General Harley Davidson Chat Forum to discuss general Harley Davidson issues, topics, and experiences.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Tip or not to Tip...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 30, 2010 | 02:48 PM
  #11  
harleydavis's Avatar
harleydavis
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,932
Likes: 32
From: Broomfield, CO
Default

I do my own work, but have a friend who is a certified HD mechanic. He has answered many of my questions and even comes down to look at something I might be concerned about, but am not certain what to do. A bottle of Jack Daniels goes a long way!
 
Old Jul 30, 2010 | 02:53 PM
  #12  
TFTCAR's Avatar
TFTCAR
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 643
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver
Smile

Oh yes, I think it is very important to tip your mechanic, !5-20% is a good start, Donuts, beer, coffee, and pizza are also good ad ons to insure that I do , I mean your mechanic does a good gob.
 
Old Jul 30, 2010 | 02:57 PM
  #13  
danzio's Avatar
danzio
Stellar HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,178
Likes: 600
From: SoCal.....I'm only here for the weather
Default

Tip.....your mechanic?

An Indy no less who runs his own business?

No dude.......save your tips for your Barrista. You know the guy who serves you your Latte at your Starbucks.

Local independent businesses don't expect tips. In fact they probably prefer you don't tip them. You are their customer and they should be satisfied, no ecstatic to simply have your business. The best thing you can do is spread a good word about them, and return business of course.

I don't believe I have ever seen a tip jar at my local shop. But Starbucks, that's a different story.
 
Old Jul 30, 2010 | 03:03 PM
  #14  
7125's Avatar
7125
Road Warrior
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,349
Likes: 25
From: VALE NC
Default

i bring my bike in for service i tip the tech the service writer/ and the service manager i get 3 $10.00 gift cards/ Christmas $10.00 gift cards for service and parts
 
Old Jul 30, 2010 | 03:05 PM
  #15  
rh8234's Avatar
rh8234
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,968
Likes: 34
From: Lockport Township, IL
Default

Since I am my own mechanic, I generally give myself a 1.75 liter bottle of Captain Morgan for a tip. When I work on the wife's bike, I usually get a tip of a different sort. When I work on frinds bikes, I never charge anything for the labor. If they offer me some captain morgan though, it is appreciated.
 
Old Jul 30, 2010 | 03:18 PM
  #16  
DMJFatboy's Avatar
DMJFatboy
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 452
Likes: 1
From: Delaware
Default

After my accident I told the service manager if the mechanic did a good job I would get him a bottle of jack (like gold in germany) but I found **** i didn't like so he got nothing. It is so much better to just get a manual and do your own work. No one will take care of your bike like you will.
 
Old Jul 30, 2010 | 03:28 PM
  #17  
Mebeebo's Avatar
Mebeebo
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 770
Likes: 0
From: SINY
Default

Thanks everyone, I will go with no tipping. If they do a good job, I will give them the best tip......I will refer work to them.
 
Old Jul 30, 2010 | 03:37 PM
  #18  
schumacher's Avatar
schumacher
Club Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 30,914
Likes: 16
From: Springfield, Ohio
Default

no tipping......it's in the book

 
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jul 30, 2010 | 03:42 PM
  #19  
leicafish's Avatar
leicafish
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,364
Likes: 33
From: So Cal The Golden State
Default

I don't tip the mechanic but I will tip the lot or detail boy that washes the vehicle before I get it back. That goes for the car or bike.
 
Old Jul 30, 2010 | 03:44 PM
  #20  
nytryder's Avatar
nytryder
Grand HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,012
Likes: 298
From: Central Fl
Default

IF I take my bike to any shop the mech gets 20.00. If at all possible I tip before the work starts. These guys really are not raking in big bucks. Add to that the expense of school, tools and whatever else comes up. When my bike rolls in for work I want happy people around it. 20.00 is no guarantee of excellent service but it can't hurt.
 



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:06 PM.

story-0
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-6
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-7
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-8
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE