Fifty Plus (50+) - Should you tip your bike mechanic?

I read in a blog that this guy tips his bike mechanic. Do you? Or the shop owner? I tip my hairdresser, and it's kind of the same thing, I guess. If so, how much?

Do you have a personal relationship with that mechanic/shop, or is it just a place you drop the beast off for service like your car at quicklube? If your mechanic is giving you good service and taking care of your problems with attention to detail then a tip would not be out of line. Often its considered good form to show up at the LBS with a 6 pack of holiday cheer (or summertime cooling.........or whatever).

Check in advance to see how the mechanics share at the shop.

Do the big majority of my own wrenching but when, and if, I need a super mechanic I know who to go see.
Usually tip him a 5 . . . gets the work done bit quicker!

Do most of my own work myself also but when I do require a bike mechanic I always tip a few bucks. I remember back to my days as a yacht mechanic and then an RV technician and how much I appreciated getting tips.

Living in a land where we don't tip I'm amazed at the very idea :)
But I have taken the bike mechanic to lunch a few times so I guess that's the same thing

When they're doing a big job for me, I bring a six pack of Fat Tire Ale in when I pick up the bike. They haven't turned it down yet!

This is the first I have ever heard of tipping in a bike shop, and it has never crossed my mind before.

I always tip the guy who did the work. He remembers me that way, and I feel like it's a way to say how much I appreciate a job well done. Then, when I come in with something small, it gets done on the spot and for free. And I give him another couple of bucks.

I always tip the guy who did the work. He remembers me that way, and I feel like it's a way to say how much I appreciate a job well done. Then, when I come in with something small, it gets done on the spot and for free. And I give him another couple of bucks.

Do you tip the guy who does your internet images searches? :D

I don't tip when I have work done. But this time every year I do bring a 6 pack of good beer for the one guy at the shop who I trust to work on my bikes. Then I'll buy a pizza for the whole crew one day for lunch. Not so much a tip as a Christmas gift to say "thanks". It is not just a business relationship. I hang out and goof off with these guys, sharing jokes, opinions and advice.

Kind of like this place. Guess I owe y'all a 6 pack too. ;)
:beer::beer::beer:

Do you tip the guy who does your internet images searches? :D
(SEXIST ALERT!!!)

Actually, it's a chick... :D

I don't tip when I have work done. But this time every year I do bring a 6 pack of good beer for the one guy at the shop who I trust to work on my bikes. Then I'll buy a pizza for the whole crew one day for lunch. Not so much a tip as a Christmas gift to say "thanks". It is not just a business relationship. I hang out and goof off with these guys, sharing jokes, opinions and advice.

Kind of like this place. Guess I owe y'all a 6 pack too. ;)
:beer::beer::beer:

As long as its not Domino's.

I don't tip when I have work done. But this time every year I do bring a 6 pack of good beer for the one guy at the shop who I trust to work on my bikes.

Gee, I was going to say that it's not so important this time of year. Once they hire me back in the spring, however, I'll be all for it.

"Should" I? No. Have I? Yes on rare occasions when one of them has gone out of his or her way for my benefit. Interestingly, at the shop I use the most, they seem almost embarrassed when I do this. Hence, I've learned to do it very discretely.

NO...I wouldn't tip a bike mechanic anymore than I would tip a car mechanic.

I do bring cookies, fruit, lunch for the wrenches as a friendly gesture and I bring new business their way.

But I wouldn't tip them.

NO...I wouldn't tip a bike mechanic anymore than I would tip a car mechanic.

I do bring cookies, fruit, lunch for the wrenches as a friendly gesture and I bring new business their way.

But I wouldn't tip them.

Fruit For a Mechanic? Often take in the doughnuts or a pack of Biccies- but demand a tea in return. At this time of the year though and I have just taken them in a bottle of Excellent Bordeaux each just as a way of saying thankyou. Why EXCELLENT Bordeaux? They have done me so many good deals this year- I feel that I ought to give them something extra special back. The ordinary gift would have been a 6 pack between them.

Back to the OP's question. I asked my LBS owner about tipping and he asked that they not be tipped but just tell him if they do a good job and also be sure to tell them personally. So, I'd say to clear it with the shop owner first.

Fruit For a Mechanic? Often take in the doughnuts or a pack of Biccies- but demand a tea in return. At this time of the year though and I have just taken them in a bottle of Excellent Bordeaux each just as a way of saying thankyou. Why EXCELLENT Bordeaux? They have done me so many good deals this year- I feel that I ought to give them something extra special back. The ordinary gift would have been a 6 pack between them.


Yes, fruit. Well, she's a vegan who doesn't drink alcohol.

