Tipping ME driver?

[goofy4tink]

A few points here...
first...how do I get Bob Smob as a driver? He sounds terrific.

then...all tips are taken care of if you are using DME the way it is designed..to get your bags from the plane to your resort. Those that do not use this service will find they are on their own tip-wise. Only at the resort level is the whole 'gratuity' issue taken care of. If, for whatever reason, you choose to have bags on the bus with you, and they go underneath the bus, then you should be tipping the driver. If he/she touches a bag, you can/should tip. Now...as I said before, if they start announcing that 'gratuities are gratefully accepted' as part of their spiel, then none will be forthcoming from me, whether or not I have bags under that bus!! I have tipped before with no bags at all, just because the driver was exceptional.

Tipping is never something you have to do. Yes, there are situations where it is most likely expected but not on the buses for DME. It is not expected...it is an optional thing. That's how DME is designed...no tipping because you most likely don't have bags since they have been sent along on a different vehicle, right to your room.

 

[Lewisc]

I also wonder why you tipped. The driver should be happy you didn't use your cell phone to complain on the spot. What's the point of having lifts if the dirver doesn't know how to use it? It wouldn't have been fair to the other passenger, so I probably wouldn't have done it, but I wouldn't have blamed you if you told the driver to get on his radio and have Mears send someone who knows how to work the lift.

I guess I'm one of those who read the literature that lead me to believe that gratuitites (except bags from room to DME for chekc-out) were included. If others are reading it the same way, then it is not just me, so I don't feel so bad.

You answered one part of my post, but what do you think about the part you did not repsond to...



I did give the driver a tip, but I still wonder why. I did everything except drive the bus, I handed my bags (all I had was carry-on), I loaded and unloaded my scooter.

Andy

 

[minniebeth]

I was surprised at my experience: I did not have any luggage, but a stroller that was put underneath the bus. At the resort, the DME bus driver got off the bus and unloaded all the bags, etc. He did not look for tips whatsoever.
People had to go out of their way to give them to him. I gave him $2 (I just feel cheap to give him $1 for the stroller he didn't even know was mine).
His response was "Bless you" with a very humble smile to everyone who tipped him. It actually made you feel good that he APPRECIATED it!

 

[SueM in MN]

We just got back and used Magical Express both ways with a wheelchair. We had no problems with that. The bus drivers both knew how to use the lifts and all the tiedowns for the wheelchair.

Having a lift and a driver who does not know how to use it are violations of the ADA (American with Disabilities). On our last trip in October, we reported the shuttle bus driver for the off-site car rental place for not knowing how to use their equipment. They rectified the situation by having an education session for all their drivers so they knew what the equipment was and how to use it.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Personally, I don't buy the "I don't know how to use it" excuse with Mears. All drivers are trained on the three basic types of lifts (including the DME & DCL lifts) during thier 2 week orientation training program. Even seasoned drivers had to go through the training. Even if there was a senior driver who skipped out of it somehow, they are all well aware of which coaches have lifts, and can opt of out of the coach for a different one.

 

[zzyzx409]

We just got back and used Magical Express both ways with a wheelchair. We had no problems with that. The bus drivers both knew how to use the lifts and all the tiedowns for the wheelchair.

Having a lift and a driver who does not know how to use it are violations of the ADA (American with Disabilities). On our last trip in October, we reported the shuttle bus driver for the off-site car rental place for not knowing how to use their equipment. They rectified the situation by having an education session for all their drivers so they knew what the equipment was and how to use it.

The reporting idea sounds good in theory, but to what end?

Am I going to wait for a driver who know how to use the lift?

DME already has the pick-up time from the resorts timed so that we barely meet the timing required to get to the airport for the appropriate check-in period, so reporting a driver who does not know how to use the lift only serves to make me late for my flight.

Should I plan to be at the airport an extra hour or two, just so I can make allowances for DME drivers who cannot use their equpment?

It seems that reports of things like this aften fall on deaf ears anyway unless one is willing and or able to take the time to take legal action to make sure that someone hears.

It sure would be nice if folks would take responsibilty for their jobs and just "do the right thing".

<sigh> Oh, well... </sigh>

Andy

 

[SueM in MN]

The reporting idea sounds good in theory, but to what end?

We reported it so that they would have to fix it. If they didn't they would get fined under the ADA. It served the purpose in the case I talked about with the rental car shuttle that they DID fix the problem. They were afraid of having further problems and did take it very seriously
And in the situation where a driver might be saying they don't know how to use the lift just to avoid using it, their supervisor will be aware of what they are doing.

If we DIDN'T report it, there would be zero chance for anything to change.

Am I going to wait for a driver who know how to use the lift?

I don't know what you would plan to do, but we would have to wait for someone who knows how to use the lift. We would not have a choice.
DD can't walk and we would not be able to get her up the stairs of the bus. She would also have difficulty sitting up on a moving vehicle without being in her wheelchair.

DME already has the pick-up time from the resorts timed so that we barely meet the timing required to get to the airport for the appropriate check-in period, so reporting a driver who does not know how to use the lift only serves to make me late for my flight.

In the case of the car rental shuttle, we reported it after we were at our resort. So, it took time later on, not at the time of the bus ride.

Should I plan to be at the airport an extra hour or two, just so I can make allowances for DME drivers who cannot use their equpment?

We made sure that they knew we required a lift bus when we made our initial arrangements for DME and it was also noted on our reservation for our return trip. The driver in both cases had been alerted ahead of time that they would have a passenger who needed the lift and they were ready for us.

 

[zzyzx409]

We reported it so that they would have to fix it. If they didn't they would get fined under the ADA. It served the purpose in the case I talked about with the rental car shuttle that they DID fix the problem. They were afraid of having further problems and did take it very seriously
And in the situation where a driver might be saying they don't know how to use the lift just to avoid using it, their supervisor will be aware of what they are doing.

If we DIDN'T report it, there would be zero chance for anything to change.

I see your point. Next time I will report, because it is "the right thing to do". I should have thought about others following me instead of just trying to get home. I really do see the point, if no one reports, it never gets fixed.

We made sure that they knew we required a lift bus when we made our initial arrangements for DME and it was also noted on our reservation for our return trip. The driver in both cases had been alerted ahead of time that they would have a passenger who needed the lift and they were ready for us.

Too bad DME failed us on this! They even told us to call a day in advance so they would have the proper equipment available, but when we got there, they never heard of the request. The person at the DME check-in counter at MCO said that they had no request and implied to me that even if they had the request that they would still have to call for a bus with a lift when I checked in, and it always takes at least 30 minutes to get a bus with a lift and she said that it would work the same on the other end. Very confusing to me.

I will try again next time, and report back.

Thanks,

Andy