Do you tip you mechanic?

Oranage2 · 21-05-2012 05:50PM #1

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 · 21-05-2012 05:53PM

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 · 21-05-2012 05:54PM

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 · 21-05-2012 05:55PM

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 · 21-05-2012 05:57PM

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

Max Power1 · 21-05-2012 05:58PM

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

Where To · 21-05-2012 05:58PM

Yep always.*

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

Oranage2 · 21-05-2012 05:59PM

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 · 21-05-2012 06:01PM

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 · 21-05-2012 06:33PM

I would not tip a mechanic ever.

biko · 21-05-2012 06:40PM

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 · 21-05-2012 06:43PM

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 · 21-05-2012 07:00PM

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 · 21-05-2012 07:03PM

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

MrDerp · 21-05-2012 07:25PM

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 · 21-05-2012 08:26PM

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 · 21-05-2012 08:39PM

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 · 21-05-2012 08:52PM

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 · 21-05-2012 08:55PM

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

Plug · 21-05-2012 09:08PM

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 · 21-05-2012 09:11PM

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 · 21-05-2012 09:17PM

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 · 21-05-2012 09:36PM

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 · 21-05-2012 09:47PM

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 · 21-05-2012 11:14PM

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_ · 21-05-2012 11:15PM

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 · 21-05-2012 11:19PM

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 · 21-05-2012 11:29PM

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 · 21-05-2012 11:36PM

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 · 22-05-2012 08:00AM

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 · 22-05-2012 10:38AM

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.

Do you tip you mechanic?

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