Service Tipping.

[fmrcarver]

I am new to this forum. I am getting ready to schedule a routine 50 hour service call for a CaseIH Farmall 70 in which the dealer will come to my place to service the tractor. Do folks normally tip the service personnel and if so how much? I would think some gratuity would be appropriate?

 

[RickB]

Probably 10% of my customers tip. Amounts vary but most tips are in the $10-$20 range. I am appreciative of the tips I receive, but it isn't something I expect universally, or give a second thought about those who don't. My advise is this; if the service you get warrants a tip to the tech (and tipping is something you are considering), go ahead. If the service is performed without enthusiasm, or your questions or concerns aren't addressed to your COMPLETE satisfaction, don't feel obligated. Road service techs are the dealership's after-sales ambassadors. If the guy who shows up at your place doesn't exceed your expectations, don't pay extra.

 

[bpattie]

no offense Rick, I am happy that you get some tips and I am sure your customers feel you have provided extraordinary service. Tipping is a personal issue for me. don't mean to start a huge controversy but for gosh sakes. Tipping used to be and sometimes still is an act to reward above and beyond service. At least that is my interpretation. now days it is expected even for poor service and seems to have cropped up in all kinds of places. Coffee shops now have tip jars, I think I have seen them at fast food restaurants, and places that I cannot recall just now. Seems like places want tips, expect tips or are fishing for tips for providing a product. maybe I should start carrying in a tip jar and hold it out for a tip when I use their service. Sorry for the rant, just a personal problem for me when the expectation of receiving tip has spread to retail, and some of the service industries that should want to be rewarding you for your business. pretty soon you will find tip jars at the bank teller windows, where sometimes the charge you anyway for using a person instead of transacting electronically. Again sorry for the rant.

 

[RickB]

no offense Rick, I am happy that you get some tips and I am sure your customers feel you have provided extraordinary service. Tipping is a personal issue for me. don't mean to start a huge controversy but for gosh sakes. Tipping used to be and sometimes still is an act to reward above and beyond service. At least that is my interpretation. now days it is expected even for poor service and seems to have cropped up in all kinds of places. Coffee shops now have tip jars, I think I have seen them at fast food restaurants, and places that I cannot recall just now. Seems like places want tips, expect tips or are fishing for tips for providing a product. maybe I should start carrying in a tip jar and hold it out for a tip when I use their service. Sorry for the rant, just a personal problem for me when the expectation of receiving tip has spread to retail, and some of the service industries that should want to be rewarding you for your business. pretty soon you will find tip jars at the bank teller windows, where sometimes the charge you anyway for using a person instead of transacting electronically. Again sorry for the rant.

You didn't offend me. But you clearly didn't fully read or understand my post.
I neither expect to be tipped, or find fault with those who chose not to tip.
I provided my version of an answer to the original post. Nobody has to agree.

 

[bpattie]

You didn't offend me. But you clearly didn't fully read or understand my post.
I neither expect to be tipped, or find fault with those who chose not to tip.
I provided my version of an answer to the original post. Nobody has to agree.

Sorry I wasn't more clear Rick. I fully understood your post and admire your position on the topic, and your statements were honorable and I agree with what you said. I was just commenting on a pet peeve on how the general scope of tipping has grown or become a part of businesses that would never before have been considered for tipping. Sorry for not being more clear.

 

[Big Bri]

i too think this tip thing has gone to far. i under stand it for servers at restaurant, they only make 2.15 per hr. but i hate the way the lady who cuts my hair expects a tip. i pay her 20 for a cut that takes 30 min why does she need a tip. when i go pick up a sandwich at the local stand there is a tip jar why should i tip for picking up a sandwich? i've been told that i should tip the guy who loads my truck at the lumber yard. i have to tip the guy who takes my bags at the airport the guy who takes my bag when i get on the shuttle bus and then tip the door man at the hotel.where does it stop. i know there more but can't think of them now. anyway sorry for the rant. to answer your question if i'm having service work on my car and i can see the guy working on it and he seems to respect my car, i will usually buy them a coke but i won't go any further than that.

 

[Botabill]

I am new to this forum. I am getting ready to schedule a routine 50 hour service call for a CaseIH Farmall 70 in which the dealer will come to my place to service the tractor. Do folks normally tip the service personnel and if so how much? I would think some gratuity would be appropriate?

