Mortified at DME driver

[rickers353]

Our last trip we used the ME. Most of us put our own baggage under the bus due to the driver being an older gentleman. When we POR the same thing happened but I stress this point...the passenger willingly helped him.

I still tipped him $5, why?
Because I loved the idea of grabbing my luggae, going straight to the bus line and being on my way. The convience of not waiting for a rental, not having to drive at all while there, and the money it saved us was well worth a $5 trade off.

 

[bumbershoot]

DW & I were in Cozumel for a cruise. We took a cab to a local park. It was supposed to be $11. We got to the park and I had a couple $20s. The cabbie didn't have change. Fortunately DW had a $10. He took the $10 but I could tell he was upset. My fault.

This was a flat rate for our trip. It was posted before we got in the cab. I had $60 (I think), it was just all in $20s. So I had enough to cover the fare (AND give a tip). However, the cabbie said he didn't have change.

Ooh I have to disagree that it was your fault at all. Especially with the info that it was a flat rate that everyone knew before you got into the cab. That driver should have had change; there's a flat rate that is $11 and he doesn't have change? That's a CLEAR tip-grab for people who might very well not have any small bills on them.

I wasn't there, but I can definitely see how that may have been said with a sarcastic or snarky tone...and yes, that is unprofessional. Dirty looks don't bother me so much. I am immune to the stink eye anymore...but when it is verbalized...I think that crosses a line.

Me, too.

As to your being in a tipped position, I have actually seen servers ask the customer what the problem with their service was.

Oh sure, and they are the bad servers.

What is a "froyo" place?

Frozen yogurt.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Just got dropped off at MCO by ME. We checked our bags in at hotel. All we had on bus was stroller. Unfortunately I had no bills smaller than a 20 on me, and I wasn't going to tip the driver $20 for getting our stroller. As I thanked him he gives me a dirty look in front of a dozen other passengers and says "Thank you sir. You're very kind." I felt bad enough about not having any small bills on me, but that was completely unprofessional of him. That's the feeling of Disney I was left with aftet just having spent thousands of dollars on vacation.

Next time have some singles..............Seems since you were not thinking ahead, your being a bit thin skinned over a look.

I agree this sounds a lot like *you have to be there to see and hear the whole story.*

I do find it interesting at first you were apologizing that you didn't have any small bills and in later posts I think the truth came out..........*he didn't do anything for a tip*.

AKK

 

[MinnieLee]

We use DME every trip and do not have bags to put under the bus but we tip the driver every time. We have been lucky to have great drivers and just as we would tip a cab/limo driver, we always give them something.

I don't think that the driver should of reacted the way he did - that is unprofessional but I would not let it get to you. You will most likely never see him again! Other passengers may have seen how he reacted and held back their tips. I see the signs all the time "Gratuties are accepted" and with people travelling from all over, some guests just don't know to tip.

Tipping has always been a "sensitive" topic. At WDW, we do tip Mousekeeping, bell services, bars and restaurants (except with our TIW card which has the tip included in). If service has been great, we do leave extra. I would of asked him for change of the $20 if you felt that bad about it but there is nothing you can do now.

Don't worry about it but I think you will never get on a bus again without singles!

 

[sonofanarchy]

Let me explain this real quick. Yesterday I was in a rush and angry while at the airport and reporting this on my phone:

I always tip drivers, luggage handlers. Obviously, the more bags they handle, the more I tip them. This is just a personal choice and don't think people are wrong if they choose otherwise. It was my mistake for not having smaller bills left. That's the part where I screwed up. However, the comment I made about him not "doing anything", is in itself separate. Has no baring on the situation. I was simply responding to someone's remark that I "stiffed" him. I don't believe I did. My choice to tip ME drivers is my choice, and I should have been better prepared. However, I assure you, his comment was not taken out of context. Like others have said, it's a "you had to be there" situation.

I should also point out that although the driver was rude in my opinion, my anger was fueled further by a rude TSA agent, on top of some rude waitstaff we encountered on this trip. In the past, we've encountered nothing but friendly staff at both WDW and MCO. Just wasn't the case on this trip.

I hope this clears things up a bit. I'm going to type a full trip report sometime tomorrow that will give a lot more insight to what went down. All in all it was a great trip, but sadly, a few thorns in an otherwise lovely rose bush can really put a damper on things.

