Do you tip your Mechanic?
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: CAPE CORAL, FL
I would never even consider tipping when it comes to stealer labor. They already charge more than whats its worth, and the mechanic is getting paid by the stealer for his services. So whats the point?
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 932
Likes: 0
Uh - NO.
They're (over)paid to do a job - that's it. Well, correction, the dealership is overpaid. The tech is paid what he works out with the dealer.
With hourly labor rates at the HD dealer exceeding those of an MB dealer, a tip is the LAST thing they're getting.
Tip my mechanic...as if...they should be happy I don't take the extra dirt, nicks and scratches out of their hide....
They're (over)paid to do a job - that's it. Well, correction, the dealership is overpaid. The tech is paid what he works out with the dealer.
With hourly labor rates at the HD dealer exceeding those of an MB dealer, a tip is the LAST thing they're getting.
Tip my mechanic...as if...they should be happy I don't take the extra dirt, nicks and scratches out of their hide....
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 932
Likes: 0
this one has hit a nerve with me, so forgive my rant. it just seems that you are willing to tip your food server: A) for giving you good service and treating you special enough to make you feel important, and B) because they are serving your food, and are maybe afraid of what could happen to it from kitchen to table.
but You are not willing to do the same for your mechanic, A) because he gets paid to do his job, maybe even more than you make, B) he charges too much money and doesn't do anything special for you. theres a few more reasons stated here, but for now lets just consider these. By the way, if you are doing your own work, either you're tipping the hell out of yourself, or this doesn't apply to you.
first of all, do you know what this mechanic has done for you, that you don't know about? about the extra time he spent fixing your car properly, unable to charge for it because it wasn't in the given estimate, and really can't go and update that estimate? No, we just eat it, fix the car, chalk it up to experience and move on, whats a couple hours lost anyhow? so many of you are willing to work for free, a couple extra hours, I'm sure. the fact that you put your family, and kids in said automobile should have no bearing on what is going to happen to that car, right. I am not saying that you tip to make your car safe, but to tip for us making sure that it is safe, to take the extra time that so many mechanics I know do. and we don't get paid for it!! About those high repair bills, do you all thing the mechanic makes 100.00 bucks an hour? the shop labor RATE MAY BE THAT, but thats not my pay!! I'm lucky to get a quarter of that and my job changes drastically each and every year, each time a new model comes out. Hell even doctors, who charge up the ***, are working on the same model sice its inception!! nothing has changed, the heart is alway in the same place, tonsils never move!! appendix always right there!!
Somebody mentioned that we don't do anything for free, what about that lightbulb I changed for you and didn;t charge for? what about when you came in, with the check engine light on and I cleared the code for you.(which all it needed, gas cap, ect) and didn't charge for, or airing up the tires before you took that trip? Did you get charged for any of those things? Hopefully not, you shouldn't have, at least. Most likely not if you are going to the same shop/mechanic all the time
I know the "mechanic " is a four letter word, right below the used car salesman, but for your reasons to not show appreciation to a person who works hard to stay current, buy unreal amounts of tools, and shows care in your property, and possessions, you all (most all) seem very short sighted, and just plain uninformed as to what makes for a smart investment. any time I've gotten tipped a 5 or 10 bill, I have given back 100.00 worth of extra care, bet your portfolios don't give that kind of return. and this is all I have to say about this, rant over!
but You are not willing to do the same for your mechanic, A) because he gets paid to do his job, maybe even more than you make, B) he charges too much money and doesn't do anything special for you. theres a few more reasons stated here, but for now lets just consider these. By the way, if you are doing your own work, either you're tipping the hell out of yourself, or this doesn't apply to you.
