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  1. #16
    Nth Degree's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Brad B.
    I guess from a customer point of view I never understood why certain professions `expect` a tip. I don`t tip my lawyer, my car tech, my handy man, my plumber, etc. To me they all are paid to provide a distinct professional service and skill set and are paid appropriately to do so. I would think a detailer would be in this category. (?)


    Tipping is how you show your appreciation for a service provided. Yes, detailing does seem to fall in a similar category as those you mentioned. There is a distinct difference, however. Lawyers, mechanics, handy men and plumbers provide a service that you need and can and do charge accordingly. Detailing is an optional service.



    As the owner/operator of my business I already receive all the money for a detail. Employees, however, are paid by the hour and detailing can be very boring and seemingly thankless. It isn`t about the money the tip contains, it`s the recognition and appreciation that it represents that can make a persons day.



    Those who view a tip as just money completely miss the point of a tip in the first place and, at risk of offending some, tend to be self centerd. Try handing a $5 bill to the person next time you get your oil changed and pay attention to their reaction. You`ll feel good about making someone`s day a little brighter and you`ll have a better understanding of what a gratuity or tip means.





    As for industries where tipping is the norm, remember that tips are their income. In many states servers and bartenders are still paid $2.13/hour. They are taxed by the government based upon their sales, whether they receive a tip or not because it is expected they will receive it and must share their tips based upon their sales. When you don`t tip, they literally just paid to wait on you. It looks like they are making a lot of money when you are in the restaurant at 7:00pm on a Friday, but you don`t see them at 3:00 on Tuesday when they are making almost nothing. There must be enough servers on in case it gets busy. It evens out. The cost of dining out would go up and service would decline if restaurants had to pay a flat wage.



    (Stepping down off my soap box.)

  2. #17

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    Quote Originally Posted by Nth Degree
    Tipping is how you show your appreciation for a service provided. Yes, detailing does seem to fall in a similar category as those you mentioned. There is a distinct difference, however. Lawyers, mechanics, handy men and plumbers provide a service that you need and can and do charge accordingly. Detailing is an optional service.



    As the owner/operator of my business I already receive all the money for a detail. Employees, however, are paid by the hour and detailing can be very boring and seemingly thankless. It isn`t about the money the tip contains, it`s the recognition and appreciation that it represents that can make a persons day.



    Those who view a tip as just money completely miss the point of a tip in the first place and, at risk of offending some, tend to be self centerd. Try handing a $5 bill to the person next time you get your oil changed and pay attention to their reaction. You`ll feel good about making someone`s day a little brighter and you`ll have a better understanding of what a gratuity or tip means.





    As for industries where tipping is the norm, remember that tips are their income. In many states servers and bartenders are still paid $2.13/hour. They are taxed by the government based upon their sales, whether they receive a tip or not because it is expected they will receive it and must share their tips based upon their sales. When you don`t tip, they literally just paid to wait on you. It looks like they are making a lot of money when you are in the restaurant at 7:00pm on a Friday, but you don`t see them at 3:00 on Tuesday when they are making almost nothing. There must be enough servers on in case it gets busy. It evens out. The cost of dining out would go up and service would decline if restaurants had to pay a flat wage.



    (Stepping down off my soap box.)


    hit the nail on the head with the server example!!!! I did it for the past 11 years and just quit (it was too easy money to walk away from) in June...best move I have made as the detailing business was/is picking up steadily!

  3. #18
    Brad B's Avatar
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    Nth Degree,

    Well thought out explanation. Thanks.
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  4. #19
    Hooked For Life Bill D's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nth Degree

    Those who view a tip as just money completely miss the point of a tip in the first place and, at risk of offending some, tend to be self centerd. Try handing a $5 bill to the person next time you get your oil changed and pay attention to their reaction. You`ll feel good about making someone`s day a little brighter and you`ll have a better understanding of what a gratuity or tip means.


    Receiving a tip is also particularly rewarding and humbling when it comes from someone who isn`t always in the position to be able to do so. When that happened, it really made a statement to me.
    Treat it like it`s the only one in the world.

  5. #20

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    Quote Originally Posted by Shiny Lil Detlr
    There are probably other things you can do to keep your workers happy aside from trying to get customers to tip....


    I try and do stuff like buying coffees for the guys, pizza and this year I started doing something special at the end of the month for the guys that really go above and beyond. One month the guys got Apple TV`s, another month Xbox/PS3`s etc.... You should see the look on your guy`s faces when you hand them that kind of stuff as a thank you. I have another guy that I know can`t afford a computer so I`m going to get him a laptop this fall. I look at it this way - cheap, decent laptop is $300. $300 divided by 160 hours a month is literally under $2 an hour. Did that guy work his butt off? Did he add value to the company? Is he going to work harder if he knows he`ll get rewarded with something extra? Yes to all for the most part. Doesn`t even have to be something expensive. I bought a really cool stainless steel tactical pen that cost about $50 and will last forever. All my guys were oohing and awing when it showed up so I ordered a bunch more to give to them as part of the their Christmas bonus this year. I worked for some really crappy companies where no matter what you did your hard work never got appreciated and I don`t want to be the kind of employer that acts like that. It isn`t your customers job to pay your staff - it`s yours. If they get tips that`s great but I think the responsibility is yours to make sure they are paid enough.

