Rude comments to Mears Drivers

[Pigsty333]

We recently moved to the Orlando area after many years of vacationing here. My husband finally got a job driving for Mears. He was excited about it, since he had a hard time finding anything and we have three kids (23 in college, 12 and 10). The pay is not great - can you believe $6 per hour. However, they tell them that tips will help them out.

My husband drove two days - from 6PM to 2:AM and all he got was $9 in tips total. This is ridiculous. People travel and carry their entire house in suitcases, he has to lift all of them and put them in the van/bus and then drive you, your family, and whatever other guests are on that ride, take you to your location and unload your bags and he gets not even a thank you.

It makes me laugh that those staying at the high end hotels (Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, AKL) didn't even tip, not to mention the Asians and Europeans. However, the ones that stayed at the Moderate and Budget Hotels (ALL Star, Riverside) where the ones to tip.

He even had a passenger, even though he told them he was new and didn't know his way completely around the area, to bear with him that haughtily advised him that perhaps he should find a different line of work.

That was rude. He was really excited and today he tells me that he is thinking of quitting because everyone is so nasty. Think it over, these guys are underpaid, they must purchase all their uniforms so they are not rolling in dough. Perhaps a "Thank you" or "Have a Good Day" might suffice instead of a miserable or nasty comment.

I am sorry, but I felt that I had to vent

 

[maureenmac]

Sorry to hear about the treatment your husband received. A similar thing happened to our DS one summer. He worked for a company that supplied wait staff and bartenders for private parties. Everytime he worked a party for the very rich in the Hamptons he was never given a tip. Believe me they worked hard at these parties, maybe because the people at them were used to being served. The other people he worked for all tipped very well and were a dream to serve, please, thank you etc. You know the old saying "There is good and bad in everyone". Hopefully the people he drove weren't the norm.

 

[Alison Wonderland]

Has he had other jobs dealing with the public or is this the first. People are just rude,aren't they? It is hard to deal with the public. I try to remind myself that the people who are rude like that are very unhappy in their personal lives and with themselves, and it shows in the way they treat other people.

 

[inkkognito]

My sympathy is definitely with you!
We don't use shuttles anymore, but when we used Mears, we always tipped the driver. When we use hotel shuttles now (we stay at MCO area hotels before our cruises), we always tip the driver. There is only one time that we have ever not tipped, and believe me, there was a good reason for it. It takes a pretty bad situation for me not to give a few $$. Our drivers have ranged from quiet and businesslike to pleasant and talkative, and either way is fine with me. Unless I was in a huge hurry (like going to miss my plane!), I wouldn't mind if the driver told me that he was new. Too many people sweat the small stuff.
His experiences remind me of a taxi incident in Grand Cayman in which one passenger really exemplified the "Ugly American." In GC, you wait until the taxi van fills before it leaves. This man was with his wife and toddler daughter, and the whole while we were waiting, he kept berating the driver for charging for his "tiny baby" (the kid was at the walking/talking stage...definitely old enough and large enough to take up a full seat). The fare was only $3 anyway. He went on and on, and even said to some of the other passengers, "Don't you think my daughter is much too cute to pay? Don't you think the driver should pay me for having her in his taxi?" Finally, he asked the driver, "Can I take your picture?" The driver said, "Okay," although you could tell he was confused, and Mr. Personality said, "Great! That way I can show all my friends at home the driver who charge me for my little cute baby." Then, for the whole journey, he kept ranting about how he was not going to tip the driver because he was charging his trip for the "tiny, cute baby."
After witnessing that, I renewed my vow to treat everyone I meet, no matter what their job, with courtesy and respect, as I never want anyone to think about me what I was thinking about that man.
Kudos to your husband for surviving in a difficult job this long!
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Pigsty333
We recently moved to the Orlando area after many years of vacationing here. My husband finally got a job driving for Mears. He was excited about it, since he had a hard time finding anything and we have three kids (23 in college, 12 and 10). The pay is not great - can you believe $6 per hour. However, they tell them that tips will help them out.

My husband drove two days - from 6PM to 2:AM and all he got was $9 in tips total. This is ridiculous. People travel and carry their entire house in suitcases, he has to lift all of them and put them in the van/bus and then drive you, your family, and whatever other guests are on that ride, take you to your location and unload your bags and he gets not even a thank you.

