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View Full Version : How much do you tip your oil change guy?



Pat Barry
07-23-2014, 6:33 PM
I have tipped my oil change crew, at Valvoline, at Christmas. Something nominal ie: $5 bucks, but that's been it. I figured this service was all inclusive so I don't tip at a regular oil change . My daughter took her car in yesterday for an oil change and the service guy actually asked her for a tip. Maybe its just this guy working the customers or maybe its typical for them to get tips??? Like I said, I didn't think it was like tipping your waitress or the valet parking guy. Maybe I'm off base. Do you folks tip your oil change guy? If so, how much?? Thanks

Mark Engel
07-23-2014, 6:44 PM
I've never tipped for any car service.

ray hampton
07-23-2014, 6:51 PM
are you aware how much the grease monkey made when he/she change the oil

Jim Matthews
07-23-2014, 6:53 PM
I go to an independent mechanic.

He builds profit into the bill.

It makes sense to tip someone who you depend on.
For me, that's the trash collector - Christmas and July 4th.

Chuck Wintle
07-23-2014, 6:57 PM
I have tipped my oil change crew, at Valvoline, at Christmas. Something nominal ie: $5 bucks, but that's been it. I figured this service was all inclusive so I don't tip at a regular oil change . My daughter took her car in yesterday for an oil change and the service guy actually asked her for a tip. Maybe its just this guy working the customers or maybe its typical for them to get tips??? Like I said, I didn't think it was like tipping your waitress or the valet parking guy. Maybe I'm off base. Do you folks tip your oil change guy? If so, how much?? Thanks

I never tip for car service since they build their tip into the bill.

George Bokros
07-23-2014, 6:59 PM
Hmmm...I never get a tip when I change the wife's oil. Gonna have to talk to her about that.

All kidding aside, if he asked me for a tip, I would have told him to buy low and sell high and then find another place to have my oil changed cause next time he may forget to tighten the filter tight.

By the way I have changed my own oil for 52 years.

George

Michael Liechty
07-23-2014, 7:03 PM
i should tip myself by buying more tools...

ML

Pat Barry
07-23-2014, 8:11 PM
My daughter didn't tip the guy either. She thought it was strange the guy asked. This time she happened to be paying with cash instead of credit.

Myk Rian
07-23-2014, 8:56 PM
I only tip the guy/gal drying my car at the car wash.

Jason Roehl
07-23-2014, 9:57 PM
Wow, that's rude to ask. I've never heard of tipping any sort of auto service worker except for when gas stations had full-service pumps (which I always avoided--I'm not old enough to remember that not being an option). That's not to say you can't or shouldn't tip one of them if you like the way they treated you. But, hey, I try to avoid mechanics, doing most work on my vehicles myself. An oil change is about as easy as it gets, and yet I've known several people who didn't get any oil put in their cars when their oil was "changed"...oops.

Patrick McCarthy
07-23-2014, 11:44 PM
Absolutely not. Surprised the dude would suggest it. Probably thought you daughter was easy prey. Personally, I would swing by to talk to the owner.
also, I would not go back tere.

Ed Labadie
07-23-2014, 11:49 PM
I changed the oil in LOML's Trailblazer & my Suburban tonight, nobody gave me a tip.....:mad:

Ed

Bob Rufener
07-24-2014, 12:22 AM
My tip is to find another place for an oil change. I personally think we are getting "tip" crazy. It seems like wherever I go, people have a tip basket or box right in plane view. About 40 years ago, I worked part time at a golf course tending bar. There were many times that we hustled like crazy to supply beverages for thirsty customers. If I received $.15 in tips for the night, that was about it. Now, if you have a drink at a bar before dinner, it almost seems mandatory to leave a buck or two every time you order a beverage. We went to the state fair last August and I went to the men's room to use the facilities. There was a guy in there who pulled paper toweling out of a dispenser and handed it to people and expected a tip. I think I am capable of operating the dispenser by myself. I don't want to sound like a Scrooge as I do tip waitresses generously when they do an good job. I know they don't get paid a lot so tipping is a necessary part of their income. (I wonder how much gets reported:)

Keith Westfall
07-24-2014, 12:45 AM
No tip for that guy!! If anyone is bold enough to ask, hey probably won't get it. For me, it's because I think I want to give it. Not because someone asks... Pretty rude dude.