What more can I say except that I live in Los Angeles?...:D;)

I haven't employed a bicycle mechanic for many years. When it comes to my motorcycle, I do, every Christmas, bring a 3# box of chocolates to the service department where I take it. They have an excellent mechanic and generally take very good care of my bike and me. If I was bringing my bicycle in to the shop three times a year, I'm sure I'd do similarly. I think it is just good business.

NO...I wouldn't tip a bike mechanic anymore than I would tip a car mechanic.

I do bring cookies, fruit, lunch for the wrenches as a friendly gesture and I bring new business their way.

But I wouldn't tip them.

Hey! I'm a car mechanic and if a customer tips me, I will go the extra mile for that customer if I can. Not just a cash tip, but any act or statement that shows appreciation for my service, as opposed to people who demand free service, blame us for all of their other problems, or insist of being served ahead of good customers who were there first.
Bike mechanics don't make a lot of money, and if you do something to show that you're happy with their service, it means a lot.

Back to the OP's question. I asked my LBS owner about tipping and he asked that they not be tipped but just tell him if they do a good job and also be sure to tell them personally. So, I'd say to clear it with the shop owner first.

I wonder about this. If the mechanic (or any employee for that matter) does his or her job correctly, without prejudice or favoritism, and within the boundaries of the laws, I'm not sure why a shop owner would make such a request.

I read in a blog that this guy tips his bike mechanic. Do you? Or the shop owner? I tip my hairdresser, and it's kind of the same thing, I guess. If so, how much?

Should I tip my auto mechanic? I know the owner but the real guy who works on the car is Mexican. He's very experienced. Its an independent shop. Another thing is the tire shop. Every time I go in for a free tire rotation, I usually tip the Mexican worker five bucks so he can get lunch.

I wonder about this. If the mechanic (or any employee for that matter) does his or her job correctly, without prejudice or favoritism, and within the boundaries of the laws, I'm not sure why a shop owner would make such a request.

I'm not sure, either, but I had to have a recumbent frame repaired one time that required some specialized work and the head mechanic did a stellar job on it. I asked the owner if it would be OK to tip the guy and he said that he prefer they not be tipped for performing shop services. Now, I'm sure that if I had baked a large tray of cookies, the shop would accept them quickly, but cash was out of the question.

I wonder about this. If the mechanic (or any employee for that matter) does his or her job correctly, without prejudice or favoritism, and within the boundaries of the laws, I'm not sure why a shop owner would make such a request.

Those of us who toil year after year performing services for others like to know that we are appreciated. If it's time to go home and a customer wants something done, am I going to stay late for someone rude and pushy? Perhaps not. If a regular customer who spends money and treats me like a human being wants something, I'll likely oblige.
In my work there is a lot of pressure at times and I may be given 20 cars in one day to sort through. If I can't get them all done, I have to decide which ones get priority. If someone is a pain, they might have to wait.

I was in a shop in Palm Desert today and they have a tip jar on the counter.

Should I tip my auto mechanic? I know the owner but the real guy who works on the car is Mexican. He's very experienced. Its an independent shop. Another thing is the tire shop. Every time I go in for a free tire rotation, I usually tip the Mexican worker five bucks so he can get lunch.
You know, I have rarely paid for services to my cars, but I was worknig at a place where we didn't do alignments, so I took my truck to another shop. The alignment guy cut his lunch short to start on my truck, spent a lot of time to be sure it was just right, and took 2 test drives. That, I felt, deserved a tip, and the truck drove great. I was happy and wanted him to know about it.

I do all my own work except headsets. Never bought the headset press and cup removal tools since it is such a rare need.

A hit & run driver messed up the headset on my commute bike. I called the shop and asked if the would replace it while I waited. The mechanic agreed if I could get it to the shop within the hour. I made sure to stop and get some bagels and creme cheese on the way to the shop.

Yes, fruit. Well, she's a vegan who doesn't drink alcohol.

What more can I say except that I live in Los Angeles?...:D;)

I live in Los Angeles and don't drink...but just ate two cheeseburgers after a 55 mile ride.

I'm no sure how that relates to the above post, but I thought I'd throw it in. :)

If you don't, you are just another customer who wants it done sooner than is reasonable. If you are one of the better tippers he has, he will know how partilcular you are. If you are particular. bk

If you don't, you are just another customer who wants it done sooner than is reasonable. If you are one of the better tippers he has, he will know how partilcular you are. If you are particular. bk

I think this is exactly why some shop owners may discourage tipping. Paying customers should not get second rate service or have to wait longer for service because a few other customers are able and willing to pay more for the same service. Showing appreciation for good service is one thing. Bribing in order to get preferential treatment is another.

An occasional six pack of good beer (Fat Tire) and something at Xmas. The wrenches I know do the same good quality of work whether tipped or not but, I get good advice and mechanic tips (non-fiducary) on mechanic issues...priceless!