www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I agree, VB, there is no reason why we can't be civil and agree to disagree. I just think calling someone lame and implying that they are some sort of cheap braggart is not so civil.

On your point about apples and oranges, I also agree. That is why we tip restaurant help (to return to that example), who are paid below the minimum wage and who depend on their tips, for performing their relatively low-skilled menial labor, but we don't tip our doctors and lawyers who make well over the local average income for performing tasks that they had to study hard for for many years. Most people would never consider tipping their doctor who saves our life, but tipping a waitress 15% of the total meal bill for providing just adequate service is considered a given. That may or not be fair but it is our custom in this country. Customs are different in other countries and a hard and fast percentage rule is inadequate at best.

You think phucking and sucking old fat gringos is distasteful and it is, but who is to say it is any more distasteful than a gynecologist looking into the twats of middle-aged menopausal women day after day. Like many professionals, MP girls and bar girls make more than the typical tico and certainly much more than the Tico minimum wage. The reason is not because of the years of training it took for them to assume their positions. It is precisely because of the "distastefulness" of what they do. In other words, its already covered.

The local custom is NOT to tip a fixed percentage of the service cost it is not to tip at ALL. The percentage concept is ours and goes beyond what we are expected to do. The girls agree to work for the amount they are paid. Certainly, the bar girls do as the amount is negotiated in advance. Any tip is really just a nice bonus. In my mind, it should be reserved NOT just for girls who provide good service (they ALL should be doing that). It should be reserved for girls who go beyond merely good and provide truly superlative service.

I'm not going to say whether guys should (or should not) tip. Although the local custom is definitely NOT to (or at least it WAS before we got there). Thats really up to each monger to decide for himself. I'm just stating my view. I see many aspects of Tico life becoming more and more americanized and frankly its a shame. I would hate to see things reach the point they have in the states, where a tip has really become an entitlement for even just average service. When a MP worker who grudgingly provided a mediocre BBBJ, wonders why she didn't get a tip, you know things are heading in the wrong direction.

I don't expect everyone to agree with me or to change everyone's point of view (hopefully some though). I am just trying to explain the reasoning behind my viewpoint.

I'm not saying

For what it's worth, a couple on former ZB girls have told me that they receive c 7,000 per session. They also said that this is a lower percentage than at other MP's.

If this is so (and I only have their word for it), it begs the question why there appears to be less turnover at ZB than at some other MP's. It would appear that there would have to be some other pluses in the working environment and that good tips would probably one of those pluses (among the others already mentinoned).

If the c 7,000 cut is correct, my c3,000 to c 4,000 propina for exceptional service is in reality a 43 to 57% tip--a much higher percentage than I would tip for any service in the US, but it seems about right for good service in the high end Tico MP's.

Hi Guys

Good to see so much movement on the boards. Sorry to interject but the thread on tipping and ZB being mentioned i thought i would add a few things if I may.

First it was good seeing many you at the CRT party.. this group is really a bunch of great guys and it was a pleasure meeting many of you for the first time. ( That Johnny Black is a cool guy.. )

in regards to tipping.. the official policy at ZB is under no circumstances are any of the ZB girls allowed to ask for a tip. If this ever happens just PM me and I will take care of it or if you have a bad experience please also PM me ( Ill also buy you a beer for helping me out.. Muchas Gracias ). Getting feedback from you really helps us get better.

Tipping in general is a personal thing.. there is no right or wrong its just depends on the individual.

as far as the girls pay the information you recieved Pelo de Gato is incorrect.. but I don't want to waste anyone time here with this stuff

If anyone ever has any questions about ZB just PM me and I will be happy to answer them.

in the meantime.. thank you for all your support. because the truth is

Wanda and I truly appreciate it.


Hope to see you guys soon

Best Regards

Eddie

PS. I know I had alot of questions at the party regarding the operational date of the shuttle and I'm really sorry for that delay. This was due in part to the focus with the construction.and some insurance issues. But now that is finished we plan on launching full time the ZB shuttle starting late Nov. this will be available free of charge to our clients. the hours will be from 12 noon until 9PM.

