POLL: Do you tip your mechanic?
- Thread starter ChiTownLion
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A
anon_xdc8rmuek44eq
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I don't. I always take my cars to the dealerships and assume I'm being overcharged anyway. I really only tip service oriented jobs where there is an incentive to perform or where wages are so low that tips make a big difference.
When I take my vehicles in for maintenance or some other issue, labor is far and away, more often than not, the biggest expense.
Only if he happens to deliver a pizza to my house.
I’ve never heard of this. The only people I tip are waiters and barbers. I absolutely hate the concept of tipping though. Just charge what you think you are worth and if I agree I’ll come back again.
When I'm paying upwards of $500 or more, which seemingly is the minimum charge for luxury car dealerships, I'm not usually in the mood to tip.
I tip the guys at the tire shop I go to. They are just hourly so they don’t make a lot. Now a regular mechanic is making a nice hourly pay at flat rate. They make a nice pay so I don’t tip them.
Not just luxury car dealerships. My youngest took his Mazda 3 in to a dealer for an oil change. In typical fashion, they "recommended" that he replace all four tires and rear brake pads, all of which were way premature. Estimate: $1,600. He didn't get an itemization and I can't even back into that number.
Fortunately, we have a local mechanic who we trust and is very good. We don't tip him, but always send a nice Christmas present.
Just cancelled my membership. Had an issue of a windshield shattering. Happened to have a tarp in the car. I did not have tape ... was about 45 minutes from home pouring rain.
They would only come if I wanted a tow. Said bringing tape was mechanical and they don't have tape in the shops anyway.
Am I being unreasonable?
If my mechanic had actually helped me put my -ex’s body in the trunk, then I definitely would have tipped him. 
I've never heard of tipping a mechanic. I guess it's ok if you live in a smaller place and you got a guy you can actually trust. I've mostly lived in big places and the thought would never even occur to me.
I don't understand why people join AAA. My insurance (GEICO) has taken care of every road issue I've ever had. If I plan a trip, I get a map, do Google research, and use GPS. Help me understand, members.
I always have a hard time finding a good mechanic that I trust. Recently, a friend of mine pointed me to a shop close to my house. The shop has a good rep, so its hard to get your car in. My daughter's car was having problems so I thought I'd give the new shop a shot.
The deal is: $75 to diagnose the issue in your car. If you get it fixed there, they don't charge. Anyway, after keeping her car for a couple days, they found quite a few issues with my daughter's car, one of which was a fuel pump sending unit. They replaced the unit to get her back on the road, told me it wasn't worth it to fix any of the other myriad of problems, and sent me out with a recommendation to get rid of the car. No charge.
Since it was the end of the day, and the shop was closing, I showed my appreciation by giving them a couple pizzas and a case of beer. The car lasted long enough to get the kid a more reliable car, and I don't have to wait a couple days anymore. Everybody wins.
The deal is: $75 to diagnose the issue in your car. If you get it fixed there, they don't charge. Anyway, after keeping her car for a couple days, they found quite a few issues with my daughter's car, one of which was a fuel pump sending unit. They replaced the unit to get her back on the road, told me it wasn't worth it to fix any of the other myriad of problems, and sent me out with a recommendation to get rid of the car. No charge.
Since it was the end of the day, and the shop was closing, I showed my appreciation by giving them a couple pizzas and a case of beer. The car lasted long enough to get the kid a more reliable car, and I don't have to wait a couple days anymore. Everybody wins.
We found a good mechanic everywhere we lived with the exception of the Oxford, PA area. Tried several who lied and cheated us. I paid for new plugs, premium plugs to be installed by the last one prior to moving here and when we had them checked the mechanic here said the plugs were old, worn and definitely not platinum plugs that we paid a premium for in Oxford.
Our daughter still lives there and we informed her of the fiasco, she took her business elsewhere. I guess we were always fortunate prior to that incident.
Our current mechanic will install salvage yard parts if the OEM parts are exorbitant and they go the extra mile to help us so when the bill seems a bit high I don't grouch but pay with a smile. It is worth a lot to have someone you can trust poking around your private "auto" parts.
Our daughter still lives there and we informed her of the fiasco, she took her business elsewhere. I guess we were always fortunate prior to that incident.
Our current mechanic will install salvage yard parts if the OEM parts are exorbitant and they go the extra mile to help us so when the bill seems a bit high I don't grouch but pay with a smile. It is worth a lot to have someone you can trust poking around your private "auto" parts.
