Do you tip your detailer?
- Thread starter Mike Phillips
- Start date
C. Charles Hahn
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- Aug 27, 2007
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While I definitely never expect to receive a tip for my detailing services, I always find myself doing more work than what was in the original contract. I don't do it because I'm trying to get a tip...I do it because I love what I do and if I see something that I feel needs some attention I simply do it.
Rasky, I can totally relate to this.... because I do the same. I think that's probably true of a lot of us on this site who detail professionally. It comes from the same place that compels us to post on a site like this.
rops:
akimel
New member
- Oct 1, 2008
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I hope no one misunderstands. I hope that all of you pros will receive lots and lots of tips for your hard work.
I am reminded of Steve Martin's line in "My Blue Heaven": "It's not tipping I believe in. It's overtipping."
At one point in the movie Vinnie Antonelli (Steve Martin) tries to tip his FBI handler, Barney Coopersmith (Rick Moranis). "You don't tip FBI men," Barney tells him. "Sure you do!" Vinnie replies.
I am reminded of Steve Martin's line in "My Blue Heaven": "It's not tipping I believe in. It's overtipping."
At one point in the movie Vinnie Antonelli (Steve Martin) tries to tip his FBI handler, Barney Coopersmith (Rick Moranis). "You don't tip FBI men," Barney tells him. "Sure you do!" Vinnie replies.
I do tip when I get my car a professional detailing services here in Detroit, I tip based on how the work is done, I try to gauge work done from previous services to this and pay anywhere between 7-15% tip.
Flash Gordon
Well-known member
- Feb 6, 2010
- 11,440
- 457
I asked a customer once why she tips so generously. She replied with the following:
To
Insure
Prompt
Service
Guess who I will drop everything for to help out
To
Insure
Prompt
Service
Guess who I will drop everything for to help out
:iagree:
I hope this thread doesnt turn into a justification for 'if you want my best effort tip me...else you'll get what you pay for'
Im just an admin guy who earns 20 bucks an hour and of course nobody tips the admin guy.. I feel heavy about tipping someone who charges 50 dollars or maybe more per hour
But yeah i guess some of the top dollars detailers have refused my business since they sensed that i dont tip...it's all good..better than they take my business and give me "since you didnt tip me result"
This is a good topic. My personal feeling is that tipping a person who does "above and beyond" what is expected at any type of service related occupation is rarely compensated nowadays in a way to show that the service was appreciated. Maybe it's one of the ways our culture has been changing; I don't know, but if you appreciate the way you were treated, or the service provided, it will go a long way in ensuring future good service to tip the provider. To me it's money well spent.
SeaJay's
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- Aug 2, 2010
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Hey stranger.
While I definitely never expect to receive a tip for my detailing services, I always find myself doing more work than what was in the original contract. I don't do it because I'm trying to get a tip...I do it because I love what I do and if I see something that I feel needs some attention I simply do it.
If a contracted worker goes out of their way to give me something extra out side of the required work, you can bet I'll be tipping them.
Rasky
Couldn't have said it better myself Rasky. I've come to the point where I realize that most customers will not tip me. Which is fine and I do not expect it. But like you I always go above and beyond and will do things that are not in the original agreement. For example checking tire pressures, washer fluid (I usually have some around), removing a stain in the carpet, etc. I find that it's these little extras that allow me to stand out some what from others and shows my customer I really do enjoy and care about what I do.
I was a waiter for a while and I realize that a lot of people are naturally cheap. No offense to them and I completely understand. Who doesn't like saving a buck or two? I always tip at least 20% for good service. If it's great service and someone goes above and beyond I'll tip more. Just because someone doesn't rely on tips for their income doesn't mean it's not appreciated or remembered. Especially when say a job runs over time. Great example would be a work truck I did a few weeks ago. I ended up spending 4 hours only on the interior and I estimated (before seeing the truck) that it would be around 4 and half hours for interior and exterior. Well, I ended up working for 6 and half hours. The customer greatly appreciated me staying until the job was done and was impressed and tossed me an extra $40.