Personally I believe in paying employees a fair wage. I hope companies I patronize do the same. Tippng just gives bad employers an excuse to underpay.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Dont know if it it true or not, but I read that TIPS originally was short for "To Insure Prompt Service" so how did it get from that to just give me money for any service good, bad or indifferent. I agree, it is just an excuse for bad employers to pay a low wage and an excuse for the worker to commit fraud on his tax reporting. Even worse is places where the employer requires all tips to go into a common fund to be distributed among all employees. That stinks of socialism in that all get a fair share regardless of the work performed. Personally if I know that that is happening in a business, I wont tip at all and tell the manager why. MY TIP goes to the person giving me the service or not at all.

 

[Thomas]

All depends on service tech attitude..high % of time yes I do.

 

[brin]

" pretty soon you will find tip jars at the bank teller windows, where sometimes the charge you anyway for using a person instead of transacting electronically. Again sorry for the rant."

My wife and I went for a drive through the Smoky Mountains a week ago and stopped in Cherokee, NC and went in Harrah's Casino on the Indian reservation...would you bleive it the cashiers, the counter like at banks where you go to cash out when you leave, they are tellers and they had a tip jar...at the time I commented to my Mrs. ..What would you tip them for ? They just give you your money in return for your chips as you are leaving. So it probably won't be long before bank tellers do the same thing..LOL

 

[wvpolekat]

I refuse to tip servers for poor service, even at a restaurant. I don't care if they make $2.15 an hour. A tip is earned, not a given. If they give good service, I tip generously. If they give poor service, I don't tip.

I refuse to tip people who are already paid a salary EXCEPT service providers who go above and beyond. Delivery persons, repair persons, and similar. How does a bank teller or ice cream jockey go above and beyond? Bank teller certainly isn't going to put extra money in my account. A delivery person who takes extra care, or does that extra little bit will always get a tip from me. A repair person who takes the time to explain what they need to do or points out something else they notice will get a tip from me. That is going above and beyond.

I see a tip as my chance to pay them an extra amount of MY CHOOSING to reward them for good service.

 

[Bird]

I don't like the tipping business, especially since it's become expected so many places regardless of how good or bad the service is, but I almost never fail to tip service providers. Maybe that's because I have a little experience with working where tips were a part of the pay.

Even worse is places where the employer requires all tips to go into a common fund to be distributed among all employees. That stinks of socialism in that all get a fair share regardless of the work performed.

In general, I'd agree, but there are exceptions. Many years ago, one of my "moonlighting" jobs was working for a valet parking service at special events, wealthy folks' parties, and such. There would be 3 to 6 of us on each job, and all tips were pooled and equally divided. However, there was never any doubt that the work was also equally divided because we took turns parking cars and later going after cars. No one ever had a complaint, but if we'd ever had anyone who didn't do his share, he would never have been asked to work another job.

Of course another of my moonlighting jobs was driving a taxicab. The salary was a flat 35% of the amount collected on the meter and any tips went directly to the driver.

 

[impdaddy]

A reward for OUTSTANDING service is within the realm of reasonable. Also, a great attitude on the part of the person is welcom. My big question is how much is the 50 hr service ging to cost you? that would factor into my decision.

Rick: I am sure you fit into the OUTSTANDING category otherwise you would not be part of TBN and also stick your neck out to reply. Thanks,

 

[Spudland_Dave]

If not financially with cold hard cash...I've tipped people who deserved it with things like Soda,...if I'm the last stop before "punching out" a fermented barley soda, etc...To me, its not the actual dollar amount, its the ACT that goes a long way...

I've given a few gift cards (Dunkin Donuts, etc) to sales guys who are comission/salary/get paid well...reason being they ALWAYS go above & beyond the call of duty for me...expediting orders, taking returns with no restock fees even on special order items, giving me vendor samples, etc... I've gotten more free Lenox BiMetal holesaws then ones I've purchased...
Keep in mind I'm an average Joe doing business at an industrial supply house which is one of those "account type" businesses...

 

[december45]

I'm so far out of the loop on tip giving ... i thought the original poster was kidding..... i thought it was some kind of joke.... I never in a million years would have ever even thought about giving a service tech a tip...

generally my tip giving is;

"Buy low sell high"

 

[The Haymaker]

A reward for OUTSTANDING service is within the realm of reasonable. Also, a great attitude on the part of the person is welcom. My big question is how much is the 50 hr service ging to cost you? that would factor into my decision.

I would tip for service from someone who has a good attitude and gives me good service. What the total bill is would have nothing to do with a tip or not, as the service guy is only going to see a tiny portion of it.