Do you tip you mechanic?

Oranage2

So brought a car to mechanic for the first time - Wondering do you tip them.

I asked about and people are 50-50 on it.

So what says yee?

Gary ITR

Oranage2 wrote: »

So brought a car to mechanic for the first time - Wondering do you tip them.

I asked about and people are 50-50 on it.

So what says yee?

Not really the done thing as far as I know, rarely see it.

If you're bringing the car to Nissan Doctor just get him a voucher for a hair cut

kildare.17hmr

Whatever about tipping minumum wage waiters or that but any mechanic i know makes a decent wage. If this mechanic is working for himself he would have priced the job to make it worth his time.

kingtut

Oranage2 wrote: »

So brought a car to mechanic for the first time - Wondering do you tip them.

I asked about and people are 50-50 on it.

So what says yee?

I'd never tip a mechanic I do not see why anyone would ... sure labour is included in the total bill!

celticcrash

Tip the mechanic. The mechanic is well able to tip himself.

Max Power1

They charge enough as it is.
Unless I was getting mates rates no way do I tip a mechanic.

Where To

Yep always.*







*I tip the waste oil over his head if he doesn't give me a discount.

Oranage2

A lad in work said he was charged 170e for some work but gave him 200e. I told him your suppose to negotiate down wards. Then somebody else said they tip their mechanic.

Just wondering if it was the done thing.

ShadowHearth

i always tiped mechanic. ( indy ). If that was my regular mechenic too, then i was never ever told NO, if i would break down in the middle of somewhere or had emergency fault and needed car ASAP. Mechenic would be right there to help me out.

now my friend is looking after my cars and i always give him atleast 10 quid over. he have already done so many jobs for free too, so i newer see a problem to give few quid.

mondeo

I would not tip a mechanic ever.

biko

Don't think I ever have tipped a mechanic. I suppose if they found that a tyre was almost coming off or something like that I'd be inclined to tip

helimachoptor

A friend does all my family's work, I normally throw him more when it's a big job but wouldn't tip a random mechanic

complicit

Tipping a mechanic makes as much sense as tipping your dentist or optician .
A junior mechanic might appreciate it , a senior one might feel slightly insulted I imagine ?

Jimdagym

Mechanic invoices you for work done. No way I'd tip.
I'd throw a mate doing a favour a few quid though.

MrDerp

I tip taxi drivers, I tip waiters, I tip pizza delivery men, I even tip the dog groomer.

I wouldn't give a mechanic the steam off my pi$$

Terrontress

If I thought it was going to be expensive and it turned out to be cheap, I'd throw a fiver for a pint.

Guy:Incognito

kingtut wrote: »

... sure labour is included in the total bill!

It's included in the price in restaurants too.

MrDerp wrote: »

I tip taxi drivers, I tip waiters, I tip pizza delivery men, I even tip the dog groomer.

I wouldn't give a mechanic the steam off my pi$$

A Mechanic is better qualified and has a harder job than all of those, so why draw a line between them?

The problem with these conversations is everyone thinks your copying Steve Buscemi if you try make a case for one profession over another :-)

bazz26

I'd say most people out there don't tip their mechanic but if a customer is happy with their work then they will show their gratitude in the form of repeat buisness and recommending them to family friends and neighbours. I'd imagine that is worth more to a mechanic than a tip.

pred racer

I do. He's a good mate of mine and looks after me.

Plug

I got a good few tips in my time. The most was for replacing a wiper fuse, I got €20:)
The least was 37 cent:o

Jimdagym

MrDerp wrote: »

I tip taxi drivers, I tip waiters, I tip pizza delivery men, I even tip the dog groomer.

I wouldn't give a mechanic the steam off my pi$$

Thats a ridiculous post.

firefly08

A Mechanic is better qualified and has a harder job than all of those, so why draw a line between them?

Generally tipping is reserved for the jobs with the lowest levels of formal qualification. Mechanics are skilled professionals - I generally assume they are charging the rate they expect to make. If I had a reason to think otherwise then I might tip.

As far as making a case for one profession over another - in Ireland it's rarely necessary to tip and a lot of people won't do it anyway because they simply don't get the concept of it. But then, the minimum wage is very high. In places where tipping is normal, it usually boils down to the entry barrier for a particular job. If it's something anyone can do (waiting tables, pulling pints, mowing lawns etc.) then tips are considered appropriate. Usually these are jobs that, without tips, would not come close to paying enough for a person to live on. In the US for example a lot of waiters etc. are paid around $4/hour by their employers. It's not worth their while giving you the time of day unless you're going to tip them. The difference with professionals is that they have a skill you need - so they determine their own hourly rate based on their level of skill.

