The Golden Boy 

I bring beer occasionally.

intransit1217

What is the preferred method of tipping your mech's? Beer? Pizza? Money? Hookers?


Also, what is loyalty to a particular shop worth ? I'm trying to spread the wealth, but I feel more comfy at one shop over the others.

top506

I used to keep a tip jar near my workstand but the store manager made me take it down.

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Uncle Randy

A customer's repeat business and word-of-mouth advertising is worth more than a few dollars in the long run. I'm in agreement with your manager. I think it's unprofessional to accept tips. Do you tip the guy who changes your oil ? @juls, where are you located?

top506

I change my own oil, but I DO give the guy who does the inspection stickers on my vehicles a little extra each time.

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Uncle Randy

That's not a tip, that's a bribe. ... sorry

top506

When I was on the job in Boston we referred to it as an 'arrangement'. I suspect the St. Louis PD has similar 'arrangements'.

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juls

I'm in the SL area in Mo. Wheel builders are not so easy to find (anywhere). Hence my question. Most things I can do myself-but this is not one of them. The owner has had the shop 40 yrs and is still leading tours. His employees earn their pc's I'm sure. To me this is a specialty thang-so I thought 'tip' acceptable. I am in the hospitality trade-you would be amazed at peeps IGNORANCE on tipping-Has no one been to tourism states********** I don't tip my oil changer on the car /not so special if I can do it myself.... Anyhoo- I was pleased by the job he did/and his input-suggestions as well. So I did tip him. Sometimes I wonder at what a hostile wold this is becoming.....

juls

I'll bump them up- "The Touring Cycilist" is an awesome shop in the St Louis area. HIGHLY recommend. Sean:aces in my book!

CroMo Mike 

Having worked in an accounting-related occupation for many years, I know that a cash tip goes about 30% farther than an equivalent increase in wages, due to the fact that it can be folded and placed directly in one's pocket, "off the books" as they say. The working man's tax shelter. Nuff said.

Sir_Name 

juls - good on you for tipping. A little can mean a lot. "Sometimes I wonder at what a hostile wold this is becoming....." 'Nuff said.

basqueonacaad

I do the work myself and tip myself ten percent.

ksryder

Took them bagels this morning. I didn't get the impression this sort of thing happens much. Anyway they've hooked me up and bailed me out multiple times and they actually know C&V stuff. Plus the other two options in my town are crap.

I sure don't feel obligated but it never hurts to stay on good terms especially if I ever find myself in a pinch. I was in there the other day and some "my daddy is paying for everything" rich boy tool was trying to haggle them on labor costs. I can guess how much of a priority his job was for them.

fietsbob

Bartenders and Waiters Make more Money..

they pull in More in richer cities than poor ones

High end shops selling $10K bikes pay more than mom and pop in a small town ..

Tried living in SF in the 80s working at $6an Hour had to move out of townthen do something else ..

tips? Never seen any even/especially from the Chinese land barons that own a big % of the Apartments.

Uncle Randy

The US Department of Labor publishes detailed statistics by occupation. Here are the average hourly wages:

Bartenders: $10.46/hr
Bartenders

Waiters and waitresses: $10.04/hr
Waiters and Waitresses

Bicycle repairers: $12.58/hr
Bicycle Repairers

Uncle Randy

The highest paid bike mechanics are in Lake County, IL and Kenosha County, WI. Boston, MA and Camden, NJ are next.

Henry III

Southern Oregon is definitely not on that list for highest paid bicycle mechanics despite the amount money is in this valley. Not to mention the mild winters we still drop all non managerial positions down to three days a week. Now that's a tough couple of months to get through until spring comes along.

noglider 

At the LBS where I lived in NJ, I brought a six pack of beer every time I needed them to do something. They stopped charging me entirely, which was not my goal. I insisted on paying, and they wouldn't accept my payment!

Uncle Randy

If you were the employer with $200,000 worth of inventory on the showroom floor, would you want your employees consuming alcohol on the premises?
How would you deal with a customer who felt like the service he got wasn't as good as it should have been because he didn't tip the mechanic?
If your employees are giving away their services when they're on the clock and being paid by you, is that the same as stealing?

Uncle Randy

If you're fast, skilled and dependable you're probably worth at least $20 per hour. How do you set yourself apart from the guy who assembles Schwinns at the local Wal-Mart? Is there a certification program with skills testing you can complete?

Glennfordx4

Glenn

noglider 

I think this goes under "ya hadda be there." I know the folks there. They put the beer aside and have it after closing time. They each drink one beer. The manager was aware of what I was doing and didn't mind. He also wouldn't take my money. I'm not ripping anyone off, not if they don't feel that way.

bbattle

I've brought pizza, beer, cycling magazines, and bought a couple of them lunch. Not every time but after a big job for me or just because it was Wednesday.

I love my new Trek Domane so much, I may just bring in pizza for the whole crew the next time I'm there.

tombc

There is not very much money in bicycles because many people do not take it seriously. I and many mechanics in my area do not earn a living wage fixing bikes.

Obviously the numbers for bartender and waitresses earnings are not accurate because a lot of their dollars are off the books.

e: I made $3 in tips today and that makes me happy enough.

Uncle Randy

That's sad. Eventually, you will have to decide whether you want to change careers or relocate to an area where your skills are in demand. Tips may seem like the solution but they are only making you postpone the decisions you will eventually have to make.