LarrySellerz

Bought a pizza for them when picking up my bikes today, was a bit messed up from riding it in but they were thankful.

I think the shoeshine boys liked the aristocrats who tipped them more than those that didn’t.. not to suggest a similar class dynamic is going on here.

I actually enjoy working for tips, it feels like I have an actual stake in the business, and my performance directly impacts my income. Working in food where I didn’t get tips was much more demoralizing than working for tips. There isn’t an incentive to care about doing a good job

smd4

“Don’t fry bacon while naked.”

Best tip I ever got.

dedhed

While I don't have shops do a lot of work, I can't recall ever meeting the person who actually worked on my bike.
I don't tip my auto mechanic who has a lot more training and tool investment. I didn't tip the installers of my new windows/furnace/A/C. Who again have extensive training and tooling. I have offered water, soda, ice etc to these people.
No one ever tipped me for repairing the water main break.

smd4

I never received a tip as a bike mechanic. Never expected one. Never made a lot of money, but as a bike mechanic, but I never expected to. I was just happy with the shop discount. I knew if I wanted more money, I'd have to take a different career path.

Isn't that the way this was supposed to work?

joesch

6 pack of beer or energy drinks depending on preferences.
Food gift cert would also be nice.
Using LBS supports those jobs and rewards show extra appreciation.

kcjc

When I was wrenching, a part-time summer job, beer o'clock on Fridays after closing was always welcomed. We have a few regulars that would drop off goodies. Besides drinks, one was a coffee roster and would drop off those that didn't make the grade but were fine to consume. If you appreciate their work, why not show it?

smd4

Does being a repeat customer not show appreciation?

FBinNY 

Eons ago a bartender friend explained how one of the hardest parts of his job was comping drinks.

It's good business to comp drinks for special occasions, or once in a while for a favored regular. But you need to be careful because if done too often it can become expected. Then instead of being appreciated for the drink you comp, you're resented for the one you don't.

It's the same way with tipping your mechanic. Unexpected tips are a lagniappe and appreciated as such. The expectation of tips is a curse that eventually defines the relationship.

Sy Reene

FWIW, I've started to see restaurants in the US adding in a service fee now.

kcjc

It depends. What drives the bottom line, and who's to benefit the most? Of the three shops I worked in college, I cannot say any of them are owned directly or indirectly by the "help." That includes the campus shop owned by the student union, which, theoretically, I was a part owner as a student and taxpayer of the state but the regents make all the decisions. Those "permanent" workers at the other two shops had no direct stake. The same goes for the shops I have interacted with since starting this sport in the mid-80s. I haven't met one owner who also wrenches, but I live, went to school, and grew up in the top 30 MSA of the US, so there is a lot of territory in between that operates under different business environments. The "LBS" I'm used to, those who wrenches are paid a set hourly wage corresponding to an agreed-upon level of effort, labor. A repeat customer doesn't influence that equation unless that is the tipping point for a shop to exist or to justify the position. FWIW, there were repeated customers that we dreaded.

zandoval 

Come On Larry...

Bike Shop? We Don't Need No Stinking Bike Shop! ...Ha

ScottCommutes

Had to look that one up.

dedhed

You give those if they work on your French bike.

FBinNY 

They wouldn't get it. It's a Creole word, commonly used in New Orleans, with no connection to French.

RH Clark

I will usually bring a box of pastry for the guys or a 6 pack if I know them well and it's close to the end of the day. Same for my auto mechanics and barber.

smd4

That definitely wasn’t my experience. In two of the three shops I worked at, the owners wrenched too.

mattkime

I always tip if I feel the mechanic went above and beyond OR, on occasion, I feel like the charge is ridiculously low for the value provided. While I'm sure they appreciate the money, I think its more about expressing value. Its always been well received.

retswerb

Chef's kiss, great work as usual Larry.

cpach

For perspective, I'm a career mechanic. I get tipped somewhat infrequently. I don't consider it a normal expectation in my region, but it's nice sometimes. I prefer this to jobs where it's either a normal expectation (most foodservice) and in my experience a semi-regular expectation that adds up to real income (ski instructor). Mostly it feels appropriate for additional care and thoughtfulness. Think of it as a personal thank you when you feel so inclined rather than part of normal part of the business transaction. I get tipped in beer a lot. This is fine for me--I drink most beer, but if you want to tip in this manner check in that the mechanic you're tipping actually drinks (and drinks beer or whatever). I've known a few mechanics who regularly got tipped in beer who didn't drink. Honestly I most appreciate it when people tip me in cash, or maybe homemade cookies etc. I can buy beer with cash if I want, or I can use it to provide for my family etc. Also if you have usable/desirable parts left over from a repair and have no intention to use or sell them, you could offer them to your mechanic--many of us have hoarding tendencies for bike gear (I know I do).

Also, like it or not, online reviews have a lot of impact these days. A positive review explicitly mentioning an employee can be really helpful for the business, and can reflect positively on the employee in the eyes of the employer. It also feels really nice, to be honest.

Pizza is a nice touch. I suspect it was appreciated (unless they're all vegans). I would welcome more pizza tips.

top506

This.
In a shop I worked at cash tips were pooled and referred to as the beer fund.

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