How much do you tip your oil change guy?

[John Coloccia]

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.

$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]

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]

How much do you tip your oil change guy?

Zip - zero - nada.

[Myk Rian]

I'll leave $5 when leaving a motel/hotel room.

[Larry Browning]

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]

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]

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]

[/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]

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]

I've come out from under the car many times after changing the oil, and nobody ever gave me a tip.

[Mike Rohmfeld]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.