Tipping for Detailing Services

**Jonny** · 10-22-2007, 12:32 PM

If I am bring my car into a shop for a complete detail, exterior and interior, and it runs me about $150, how much should I tip each guy working on the car? They said there would be two guy working on the car and it would take about 4 hours.

**imported_themightytimmah** · 10-22-2007, 12:34 PM

Depends on the quality of work - as a detailer, I expect no tip but I`ve seen up to 30% on serious turnarounds.

**willtothewong** · 10-22-2007, 12:40 PM

yeah, depends on how much you like the turn out

if ur car looks better than new, maybe 15 each

if ur car looks `ok` then maybe 7 each or 10, its up to you

**Scottwax** · 10-22-2007, 12:47 PM

Tipping isn`t really necessary but it is appreciated. A typical tip is about 10-15%, so I`d split that between the two.

If you have a detailer who regularly (several times a year) does work for you, don`t forget him at Christmas either. I do that with my mechanic. He does excellent work and has me back on the road quickly so I send him a card with a restaurant gift card.

**Jonny** · 10-22-2007, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by Jonny

If I am bring my car into a shop for a complete detail, exterior and interior, and it runs me about $150, how much should I tip each guy working on the car? They said there would be two guy working on the car and it would take about 4 hours.

This would not be the owner so I was thinking $20 each. Would that be too much? If the owner of the detailing place work on it do I have to tip him also or only his workers?

**todd@bsaw** · 10-22-2007, 03:48 PM

The owner generally will not work on the vehicle unless it`s a fairly small shop. A $20 tip will really make the technicians` week, as it will possibly be their best tip this month, though I have gotten that much and more myself.

If you already have $40 total for a tip in your mind, and the job is to your satisfaction, I say go ahead and you are a very generous man. I would just give the money to one of the techs and let them split it up. Sometimes I have help when I`m working on a car, but only for a portion of the time. One tech is usually the lead and will know how to split it accordingly.

As Scott already stated, a typical tip is between 10-15%. For a $150 job completed myself, I would be happy with anything over $10. Anything less than that just seems like an afterthought and I would rather not receive the tip.

**imported_smprince1** · 10-22-2007, 05:12 PM

I would estimate only about 20% of the details I`ve done have received a tip. Many people just don`t tip for service work, period. Some people already have the check made out before they arrive, so it`s not like they even considered a tip based on how they were going to feel about the results. Of those who did, the tip ranged from 10-30%, the higher end being those jobs where the results were much better than expected. The tip is always appeciated and I always make a point of fittting those people in, even if they call and want a job done on short notice.

**Jonny** · 10-22-2007, 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by todd@bsaw

As Scott already stated, a typical tip is between 10-15%. For a $150 job completed myself, I would be happy with anything over $10. Anything less than that just seems like an afterthought and I would rather not receive the tip.

Thanks Tod. I had not had it in my mind yet although I thought it might be the right amount for 4 hours of work but did not really know. You said that anything over $10, not just $10 more like $15??

It is a small shop and I found out the owner will be working on the car, do I tip him also or only his workers?