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm going to agree with this. And, for the record for the one trip I used Magical Express, I did tip. Or tried to. One way, from MCO to our resort the bus driver refused it. I offered $2 for the one small & very light carry on. He said, "no, it was my pleasure," quite politely. The driver on the way to MCO thanked me and took it. I M only stating this because of what I'm going to say...

I just read a Frommers article (maybe travel & leisure) on tipping. The title was something like who you don't tip but should and who shouldn't tip (or over tip) and shouldn't. One of the shoulda was housekeeping (and daily). One shouldn't was those that touch your luggage. They did make a big distinction between bell services that take your luggage to your room (definite tip there) and everyone who simply touches your bag. Basically they said if someone takes your bag from curb to car or vice versa, skip the tip. The article basically was saying if people move around/carry your luggage, tip. If it is a handoff, like ME, no need. And, it's not like you have a choice to carry your bags on the bus.

I used to work for tips (server), and being snotty about a tip was a big no-no. You say *nothing*. You imply *nothing*. And it is fully the customers perception that mattered. For all those that under tipped, there was always someone who over tipped. I rarely got less than 20%, but when I waited on international guests, it happened.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Here's the thing...Frommers isn't WDW. Disney pays it's housekeeping staff more than most places do....usually above $10 an hour. They do not consider their housekeepers to be in tippable positions. But, still..many of us tip our housekeepers daily. Bus drivers? I have no idea what Mears pays their drivers...don't much care. They are considered to be a tipped position. That does NOT mean, however, that you have to tip, it's up to each person. I will continue to tip for outstanding service. But it had better be 'outstanding'!! A tip should never be expected, pretty much as part of your pay. Sorry, but that just isn't the case.
On the other hand though...the DME bus driver is being paid to drive your to and from your resort. He/she is not being paid to be a baggage handler. If I choose to bring a bag that is too big to fit in my lap, on the floor or in the very small overhead area on the bus, then I plan to tip that driver for handling my bag. If he grunts at me and says nothing, isn't friendly, or welcoming? Well, too bad for him. This is why I have tipped drivers for doing nothing other than giving me a very pleasant ride to my resort!!!

The driver that the OP ran into, and who gave him such attitude? Nope, that wasn't called for. You are never 'required' to tip. Yes, it's nice, but if you choose not to, you shouldn't feel chastised for it! That comment was out of line.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I just read a Frommers article (maybe travel & leisure) on tipping. The title was something like who you don't tip but should and who shouldn't tip (or over tip) and shouldn't. One of the shoulda was housekeeping (and daily). One shouldn't was those that touch your luggage. They did make a big distinction between bell services that take your luggage to your room (definite tip there) and everyone who simply touches your bag. Basically they said if someone takes your bag from curb to car or vice versa, skip the tip. The article basically was saying if people move around/carry your luggage, tip. If it is a handoff, like ME, no need. And, it's not like you have a choice to carry your bags on the bus.

They're talking about the luggage relay:

• one person takes your luggage from the trunk and puts it on the sidewalk
• another person puts it on the luggage cart
• someone else wheels the cart into the lobby/luggage room
• yet another person brings your luggage to your room

True, the bus driver doesn't get your luggage all the way to your room. On the other hand, she/he just transported you and it safely a reasonable number of miles, and the bus driver doesn't work. for the hotel (like the luggage relay people do).

Frommer's dropped the ball on this one.

 

[kaytieeldr]

However, the comment I made about him not "doing anything", is in itself separate. Has no baring on the situation. I was simply responding to someone's remark that I "stiffed" him.

Actually all that person said was

He should not have said that. I will bet you do not forget the small bills next time.

Next time I'll take Happy Limo both ways. I'd rather tip those drivers 20% for doing something than tip a rude me driver for doing nothing.

Nothing about stiffing a driver. Looks like she's on your side . Of course, the advantage to using a car service is that you can simply add the tip to the $100+ transportation cost - no cash needed.

However, I assure you, his comment was not taken out of context. Like others have said, it's a "you had to be there" situation.

So, something like, "Thank YOU, sir. You're veerrrry kind"? with sarcasm?

I should also point out that although the driver was rude in my opinion, my anger was fueled further by a rude TSA agent, on top of some rude waitstaff we encountered on this trip. In the past, we've encountered nothing but friendly staff at both WDW and MCO. Just wasn't the case on this trip.