first of all, do you know what this mechanic has done for you, that you don't know about? about the extra time he spent fixing your car properly, unable to charge for it because it wasn't in the given estimate, and really can't go and update that estimate? No, we just eat it, fix the car, chalk it up to experience and move on, whats a couple hours lost anyhow? so many of you are willing to work for free, a couple extra hours, I'm sure. the fact that you put your family, and kids in said automobile should have no bearing on what is going to happen to that car, right. I am not saying that you tip to make your car safe, but to tip for us making sure that it is safe, to take the extra time that so many mechanics I know do. and we don't get paid for it!! About those high repair bills, do you all thing the mechanic makes 100.00 bucks an hour? the shop labor RATE MAY BE THAT, but thats not my pay!! I'm lucky to get a quarter of that and my job changes drastically each and every year, each time a new model comes out. Hell even doctors, who charge up the ***, are working on the same model sice its inception!! nothing has changed, the heart is alway in the same place, tonsils never move!! appendix always right there!!
Somebody mentioned that we don't do anything for free, what about that lightbulb I changed for you and didn;t charge for? what about when you came in, with the check engine light on and I cleared the code for you.(which all it needed, gas cap, ect) and didn't charge for, or airing up the tires before you took that trip? Did you get charged for any of those things? Hopefully not, you shouldn't have, at least. Most likely not if you are going to the same shop/mechanic all the time
I know the "mechanic " is a four letter word, right below the used car salesman, but for your reasons to not show appreciation to a person who works hard to stay current, buy unreal amounts of tools, and shows care in your property, and possessions, you all (most all) seem very short sighted, and just plain uninformed as to what makes for a smart investment. any time I've gotten tipped a 5 or 10 bill, I have given back 100.00 worth of extra care, bet your portfolios don't give that kind of return. and this is all I have to say about this, rant over!
IF i got my bike back as clean, or cleaner than it was when it came in, without a single extra fingerprint, not having to be immediately brought to the gas station when i had brought it there with a full tank, returned at the time promised rather than half a day later, with everything taken care of correctly the first time, nothing that needed to be re-adjusted, tweaked, etc, and tire pressures actually set where I specifically requested rather than just simply ignored, then MAYBE i'd think about tipping the guy after the 3rd or 4th time he managed to do that.
However, considering the $95 p/hr labor rate, bikes that come back filthy, empty and with an extra scratch or two, requested adjustments (which I was charged for I might add) never actually done, tire pressure unchecked, finger prints all over the place, and having to wait 3-5 hours to actually get it after being called and told its done, the last thing I want to give the guy is a tip. Knuckle sandwich maybe, but tip? Not on your life bud.
Maybe when mechanics become mechanics again rather than parts replacers, and dont tell me I don't know what I'm talking about when I tell them something isn't right with a bike i ride every damned day, then and only then will I consider it.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 932
Likes: 0
As the old joke goes, you don't have to do your work with the engine running...
Unofficial HDF Chaplain
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 21,160
Likes: 18,082
From: san diego
I don't know what shops you work for, but many shops today absolutely charge for the things you just mentioned - especially clearing a code...
IF i got my bike back as clean, or cleaner than it was when it came in, without a single extra fingerprint, not having to be immediately brought to the gas station when i had brought it there with a full tank, returned at the time promised rather than half a day later, with everything taken care of correctly the first time, nothing that needed to be re-adjusted, tweaked, etc, and tire pressures actually set where I specifically requested rather than just simply ignored, then MAYBE i'd think about tipping the guy after the 3rd or 4th time he managed to do that.
However, considering the $95 p/hr labor rate, bikes that come back filthy, empty and with an extra scratch or two, requested adjustments (which I was charged for I might add) never actually done, tire pressure unchecked, finger prints all over the place, and having to wait 3-5 hours to actually get it after being called and told its done, the last thing I want to give the guy is a tip. Knuckle sandwich maybe, but tip? Not on your life bud.
Maybe when mechanics become mechanics again rather than parts replacers, and dont tell me I don't know what I'm talking about when I tell them something isn't right with a bike i ride every damned day, then and only then will I consider it.
