Clients letting people down

[www.yorkshireroestalking.]

Well i think its going off topic now my original post was meant for malc, a pros niggle to another.
I tip everywhere i shoot be it a keeper or selfemployed whatever, his income matters not to me, my reward for his efforts is given the more effort(not kills) the more reward, its what i was taught. Heres one for you on beaters day i go on many beater are non shooters -so they beat still. Some are proffessional people, the days end we have a whip around for all of them on top of their pay packet, would you say only give the extra to those who are employed/unemployed?
I also tip in cafes if the meal/service was good.

 

[eggy s]

I dont confirm the booking with out the daily fees being paid in full.

If they cancel up to 48 hours before hand then no problems they get their deposit back. 48 to 24 hours we reschedule. Under 24 hours its in the T&C's they lose it but it depends on who they are as if this happens or not.

This is your income and your time you have to protect it.

 

[6pointer]

John PM mate if you want to talk to some one this is an open forum with opinions some you will agree with many you wont.I don't agree with begging for tips on an open forum were you are getting most of your work .If you don't think you are paid enough for what you do increase your prise simple.

 

[www.yorkshireroestalking.]

Some of you have mis-understood my posts.
i am not underpaid, nor am i "begging" for tips, I think the principle has been lost and its a shame(not for financial gain) just for reward.
A fiver for a drink isn't going to make any difference to my income but the thought goes a long way.
I do get some clients off here but you are also under a misunderstanding here also to think its "most of my work".
If I was hard done to I would increase my outings or get a part-time job.
For me who's been employed from 17 in a shooters world doesn't know any other way then "seeing some one right"
I'm not saying not tippings wrong just not the way I do things with others.

 

[sikamalc]

Cant see how Johns post has anything to do with begging for a tip!! Its nice to get a tip, but I never ask for it, although some clients have been very generous over the years to me.

My post was about those on here or anywhere else come to that, who let people down with feeble excuses. I will be finishing on the doe's and hinds this weekend and will then be preparing for the Roe Buck season. I have seen one or two stonkers on my lease in the past two weeks, so looking forward to the long summer evenings.

 

[trouble]

Tips , funny old thing , on shoot days we get them and off over seas stalkers but its usualy a bottle of drink at xmas off UK stalkers , but their you go i knew what the wages were when i took the job . One thing that embaresses me is when the lads have a whip round for us on beaters days , these days are to thank beaters and helpers not for them to tip us , now theyve started doing it on the hare shoots .

 

[6pointer]

Get some pictures up that should get the boys bloods up. I think tipping is personel and emotive some do some dont but it dose seem that the same people get upset about it each time the issue comes up.

 

[HME]

John
I agree whole-heartedly. There ought to be a professional stalkers charter which any client should have to abide by - only yesterday I had a client out, I spent the whole day not just two outings looking for deer for him, got him onto three fallow but he wasn't quick enough, a Munty buck with a growth which needed shooting, same story and then finally I let him shoot a roe doe which wasn't a perfect shot by a way, I then did a lengthy gralloch showing him everything and explaining things bit by bit. Met him at 06.30, he left at 18.30 - his comments, it's been fantastic, I've seen more deer in a day than I did in a week on Arran, see you next time. Jumps into land rover and away! Next time is two outings and he can firkin well amuse himself through the day!

Now, I don't expect a tip at all, but I always go the extra mile to try to get someone a result, thats how I was brought up, I was also taught the old way, a small gratuity goes a long way, I even had to buy my own bacon roll and cup of tea!

You live and you learn.

HME

 

[www.yorkshireroestalking.]

John
I agree whole-heartedly. There ought to be a professional stalkers charter which any client should have to abide by - only yesterday I had a client out, I spent the whole day not just two outings looking for deer for him, got him onto three fallow but he wasn't quick enough, a Munty buck with a growth which needed shooting, same story and then finally I let him shoot a roe doe which wasn't a perfect shot by a way, I then did a lengthy gralloch showing him everything and explaining things bit by bit. Met him at 06.30, he left at 18.30 - his comments, it's been fantastic, I've seen more deer in a day than I did in a week on Arran, see you next time. Jumps into land rover and away! Next time is two outings and he can firkin well amuse himself through the day!

Now, I don't expect a tip at all, but I always go the extra mile to try to get someone a result, thats how I was brought up, I was also taught the old way, a small gratuity goes a long way, I even had to buy my own bacon roll and cup of tea!

You live and you learn.

HME

This is what i mean i too at this time of year have clients in my house cup of tea'ing and butties between outings.
I can't get much done(neither can the wife) because they are sat watchng my DVD's, we don't mind but when they go even a few quid to give to the misses would be a gesture.
I say a few quid as theres only so my booze you can drink.
Not absolutley nessesary but gladly recieved.
Like i said earlier if you go the extra distance.
I am not upset about this, its been happening for the last 7 years that i've been pro. But I would call it manners. Like taking your boots off before going into someones house, you shouldn't have to think aout it.
p.s many of my clients do buy my breakfast and i would class that as a tip.

 

[andymarsh]

I had a client booked for the part week at the end of last stag season and the start of the hinds, they had booked 5 stags and 5 hinds and a cottage, they paid the daily rates as a deposit and up untill the friday before where all ready to come as they told me on the phone when I gave them directions. Sunday comes and the cottage is ready, monday no word so phoned them, no answer, tuesday no answer, I'm beggining to worry, come wednesday morning and still no answer I phoned my boss who told me to go and start shooting stags but to keep my mobile on, by the afternoon of the thurday 20th (last day of the season) I had shot 4 old stags, only to come in of the hill to find the client standing at the cottage with a large G&T in his hand, I asked him why the F**K he hadn't let me know he was going to be late, his comment to me was that he was the customer and he can arrive when he wants to. I had a quick phone conversation with my boss, and handed him a bill for the costs remaining up to thursday and then ejected him from the cottage.

