cell phones donot work for a major part of the road and if anything goes wrong its solely the local knowledge of your driver that will save you .... so in a totally diferent league to day trips in a metro like delhi. We hired a Chevrolet tavera SUV for 8 days for the trip at 2000 per day. So the total bill was 16000 at the end of the trip. we paid the driver (he was excellent and I have recommended him all over Indiamike)a tip of 1000 for the ENTIRE trip and he was very very pleased.

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