I tend to give my LBS a "buck or two" if they let me use their air pump, tool, help with a small adjustment or give me good advice on how to fix a problem.

BUT: If you spend big money to get wheels built, do you tip when you bring them back to "check the tension" that's included in the build ?

to me, tipping my LBS is referring them business and making sure I buy something (even if just a pair of cables) whenever I go in.

https://brittonbikes.com/

Absolutely not. If it is included then it is included. No way anyone would even think that you would tip on something like that. I work in a shop and not once have I ever expected a tip. I have gotten them though, and it happens more than I thought it would. Did a rack and fender swap from a moms bike to her daughters bike. It took way too long and we had to make a few things "work" but in the end it was exactly how she wanted. Someone more skilled would have done it much faster but they didn't seem to mind. After they paid and left, turned out that they left me a $10 tip.

I bring my shop beer...they give me donuts and beer in return.

I do most of my work myself. But when I do visit my LBS I bring him a Coffee. And he keeps me posted on any leads to Classic Bikes in my area.

Ok, nice to hear from a shops perspective.

Not sure if some that couldn't be considered sarcasm lol.

Both, I will tip the mechs when I get something done, since they will do things when I come in, if I time it right (early in, no Mondays or Fridays.) I bring by goodies from time to time, especially Christmas. A 6 pack occasionally usually goes over well, also. When the owner/head wrench chased and faced a BB for me and didn't want anything I slid him a twenty, compared to what it would cost anywhere else, it was a bargain.

Bill

never.

altho once, a shop wrench and I did an entire build for me after hours...we drank beers and ate pizza that I purchased.

That sounds about right. I deal with a couple shops, and one will take a beer as a great tip, and the other one likes soda. I guess it depends on the shop. If I come in and they look busy, and they deal with my issue right away and charge me, I will always leave a tip.

I usually buy a little something every time I visit the LBS. Another patch kit. Maybe a doodad I'd planned to buy on Amazon or Nashbar, but pay a couple bucks more at the LBS for the same time -- brake pads, mirror, whatever I may need, as long as the price is reasonably within range of the online vendors. Usually the LBS prices are either identical to online vendors, or only a couple of bucks higher.

And I gladly pay them for their expertise in maintenance and repairs that I don't feel qualified to do, or for which I don't have the tools. Recently I paid ten bucks to straighten a wobbly rim. Took less than 10 minutes, and worth every penny. It'll help me delay buying a new wheel awhile longer. And I didn't have the expertise to fix that wobble as effectively as they did in a few minutes.

I've done that for years with local camera shops too. If I visit, and especially if they let me try some demo gear, I'll buy a little something before leaving. These are usually affordable but profitable items for the shop.

+1

The occasional six-pack works wonders for morale...

I don't "technically" tip, but I have brought some beer and other times a cut fruit platter and toothpicks.

When you bring in some IPA beer, they treat you like a king!

It's not hard to get in good with your LBS. The shop I previously used has some really good mechanics, including a guy who is a master of bleeding hydraulic brakes. I took a FS mtb that a buddy and myself built up to have the hose cut and bled since it was too long and they told me it would be a few days and it would be done as they were backed up a bit. I sort of knew the guy, anyway, long story short, I asked him what kind of beer he liked. He told me I didn't have to get him any beer. Told him I insisted, a 6 of whatever he wanted. I dunno what it was, don't remember. Funny. He called me 3 hours later, and magically my bike is done. Picked up the beer and went to the shop.

Now, I know the shop is busy, and I know that it seemed like a bribe which it was not intended as, but it did get me in better with the shop. Those guys work hard, and the pay isn't that great. The dude likes beer, so what's a 6 pack? In the long run, the relationship you build with the shop is worth way more than a tip or some beer or cookies or whatever.

I don't tip businesses. I tip individuals.

Tips are for individuals who perform services, those who do work for you - mechanics, roofer, plumbers, the guy who cuts your lawn, etc.


This is very important to keep in mind. Some skilled trades are well compensated but many people in service jobs are not well paid and many are struggling - single moms waiting tables, etc. I feel that it is right to tip them generously if they work hard for me and often a nice tip can make a difference in their life. Bike mechanic is no different.

I give cash. If someone wants to buy beer with it that's their business, not mine.

