Should I tip the guy who drives me to and from the garage?
Dear Car Talk | Jan 01, 2001
Dear Tom and Ray:
TOM: Don't they get 15 percent of the repair bill? Or 18 percent for parties of six or more?
RAY: He's joking, Bob. Typically, these guys are lower-level dealership employees who have other jobs during the day -- like sweeping out the waiting room and installing those paper floor mats in cars that say "We Care."
TOM: And when someone needs a ride, these guys are pulled off those other jobs and asked to drive customers home or pick them up. And it's probably a pleasant diversion for them. I mean, which would you rather do, give someone a ride home or clean the waiting-room toilet?
RAY: So it's not like a waiter, where the person is grossly underpaid and relies on tips as part of his compensation. This is a situation where the person is just grossly underpaid -- period. Actually, he's being paid by the dealership (and therefore, by you when you pay your bill).
TOM: In which case, tipping should be reserved for service that's above and beyond what's expected. If the person performs what you consider excellent service -- i.e., he doesn't run anybody over on the way home, doesn't pass an inordinate amount of gas during the ride, doesn't spend the whole ride chatting on his cell phone to his buddies -- you should feel free to show your appreciation with a tip. And I'm sure a couple of dollars would be very much appreciated by the driver.
TOM: Don't they get 15 percent of the repair bill? Or 18 percent for parties of six or more?
RAY: He's joking, Bob. Typically, these guys are lower-level dealership employees who have other jobs during the day -- like sweeping out the waiting room and installing those paper floor mats in cars that say "We Care."
TOM: And when someone needs a ride, these guys are pulled off those other jobs and asked to drive customers home or pick them up. And it's probably a pleasant diversion for them. I mean, which would you rather do, give someone a ride home or clean the waiting-room toilet?
RAY: So it's not like a waiter, where the person is grossly underpaid and relies on tips as part of his compensation. This is a situation where the person is just grossly underpaid -- period. Actually, he's being paid by the dealership (and therefore, by you when you pay your bill).
TOM: In which case, tipping should be reserved for service that's above and beyond what's expected. If the person performs what you consider excellent service -- i.e., he doesn't run anybody over on the way home, doesn't pass an inordinate amount of gas during the ride, doesn't spend the whole ride chatting on his cell phone to his buddies -- you should feel free to show your appreciation with a tip. And I'm sure a couple of dollars would be very much appreciated by the driver.
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