Charles Wiggins
07-24-2014, 2:27 AM
It would never occur to me to tip a service technician of any kind unless s/he went above and beyond.

Here's some thoughts on the subject. (http://lifehacker.com/5970143/who-should-i-tip-and-how-much)

John Coloccia
07-24-2014, 7:38 AM
It would never occur to me to tip a service technician of any kind unless s/he went above and beyond.

Here's some thoughts on the subject. (http://lifehacker.com/5970143/who-should-i-tip-and-how-much)

$1 to $2 for the casino machine attendant??? That list is CRAZY. The only people that get a tip from me are:

1) barber, because she's always very nice and pleasant
2) waitress
3) UPS/USPS delivery guy, because they often go out of their way for me

That's it. The US is tip crazy. I see tip jars out at the gas station counters now. For what? How about you give ME a tip for coming into your crummy gas station and overpaying for everything?

Jim Matthews
07-24-2014, 7:42 AM
I used to.

Mine goes 5k miles between changes.
That fits closely with service intervals for things I can't fix.

It's cheaper for the dealership to do it, than for me to buy my own (required) synthetic oil.

Rich Engelhardt
07-24-2014, 7:52 AM
How much do you tip your oil change guy?
Zip - zero - nada.

Myk Rian
07-24-2014, 11:57 AM
I'll leave $5 when leaving a motel/hotel room.

Larry Browning
07-24-2014, 12:30 PM
When I was in Finland a couple of years ago, I discovered that tipping is not done there for anything. It seems that the wait staff, taxi drivers, hotel staff, etc.. all make a decent wage without tips, so it is customary to never tip anyone. In fact, they seem to take it as an insult if you offer a tip. The sentiment is that you must think they are destitute and don't make an honest living so you feel the need to give them money as if they were a beggar on the street.
One of the co-workers that I was traveling with "just didn't feel right about not tipping" so she would add a tip onto the credit card receipt (even thought there was no place for it like we have here). She noticed that these tips were never charged to her card when she got the statement.
I wish it was more like that here, even though the cost of some services would probably be higher.

ray hampton
07-24-2014, 12:42 PM
When I was in Finland a couple of years ago, I discovered that tipping is not done there for anything. It seems that the wait staff, taxi drivers, hotel staff, etc.. all make a decent wage without tips, so it is customary to never tip anyone. In fact, they seem to take it as an insult if you offer a tip. The sentiment is that you must think they are destitute and don't make an honest living so you feel the need to give them money as if they were a beggar on the street.
One of the co-workers that I was traveling with "just didn't feel right about not tipping" so she would add a tip onto the credit card receipt (even thought there was no place for it like we have here). She noticed that these tips were never charged to her card when she got the statement.
I wish it was more like that here, even though the cost of some services would probably be higher.

you may get your way if soon if the story in the news are correct, the story stated that some restaurants intend to raise their prices to cover the tip

Paul McGaha
07-24-2014, 1:00 PM
I have tipped my oil change crew, at Valvoline, at Christmas. Something nominal ie: $5 bucks, but that's been it. I figured this service was all inclusive so I don't tip at a regular oil change . My daughter took her car in yesterday for an oil change and the service guy actually asked her for a tip. Maybe its just this guy working the customers or maybe its typical for them to get tips??? Like I said, I didn't think it was like tipping your waitress or the valet parking guy. Maybe I'm off base. Do you folks tip your oil change guy? If so, how much?? Thanks

Just my $.02 but I don't think it's usual to tip someone working on your car. I've never done it or seen it done.

In a lot of cases you wouldn't know who did the work or if they did a good job.

PHM

Jim Rimmer
07-24-2014, 1:01 PM
[/COLOR]
you may get your way if soon if the story in the news are correct, the story stated that some restaurants intend to raise their prices to cover the tip

I would prefer it be done that way. Many waiters/waitresses get stiffed on the tips by tightwads. And many restaurants now combine all tips and divide equally so you can't tip a good person well or lower the tip for bad service.