-Tim-

I've been dealing with the same shop since the 80's. Followed them through two relocations. I would guess a conservative estimate of my tips over the years is in the hundreds of dollars. All of it going to the guys (and a girl) who got their hands dirty on my behalf. Nowadays I do almost all of my own work so the tipping is usually related to outrageously great deals on select items.

I don't usually tip in cash. Usually I bring a gift or token of my appreciation. The last one was a $20 gift card from a local coffee shop after an employee handled a warranty issue which was frankly a bit outside the boundaries of a true warranty claim. I'm sure my long history with these guys had much to do with it, but the employee could have shrugged his shoulders and said "sorry man" but he didn't.

Really, I have probably spent hundreds of dollars in tips and gifts, but I've received THOUSANDS of dollars worth of free advice, service, tubes, patches, t-shirts, etc.. Thinking about it now, the list goes on and on. These days it's free loaner tools. Who does that? And what kind of ass wouldn't want to recognize it with a small sign of appreciation?

-Kedosto

I'm not big on tipping in general. I do it where socially required, but I simply think the practice has gotten way out of hand.

If one were to drive out a spare tire to me stranded on the side of the road, or open the place on a closed day to fix a problem, or otherwise go out of their way to do something good for me? I'll probably slip them a couple bucks. To do something that is part of their normal job? No way.

No, but I did once bring a shop a case of beer around Christmas after the folks there had done a lot of free work for me "on demand."


And once one of that shop's mechanics came buy after work to cut a cable securing a bike inside my house after my GF lost the key to the lock. Gave him $20.

If I get routine service, aka nothing special, I pay my bill and leave. Every so often, I need some special attention for whatever reason and in those times, I tip generously. I do that because driving back to the shop not only cost time but gas too and saving both has value to me.

My kids worked for tips in college and that gave me a whole new perspective on this subject. You woul b surprised how good you can make someone feel for a few bucks.

I have one shop that has worked on my bike after hours. He has stayed open to redo some brakes for me as well. He also trued the wheels and adjusted some shifting issues. (not ask for but appreciated) I have made it a point to tip him because wants to keep me commuting. GUys who come in and want their whatever fixed right now before the weekend he sometimes tells them to leave the bike. He knows I am using it to get to/ from work. REGULARLY

I worked at bike shops in high school and college, made crap for wages like $1 over minimum wage. That's what happens when you have 5 bike shops within 4 blocks of each other. I think I only ever got tipped once. Two of us installed a roof rack and cargo box on this guy's car. The guy gave us each $20. We were pretty happy since that was like 4 times our wage.

No one works in a bike shop to get rich or even make a "living" wage.

This can backfire with some customers. One guy called before closing on a Saturday and begged me to stick around to sell him some parts for a race the next day. I did so, stayed about an hour total for the smallish sale to help the guy out, and the same guy broke into the store one night a couple of weeks later and stole a bike.

12 pack of craft beer.

If they don't drink, oh well.

Ouch. That is terrible! I am not sure how late he is open. I really just wanted to make sure he was going to be there. he doesn't have to worry about me stealing anything 😉

I don't get tipping. First of all, if your shop includes some routine checks and adjustment as part of the service, I'm of the belief that they are not going to go out of business because you don't give them free money. It was figured into that original charge and in many cases is trivial for them to accomplish costwise.


Secondly, don't tip and make up for it at the dollar store and dollar menu. That is not logical at all. Pay everyone fairly...or to be blunt, don't be a cheapskate.


Tipping has to be figured in as income and taxed, so you are not doing anybody a favor.


However, I can see you are generous in your mind and mean well, still, the notion that you are being good to somebody by paying them extra in some way is not working. If they wanted it, they would tell you up front. That doesn't mean that stuff is free, it just means they don't mind.


I always let the owner air my tires for me as I am liable for damage to the tube etc and not under any warranty if I mess it up. He does let me wrench a little, simple things, if I am out of the way as he's busy. What I don't know or don't want to do is his job or I wait and figure it out later/


I get looks and comments about what a slug I must be not to tip, but like a previous poster I give my money again to those that earned my praise and thanks, and come back. The business owner hopes you will come back and needs you to return more than $2. Some customs are well-meaning but not practical.