I tip my Indy, but not with money.......
I can park out in the parking lot, walk by the service bay, and ask him to check my air, he will roll my bike in, take care of it, and then put my bike back out where it was....
Take care of People who take care of you.........

 

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!

 

Ditto what harleychrlie said

 

When I was growing up, my ma had a local mechanic who did all those nice things for her, like change light bulbs, check air, charged her fair prices etc. She was a single mother who literally needed every dollar, she didn't tip him with dollars. What she did do was become a loyal customer, she also told her friends she had a good honest mechanic and steered a lot of business his way. I think this was a lot better than a few bucks here and there.

 

I would for sure tip if the price of the bill is fair and they have exceeded my expectations. The problem is if it goes to tipping doesn't matter how much they get payed but if they expect tips will they only treat certain customers and bikes with care. I work in healthcare and I'm not allowed to receive tips for that reason. I do a good job because I care about my fellow human being. I would hope my mechanic would respect my bike and myself with the same respect. Tips or no tips they should want to do a good job and be proud of their work.

 

They charge enough and make enough imho for a service, a tip for them seriousally???? No way would I ever tip for a car or bike service! The only person I tip is my barber after he cuts my hair.

 

I can appreciate your frustration in your field. Now since you mentioned medical doctors in your rant, I need to open your eyes to that field. My daughter is a young physician. Her schooling has cost us $250K, no student loans here. It takes 20 years of formal education by the time you graduate medical school. Now comes the 3 USMLE (US Medical License Examinations). The first one is taken at medical school graduation. This test cost about $1,500, fail it and chances are you won't be accepted into a Medical Residency Program here in the US. Part ll is taken after your 1st yr of residency, again it's about $1K. Fail it and you do get a 2nd bite at the apple. Fail it a 2nd time and you're out of the residency program with almost no chance of practicing medicine here in the US. Part lll is taken during your last yr of residency and cost another $1K.

Depending on your speciality residency is from 2 yrs for a general practitioner to 5 yrs for a surgeon. My daughter's was 3 yrs long, and she finished 1st in her class.

Show me the money. My daughter has been practicing family medicine for 3 yrs. She makes $120K a yr. Out of that she has to pay for her own healthcare insurance and yearly medical siminars.

Her salary comes out to less than $59 an hr gross. After spending $250K on her education you can see it's not about the money. The huge medical bills we as patients get, pays for the clinic or hospital fees which also covers the huge cost in malpractice insurance. The physician actually is paid a fraction of these high medical costs we all pay. Sometimes Medicare and Medicade won't pay the going rate or not pay at all. When this happens we all get charged in the end.

Yes some physicians like some attorneys do make it big, but it's not the norm.

When I compare what my daughter had to go through, to what's charged by dealerships, it's hard for me to be benevolent towards them. Our local Tire Kingdom as an example, charges $120 an hr labor rates. They're nuts and I told them so.

My rant's over.

 

I tipped when i had my 95 kit, mech came out and went over everything done along with dyno sheets, and being as i was bringing it back in 1000 miles for remap i wanting some repore gave him a 20 when i came back he got me in in front of line and i got exceptinal service and a few free adj, if i had not tipped those woulden`t be done now when i go in the guy makes sure to say hi, and ask if i need anything

 

Tip, They are supposed to be motorcycle mechanics,
Not the waitresses workin at Hooters

 

I tipped a mechanic for working me in at the end of the day for an inspection, which was my rush, because I was on my *** so I thought it was great of him for doing it, he didn't have to. He looked at me like I was crazy as hell and seem reluctant to even take it.

TXSwede I think was on point, the tip for a garage or mechanic is that you become a loyal customer and you spread the word about what great service you receive.

As far as waitresses, they get **** wages so yeah, I tip them pretty good when they provide good service. My wife gets pissed with me because when my mug sets empty I start deducting. lol