Best Of

I think this subject has been beaten to death.

Sealord - The present system gives you a vote … poor service … less money. I’m done. Case closed. (;-)

If there is a web-based system that is used at tours end to enter your tip it has the same effect as a cash based system, providing for and reflecting performance throughout the tour. And it has the added benefit of not requiring you to carry a lot of cash throughout the tour.

I'm glad you think it's 'Case closed'. Same thinking as 'Your way or the highway'.

A web-based system in which a tip is provided or not based on performance, at tours end, seems like a good solution. It doesn't have to preclude people that prefer tipping in cash, but it provides a solution for those that don't want to carry a lot of cash just for a tip.

I understand that you seem to like to 'Make it Rain' with your wad of cash, but others would prefer not to have to bring extra cash, but would still like to tip at the end of the tour (not have it included in the tour's price up front). Why not provide both options?

Do you remember when Tauck used to quote the price of a tour, but then when internal flights were part of the tour, those prices were add ons and then the final price exposed. That was changed!
As for Checks, have all your checks to tour directors on all your tours of the world been cashed? Or have they taken a long time?
Maybe I should find my ancient check book and try that, hand a check, not in an envelope, and see what the tour director’s reaction is in one of the remote locations we find ourselves in.
I look forward to continue to reading this thread when I return from my adventures today. It sure beats, do I need to take a sports jacket?

Then there is $10 per day pp for the bus driver on some tours too.
I don’t think I’ve ever paid $210 for a piece of clothing, not even a coat. I guess that’s why I can afford to go on lots of tours. I’m not objecting to the tip, I don’t want t carry that much cash by choice. Never underestimate the trauma of being robbed.

kfnknffzk - That, in my opinion, is short sighted given that on one has offered any solutions to the more far reaching
implications of using credit cards to pay for gratuities after the fact. Sealord has touched upon some issues.

If they offer a web-based way to pay a tip (not included in the price of the tour) at the end of a tour it doesn't preclude people that feel strongly about tipping in cash from doing so. It simply allows people that don't feel comfortable carrying all that cash to have a way they feel safer to tip.

The fact that tips have been provided this way for 'some portion of one hundred years' means nothing. One hundred years ago Tauck probably didn't fly guests around in airplanes. When airplanes became a viable option Tauck evolved and incorporated them into their business strategy.

All that is being suggested by offering, not mandating, a web-based solution for tipping that can be done at the end of a tour is seeing Tauck evolve to new technology for the betterment of, at least some of their customers, while still allowing the others to stay with the cash based system.

Based on comments in this thread it seems like offering both a web-based system and a cash based system for tipping would make the most customers happy. That seems like a good business model!

Sealord - Those who think they can visit remote places with nothing but credit/ATM cards will eventually be proven wrong.

It's not an all or nothing situation. The problem is the amount of cash. I always carry some cash, but not thousands of dollars.

Kfnknfzk - Yes, Tauck will have to absorb the administartive cost associated with modifying their website and payroll system. It's all part of running a business and keeping it up to date.

Quite true, a lot of small businesses will bypass a tip or offer a discount when paying with cash. I have no problem carrying cash for the TD, do wish there was some other way to pay them.

As far as the evaluation form goes, to me is a waste of time because there is not enough space to describe the thoughts about the trip, when staying in 5 or 6 hotels it would be nice to be able to rate them individually. I the welcome dinner is awful, one can spend all the space just talking about that.