AAA came to my house and replaced a dead battery in my car on Easter Sunday. I've also managed to lock myself out of my car a couple of times. Tough to do that now with the new technology.
The reason I joined was for my wife. She was traveling a lot for work. The last thing I wanted was to have her stranded in the back woods of WV. It just gave both of us piece of mind
I ll look into my insurance company providing unlock or tire service
Not my local mechanic. Or at the dealer. Actually my local mechanic charges almost as much as a dealer, but he gives me better, more moderate honest advice.
But when I used to get my oil changes at cut rate places such as Walmart I would at times tip the guy. I also tipped the guys at the local tire place when they were out in the cold doing rotations for me. But this business has since built a new building and does it's business such that customers can't interact with the actual "workers". They also raised their prices, so I don't tip there anymore....
But when I used to get my oil changes at cut rate places such as Walmart I would at times tip the guy. I also tipped the guys at the local tire place when they were out in the cold doing rotations for me. But this business has since built a new building and does it's business such that customers can't interact with the actual "workers". They also raised their prices, so I don't tip there anymore....
I pay 55 a year ... I just saved 300 on hotels last year. Are you good at math? That being said screw the math ... pride is more important. You don't have duck tape. Piss off ... not to come when i need ya. That's what I pay for ...
I'll ask ..am I being unreasonable?
A
anon_1eeb2b426hv3y
Guest
I’ve dropped my membership a handful of times over the years. And there’s always been some reason to reactivate it. Annoyingly consistent patern.
I drop off a 12 pack of craft beers to my local mechanic. They really appreciate it and will usually get me right in for service. Been going to them for 20 years several beater cars that got my kids through high school and college.
I can understand the concern Sluggo, demlion lurks in
dem dere woods, don't him
I always tip $20 or more depending on the auto issues. They have our full trust. Dave & Bernie are mine and Karen's childhood friends. Dave picks up my car parked at work, brings it back when finished. Eben for oil changes, I ask them to go over the car and look for potential problems. They understand I don't want to be broken down traveling to or from project sites, especially if my journey is to the Brotherhood City...Philly.
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Got an inspection yesterday, labor more than the parts. NO reason to tip even though the dealership is probably screwing the mechanic.
I have a real problem with tipping the barber WHO OWNS THE BUSINESS!
Though I reluctantly do it. No problem with the other barber who's his employee.
Yes, I think that is unreasonable to ask them to bring tape. I have been AAA member for 23 years now and it has saved us many many times. We tend to hang on to our cars until they die. 200K + miles.
Broke down many times, AAA towed for free to where ever I wanted them to. Broke down in New England last summer, towed car to a AAA approved facility that was close to where we broke down on a Sunday but then went online and read the reviews, which were bad, had them go back and tow it to another place where the reviews were excellent and closer to where we were staying. If my car is dead in my driveway, they will come tow it to where ever I want free of charge. AAA discounts all over the place as well, cheaper hotels, with wife and kids now driving long distances it is great to have it when needed.
Whatever policy I have with State Farm will do the same thing.
As far as the Hotel discount goes... you can usually get that price online anyway.
I agree completely. If I wanted to financially evaluate what employees are worth then I'd start my own start business and hire some. Just give me a price and I'll pay it and if the product/experience is worth the price then I'll come back again and if not I won't.
Tip creep is happening. More and more when I go to places where I go to the counter, order and wait for the food I'm seeing a tip jar. And I don't mean only at bars that serve food. There is a Ben & Jerrys near me that does it and at least two fast food places including a Five Guys (and probably more than two fast food places but I don't get out to fast food places as much to see anymore).
Not to mention places like Panera that force you to answer the question while the cashier is still staring at you... Why am I tipping before the service is even being provided????!?!? It started there when they stopped buzzing you for the food and started bringing it to you... That's not worth a tip in my opinion...
I have a local mechanic who I take my older car to and rather than tip him cash, I'll bring him a coffee and breakfast sandwich at least a couple times a month and we'll sit and eat together discussing how to fix the problems of the world.
Well, that's actually how this whole crappy system got started. People used to pay additional money up front in order to get better service.
And sadly the "to insure proper service" part has disappeared but the tips have grown. Reminds me of the sign for sweet corn every summer "home groan corn", didn't know if you were to groan after you ate it or before.
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