It makes me laugh that those staying at the high end hotels (Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, AKL) didn't even tip, not to mention the Asians and Europeans. However, the ones that stayed at the Moderate and Budget Hotels (ALL Star, Riverside) where the ones to tip.

He even had a passenger, even though he told them he was new and didn't know his way completely around the area, to bear with him that haughtily advised him that perhaps he should find a different line of work.

That was rude. He was really excited and today he tells me that he is thinking of quitting because everyone is so nasty. Think it over, these guys are underpaid, they must purchase all their uniforms so they are not rolling in dough. Perhaps a "Thank you" or "Have a Good Day" might suffice instead of a miserable or nasty comment.

I am sorry, but I felt that I had to vent

You know, that really stinks!!!! Wish they had something at Mears that say something along the line of "tips are appreciated", or "not included in the fare". Ah, the joys of working with the public.

 

[~Sparkly~Zoe]

"Tipping is not a place in china".

 

[Gary M]

I wouldn't last 30 seconds working with the public. So many people are so rude, self centered and just plain cheap, when it comes to dealing with service people.

When we used to take the Mears shuttle, we stayed at the GF, but tipped the driver very well. The driver almost seemed surprised to get a tip. On the stops to the GF it was obvious that most people didn't tip. If I recall correctly, there was a sign on the dash of the van or bus that said tips are not included in the fare and would be appreciated.

 

[Tinkbell]

That's a shame. People often tip taxi cab drivers, why wouldn't they think to tip the shuttle?

 

[Kimberle]

Wow! That's too bad.

We take a towncar & normally tip $20 per trip.

Hope things pick up for your hubby.

 

[jayb5]

It makes me laugh that those staying at the high end hotels (Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, AKL) didn't even tip, not to mention the Asians and Europeans.

It's a shame that some people aren't aware of the tipping etiquette, but what does being Asian or European have to do with anything?

I'm not sure if you were implying that Asians or Europeans are wealthier, but you have to understand that tipping is a foreign concept in some countries.

 

[HockeyDadof2]

Hola

 

[nhrenee]

I took the inference was that they don't tip well. Dh travels to europe and it is not customary to tip much. They usually round up the tab or if it's an even amount, a few euros.

 

[sadeeyore]

There really is no excuse to be so rude or not to tip properly. Even if it isn't customary to tip much in the country that someone lives in, if we choose to holiday in another country then it should be that custom that we follow.
Most travel guides talk about tips - so visitors to Florida have a guide to how much to tip and know that they should tip.

 

[Pigsty333]

Not to insult anyone, but yes, they tend not to tip, since it is not so customary in their countries. However, a lot of them have been to the US quite often and know the routine. Normally, when traveling out of one's usual country/environment, don't we do a little research?

He was in the customer service business all his life (from being a taxi driver in NY to working in the Installation, Dispatch, Customer Service, Construction end of the Cable Business, as an EMT, Emergency Room worker. So yes, he has had his share of experiences, but this was the pits. I mean, $6 bucks an hour did not even pay for his $300 in uniforms (you must buy them), all the tolls in Florida to get to and from work, gas, etc.

Needless to say - we had a sit down and agreed that he needed to look elsewhere. He did, and found a job at the airport. Not exactly his cup of tea, but he is happier and is home by 1PM everyday, instead of 2:2:30AM.

I always tip and very well and we are not rich. Even my furniture delivery guys, cable installers, etc. get a tip from me. I know how hard it is to make ends meet and every little extra penny helps, even if it just buys lunch.

Thanks for your support.

 

[Amyality]

I did not realize that it is customary to tip the shuttle bus driver. In my defense, I have not traveled by bus much. We just took our first family trip to WDW, took the Mears shuttle and stayed at ASM and certainly would have tipped if we realized we should.
Certainly every human being has a right to be respected so, sorry for your hubby that he has to tolerate. People really can be terrible! Or, I guess in my case ignorant!

