Do you ever tip a mechanic?

[skate1968]

I sure did!! twice! EDIT: three times.

One guy, Dino, wonderful man found me some needed parts for the door locks of my civic. I then informed him that i'll save money having my mechanic put used parts in.

"Don't do that," he said. He then explained to me that how it was a very simply DIY job. And when i got home i learned that he was exactly correct.

Tipping Dino saved me more than it cost me, imo.

In another situation Strauss was just totally ripping me off. If i had a digi camera i would have taken a pic of this atrocious exaust job they did. It would have ripped right out at the first medium sized pot hole that i found.

Taking the advice of a friend i went to an exhaust shop. Excellent the had the pipe all nice and flush in NO time for 20 bucks.

Tip for them to.

There really are so many crooks out there. So these wonderful folks tend to stick out.

Another time my wonderful mechanic, Javier, did some work on my allegedly "unfixable" car. The bill was sooooo low. Came back in 10 minutes with a case of good Spanish beer for him and his guy. this guy has saved me soooo much money over the years that it's crazy.

My sister told me that i have the kind of mechanic that you can't forget at Christmass time.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Short answer, yes.

 

[Topo]

I would love to tip a mechanic. But for $95.00 dollars and hour it's hard to do so.

 

[Smoky14]

I gave a guy a second opinion on a Goldwing repair and got a BIG tip for my honesty. I hate to see people get ripped off. My local dealership tried to rip me off the other day and actually said "you can't blame us for trying" you've got to be kidding.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Mechanics don't make 95 bucks an hour. That's the overhead fee that shops have. They should really post it as such.

 

[Topo]

Originally Posted By: GROUCHO MARX
Mechanics don't make 95 bucks an hour. That's the overhead fee that shops have. They should really post it as such.


No kidding, if you could figure that out, I'm thinking I didn't have to clarify any further than that. I know the shop charges that price, mechanics get paid by the hour which is much less than that. But increased shop prices have made it difficult for me to afford tipping a mechanic, which I would love to do, but I can't afford. Just to clarify so there is no confusion, I'm talking about OHIO Dealer Price Per Hour. Sometimes local shops are much cheaper around $65.00 per hour shop charge.

 

[ctrcbob]

This is not exactly an answer to your question, however I want to throw it in anyway.

Years ago, while visiting my mechanic, a young girl came in to pick up her car. After she paid and left, the mechanic said the me, "see that girl?" "I go out of my way to make sure the job is done right." "I do that because SHE PAYS HER BILL WITHOUT ASKING FOR A DISCOUNT." "She pays her bill, never giving me any problems, so I make double sure that I fix her car so that she will not have problems."

 

[Chevys_n_Hawgs]

I sometimes use a mechanic who "moonlights" on the weekends. He works at a dealership, and has all the training, and is certified ASE. Depending on what he does, on average, I give him about $30 an hour. He's happy, and so am I!

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Originally Posted By: Topo
Originally Posted By: GROUCHO MARX
Mechanics don't make 95 bucks an hour. That's the overhead fee that shops have. They should really post it as such.


No kidding, if you could figure that out, I'm thinking I didn't have to clarify any further than that. I know the shop charges that price, mechanics get paid by the hour which is much less than that. But increased shop prices have made it difficult for me to afford tipping a mechanic, which I would love to do, but I can't afford. Just to clarify so there is no confusion, I'm talking about OHIO Dealer Price Per Hour. Sometimes local shops are much cheaper around $65.00 per hour shop charge.


Shop fees are actually a lot more expensive in these parts. That being said, tipping a mechanic isn't required, they don't depend on gratuities to make a living.

 

[skate1968]

Hi Topo & Groucho,

Appreciate your posts.

 

[Dave Hess]

At the tire shop I tip $5 for 2 tires mounted/ balanced and $10 for 4 tires. The guys at Walmart love when they get a tip.

 

[skate1968]

Hi Smoky,

Originally Posted By: Smoky14
I gave a guy a second opinion on a Goldwing repair and got a BIG tip for my honesty.


good. that's the way it ought to be.

Originally Posted By: Smoky14
My local dealership tried to rip me off the other day and actually said "you can't blame us for trying" you've got to be kidding.


Wow.

I/we've been very friendly with a mechanic that "moved on" to the Honda stealership. And i enjoy him giving me the inside dirt.

