Do You Give A Gratuity To Your Service Technicians?

[Underboss]

I always tip for my vehicle services. I always tip for large deliveries at my home. I hate this newer trend of asking for tips at counter service places. Its like the mob shaking down bar owners, not that I would know much about that.
I am not looking for anything for free, just more attentiveness to the details. I had a friend who would go to a certain restaurant 2x a week and because he tipped the waiter 20%, he would get free bottles of beer for him and his wife. I asked him, as he was devoutly christian, if he thought it proper to steal from the business owner, as all those types do, he claimed I am not stealing.
I was recently stuck at FL for a week, I tipped and I bought donuts. The issue was difficult to diagnose and the tech told me, all of them wanted to figure it out as they did not want to disappoint me and they did not. I see it that just because an hourly labor fee is, say, $200, the tech is not getting that.

 

[pzookey]

I have not tipped for service but then I have just bought my Newmar. My old Coach is a 76 Travco Mahal 2+2 and I took care of all the service myself. Now I made a mistake when I purchased the Newmar from a Camping World and the tech that did the initial walk through tried BSing me on a few things. Now I am waiting for a call about parts for the televator that they are supposed to fix and after a call to them Friday they are supposedly trying to call Newmar to find out what happened to the parts they ordered. I dont think the parts were ordered. Just like the tech told me a clunk the slide makes going out is normal. I believe the slide needs adjusting but they swear its normal. There will be no tipping there.
I have no issue tipping where it is due. I have been on both sides of this issue. I worked as an Auto mechanic in the late 80s and through the 90s I rarely received tips. Most tips came from regulars and they were taken care of. Nothing given for free but the extra check or getting the job done in a quick manner (getting a 3 hour book job complete in 45 minutes so they could make a flight). Any tips I got while working as a mechanic went into tools to help me with my job.

 

[Russellvh]

My son always tips in cash. He says it helps him control it more. Plus he includes a $2.00 bill in the tip.

 

[Boat Bum]

 

[Boat Bum]

Just like the tech told me a clunk the slide makes going out is normal. I believe the slide needs adjusting but they swear its normal.

My bedroom headboard slide makes a distinctive clunk like a lever drops down past a certain point.

 

[pzookey]

My bedroom headboard slide makes a distinctive clunk like a lever drops down past a certain point.

My bedroom ahs a little clunk similar to what you are saying. My kitchen has a visible lurch with a loud clunk as the floor levels. The front side levels smoothly back the back side jumps. Something is out of whack.

 

[RVThereYet]

To tip or not to top,that is the question?
Matters not the service rendered. Was the service just part of the job being done by the employee or did it go over and above what would be normally expected.
In a restaurant, it is more easily identifiable as to normal service, good service or exceptional service.

I must say that I have left nothing for a tip if that was the service I received and have left way more than the excepted 20% tip if the service was personal and I was made felt as a true value to the business.
To tip a tech for services rendered for doing the job that he is being paid to do, not so sure I would. Now a mobile tech that is different than a tech at a dealer. Dealer tech, for sure no tip from me.
That's my $0.02 worth. I'm OUT!!

 

[DHudson]

Just to add my $.01 worth. Back in the mid to late '90's, I was Service Manager at a large Chevy Dealer in Dallas. Our labor rate was about $70.00 / hr. Techs made 45% of that. I had guys making $35,000.00 to $100,000.00 per year. BACK IN THE LATE '90'S!! So, my personal take is, unless they stay late to get you back on the road, or something of that nature, they are paid well for the job they do.

 

[Roadglide117]

I do not, their pay is their employer's responsibility. Never get a refund when they they leave a mess or have to drive back because it still isn't working. The price market on parts is rediculously high. Pass some of that for work well done. But, I would buy pizza for lunch, if they'd let me. Call me cheap.

 

[Holdmybeer]

I don't tip people for doing their job, with the exception of kids working at Sonic or the like. I tip people for exceeding my expectations however. I read in the NYT's awhile back where a waiter said if you can't tip 25% stay home. Not a problem for me. My best friend when I was in Germany told a rude waiter, " Here's your tip, stay out of dark alley's on payday".