Whenever I get a tip from a customer I record that for my own reference. Next time around I'll be sure to go that extra step or whatever it may be to ensure the customer is impressed all over again.
This is just my opinion being a detailer and someone that always tips well (as long as the service is good).
A tip in a way is a joke, you have a restaurant getting away with not paying minimum wage and sticking it on the customers quilt complex
How that group pulled it off must have taken some real political donations.
I always did extra when I worked, it's a cheap form of advertisement, and your best client is a happy one. The slouch who does less than he is paid for will always finish second. in anything he does,
Sometime you are not suppose to tip the owner, and yet many times he works the hardest.
Gripes me about the restaurant, many do not know the tip is split, buss boy and bartenders also take their share., and don't forget Uncle Sam, and the restaurant owner beats the matching SS tab, doesn't seem fair, but then nothing is. We leave cash and hope the server slips it in their pocket.
In short you can get anything you desire, as long as you help enough people get what they desire...it does help to prime the pump to get the water flowing....
How that group pulled it off must have taken some real political donations.
I always did extra when I worked, it's a cheap form of advertisement, and your best client is a happy one. The slouch who does less than he is paid for will always finish second. in anything he does,
Sometime you are not suppose to tip the owner, and yet many times he works the hardest.
Gripes me about the restaurant, many do not know the tip is split, buss boy and bartenders also take their share., and don't forget Uncle Sam, and the restaurant owner beats the matching SS tab, doesn't seem fair, but then nothing is. We leave cash and hope the server slips it in their pocket.
In short you can get anything you desire, as long as you help enough people get what they desire...it does help to prime the pump to get the water flowing....
Kristopher1129
New member
- Jan 3, 2011
- 2,861
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It always blows my mind when I run a customers card, and they sign the receipt and actually put 0, or a line through the tip section. Especially when I make double sure every customer is happy, and am doing my very best to serve them.
I do get a LOT of tips, but I still am thrown back when someone ignores the tip. I don't care if it's a dollar. It's not even about the money, I even consider an excited reaction to the finished job a tip in my mind. I just like to know they feel I did a really good job...is that too much to ask!? haha
Nice write up! :dblthumb2:
I do get a LOT of tips, but I still am thrown back when someone ignores the tip. I don't care if it's a dollar. It's not even about the money, I even consider an excited reaction to the finished job a tip in my mind. I just like to know they feel I did a really good job...is that too much to ask!? haha
Nice write up! :dblthumb2:
A tip line on a detail claim check is a bit much, same for a barber or hairdresser. If you want more money charge more,
I see too many barber and hair dressers stiffing waitress, detailer to me are like car body shop men, or mechanics. they charge a price and you pay them, it's not part of their income, and they are paid a decent wage
I owned a business, and retired, and have seen people give my guys tips, we never expected it, and we were in the service business.
Cleaning a car takes a lot of time, and most in the business do not charge enough, but then the value is not perceived by most.
I see too many barber and hair dressers stiffing waitress, detailer to me are like car body shop men, or mechanics. they charge a price and you pay them, it's not part of their income, and they are paid a decent wage
I owned a business, and retired, and have seen people give my guys tips, we never expected it, and we were in the service business.
Cleaning a car takes a lot of time, and most in the business do not charge enough, but then the value is not perceived by most.
Flash Gordon
Well-known member
- Feb 6, 2010
- 11,440
- 457
I think the ppl I know tip not because of the detailing necesarlly, but more that they just love me and they have someone they can trust with the many different needs that I perform for them
The money I can save them, more then pays for my services. Its almost like I work for nothing when you think about it
The money I can save them, more then pays for my services. Its almost like I work for nothing when you think about it
master detailer
New member
- Nov 9, 2010
- 548
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lol I got 100.00 tip last week for doing 38ft fishing boat .Was a 52 hr job and he loves the work the bill was 1350.00 + 100.00 tip 1450 for the week is good to me lol ps all cashDo you tip your detailer?