Do you think it's reasonable to project your anger at a TSA officer onto a DME driver?

While, based on your report, the driver's response was inappropriate, your lack of preparedness (and subsequent claim that he 'did nothing') appears to be the cause of the driver's response. He did do something, he stowed your stroller under the bus and removed it for you at the airport. That's handling luggage, and it's customary to tip.

 

[Klismania]

I do disagree with Frommers on this. IMHO, if a driver needs to enter that cargo hold and remove your luggage (or whatever) he/she should be tipped.

And I'm going to have to agree with Frommers.

I have no choice but to surrender my luggage to the bus driver who's putting it into a cargo hold for the bus company's benefit - not mine. I'd prefer to have my luggage in sight at all times. Furthermore, I'd LOVE to be able to retrieve my luggage from that cargo hold myself. I'm not allowed to for insurance purposes.

Do I tip the counter person who takes my luggage from me at the airport check-in and puts it on the conveyor belt? Nope. Do I tip the baggage handlers who run it out and stows it under the plane? No, I do not. Do I tip the baggage handler who delivers my luggage to my room when I'm not there? Huh-uh.

In any situation where I can handle my own luggage, I do. When the choice is taken from me then I feel I'm under no obligation to tip. But when a taxi- or limo-driver graciously helps me out by personally taking and stowing my luggage for me in their trunk or a bellman sees me struggling and helps me out in front of a hotel, I then tip handsomely (usually between $3 and $5 per).

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

This story seems to change left and right.............first the allegedly rude ME driver, now blamed on a allegedly rude TSA, and now also,days earlier, during the trip, an allegedly rude CM in a restaurant, which we don't know was or was not in WDW. but the first post only yelled only blaming the ME driver.

I am sorry but I am getting more and more leery of believing all these allegedly rude CM's stories., especially when the post OP finds many people don't agree with him and point out the issues with the story in the post and then the story starts changing as in this one, quite drastically as well.

I am not saying there is never a rude CM. iIn years and years and many trips, were have very rarely ever seen a rude CM. However we have many times seen rude guests, yelling, pointing fingers and in one case a guest who pushed a CM into a lamppost. Thankfully the guest was removed from the park by security.

AKK

 

[sonofanarchy]

The story's not changing at all. I simply pointed out in all fairness to the situation, this was the culmination of a few incidents we had over the 2 weeks, HOWEVER, rude (and out of line) as I believe the driver was, the anger in my OP was put more towards him because of the other situations, this coming at the end of the trip, and me being really ticked off at the time and posting it on my phone at the airport as something of a vent. What I should have done is skip this thread and just included the information on my full trip report.
I still stand by that the driver was out of line. Not sure what's so hard to understand here, however, I'll repeat it once again:

I believe in tipping no matter what, as a matter of personal preference and belief. I was a bit embarrassed that I didn't have any small bills to tip with. However, though I believe in tipping, I don't believe you should be given an attitude for NOT tipping in every situation.

Sorry if people don't agree or understand.

 

[maxiesmom]

And I'm going to have to agree with Frommers.

I have no choice but to surrender my luggage to the bus driver who's putting it into a cargo hold for the bus company's benefit - not mine. I'd prefer to have my luggage in sight at all times. Furthermore, I'd LOVE to be able to retrieve my luggage from that cargo hold myself. I'm not allowed to for insurance purposes.

Actually you do have a choice. Let DME handle getting your bags to the resort for you. The bus drivers job is to drive you (!) to the resort. They are not luggage handlers. They just have to be because so many of us like to take so much stuff with us on vacation.

it is customary to tip the driver for handling your bags. You don't have to if you don't want to, but don't kid yourself, it is customary.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Do I tip the counter person who takes my luggage from me at the airport check-in and puts it on the conveyor belt? Nope. Do I tip the baggage handlers who run it out and stows it under the plane? No, I do not. Do I tip the baggage handler who delivers my luggage to my room when I'm not there? Huh-uh.

Have to disagree luggage is stowed in bus cargo holds for bus companies convenience. It's due to luggage size and passenger safety. Most likely if you were willing to pay full passenger fare for a piece of luggage, you could keep it on the seat beside you. Airlines offer this for fragile items like musical instruments. No, it wouldn't work on DME since there's no per-passenger charge.