David Weaver
07-24-2014, 1:13 PM
Absolutely not. Surprised the dude would suggest it. Probably thought you daughter was easy prey. Personally, I would swing by to talk to the owner.
also, I would not go back tere.

Ditto. I'd write the parent company, too.

David Weaver
07-24-2014, 1:15 PM
I've come out from under the car many times after changing the oil, and nobody ever gave me a tip.

Mike Rohmfeld
07-24-2014, 1:19 PM
That's just not right! Those people work for hourly wages and are not dependent on tips to make a wage. I have worked in a mechanic shop 40 plus years and have seen very few tips and didn't expect any. That young man is way off base and needs his boss informed of this behavior. Nothing turns customers away faster than that kind of behavior.

Rich Riddle
07-24-2014, 1:36 PM
I tip at least $50, but that's a "tool fee" associated with changing the wife's oil. It's no more than Volvo charges her for changing oil. No charge for changing oil in the 1965 Mustang though; it's fun.

Jim Koepke
07-24-2014, 2:11 PM
My daughter took her car in yesterday for an oil change and the service guy actually asked her for a tip.

As others have said, report this to the manager.

Oregon has a law against self serve gas. An attendant has to do the pumping. Sometimes I would give them a tip. Especially to the only one who also washed my windows. Funny that even with attendants at the pumps the fuel in Oregon costs less or is very competitive with the prices in Washington or California.

I almost always leave a tip in a full service restaurant. The minimum wage for many of the service industries jobs is less than the regular minimum wage. If I pay with a card, then I try to leave a cash tip. It rankles me a bit when someone in my party insists they are getting paid to work so a tip in not appropriate. If the food or service is lousy, then there is no tip and no return to see if they have improved.

jtk

David Weaver
07-24-2014, 2:33 PM
Funny that even with attendants at the pumps the fuel in Oregon costs less or is very competitive with the prices in Washington or California.


Gas taxes are a little lower in oregon than washington and much lower than in california (6 and 21 cents, respectively). I'd imagine 6 cents a gallon pretty much pays for the attendant.

Chris Padilla
07-24-2014, 3:03 PM
Tip jars are everywhere. I often throw the change (when I use cash...which is rare) from my purchase in there because I hate carrying change and restaurants are the only place I've ever tipped and I think the only place I've ever seen a spot to tip on the receipt I need to sign.

Pat Barry
07-24-2014, 3:21 PM
Thanks all for the responses. Its good to know that I'm not the only one thinking it was improper for the guy to be asking for a tip. I will report the incident to the management - it was a local Valvoline oil change. Strange that it was the same one I went to and have never seen this happen so I suspect the guy was just preying on a girl to not know better. I'm proud of my daughter for saying no to the guy.

Chris Padilla
07-24-2014, 3:30 PM
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/magazine/12tipping-t.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Interesting article on tipping.

Frederick Skelly
07-24-2014, 6:03 PM
Nothing. $0.

Chris Padilla
07-24-2014, 6:09 PM
I just realized for the few times a year we order pizza for delivery, I always pay cash and always tip the delivery guy. I guess when I pay cash (again, rare), the likelihood I'll tip (if in a tipping situation) or dump change in a tipping jar goes up dramatically. At restaurants, I usually put it on the credit card and since there is a spot to tip, I do.

Bill Orbine
07-24-2014, 7:47 PM
When I see a "TIP JAR", I tip the jar over!

Steve Peterson
07-24-2014, 9:34 PM
There is an expectation to tip waitresses, since they can earn less than minimum wage. A tip is required so they can actually earn a decent wage. I remember when 10% was recommended, then it became 15%, and now it is 18%. The places I eat at usually total up to between $40 to $80 to feed my family, so the tip is somewhere between $7 to $14. One server seems to be able to wait on around 10 tables or so. If each table tips an average of $10, then the waitress could be making $100 per hour in tips. This seems awfully high to me.

