Those who search relentlessly for the best deal on a new car, or who haggle mercilessly over the price of a home, are seen as savvy. The same holds for those who seek the best deal possible on virtually any product or service, including labor; if a business owner stood his or her ground at contract negotiation time none of you would label him or her an an ogre. (I'm referring to negotiations that are conducted in good faith; I'd like to think such moral people as the 2+2 community would opt for drawing and quartering if the negotiations were conducted in a reprehensible manner).
But if those don't tip dealers till their fingers bleed are piranhas.
Would someone please step forward and explain this to me ?
The total number of card rooms of which I'm aware that would have more tables going if only they had more qualified dealers available to them is zero. (Note: I haven't been to every card room in the U.S., but I've damned well been to a ton of them).
The total number of qualified dealers of which I'm aware who are either unemployed or (more commonly) underemployed due to the fact that supply far exceeds demand is in the hundreds. (I hear it every day: “If only I could get more hours . . .”)
Yet here we sit bemoaning the fate of all those unfortunate dealers who currently receive a wage that exceeds – by a sizable margin – that received by others in “similar” jobs.
Is dealing taxing on one's body ?
Probably. But so are many jobs, including coal mining, and dealers make more than coal miners. Dealers also make more than Kindergarten teachers, and as for being taxing on one's body, I'd ask that you chase a dozen or more five-year olds around for six hours before invoking the “taxing on one's body” argument.
Does dealing require some level of intellect ?
Unquestionably. But so do many jobs – including coal mining, and teaching Kindergarten. (See: Above)
Would the world collapse if competent dealers were replaced by incompetent ones as a result of a nominal drop (say, 10-20%) in the average wage for dealing ?
Probably not (though MY world would definitely take a hit“ -
. However, the point is moot since: 1. As I've already illustrated, a small drop in the average wage would have virtually no effect on the quality of available labor |and| 2. There currently exists almost no correlation between wage and quality. (Some of the best dealers on Earth work at the Bellagio, and there are perks to working at this particular room, these perks do not include the highest wage; low stakes games are among the most lucrative games to deal, and the “B” has a relatively small number of these).
Conclusion: The average dealer's salary is far in excess of that it should be – and not because I say so, but because
the marketplace says so.
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Addendum: I'm not sure the following has any place in a logic-based discussion of the preceding topic. That said, it does deserve mention somewhere. I have no doubt that I “gave away” more money last year to charitable causes (as well as individuals in need) – both in terms of actual dollars, and percentage of income - than all but a select few of those who've voiced their opinion on this issue. The very idea that seeking to pay less for a product or service equates to tightfistedness is ludicrous, and serves only to obfuscate the relevant aspects of this issue; moreover, those making this claim know it is. If tipping a red chip on a $200 pot (in the hope your opponents will perceive you as someone who doesn't care about money), or dropping a greenie on the bar for a beer and telling the bartender to “keep the change” (in the hope your decision will be noticed by the slightly drunk girl at the end of the bar) pleases you, then by all means go for it. But you destroy your credibility (to say nothing of embarrassing yourself) when you claim that these acts amount to acts of commendable generosity and/or benevolence. When you give that washroom attendant – the one who cleans up after other people's bodily functions all day long - a handshake, a sincere “thank you”, and a twenty, and when you do it with nobody watching, we'll have something to talk about.
Thanks for taking the time to read this. I eagerly await any and all comments.