I posted an entry yesterday about my delivery Monday at the National Corvette Museum and tour of the factory. I posted pics etc but was asked by a forum member how much I tipped the delivery guide. Was I supposed to? Have any other members that took delivery tipped there guides? I feel like such a fool if I was supposed to. He was the best guide at the museum, his name was Larry McCool. The best, most knowlegable guide there. I paid 490.00 for the R8C delivery package so I just figured all was good. If I deserve to be flamed on this one then burn my ***! Im bending over, burn it good!

 

I've seen posts from some Forum members that they did not tip their guide. I've also seen posts where they have given tips as much as $100. With my delivery last August, I felt my guide (Curt) gave my wife and I the personal touches, which of course I expected to receive. However, I did appreciate all the personal attention and tipped him $40. Told him to take his wife out for a nice dinner on us. He seemed to be genuinely appreciative of the tip, and I felt good about giving it to him.

It is an individual decision, and if you were not even aware of it, don't sweat it. They really don't expect a tip from everyone.

Gene...

 

I dropped a $20 bill on my guide. he did not expect it, and was grateful.

 

I dropped a $100.00 but then I'm a bit jerky and have been known to over tip.

 

I am glad you asked this question. I have a museum delivery on 6-3-08 and did not know about tipping.

 

I tipped $50. I had it in my pocket the whole day and wasn't 100% sure what I would do with it. By the end of the day I really felt the guide deserved it. He really worked hard to make my experience exceptional!

 

i work for a living,, dont these guys get paid to do their job or is it volunteer?? now if its all volunteer then i would consider tipping,, later rj

 

I had the same dilemma and was uncertain what to do. After my Buyer’s Tour, I called Lori and asked her opinion. She said she would not know for certain what people did, but she believed some tipped and others did not. She felt like it was completely up to the buyer. My Buyer’s Tour guide was a retired worker from the BG plant. He was very knowledgeable and very patient with my eight-year old son. We were probably at the factory a total of seven or eight hours. After talking to Lori, I felt like should probably tip the guide. I believe part of the Buyer’s Tour fee goes to the factory, part goes to the NCM and part goes to the guide. I asked Lori how I could get something to him and she told me he had an internal mailbox at the NCM. So, when I went back to pick up my car, I left an envelope for him with a short note. I included a copy of one of the photos he took so he would remember my family. I tipped him $50. To make it more memorable I did one other thing. My son likes to collect coins. He also likes currency (smart kid). His favorite bill is the $2 bill. You almost never see them. The engraving on the back of the $2 bill is beautiful. If you have not looked at the back of a $2 bill, I would encourage you to do so. Anyway, I went to the bank a got a bundle of twenty-five $2 bills. They had recently come from the Federal Reserve Bank, because they were all brand new and all but a couple were in sequential serial number order. That was my tip. A couple of days later, I got a very nice e-mail from him recalling our tour and thanking me for the tip.

I also had a great NCM delivery experience. I knew the name of the person I would be meeting in advance, but that is all I knew. I did not figure the delivery would take quite as long as my eight-hour build day, so I put $40 in an envelope before I got there. Just as I was leaving, I handed him the envelope. I did not ask Lori specifically what happens to the NCM delivery fee, but I suspect part of it goes to the delivery team. Here again, it was someone who was retired (from the military) and loves Corvettes.

Sorry for the lengthy post. In short, I think they are paid, I just do not know how much. I think many do it more for the love of the cars that what they get paid. I am probably a sap. Yes, I paid for NCM delivery and yes I paid for the Buyer’s Tour and yes I paid for vehicle delivery (that’s the one that bugs me a little), but at the end of the day, my son and I have some great memories and I would not take anything for them.

 

I don't think it's too late to recover. Just pick up a nice Thank You card and address it to Larry at the Corvette Museum. He'll probably remember you or you could include a picture. If not cash, maybe a gift certificate to a local eatery. Good Luck!

 

There was a similar discussion with some pretty strong opinions expressed on the Buyers tour and whether or not to tip here:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...&highlight=tip

 

I got my car on April 21 and tipped my guide Doug Johnson $20.

 

I tipped our guide $40.

 

I gave the guide for my buyers tour (it took two days) a C-note, and the delivery guide $50. They both earned a tip. I don't know if they get paid for what they do, but whatever they get -- they deserve more.

 

I did the Buyers Tour and that guide (also a retiree from the factory arranged thru the NCM) spent the first day with us, then came back the next day at 6:30am to finish...was great. I tipped him $50. The cost I paid to the NCM was $350.00. Then I did the NCM delivery and that was another $490.00. To be honest, I didnt tip the gentleman that was our guide thought he did a fine job. It was a short day (rain) and I kinda figured I'd gone to the well and dug deep enough.