You could try tipping the counter person at the airport. I never have, but only because I never thought of it - but it's a person who handles your luggage. We tip skycaps, we tip RAC personnel; why not the counter agent? Baggage handlers on the tarmac? No, you can't go out there for (again) insurance reasons. But you could ask tge gate agent if they can hand a tip to the baggage handlers. Problem is, you don't know who that is.

The ONLY reason you don't tip for DME-delivered luggage to our rooms is that Disney does, as part of the service.

Feel free to justify not tipping any way you choose.

 

[Klismania]

Feel free to justify tipping or/not tipping any way you choose.

With the blue adjustment above I'm happy to see that we are now in full agreement with each other! Have a Disney Day!

(See? There IS pixie dust on the Transportation Board!)

 

[kaytieeldr]

Sarcasm isn't becoming, and nobody seems to feel compelled to justify why they do tip - only why they don't.

 

[Klismania]

Sarcasm isn't becoming, and nobody seems to feel compelled to justify why they do tip - only why they don't.

Not sure why you thought I was being sarcastic unless, of course, you were being snarkastic to me when you said I was justifying not tipping so you were expecting some kind of sarcastic response from me. Whatever.

FTR, I'm one of those shiney, happy, bubbly over-tip people, but I can see the OP's and other poster's points and wholeheartedly agree with Frommer's (a respected publication) opinion about not tipping everyone who touches your bag just because they touched your bag.

Hey, I only come here once in awhile to check out what people are saying about flights and rental cars because I have a trip coming up. This thread caught my eye, that's all. Obviously I've somehow insulted you or stepped on your toes. I'll apologize and go back into hiding now.

 

[sam_gordon]

The story's not changing at all. I simply pointed out in all fairness to the situation, this was the culmination of a few incidents we had over the 2 weeks, HOWEVER, rude (and out of line) as I believe the driver was, the anger in my OP was put more towards him because of the other situations, this coming at the end of the trip, and me being really ticked off at the time and posting it on my phone at the airport as something of a vent. What I should have done is skip this thread and just included the information on my full trip report.
I still stand by that the driver was out of line. Not sure what's so hard to understand here, however, I'll repeat it once again:

I believe in tipping no matter what, as a matter of personal preference and belief. I was a bit embarrassed that I didn't have any small bills to tip with. However, though I believe in tipping, I don't believe you should be given an attitude for NOT tipping in every situation.

Sorry if people don't agree or understand.

I understand and I agree. My bigger problem is when you came back and blamed Disney for pushing "cashless" and said "he did nothing to deserve the tip".

I will admit I used a bad choice of words when I said you were in the wrong. I agree people (even those in "tip" positions) shouldn't EXPECT tips.

 

[Lewisc]

I can't find that piece of tipping information anyplace on Frommer's site. Every tipping guide I've found is either silent or suggests tipping a shuttle driver $1 or $2, even if they don't handle your luggage. No question the article is talking about "luggage relay".

A few places which talk about tipping shuttle drivers.
http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2011/03/28/ultimate-tipping-guide/
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/...u-travel/overview/tipping-when-you-travel.htm

The closes service I can think of is the complimentary shuttle driver who takes you from the airport to an airport hotel or car rental lot.

Add me to the group of posters who think the OP felt embarrassed by the driver when he didn't tip. I make sure to have enough singles for tips. Nothing wrong with smiling and saying something like, I'm not that generous, can you break a twenty.

 

[sonofanarchy]

I understand and I agree. My bigger problem is when you came back and blamed Disney for pushing "cashless" and said "he did nothing to deserve the tip".

I will admit I used a bad choice of words when I said you were in the wrong. I agree people (even those in "tip" positions) shouldn't EXPECT tips.

Yeah, I guess that's just an opinion about the whole cashless thing. For us, this trip, we carried very little (sometimes no) cash at all. I didn't mean to say it in a bad way. I thought it was great. I loved the convenience of the new set-up.

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

I feel for the driver in this place, even if he was a bit out of line. These drivers count on tips to provide for their families. It is customary to tip anyone who handles your baggage - and in this case a stroller counts - $1 to $2 per bag, so in this case, the driver was shorted that amount.

The OP's initial comments appear to indicate that the primary reason for not tipping was because they didn't have any bills small enough, even if they attempted to clarify that later (in general I never buy someone's second reason given as their primary reason as it just doesn't make sense). I'd say both the driver and the OP are in the wrong and call it a wash.