Thanks again

It seems that the general consensus is to tip exceptional performance between 2K-5K colones. A few "tip" by simply coming back for more with the MP girls who provide better service while a few others believe they should compensate for what they feel are absurdly low Tico standards by tipping much larger amounts to any and all MP girls in order to bring her pay up to what they feel is more appropriate. Was that summarized and phrased objectively enough? I hope so.

Couple of comments to Pelo de Gato. To use the ridiculously overworked waitress analogy a little more, tips are usually calculated on the total meal bill and not the server's portion of it. Regardless of what the chicas get paid your 3-4K tip falls right in the 15-20% range where I, at least, feel it belongs and not the 43-57% that you calculated. Second comment is this: why do you and the doc automatically believe anything one of these gals tells you, particularly when it comes to money?

BlueC….

Thanks for the kind words, it was a pleasure to again meet and talk with you during our Anniversary Week back in September. Wanda and the Staff provided Outstanding Service and Hospitality for our group that special Sunday. The House was Rocking and my part was a very small one in comparison to what the Admins and again Your Staff did for all of us….

Back on Topic…Tipping…

I’m not the exception but Far From the Norm when it comes to tipping out a nice lady that I have been intimate with. I do things that make Me Happy not what others feel that I Should or Should Not do…

I am a very giving person in Real Time and when I’m on my Fantasy Adventures I continue the pattern that I’ve always have had. Whether it’s with a group of Friends and the Bar Tab appears <No alligator hands here>, or A gal is in need of assistance because she hasn’t made a dime all night.

I’ve been in the Hospitality Business all of my life and know what the Highs and Lows of Giving Great Service and the Returns of that Investment are. Disappointing it may seem to get Stiffed on a Tab, or being on the receiving end of a small reward for Great Services given; however I learned over the years that for every dollar that was shorted I made back two times with the people who over extended gratuities or goodwill for the very same services that I always provided.

It was my consistent approach to treat everyone as equal that has always been successful for me… I never thought badly of the Folks that didn’t extend goodwill and I would not be honest if I said that I didn’t remember the ones that did offer extra… but I never cut my service performance to anyone because lack of kindness or as I said before Goodwill…

I respect all that say they Never Give or they Limit Their Goodwill for Service Providers…. As there is no Written Rule on Giving… I for one do appreciate providers that give of themselves to make My Day one better than last. Will this seed of generosity break the banks of the World, will this action that I Choose to do reflect on the ones who choose their Own way of showing of their appreciations…. I think not… for everyone that doesn’t give I’m that one that makes up the difference.

We all have choices in life and we should be doing things that make ourselves feel good and or honorable. I don’t do things purposely to please others only because they say it must be so…. And again I think we all agree that we can disagree.. And I also know the politics and thought process of doing something that should be customary to the Culture…. And these are also very valid talking points… But Service/ Hospitality is in my Blood and I’ll always respect the ones that Provide a Service with Dignity, Honesty, and Respect….

So to each his own… No Right or Wrong Answers … at least in the eyes of this thrill seeker.

Now Who Needs Party Beads, the girls are waiting for their tokens of desires!!!!

JB

Bluecoyote

I just want to say we appreciate the avenue that you have given us to help in the continued success of the ZB.

As a business owner I am constantly asking for input from my clients as well as my workers. This open invitation to address certain issues with you directly and seeing that you are open to that only shows that you care about your business and clients.

My hats off to you and Wanda.

Sincerely,

ShowerHead

hope not to stir the controversy, but here's a list of the folks I tipped last trip:

the idem girl 5K, because I loved her.

the lady at costa del sol 3K on the last night there for being super nice to us all three times we went there.

the banjo guy 2K for rocking the house.

the blind flamenco guitarist by gran hotel 3K+coins because he should have a recording contract.

the bellboys at the Pres a $5 bill for wrestling with a cart full of bags heavier than them put together.

the dell rey and prez bartenders many times out of bar-habit.

the cab driver that picked us up after the futbol game got a flat 5K for being the funniest man in CR and, ironically, for being one of the few cab guys to actually use the meter.

who I specifically didn't tip:

no beggars

none of the guys opening the cab door for me as I'm already opening it.

none of the guys directing me to a cab I'm already getting in.

none of the del rey girls I took to the room.