Comments on: “You’re going to have a tip ready for me when I deliver the bags, right?”

By: Couriers

Couriers — Mon, 30 May 2011 06:05:50 +0000

The author of this article has addressed a great point. In such a situation you should keep in mind to file complaint about the lost luggage to preserve your rights.

By: David

David — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 18:31:23 +0000

T – Your analysis is not complete. It may not be the baggage delivery driver’s fault that the bag was lost, but his company is contracted by the AIRLINE THAT LOST IT TO DELIVER IT TO FULFILL THEIR CONTRACT WITH THE FLYER. Whether they use their own car, insurance, etc. is not relevant – - they chose to work for that company to deliver the bags. If they feel they are not being properly compensated, they need to look for a different job, not solicit/extort money from the person who was already screwed.

Oh, and just so you know – - this comes from someone who spent 10 years delivering pizza using his own car, insurance, gas, etc. and saw great tippers and lousy tippers.

By: T

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 04:53:07 +0000

Let me explain a few differences between FedEx and the guy that shlepps your FOUND luggage from the airport to your doorstep.

FEDEX Drivers, drive FEDEX vehicles, for which FEDEX pays the gas. FEDDEX pays the Insurance on the vehicle as well as the State Licenses and Registration.
THE DRIVER is compensated by FedEx and probably receives all the BENEFITS of working for a huge-multi-million dollar conglomerate AIRLINE.
The guy that hauls your bags full of god-knows-what from the aiurline to your doorstep is PAYING FOR HIS OWN VEHICLE – GASOLINE – INSURANCE – VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND LICENSING AND IS COMPENSATED, GENERALY SPEAKING ON A PERCENTAGE OF WHAT THE AIRLINE PAYS TO THE COMPANY HE WORKS FOR.
IN OTHER WORDS, THAT BAG MAY NET THE DRIVER ABOUT $3.00.
on a good day.
Tip or dont tip – but keep in mind it is not the delivery drivers fault that the bags were lost in the first place. TIPS are ALWAYS APPRECIATED and usually minimal.

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:13:27 +0000

My response on the phone would be a polite “yes”.

When the delivery person got there, and delivered my bag he would undoubtedly ask AGAIN for the tip at which point I would say, “Here’s a tip, it’s rude to ASK for a tip.”

Alternately I’ve used “Don’t stare directly into the sun” as a tip for someone demanding a tip.

I think they both get the point across.

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:38:49 +0000

I am SICK and TIRED of all these people who expect a “tip”.
I particularly hate it when I am at a hotel, no one comes near the car, and after I have my bags out, a porter magically “shows up” and wants to “carry” them up for me. I’ve already got them out and ready to go, he is actually inconveniencing me by wasting extra time putting it on a “cart”.

If someone is decent and pleasant and does a good job, I generally give them a tip, but anyone who phones in advance about a tip is an annoyance, the driver should probably be fired.

By: Edgar

Edgar — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:42:11 +0000

Tinsley M–

I completely understand your anger. It was, however, the airline–not the baggage delivery guy–who lost your luggage.

By: Tinsley M

Tinsley M — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 06:28:20 +0000

American Airlines lost over 40 peoples bags today after canceling flights due to weather issues. It’s 5 days before Christmas. None of us received an apology and I practically had to force the information out of the rep who assisted me. She was not able to locate my bag, and gave me some bogus excuse that because of the snow delays it caused baggage issues???!!! She even put the wrong address on the locater card, when I wrote it down for her. Where do they find these employees for this airline? They are some of the most incompetent fools I have ever encountered. Allegedly, they located my bag and will be delivering it to my house at 3am Monday. As far as I’m concerned, I leave this bag courier the same as I leave UPS, Fedex, and my mailman…NOTHING. That’s your job; and you expect me to pay you for something that shouldn’t have occurred in the first place?! Here’s a tip…don’t lose people’s stuff in the first place and you wouldn’t have to deliver things.

By: Dave D

Dave D — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 17:01:53 +0000

Oh, the nerve of that delivery driver – coming right out and ASKING in advance for a tip…!! I think both Robert Smith’s and Kevin Brady’s suggestions are excellent ones – a tip shouldn’t be “mandatory”, only when the person being tipped has done their job well. In my case, I would have made it sound like I would then hand them a nice shiny penny.

By: Kevin S. Brady

Kevin S. Brady — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:09:53 +0000

“You’re going to have a tip ready for me when I deliver the bags, right?”

Yes, but since you asked such a boorish question, it will only be half of what I usually tip. Want to keep talking and cut it in half again?

By: Josh

Josh — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 08:19:42 +0000

Of course a lost bag is a situation that doesn’t require a tip (if anything, the airline should automatically include $20 for the inconvenience). Given the tone of the driver, it’s okay in this case to mumble something like “um, sure”, then when the bag is delivered ask to examine it, sign the papers, then walk away with an “oops, don’t have any cash; check with the airline.”

I tip (well) when I *choose* a service that customarily calls for tipping (hotel housekeeper, restaurant, cab in some countries, etc), but I didn’t choose to have my bag delayed and delivered later; I was perfectly willing to pick it up when I landed and take it myself, but the airline didn’t do on it’s part.

By: J C

J C — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:53:37 +0000

I like Robert Smith’s tip the best.

By: Thomas Brenneman

Thomas Brenneman — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:44:18 +0000

Be happy they delivered it! I just flew Delta/KLM to Djibouti. On arrival in Addis Ababa, I discovered my luggage didn’t. 7 days later, I received a phone call that my bag was in the airport and I could pick it up. $50.00 in cab fare later, I had my bag complete with a broken wheel and a tear across the front. I guess the good news is since it was a Briggs & Riley bag, I can get it repaired for free.

By: Robert Smith

Robert Smith — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:51:58 +0000

Hey Baggage Express Driver – Here’s a tip for you.

Seabiscuit in the 3rd race at Pimlico next Saturday.

Now, gimme my bag. You done been tipped.

By: Joe Farrell

Joe Farrell — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:45:19 +0000

I would have given him $1 per bag – just like the skycap. And then told him that he would have gotten more if he hadn’t asked. It is not like you are EVER gonna see this guy again – the turnover in the bag service companies is faster than in a fast food joint.

By: Sebastian

Sebastian — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 07:48:14 +0000

Tipping is meant for good service. A tip should never be expected but rather earned. I don’t care what profession the person works in, whether its a waiter or Baggage Express good service will get a tip and bad service will not. In the case of waiters I am more lenient because of their low wages but if one were to ever request a certain amount for a tip I would certainly give them nothing.

I have never been cheap with tipping and will often give 20% for good service, but a person must earn it.