Do you ever tip your mechanic?

[SlitherinSisters]

I'm having a ton of work done on my VW Jetta and so far it's taken since 10 this morning to now, 4pm. I had several things that needed done including: fixing a door that stopped latching, new timing belt, new water pump, checking the breaks, and fixing the power steering. It's impossible to find mechanics that will work on VW because they are so small and put together differently. For example if I need to do something as simple as changing a head light I have to unhook my battery and take it out of the car just to reach one of the lights. To change my timing belt and water pump he literally had to take just about EVERYTHING out from under my hood, that's why it took so long.

This mechanic has always been AWESOME to me and treated me great. He shops around looking for the best prices on parts and doesn't charge me anything for estimates or finding the problem. In fact, I moved an hour away and will drive that far just to have him look at my car. The VW dealership was going to charge me $50 just to look at my door that wasn't shutting and then another $75+ for the part (and most likely another $50 for labor, but they left that out). Guess how much my mechanic charged me? $10 TOTAL for the door not latching correctly! If he can fix something he fixes it or gets only the smallest part he needs rather than the entire mechanism.

Well anyway, my bill for all those hours and parts AND the hours it will take on Friday once another part gets there is: $750 If you have any idea of car parts and paying for a few hours of work you know that is a FANTASTIC deal! I feel like I should give him a tip for being so awesome to me.

Do you ever tip your mechanic, and do they get to keep the tip if they are in a small shop?

[SoCaliSon]

My mechanic is right next door to my office... and he is like you said... always willing to go the extra mile to take care of you. On christmas I always stop by with a case of beer for the 3 guys in the shop and that seems to be a good thank you for their help. It is always received with a smile. There has been a couple times where I was in a bind (keys locked in, blown elctric relays) and he has come through for me with no charge. Not to mention since I work next door...He is willing to do work an d let me pay him when I can. I would say yes... I think they appreciate the small gestures of gratitude.

[shadi11]

I tip my mechanic all the time. I give him kisses and make him special meals, and a few other things. OK He is my husband.

[greghall]

Dam I never get kissed! Tips sometimes but I work where the labor rate is $98.10 a hour,but I don't get paid that wish I did ! i do side work & charge $35 to $45 a hour & do get a little extra from people because its half of what they would spend at the dealer.

[FIREball]

I always seem to have new vehicles which are always under warranty. All my vehicles are serviced regularly at the dealership so I never have any problems. I do tip the guy who details them though

[SecurityStacey]

If I went to a chain place or something where I thought I was getting sticked I wouldn't.

But I go to a mechanic at a small shop that fixes things like you described - really goes the extra mile and only fixes what needs to be fixed and I always throw him a tip.

[Debbienflorida]

I go to a locally owned small town shop that is awesome! They have even sent me home with a $0 bill because the brakes didn't need replaced at that time. It is nice to be able to go somewhere and know they won't rip you off. I tip the person that does the work. They are usually the one that gives you the bill and checks you out so it is easy but otherwise you can usually just go back and thank the mechanic and slipp them a few bucks.

[adizziedoll]

Being a car mechanics wifey, I would say absolutely. When I found out how these professionals get paid, I was shocked.

95% of shops and dealerships go by flat rate (they call it flat rape, not to offend anyone). Every job, like replacing a starter or alignments etc... has a certain amount of hours that it pays to the mechanic, and is different at every shop. Like replacing rotors pays lets say 3 hours. If the mechanic does it faster, he still gets 3 hours worth of his hourly pay. If he does it slower, same thing - 3 hours of his hourly pay. The mechanics get shafted if it is a job under warrenty as those always pay significantly less.

The WORST part about this is this: If the shop doesnt bring in any work, and the mechanic doesnt get any hours, they get paid NOTHING. They will sit at their job for 40 hours a week and get paid JACK. We are currently relocated from CT to Maryland because my boyfriend was PAYING to get to work (gas). And with the economy being so slow, the entire industry is doing poorly. These talented people who enjoy their jobs and have spent years if not their whole lives learning more about what they do are being forced to either eat tuna fish out of a can, move their families from their sentimental homes into a smaller less-than-sufficiant house, or change professions (which most wont do because they have been doing this for yeeaars). It's completely devestating.

Oh, and did I mention that they have to buy their own tools??? These things are NOT cheap - the number of different types of tools they need to do their job is ridiculous. And they do not/cannot come from Sears. Many are make/model specific, and are only used once in a blue moon. But you gotta have it for those few times, no matter what it costs. Just a tool box of adequate size is at least a few thousand dollars.

When you pay for a whole door when all you needed was a latch, it's not the mechanics doing (unless you are going to a small mom/pop shop). It's much like Petco - there are places the parts have to come from, and procedures that must be followed. Many talented mechanics know that all he would need to do is take this thing and put it in that thing and give it a little welding or whatever, but they just are simply not allowed to do this sort of thing. It would mean $$$ loss for the company, especially if a customer got hurt resulting from the MacGyver job and sued.

I too used to get very upset at the mechanic, but in all reality, they are the ones being undermined and taken for granted when they are actually running the show. Most love what they do, but did not expect that the workforce would be the way that it is.

The things they go through you couldnt even imagine. In the winter they are getting cold cars to work on in a freezing shop under a car with snow dripping on them all day, handling cold metal. They have oil sprayed in their faces/eyes constantly. Parts come apart easier than expected and fall on them. Parts are rusted together and all their hours are spent trying to get them apart. They get hurt all the time. Machines are less then adequate for the jobs they are supposed to do. My boyfriend has seen a car come down more than once, nearly killing a few people. He has also damaged his back, and he can not do the things he used to without being in horrific pain for a length of time (like riding his motorcycle, go on rollercoasters...). He's 24. But he loves to work on cars. It was what he was made to do.

Give them some compassion, take a look at the big picture - if he's good, tip the man!! lol I will get off of my soap box now haha

[Drew87]

I always tip, but i drive a 88 camaro so i know ill be seeing him really soon haha.

[SlitherinSisters]

Thanks everyone for your comments!!!! Now I just have to decide....beer, money, or a gift card I've gone to this guy for 3+ years for everything I ever needed..... I just don't want him to have to share with the boss.