The oil change shop has to pay full wages to their employees, so there should be no expectation that they need a tip. It irks me when everyone appears to be asking for something extra. It sometimes ends up like blackmail as in "pay the tip or suffer the consequences". One time a guy at the airport asked for a tip to pick up a suitcase and set it on a conveyor belt 3' away. I declined and somehow my bag didn't make it to the destination until the next day.

Steve

Jason Roehl
07-24-2014, 10:13 PM
This is not to debate the merits (or demerits) of minimum wage or its current level, but while waiters and waitresses do have a lower minimum wage ($2.13 vs. $7.25), if their tips don't cover the difference, the restaurant is required to do so. However, if a server is unable to earn that difference in tips, they usually don't last long at that establishment.

http://www.dol.gov/elaws/faq/esa/flsa/002.htm

Dan Hintz
07-25-2014, 7:14 AM
while waiters and waitresses do have a lower minimum wage ($2.13 vs. $7.25), if their tips don't cover the difference, the restaurant is required to do so.

T I L :)

(It would be really nice if the forum software did NOT change my capitalization!)

Craig Matheny
07-28-2014, 5:13 PM
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/images/misc/quote_icon.png Originally Posted by jason roehl http://www.sawmillcreek.org/images/buttons/viewpost-right.png (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?p=2291826#post2291826)
while waiters and waitresses do have a lower minimum wage ($2.13 vs. $7.25), if their tips don't cover the difference, the restaurant is required to do so.
I am not sure where you guys are from but in California they all get minimum wage or higher so I tip because of their service not to cover their minimum wage and normally it will be cash even if I use a card.

John Coloccia
07-28-2014, 6:53 PM
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/images/misc/quote_icon.png Originally Posted by jason roehl http://www.sawmillcreek.org/images/buttons/viewpost-right.png (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?p=2291826#post2291826)
while waiters and waitresses do have a lower minimum wage ($2.13 vs. $7.25), if their tips don't cover the difference, the restaurant is required to do so.
I am not sure where you guys are from but in California they all get minimum wage or higher so I tip because of their service not to cover their minimum wage and normally it will be cash even if I use a card.

The vast majority of states have lower minimum wage if you can expect a certain amount in tips.

Larry Browning
07-28-2014, 7:11 PM
Yeah, I am really surprised to hear that there is any state that does not have a lower minimum wage for jobs where tipping is expected.

But, I guess I shouldn't be surprised about anything I hear about California. I heard today they were trying to get it split into 6 different states.

ray hampton
07-29-2014, 12:31 PM
Yeah, I am really surprised to hear that there is any state that does not have a lower minimum wage for jobs where tipping is expected.

But, I guess I shouldn't be surprised about anything I hear about California. I heard today they were trying to get it split into 6 different states.

If California do split into 6 states , how will the postal office handle their mail

Pat Barry
07-29-2014, 12:57 PM
Yeah, I am really surprised to hear that there is any state that does not have a lower minimum wage for jobs where tipping is expected.

But, I guess I shouldn't be surprised about anything I hear about California. I heard today they were trying to get it split into 6 different states.
OK - NoCal, So Cal, LA, Bay Area, Wine Country, Yosemite. That should do it.

Brian W Smith
07-29-2014, 4:27 PM
My mom was the hostess at the Mayflower in Wash. for years.

T.I.P.,is exactly what it implies.

John T Barker
07-30-2014, 11:39 AM
I have tipped my oil change crew, at Valvoline, at Christmas. Something nominal ie: $5 bucks, but that's been it. I figured this service was all inclusive so I don't tip at a regular oil change . My daughter took her car in yesterday for an oil change and the service guy actually asked her for a tip. Maybe its just this guy working the customers or maybe its typical for them to get tips??? Like I said, I didn't think it was like tipping your waitress or the valet parking guy. Maybe I'm off base. Do you folks tip your oil change guy? If so, how much?? Thanks

I tip waitresses because their hourly wage is low with the expectation of tips. I tip people who do something beyond their normal job expectations. I tip people that I ask to do something I should do but can't, like when I bought some wood right after surgery and the guy put it in the car for me. I tip people that come to do a service in my house but are not well payed, like appliance or furniture delivery people. I tip when I feel like it is appropriate.

I don't tip people that ask for it and certainly wouldn't tip for an oil change.