I actually found a thread on CorvetteForum on this topic and because it's a topic I'm a little bit passionate about I thought I would create a thread on the topic and that way I could share what I posted on CorvetteForum.
If you hire detailers... this thread is for you...
This is mostly for all the people that read AutogeekOnline that hire detailers to detail their cars, it's not really for detailers. So if you're a member or a lurker reading this and instead of doing all the work it takes to detail your own car, you hire someone to detail your cars. Then this is for you and the emphasis is less on tipping your detailer and more on giving them some pro-active word-of-mouth advertising.
The question that came up on CorvetteForum was,
Do you tip your detailer?
And here's my reply...
For whatever it's worth...
I've never paid to have any of my cars detailed as I'm a detailer. But I make it a practice in life to tip generously anytime I get great service and especially if the place I'm at is a place I frequent on any kind of regular schedule, for example a favorite restaurant. I find it insures continued top notch service and if the person taking care of me is genuinely doing their best and usually their very best, I like to recognize it.
When I detail cars, I always pour my heart and soul into the job; I quit doing daily drivers probably a week or two into my detailing career as I was lucky to somehow continually meet owners of "Special Interest" cars and get their business.
Point being while I might pour my heart and soul into a daily driver, it wouldn't be the same as pouring one's heart and soul into a really cool 1959 Corvette for example when you machine compound and polish every square inch of paint on the car...
If it has paint... it gets polished...
This is me wiping M16 off the lower panels of a 1959 Corvette after doing a multi-step rotary buff-out.
But regardless of whether you're paying a detailer to work on your Toy, (whatever it might be), or your Grocery-Getter, even after agreeing on a set price, if they do a good job, give them a tip.
Most detailers I've known in my life detail cars because they have a passion for the craft, rarely do I ever meet anyone that's doing this kind of work only motivated to make a buck.
So if your detailer does a good job, tip them. If they do an out-of-this-world GREAT job, then let them know, not only tip them but make the transaction an over-the-top win/win deal by giving them some word-of-mouth business.
If they do a great job for you, chances are very good they will do a great job for your buddies and if you buddy's cars look like Swirl City, definitely,
Ask your detailer for a few extra business cards and do a little pro-active promotion of their business for them.
A tip is nice, heck I'll do a cartwheel in the front yard if I get a tip, but most detailers live or die by word-of-mouth-advertising and most are not very good about asking for referrals, so step up to the plate and help them out a little if you're in a position to, like at the next club meeting when you notice your buddy Steve's 1972 Corvette looks nice except for all the swirls in the paint.
Pay it forward...
Kristopher1129
New member
- Jan 3, 2011
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Gonna have to disagree with you here. I don't think adding a tip line to my receipt is a bit much at all.
In fact, I thought the same way you did at first...and had my tip line removed. Just about every customer would ask, where can I leave a tip? They wouldn't ask till they saw the receipt and it wasn't there. So they would insist I run their card again for the tip amount.
So believe it or not, it was actually a hassle to not have a tip line cause a lot of people don't carry cash these days.
You are correct, my business experience is 40 years old we did not even have credit cards when i started...
I will say one thing if you do not ask you will not receive. From the cheap seats, too many on here work too cheap, and so did I, always worrying about being fair, and no one worried about me, and yet I did well, by my standards, and that is all that matters.
We all take pride in our work.
I will say one thing if you do not ask you will not receive. From the cheap seats, too many on here work too cheap, and so did I, always worrying about being fair, and no one worried about me, and yet I did well, by my standards, and that is all that matters.
We all take pride in our work.
Mobile detail
New member
- May 14, 2011
- 784
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I don't feel tips should be required. They should be given if outstanding service was preformed. I hate that at food service places the expect a tip even if they don't provide you with tip worthy service. Personally I would rathernot get a tip but have the happy customer give me word of mouth advertising. That is worth way more in the long run. If your great at your job that is why people still come back to you.