A&Q about Lotus
Q:
I just had my 1,000 mile service done today and I was a little bit of a pain watching and asking questions the whole time so I wanted to give the guy who actually did the service a tip for "putting up" with me. I ended up handing him a $50.00, said thanks and left. Does anyone else do this??
A:
I always bring them in some fresh donuts. Actually, I usually bring them a couple Kringles - a famous pastry from my home town. Generally seems appreciated.
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yes, but not quite as generous as you...
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Had to take my left rear A048 into america's tire a few weeks ago due to a nail (turned out to be 2 nails in there). I brought a hockey puck and helped him jack it up, and watched closely. They do those for repairs for free if you are a customer (although I only buy my 4runner tires from them, they didn't mind). I tipped him $10 (all I had on me, or I may have given a 20) for the quick job well done...
Also when a guy replaced my battery a few months ago on my 4runner he re-did a stereo connection to it (battery acid all over the old one), I tipped him $10 (they charged me for the battery so I thought this was fair) after I watched him do it.
A:
Here's a tip: Don't put a scratch on my car or your dead!
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I tip for most things. I don't tip the service guys for normal service as I don't see them. I do tip if they fix my tire quickly and extra if it's raining.
Actually I've never thought to tip a car service guy. Probably because I always drop it off and never see them. Hummm...My friends on another board would be down right disapointed to hear that from me...
A:
I don't know, I kind of think the tipping situation has gotten out of hand. It's like some third world countries everyone with their hand out. I did give some money to my ducati mechanic who'd worked on my bike all the time, but basically handed it to him thanking him for all the good work and to use the $$ to take his wife out.
Just my 2 cents.
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Bottle of wine around Christmas for service writer and mechanic.
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I always do all my own work and I am very leery of letting others mess with my cars, but for inspections and of course warranty work I have to take it some where. So I always hang out with the car while the work is being done and I will try to develop a rapport with the mechanics. Afterwards, I will tip the mechanic just as a show of appreciation for putting up with me hanging around.
Here are some other threads with posts that talk about tipping mechanics (and others):
A:
No. I generally would not tip auto repair people. My "auto" exceptions include carwash and detail people.
I am a generous tipper (20% on dinner, cabs, shoe shines, etc.) when good service is delivered, but I draw the line at tipping unskilled labor and not tipping professionals...meaning, is the person likely a minimum or low wage earner, or he/she in a professional position and getting paid well ($25+ per hour)?
Most auto repair shops here in SoCal bill labor at $60 to $100+ per hour, and the professional tech is likely seeing half of that. Although, once I had a wine & cheese basket delivered to a mechanic once for his doing exceptional specialty work on a very rare car I owned.
I would tip the dealership porter for cleaning up my car, though.
PS: I am a PITA car customer, because I expect my car returned as delivered (but working properly)...no scratches, dents, extended test drive miles, washed and vacuumed.
A:
I never thought to tip mechanics, thinking they mostly make good wages based upon the hourly rates the dealers charge. I got new tires 2 weeks ago and the kid took great care and knew I was watching his every move. When co-workers came over to help him, he shoo'd them awaysaying the boss only wanted him to work on my car. So I gave him a couple of $20's. Not near a percentage of the bill but I figured it was above an insult and not too ostentatious.
When I got home I wondered why the tire places don't bother to clean the wheels? They spend time putting tire dressing on, but I would rather they spent time cleaning the inside of the wheel.
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stay out of dark alleyways
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lotus 1K service is really only $200. they add an extra %50 gratutity to the bill for a party of one, just because you really dont have any choice but to get the service done if you want to keep you warranty. parts cant be more than $50 for the service anyway.
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I am surprised how often ny uncle got tipped, even though he worked in a small repair shop in a "not too good" neighborhood, fixing old american cars and toyotas.
But then, he is a very nice guy.
Personally I don't tip the guy where my cars go fixed, both of them are the owner of the shops.
Funny thing, I got tipped one time when I did freelance design stuff for a client, in cash. 20% of the invoice!!
A:
Originally Posted by PhoneBoy
Here's a tip: Don't put a scratch on my car or your dead!
+1
Dealer's wrenches quite often make their money off of book time. The result is, if they can get jobs done under book, their hourly effectively increases - if they're green or go over book, their hourly effectively decreases.
I don't tip my wrench, but I've been known to show up at a shop at quitting time with a case of whatever their favorite is. That usually happens when they go above and beyond though - like the BMW tech that allowed me free access to the dealer's DIS to check for firmware, pin-outs, etc.
Aside from that, I'm usually the guy shoving a pile of pennies across the counter and asking, "How much can I get for this?"
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I asked to meet my mechanic before my first service. I gave him $100.00
in advance. He didn't want to take it but I insisted. Money well spent.
The mechanic has a lot of input for what's covered under warranty.
I've only been to the dealer twice but the mechanic greets me at the door.
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I pretty much do my own repairs. My friend gets new Vettes and roadraces them. He always tips the same service writer he deals with. He bends and breaks rules to get stuff warranteed t shouldn't be. Transmissions, an engine, clutches and more. I'd say it's worth it if you get to race a car and can be covered. Yes, it's bribery.
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I give restaurant gift certificates to people who go above and beyond. But they are usually to one of my restaurants . I suggest you give people who do a good job for you a gift certificate to one of my restaurants too.
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Please don't start those tipping trends. They get paid enough. Next time you don't tip them, they'll do a crapy job just to teach you a lesson.