Col200sx

Suppose I'm in the minority so, but I generally throw the price of a pint, or couple pints, depending on the size of the job done.

But I know him, and he's often thrown me free bulbs when I've blown one and popped in.

And he only gets to do the $hitty jobs I don't want to do myself

cjmcork

I live in the sticks and our mechanic is an independent mechanic - I always tip him, just maybe a tenner, honest to god, we'd be kiboshed without him

Matt Simis

Col200sx wrote: »

And he only gets to do the $hitty jobs I don't want to do myself

Yeah, my guy gets the jobs I dont have the equipment for or the stuff I did once and hated!

cjmcork wrote: »

I live in the sticks and our mechanic is an independent mechanic - I always tip him, just maybe a tenner, honest to god, we'd be kiboshed without him

Yeah I generally round up the figures a little to the local guy I use. He always lets me not actually pay him till I get paid and IMO grossly undercharges / undervalues his time and work. I mean Ive seriously questioned some of the prices he comes out with, he needs an accountant or secretary or something.

He also gives me free stuff for my experiments.

Got to wonder about some of the resentment and hostility towards mechanics on this thread.. if you hate your mechanic so much.. get a better one.

_Kaiser_

The main dealer I use generally gets €400-500 a quarter out of me so I think that's more than enough myself.

Matt Simis

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

The main dealer I use generally gets €400-500 a quarter out of me so I think that's more than enough myself.

A (Franchised) main dealer is a "mechanic" in the same way McDonalds is a "restaurant".

MrDerp

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

A Mechanic is better qualified and has a harder job than all of those, so why draw a line between them?

Taxi driver and pizza man work crappy hours, my dog is a pain the hole.

I tip people that do a job that I wouldnt like to do, and which is for my convenience and i tip when I myself feel I'm getting value for labour cost. If I'm getting a good labour rate, then I get to choose to up that rate for a good job.

A 13 euro haircut gets 20 if I'm very happy, 18 for a good job and 15 for mediocre.

I don't think I get value for labour cost from mechanics, like many other services here. Therefore no tip.

Fishtits

I wouldn't give a mechanic the steam off my pi$$

I suspect you have never had your car worked on by a proper one... :rolleyes:

gyppo

It depends on the type of Mechanic!

Main Dealer - not a chance, you've already paid top dollar for the work done.

Independant guy trying to keep his head above water, and doesnt try and rip you off - Yes.

2 stroke

I tip people that I recon earn less than me. I do most car jobs myself but if I leave a car in, I'd be checking that the job was done properly and that the parts charged for were actualy used.
There was a local guy that I would tip, but he seriously undercharged, he's retired now.

Nissan doctor

I think its a great idea:P

Seriously though, in my experience I/we would rarely get tips but regular customers would usually give bottles of stuff/hampers etc at Christmas time.

The truth is though that very few people want to spend money on their car, so they are never going to pay and more then they absolutly have to.

pred racer

Nissan doctor wrote: »

I think its a great idea:P

Seriously though, in my experience I/we would rarely get tips but regular customers would usually give bottles of stuff/hampers etc at Christmas time.

The truth is though that very few people want to spend money on their car, so they are never going to pay and more then they absolutly have to.

What size is the garage you work in ND?
The reason i ask is that if you drop your car in a car park in front of a garage and return ,get a bill and go to a desk and pay its not really condusive to tipping, whereas if you drop your car to a bloke, then pick it up off the same bloke who tells you what he did and how much it is, then pay the same bloke its alot easier to say " buy yourself a pint/ fags with the change" imo.

MrDerp

Nissan doctor wrote: »

I think its a great idea:P

Seriously though, in my experience I/we would rarely get tips but regular customers would usually give bottles of stuff/hampers etc at Christmas time.

The truth is though that very few people want to spend money on their car, so they are never going to pay and more then they absolutly have to.

While I don't want, as you say, to spend money on the car, I'm religious about keeping it in good nick. Sadly, my own abilities go no further than the odd self-valet, keeping an eye on tyres, watching the oil level and changing all bulbs.

