Stupid Guest Tricks

Main Streeter wrote:CM Thank You Cards, ABSOLUTELY!!! These are such treasures - to me at least. Pics, quick postcards, tiny stufffed animals from guest's homeland, even Mickey Thank you pins are very appreciated. I keep these wonderful gifts in my truck as a reminder of The Magic. Some items I take on road trips for good luck - like my bUbbles from The BUbble Ladies :bubble: Keep handing these out Sunshine. You'll never know their real value!

*plans to give MS a whole box of toothpicks.

leftcoaster wrote:*plans to give MS a whole box of toothpicks.

U R darph's EVIL Twin!

Yay! Thanks for your responses guys! I think everyone who has to deal with these amazingly stupid guests should get a thank-you card. Now at least the ones that deal with this stupid guest will get one :p:

Have fun passing them out!

I think it's classless for a CM to say they have to say "no" three times. Defeats the purpose. Generally, my rule of thumb is that if they sneak me the tip (i.e. trick me into taking it or stuff it in my pocket, leave it in a cranny on the front of the bus, etc.) then chances are they are giving the tip because they actually want to give it to me and they want me to have it. The people who offer and turn away when I say no either don't know, didn't actually want to but felt obligated by my performance, or are shops. On that rare trip where I don't go out of my way to give a good show, if the person comes up, I am fairly sure it's number 3.

I can't imagine a secret shopper would go to the trouble of making a cool "Thank You!" card to give out, much less anything else. I had someone on Pirates yesterday that, when I get into work tomorrow, I am finding a GSF card so I can send it his way via his manager. You gotta love people in non-character positions who understand getting into character enough that if the character would be "rude" to you over something, then they, as that character are. Asking for a front row on Pirates for my friends, he said we could, but we needed to step "over there" and keep quiet.

So, someone who would know help me out here. Are GSF cards just for CM's to use, or can a guest use one?

Big Wallaby wrote:I think it's classless for a CM to say they have to say "no" three times. Defeats the purpose.

Tasteless, yet unapologetically tacky!

So, someone who would know help me out here. Are GSF cards just for CM's to use, or can a guest use one?

GSF cards can be used by anyone who can get their hands on one. I even gave one to a guest one day (though she probably didn't qualify for the free movie tickets).

One afternoon when I was working at PPH a group of Japanese folks came into the store and handed out tokens of appreciation to the CMs. This was one of the rare instances when we had 3 CMs in that store. I think the 2 ladies ended up with Disney keychains from Japan, and I got a book about Tokyo DisneySea. Unfortunately for me, it was in Japanese and I don't understand much Japanese. Nonetheless, it was definitely one of the most appreciated tokens of appreciation I ever received when I worked at DLR, and, now that I think about it, it was the only time I ever got a material, non-monetary token of appreciation from a guest. I still have it in my box where I keep all my mementos from working at DLR.

I did get a few monetary tips from guests at Strollers after turning them down 3 times (one after turning him down 4 or 5 times). And no, I didn't tell them I had to turn it down 3 times - I agree that totally defeats the purpose. Kind of like a certain CM who tells guests to leave compliments for him at City Hall. But of course, it was cash, so I probably spent it on beer or Denny's.

So is it better to just stuff the tip in the CM's pocket (tho that can get awfully familiar! ;) ) OR go the three "no" route. I think you should be able to accept tips when offered the first time. I wonder why they came up with the idea and WHO came up with the idea of the three "Nays" and then a "Yea"
It is kinda weird. If someone does something great for you and you want to acknowledge them, giving a tip or a gift or card should be an immediate response, for me anyway, it is! I like to show a CM that I noticed they went out of the way or that we felt they really made the magic! Most CM's do anyway, but there are the ones that go above and beyond the call of "duty" and make it even more magical! Like the Concierge that went to the store and got me Ginger Ale and brought it to me at the DL Hotel when I was so sick I could not move! THAT was such a great thing to do. It was the only thing that settled my tummy and DL does not have it. (not a coke product!) Or the other Concierge that made sure our room had LOTS of clean linens and towels and brought me crackers for my stomach during that same illness. It is amazing what the concierge CM's do. And they told us they are not allowed to accept tips, because that IS their job to make sure you are well taken care of. Are the concierge CM's allowed to do the same three Nays and a Yea as the other CM's in the resort or are they not allowed to take a tip because they are "doing their job"? If it is exceptional, I want to make sure we reward them with either a tip, or a gift or card.
Sues

Main Streeter wrote:U R darph's EVIL Twin!

THAT was definitely rude and uncalled for!

:p:

Susi - My understanding is the 3 refusal policy is in place because officially those CMs are not allowed to accept tips, but they still want to accommodate an honest, genuine show of appreciation. I also learned in my present job that in some cultures, it is considered rude to refuse such a gift.

Here's something to consider if you want to reward a CM for good service: The official rules governing acceptance of gifts by all Disney employees are laid out in the "Standards of Business Conduct" handbook. In general, they say that all gratuities received by employees who don't normally receive them must be declared to management and, if management decides that the gift is of a nominal value and was a genuine show of appreciation (not a bribe or something illegal), the employee is usually allowed to keep it. I would imagine that these rules are more strictly enforced for Guest Relations, Concierge, etc. That said, if you want to thank a good CM with a material gift, make it something management wouldn't want to keep if the CM actually does report it.

Other than that, you can write a letter specifically directed to the CM's department or area, not just to the generic DLR or WDW address. This way, it's more likely that a manager who actually knows the CM will read it instead of the folks at Guest Communications. Some departments/areas have incentive programs where CMs who receive guest compliments receive rewards.