  6. #21

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    As a customer, the sign would be a bit irritating to me. I think the whole tip system is a bit ludicrous. I don`t know exactly how tips became a custom, but the fact it is becoming expected for virtually every service is just stupid. It`s basically saying to me that if I don`t tip, you are going to give me crappy service. As someone else mentioned, you should be pricing your service properly so I shouldn`t have to tip you. I tip servers because I know they make squat for a wage. I`ll tip more if I received exceptional service above and beyond just bringing me my food. So IMO, the only reason a detailer should earn a tip, is if he/she did something beyond the expected service. Why should I tip you if you did a good job on the polish/wax of my car since that is an implied requirement of the service? Now if you did something extra, like vacuumed the drivers side floor because of some sand, and the interior wasn`t part of the service being done, then I can see a tip being called for. Or if I just feel like you did a lot of work, and undercharged me for what was done, a tip would be warranted. As was mentioned, people will give a tip regardless of a sign. I think it will just irritate those of us that feel all of the fair wage should be priced into the service.

  7. #22
    Driven WAS's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Grimm
    As a customer, the sign would be a bit irritating to me. I think the whole tip system is a bit ludicrous. I don`t know exactly how tips became a custom, but the fact it is becoming expected for virtually every service is just stupid. It`s basically saying to me that if I don`t tip, you are going to give me crappy service. As someone else mentioned, you should be pricing your service properly so I shouldn`t have to tip you. I tip servers because I know they make squat for a wage. I`ll tip more if I received exceptional service above and beyond just bringing me my food. So IMO, the only reason a detailer should earn a tip, is if he/she did something beyond the expected service. Why should I tip you if you did a good job on the polish/wax of my car since that is an implied requirement of the service? Now if you did something extra, like vacuumed the drivers side floor because of some sand, and the interior wasn`t part of the service being done, then I can see a tip being called for. Or if I just feel like you did a lot of work, and undercharged me for what was done, a tip would be warranted. As was mentioned, people will give a tip regardless of a sign. I think it will just irritate those of us that feel all of the fair wage should be priced into the service.
    But more importantly, will a sign STOP you from going back to that detail shop, assuming you got exactly what you paid for and were expecting ?
    ... Because your vehicle deserves it too

  8. #23

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    Another thing to consider is your pricing already. Work your butts off, and if needed, when the customer is beaming from the results, maybe make a quick intro with the main guy who did the details - perhaps that personalization before cashing out will make it much more personal and lead to a tip(if thats your goal beyond satisfaction for your customers).
    ...they call me Mike



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  9. #24

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    Quote Originally Posted by Grimm
    As a customer, the sign would be a bit irritating to me. I think the whole tip system is a bit ludicrous. ..


    Heh heh, that reminds me of the "breakfast at the diner" scene in Reservoir Dogs :chuckle:

  10. #25
    Forza Auto Salon David Fermani's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by WAS
    My POS machine has a "Tip ?" option on it when the customer pays with plastic (which is about 99% of customers). This makes them select "yes" or "no", so they`re reminded then and there. I`d say about 30% to 40% of customers tip, and yes, those tips get divided up between the detail staff that worked on that particular vehicle.


    This is a great and subtle way of putting the tipping notion into a customers mind. That, and having the detailer that performed the work be at the vehicle when it`s being shown to the customer. My guys use to always be there with a towel walking around the car making sure there wasn`t any issues at the time. They would also inform the customer about anything out of the ordinary that they should be aware of like personal belongings, safety or wear issues. The more up front and personal you are with a client, the greater the chances are for getting tipped.
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  11. #26
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    Quote Originally Posted by Accumulator
    Heh heh, that reminds me of the "breakfast at the diner" scene in Reservoir Dogs :chuckle:


    Haha, I was thinking the same thing.

  12. #27
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    Here`s a thought; if you`re charging accordingly for your services, and believe your employee really did a great job (and has been a great employee) but just aren`t seeing any tips, maybe take $5 and give it to him/her and say it was from the customer. It will boost morale and help to keep up the good attitude.

    I`ve owned my own Mobile business for 7 years now and certainly never expect a tip but when I do receive one I am truly humbled and almost embarrassed at times.



    I love to tip when its` warranted but will not for crappy service.

    I, myself, would not put up the sign.



    Derek

 

 
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