IF i got my bike back as clean, or cleaner than it was when it came in, without a single extra fingerprint, not having to be immediately brought to the gas station when i had brought it there with a full tank, returned at the time promised rather than half a day later, with everything taken care of correctly the first time, nothing that needed to be re-adjusted, tweaked, etc, and tire pressures actually set where I specifically requested rather than just simply ignored, then MAYBE i'd think about tipping the guy after the 3rd or 4th time he managed to do that.
However, considering the $95 p/hr labor rate, bikes that come back filthy, empty and with an extra scratch or two, requested adjustments (which I was charged for I might add) never actually done, tire pressure unchecked, finger prints all over the place, and having to wait 3-5 hours to actually get it after being called and told its done, the last thing I want to give the guy is a tip. Knuckle sandwich maybe, but tip? Not on your life bud.
Maybe when mechanics become mechanics again rather than parts replacers, and dont tell me I don't know what I'm talking about when I tell them something isn't right with a bike i ride every damned day, then and only then will I consider it.
I don't know what shop you're going to, but I would sure as hell find a different one if they're charging you for putting air in the tires, and not checking air in tires. you tip for good service. if you're not getting it, I wouldn't be wondering ifn I should tip, I'd be wondering why I was going there
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
I thought it was My bikes responsibly to do that.
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 932
Likes: 0
I don't know what shop you're going to, but I would sure as hell find a different one if they're charging you for putting air in the tires, and not checking air in tires. you tip for good service. if you're not getting it, I wouldn't be wondering ifn I should tip, I'd be wondering why I was going there
For the rest of it, its the nature of the beast living in Houston. There are a few dealers which aren't AS bad, but they all suck.
Yeah - you'd think some of the things you mention aren't that big of a deal, but most of them act like they're doing you a favor while charging nearly 100 p/hr for the privilege of having them even look at your bike.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,948
Likes: 54
From: The Burgh
I don't know what shops you work for, but many shops today absolutely charge for the things you just mentioned - especially clearing a code...
IF i got my bike back as clean, or cleaner than it was when it came in, without a single extra fingerprint, not having to be immediately brought to the gas station when i had brought it there with a full tank, returned at the time promised rather than half a day later, with everything taken care of correctly the first time, nothing that needed to be re-adjusted, tweaked, etc, and tire pressures actually set where I specifically requested rather than just simply ignored, then MAYBE i'd think about tipping the guy after the 3rd or 4th time he managed to do that.
However, considering the $95 p/hr labor rate, bikes that come back filthy, empty and with an extra scratch or two, requested adjustments (which I was charged for I might add) never actually done, tire pressure unchecked, finger prints all over the place, and having to wait 3-5 hours to actually get it after being called and told its done, the last thing I want to give the guy is a tip. Knuckle sandwich maybe, but tip? Not on your life bud.
Maybe when mechanics become mechanics again rather than parts replacers, and dont tell me I don't know what I'm talking about when I tell them something isn't right with a bike i ride every damned day, then and only then will I consider it.
IF i got my bike back as clean, or cleaner than it was when it came in, without a single extra fingerprint, not having to be immediately brought to the gas station when i had brought it there with a full tank, returned at the time promised rather than half a day later, with everything taken care of correctly the first time, nothing that needed to be re-adjusted, tweaked, etc, and tire pressures actually set where I specifically requested rather than just simply ignored, then MAYBE i'd think about tipping the guy after the 3rd or 4th time he managed to do that.
However, considering the $95 p/hr labor rate, bikes that come back filthy, empty and with an extra scratch or two, requested adjustments (which I was charged for I might add) never actually done, tire pressure unchecked, finger prints all over the place, and having to wait 3-5 hours to actually get it after being called and told its done, the last thing I want to give the guy is a tip. Knuckle sandwich maybe, but tip? Not on your life bud.
Maybe when mechanics become mechanics again rather than parts replacers, and dont tell me I don't know what I'm talking about when I tell them something isn't right with a bike i ride every damned day, then and only then will I consider it.
I couldn't have said it better.