It happens, it shoudn't, but it does,


we now ask for a bigger deposit

having said that I realy enjoyed having 2 days on the hill after stags on my own,


Andy

 

[richard1951]

i always usto tip in years gone by but i find it very bad practice the way things go these days .... i do not like haveing a visa machine thrust in my face with the screen asking me to put in the amount of gratuity i wish to give . so i now just get the bill and put money on plate and usualy just round it up to the next note if bill is say 45.40 i leave 50 and if it is 49.95 i still leave 50 unless it has been exceptional service then i may leave a bit more
Richard

 

[bogtrotter]

i always usto tip in years gone by but i find it very bad practice the way things go these days .... i do not like haveing a visa machine thrust in my face with the screen asking me to put in the amount of gratuity i wish to give . so i now just get the bill and put money on plate and usualy just round it up to the next note if bill is say 45.40 i leave 50 and if it is 49.95 i still leave 50 unless it has been exceptional service then i may leave a bit more
Richard

Great idea, wonder what my stalking clients will say when I appear with a visa machine

 

[richard1951]

Don't know but you will be able to say "American express.... that will do nicely sir " lol

 

[sikamalc]

This is what i mean i too at this time of year have clients in my house cup of tea'ing and butties between outings.
I can't get much done(neither can the wife) because they are sat watchng my DVD's, we don't mind but when they go even a few quid to give to the misses would be a gesture.
I say a few quid as theres only so my booze you can drink.
Not absolutley nessesary but gladly recieved.
Like i said earlier if you go the extra distance.
I am not upset about this, its been happening for the last 7 years that i've been pro. But I would call it manners. Like taking your boots off before going into someones house, you shouldn't have to think aout it.
p.s many of my clients do buy my breakfast and i would class that as a tip.

How true John.

Not that I am complaining but as a rule after stalking with me all clients get offered a full Monty breakfast for free, or at least a cuppa. Some stay on and enjoy, others leave and amuse themselves for the day before returning. Either way it can tie you down and you can end up spending more time with them than you planned.

With many I have no issue with this as they nearly always return to stalk, and sometimes bring friends which is more business. It goes with the game we are in and after many years, nothing suprises me anymore!!

On the plus side I have met some wonderful people, especially from over seas, one of whom gave me 2 rifles as a gift, and another a paid trip to Africa, providing I did his taxidermy work. I have also stayed in their homes whilst in the States, and only last year had a holiday in California for free with an old long standing client.

Onwards and upwards as they say.

 

[bogtrotter]

Had just left school and started on my first keepering job, gun at the end of the day thanked me and my head keeper for the day handed the head keaper half a crown and said have a drink on me [ half a crown 25p would buy a pint then just] he looked me up and down and said you are to young to drink but never mind your turn will come and walked off bxxxxr

 

[bewsher500]

i always usto tip in years gone by but i find it very bad practice the way things go these days .... i do not like haveing a visa machine thrust in my face with the screen asking me to put in the amount of gratuity i wish to give . so i now just get the bill and put money on plate and usualy just round it up to the next note if bill is say 45.40 i leave 50 and if it is 49.95 i still leave 50 unless it has been exceptional service then i may leave a bit more
Richard

you should leave cash on the table as a matter of course.
Tips paid with the bill are often not passed on in full to the serving staff.
usually 15% of "overbills" go to the staff the rest goes to the restaurant.
your tips are being used to make up the difference between the below minimum wage and the wage they actually get at your expense.

you will often find restaurants also have a policy where money left on the table is divided equally amongst the staff at the end of the night, (this can but not always) include kitchen staff who dont get tips.
but if you really get good service, surely the person giving you that service should get "your" tip.
insist. usually if you give it to them in person rather than the cursory coin dump on the table they will get to keep it

 

[BunnyDoom]

I've never tipped for stalking - didn't realise it was expected to be honest as it's not the norm in the UK eh! I normally would on a shotgun day, but it depends on the etiquette of the particular shoot.

If I could afford to give out guns as tips I'd probably just buy my own land/lease

Is tipping the norm then? I'm surprised at this as thought the cost of the shot ("cull fee") was the tip?

Stalking fees are expensive for the average earner, and personally if I should be tipping 10-15% every time I go then I probably can't afford it!

I agree it's good manners to offer something in return for hospitality between stalks (if not included in the rate) but to me that's a nice bottle of plonk, a gift, service, or an offer of hospitality in return.

 

[baconbuttie]

I'm at Malc's West Sussex lease in a couple of weeks and am planning to sleep in my hammock the night before. Nothing is going to stop me getting out on this trip ! I just need a couple of (reasonable strong) trees and I'm happy.

 

[6pointer]

BB Best of luck and tell him you will give him a tip for ayr on saturday. (Open your window friday night ) I dont take tips i just say no

 

[roestalker]

Malc,

I have had the same a number of times, really annoying and if you work for yourself it is simply a loss of earnings. I don't mind changing dates when we can if there is a genuine problem. Just did that last week for a client who could not have made it for good reasons.

Personally, with any shooting booking if I can't make it, or am unable to put someone in my place then I pay. It is my booking and am responsible for that booking.

I now always ask for a 50% deposit unless I know the clients well and funnily enough that stopped most of the let downs.

I have on the odd occasion cancelled an outing, with the agreement of the client, usually on a single stalking outing booking and due to very poor weather where the guest was very unlikley to see anything. This is with local guys, and we always fix another date.

How about a pro stalker rant section, we all need a grouse now and again, a good rant does everyone good