Apparently they can't fix just set of door locks or one ignition key system. They have to replace all door locks AND ignition key -- the whole shibang or nothing. Need to pay for all 5 key locks AND ignition. They must bring it up to "factory" specs -- or nothing. This friend of min, even he doesn't even like what he's doing.

regards

S

 

[01rangerxl]

I got a tip back when I worked at Jiffy Lube. A guy from out of state brought an F-150 Harley Davidson Supercrew in for an oil change. The manager knew it was my kind of truck, so he made sure I got it. I pretty much treated it like any other vehicle I worked on, but I was more careful than anyone else there. The owner of the truck stood out in the bay and watched the entire oil change. When I finished up and pulled the truck outside he handed me $5. Not a bad tip compared to the usual $0 at JL.

 

[Topo]

Originally Posted By: ctrcbob
This is not exactly an answer to your question, however I want to throw it in anyway.

Years ago, while visiting my mechanic, a young girl came in to pick up her car. After she paid and left, the mechanic said the me, "see that girl?" "I go out of my way to make sure the job is done right." "I do that because SHE PAYS HER BILL WITHOUT ASKING FOR A DISCOUNT." "She pays her bill, never giving me any problems, so I make double sure that I fix her car so that she will not have problems."


+1

 

[Pop_Rivit]

I refuse to tip someone for simply doing their job.

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

I will tip a independent mechanic if he gets me in and out quickly and does a good job.

At the Ford Stealership I used to have a awesome service advisor who got me in and out real quick [plus zero upselling] so I used to buy her nice gifts for Christmas..She is gone now and so is the good fast service [now there is upselling] so tipping there is no more.

 

[doitmyself]

To me, it's the ones that are simply doing their jobs that you have to be careful about regarding good, honest, quality repair work. I rarely tip them, since unlike a waitress, they get a full salary.

In the few instances that I develop a better working relationship with someone who's expertise and other qualities I admire and depend on, I "take care of them" appropriately. Sometimes a personal gift (home made maple syrup this time of year)or an extra few bucks tacked onto a bill that is way below what others would charge. Its simply common sense.

In showing respect and taking care of them, they usually reciprocate. Just recently my "personal mechanic" did an emergency, last minute repair for me, I believe this is because of the mutual respect we have developed. He did me a favor. That kind of stuff is priceless. But no, I don't tip just any mechanic for routine work.

 

[The_Jeff]

Yes. I tipped my mechanic my old catalytic convertor. I just flipped a car he inspected and we both missed a hole in the floor. Was just holding together with undercoating. New owner traced the sticker and chewed the poor guy out.

Hopefully the boss uses scrap metal proceeds for a rocking Xmas party or something. I was in there a month later for another sticker (small pay, big liability) and gave him the old cat I had to replace. I also made them Xmas muffins. I won't do cash, as it would look like a bribe for state inspection, all kinds of wrong.

On the other end, my brief stint so far at the tire store brings some attempts. Had some sort of three ring circus attempt at flat repair where we eventually gave up and put the guys spare on without charging him. He tried to give us (pair of techs) ten bucks but we told him to put it in the charity jar by the register. It's against company policy (yadda yadda) so if you do try to do it, be discreet!

Although I've had tips directly forwarded to me by the service manager, but the whole shop is out of line with corporate ideals.

We have "free air" and interrupt our work to go outside in the freezing cold, and let that cold in the open bay doors. So far, no tips offered. A gas station next door has dollar air.

 

[Silk]

Tipping is not a part of New Zealand life, nor is bargaining. I've never tipped or been tipped - but sometimes a customer would give me an extra $10 and say have a beer, or come back with some beer. Where I work now a box of beer is the normal method of saying thanks for the work done - the workshop seldom has to fork out for it's own beer. I just wish the customers had better taste in beer.

 

[expat]

Originally Posted By: Silk
Tipping is not a part of New Zealand life, nor is bargaining. I've never tipped or been tipped - but sometimes a customer would give me an extra $10 and say have a beer, or come back with some beer. Where I work now a box of beer is the normal method of saying thanks for the work done - the workshop seldom has to fork out for it's own beer. I just wish the customers had better taste in beer.


That's the way I see it, Giving a tradesman or technician that should be getting a reasonable/ good wage a few $, could be seen as a little insulting.

Beer or a bottle of wine shows appreciation, and takes a little more thought and effort than dishing out a few sheckles?