[Resolved]  Bharat Gas / LPG Suppliers — Tips to the delivery men

Address:

Malappuram, Kerala

“Kallingal”, Valiyangadi,
Perintalmanna – 679322, Kerala
Tel: [protected], [protected]
[protected]@gmail.com
Dated:[protected]
Ref: - Our Consumer Number of Cooking Gas (Bharat Gas) No. C83425.
I was preparing my neighbours and friends en masse to desist from paying tips to the delivery man of the refill cylinders, urging them it was not needed by regulations and what were not required by rules and regulations must not be encouraged in practice. My impression was as by the bond executed between the consumer and the supplying agency, the latter was bound to deliver the refill order, free of transportation charges if within two kilometers or any tips. I myself had stopped giving any tips long ago. At this, the delivery man came to me and pleaded with me not to induce others to refrain from the practice of paying tips. He said all that he wanted was a tip of Rs. 15/- over and above the actual cost of the gas. Of the Rs. 430/- as cost for the gas, he said, Rs. 228/- is to be paid at “the office”, only Rs. 2/- being for him. He also said: (10 the vehicle used for transportation was his and the expenses for the diesel for transportation was met by him out of his pockets; (b) the refund for the above, if any, wouldn’t be regular or certain; and (c) the escalating costs of the diesel would not be compensated for unless he was paid the tip. He had an old ailing father and three children to look after and he could not make both ends meet, but for these tips.
Since I don’t want to enjoy the financial straits of a man, I acceded. But let me raise these points for clarifications and do hope I could get answers for them.
1. Are the customers, even within three kilometers of the supplier gas agency expected to defray the transportation charges in the form of these tips? If so, I don’t have any objection. If not it amounts to abetting corrupt practices, however small the amount may be.
2. How much would a reasonable tip be?
3. Are not transporting vehicles provided by the Supplier Gas Agency, but have to be arranged by the delivery men, including their fuel charges?
If, however, the facts are otherwise than stated by the delivery man, with tears in his eyes, I intend to organize resistance against the practice of tipping the delivery people again, amongst my neighbours and friends.