MountainXTC, you beat me to just this point! First, I have to admit my bias, which is that tipping in general is a subject that just makes me rant. I am on the tipping end, not the getting tipped end, which I am sure colors my opinion. More and more of the "service industry" it seems, is moving into the category of services for which you ought to tip. Except it used to be, tipping "optional." Then, tipping "appreciated." Then, "it is common to tip." Now Litterbug says she hears that 20% is "standard," and I hit the roof! Really? Can't we just determine a value for these services and pay that? I'd rather pay 20% more and not have to think about it, if 20% is so standard that even a mediocre instructor routinely receives 20% just for doing their job in an uninspired fashion. And, offering an instructor feedback through the avenue of tipping is totally meaningless when some people don't tip at all, some people tip regardless because they feel they should, and some people have no idea that tipping is something they should even consider.
So, I kind of think the reverse of MountainXTC's question, and say, why is some resort's $170/hour private so much more expensive than my little hill's $60/private? Is the overall average quality of instruction 3 times better? At least one or two instructors on my hill probably could give an instructor at a big Eastern resort a run for their $$. How much does the resort keep? How much does the instructor get? Perhaps lesson rates should vary according to instructor certification/experience, like at big hair salons? Do you want a certified level 1 instructor? OK, that's a cheaper lesson than if you want a certified level 3 instructor... and so forth.
Last but not least, part of my issue is that many services for which tipping has become standard are "luxury" services to begin with. And the going rate for those services start at expensive and move right on through outrageous, and it's not usually the people performing those services that are getting the bulk of the money. In fact, they are expected to earn a chunk of their salary through tipping. And everyone knows it, which is why the "standard" tip has climbed to 20% or higher. So, adding 20% onto a service that is so expensive to begin with just moves it further and further into the "luxury" category. I have heard people say, if you can't afford to add the tip, then don't buy the service, but if that's the case, increase the price of the service so it's a "real price!"
Rant done.
FWIW, despite my ranting, I do tip, and from what information I can glean, I tip "appropriately"." Between tipping my kids' season-long instructors and the Tremblant lessons they had, I gave close to $700 in tips within the last 9 days! Perhaps that will put my rant in perspective.