But if it makes you feel better I don't tip my doctor or dentist either. You're in that bracket. Necessary pain.

wonski

Tipped only 2 times in my life - once when the repair was free, and another time when we put three cars into my trusted mechanic and he only charged us 55E (two exhausts welded, and some skillfull handbrake job). It makes sense only when mechanic goes out of his way and fixes your car straight away for few quids. If- however - the job is big enough (timing belt etc), and quoted in advance, i don't tip (as i don't have any money left anyway...).
Have to add that since i have trusted, independent lad, my wallet is mechanic-friendly. This guy under-charges sometimes(in my view), but makes it up quickly from returning customers. He is quick too, and makes a call when the car is ready. Took me 3 years to find the place (Nissan Doctor is too far away from me...)

cdublin

I give a tip to my mechanic every visit, last time out it was "bend your knees it'll save your back"........................okay, I'll get me coat...

Our man in Havana

In Bulgaria, people (foreigners) tipping mechanics has ruined it for everyone. It has forced up prices as they now expect it every time.

MugMugs

I'd tip a back street Mechanic but not a main stream one.

Why? I don't carry cash most of the time.... If they take laser it's generally their loss.

I'd also only tip if I've been dug out of a massive pickle by them. Not for standard servicing.

wonski

Our man in Havana wrote: »

In Bulgaria, people (foreigners) tipping mechanics has ruined it for everyone. It has forced up prices as they now expect it every time.

I bet those foreigners were too happy with the quote. How much is full service there after conversion? 50, 40 euro? Locals have to hate all of you now...

-Corkie-

I never even thought about tipping them allthough I would buy him a pint if I met him in the Boozer..

dodderangler

When I was workin in Toyota I'd get tips for doing little small jobs like not talkin about gettin tips for doin clutches or gearbox that's what labour covers and wouldn't take a tip for that
I'd often get oul lads givin me a few euro for puttin in new bulbs or just doin a quick pre NCT check and taking off hub caps and when it passes I put them back on sometimes it could be a euro or a tenner
I'd be handed a score sometimes but always try givin it back it's way too much got a phone number aswell before that was weird she was at least 50
But what people don't get is mechanics are one of the worst paid trades out there if u don't have your own garage or do nixers you come out with nothing so tips are welcomed sight

Our man in Havana

wonski wrote: »

I bet those foreigners were too happy with the quote. How much is full service there after conversion? 50, 40 euro? Locals have to hate all of you now...

Indeed they do. Full service is around €50.

wonski

-Corkie- wrote: »

I never even thought about tipping them allthough I would buy him a pint if I met him in the Boozer..

My usual tipping strategy was to give extra fiver for a pint, nothing more really. Like i said, only if the job was priced below expectations, or when it took more time than money went in really. In normal, quote-based circumstances, no need to.
Have you met him in the Boozer???

Gary ITR

dodderangler wrote: »

 got a phone number aswell before that was weird she was at least 50

Chancey aul ones can be good in the sack.... So im told

wonski

Our man in Havana wrote: »

Indeed they do. Full service is around €50.

Very cheap for someone coming from Ireland (179E full service last time), not so cheap for Bulgarians, i believe.
I feel tempted to drive to home in the summer only to do suspension rebuild, and some extras. 500E would buy me a new car over there, but since i already spent 600E in last month, it doesn't make sense anymore...
Do you mind me asking what usual prices are for jobs like timing belt, and how much for example are proper tires? I know the prices in Poland (good prices), imagine Bulgarian prices are even lower.

Our man in Havana

Last time I bought a tyre (VW Polo) I paid €30 new fitted and balanced.

I had a full front suspension rebuild, (2 new shocks and bushings etc) and a full service and paid €200 approx. That was a VW stealer too.

They generally charge €30 a day for labour. Parts can be as dear as Ireland.

wonski

Our man in Havana wrote: »

Last time I bought a tyre (VW Polo) I paid €30 new fitted and balanced.

I had a full front suspension rebuild, (2 new shocks and bushings etc) and a full service and paid €200 approx. That was a VW stealer too.

They generally charge €30 a day for labour. Parts can be as dear as Ireland.

Paradise...30E/day!
Wish I was there...

-Corkie-

wonski wrote: »

My usual tipping strategy was to give extra fiver for a pint, nothing more really. Like i said, only if the job was priced below expectations, or when it took more time than money went in really. In normal, quote-based circumstances, no need to.
Have you met him in the Boozer???

I have surley too often unfortunatley...:o

wonski

-Corkie- wrote: »

I have surley too often unfortunatley...:o

Wasn't it don't mix business with pleasures, or something along the lines...
I am glad my guy is 10 miles away, i would have to do the same...