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I've only been on Mears twice- but both times they had a little sign/placard thingy on the dashboard in clear view no matter where you sat- that mentioned tipping. I tipped- not a whole lot.... couple dollars- but I did tip. (I only had one bag compared to the other's huge amount of bags and I was completely smooshed they packed it so tight - so I sat the 1.5hr ride being crammed into the side by a man on my solo trip... yes, took 1.5hrs to get to my resort in the middle of the night- I wasn't in a real generous mood. I think they tried to get too many people on there- the others weren't using seatbelts which was a good thing- since there wasn't enough seatbelts for all those people!)

In any case... my thoughts on why SOMETIMES (wouldn't dare say all the time or most of the time) those are let's say "well off" are less likely to give tips in some cases while others that are NOT well off do (in some cases) MIGHT be because they know what it's like to not be well off and make $6 an hour. It might be hard for someone else to either remember what that was like (much like it's difficult at times to put yourself in your child's shoes at whatever age they are- even though you were there once long time ago) or perhaps they've never had to experience not being "well off" or wealthy?
It's a possibility.
I had no idea they were only paid barely over minimum wage PLUS having to buy their uniforms and such though. I guess it's kinda like waittressing- depending on tips or not making enough to live on without the tips!

 

[manning]

It makes me laugh that those staying at the high end hotels (Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, AKL) didn't even tip, not to mention the Asians and Europeans. However, the ones that stayed at the Moderate and Budget Hotels (ALL Star, Riverside) where the ones to tip.

I caddied when I was a kid, many moons ago, that had members both rich and working class. Three guesses which ones didn't tip. The first two don't count. You can guess which ones lost the most golf balls.

 

[Amyality]

I will never take a Mear bus again, certainly not because of the drivers (who did their jobs well) but, It took us the 1.5 hours you speak of to get to the resort too. After a long wait to get on a bus, just when you think we thought we were on our way, the bus makde two more loops around the airport. Nothing against Mears (I'm sure this is standard) but, I'll definitely be shelling out for a private ride next time or at least a van.
Amy

 

[crisi]

I've only taken Mears once and I can't say if I tipped or not, it was a long time ago. I don't know that I would have - because it doesn't seem like a "taxi" service to me - more like a specialized bus route - and I don't tip bus drivers.

But I'll say that to have to rely on tipping is horrible. Mears charges enough that they should be able to pay the drivers a living wage. I would have assumed a Mears driver was making closer to $15 or $20 an hour (and if that were the case, why would I tip). Given the Mears setup (bus like route, very little personal contact with the driver in comparison to a towncar) it isn't really set up to encourage tipping. Not to mention that everyone taking Mears that doesn't have the first stop is inclined to be cranky. My experience wasn't horrible, but it wasn't set up for me to hand the driver a ten for getting me to my resort promptly and comfortably either - squashed next to strangers who had too much luggage - stopping at four hotels before reaching our stop.

Oh, and that would have been my honeymoon...which means we would have been dropped off at the Poly - but it was a gift from my out-laws (my first marriage), and we sure didn't have the spending money to go with the accomodations. Don't jump to those assumptions.

And Europeans and Asians don't have a tipping culture. Some (many here on the Dis) make an effort to learn what is appropriate. But some come with no idea that tipping is expected.

Perhaps your husband should check around with the towncar services and see if he can get in there - with a tight economy, it may take a while. Or even start his own towncar service. I doubt Mears pay, training, or clientele is going to improve.

Although I don't agree with the person who haughtily said your husband should find another line of work - I do have to agree in principle that if his job is to drive people around Disney area resorts, he should know where he is going - Mears takes long enough without a driver getting lost. I'm not paying those rates so that he can learn Orlando roads.

 

[Tartan Tigger]

I have been to WDW 6 times and have used Mears on every visit. I have always tipped the driver with the exception of one return journey to the airport. The driver pulls up at the All Star Movies asks our name, checks his list and tells us we are on his bus and then walks away We moved all our luggage ourselves over to the bus. We picked up at numerous hotels on the way to the airport (eeryone on bus was British). He never helped anyone with their luggage and when we got to the airport he opened the door of the bus but he remained in his seat, with a bowl for tips next to him.
He got off the bus after the last passenger, no-one gave him a tip and he didn't even open the boot (think you call it a trunk in the US ), three passengers for our bus emptied the boot while the driver stood back and watched. He was overheard commenting to another driver how he never got a single tip. Surely he must have realised why.

At all other times I have found Mears drivers to be extremely friendly and very helpful.