How much do I tip the tow truck guy?

[IwasHere]

Left my parking lights on after coming out of a parking garage and now have a car with a dead battery sitting in front of my house. I probably could of found a friend to jump my car, but since I have never used my roadside plan with my insurance(Geico), I thought what the hell and called them up.

Sure they said it may take up to 3 hours, but I am sitting at home watching TV for the rest of the day so Why not? IF, and that is a big IF, the tow truck guy comes out and gives me the FREE jump with out trying to stick me with some other type of bill what should I tip him?

Can I ask what this type of call normally costs and use that figure to base a percentage on? Or, is there a standard tip for this kind of thing.

[KevinNU7]

I see no reason to tip unless the guy provides you with some service that you had not arleady pre-paid for (i.e. your insurance plan)

[MikeVick7]

$0

[IwasHere]

WOW, I never would of thought Zero.

Do we hate mechanics that much?

[gottimd]

Originally Posted by KevinNU7

I see no reason to tip unless you provides you with some service that you have not arleady pre-paid for (i.e. your insurance plan)

So unless he provides himself with a service that he hasn't paid himself for, he should tip? And tip his insurance plan?

[rkmsuf]

Tip the tow guy? How mental is that?

I can see MAYBE if the same tow guy is out there once every couple months but if that's the case you have other issues.

As far as the mechanics perhaps I should just bend over, stick a 20 on my back and let them have at it.

[albionmoonlight]

I think that this totally depends. I normally would not tip a tow truck guy.

Mrs. A. and I, however, were once stranded in the middle of nowhere, and this saint of a wrecker came for us and helped patch up our car good enough to get us home on the middle of a Saturday. He charged us, of course, for both the repairs and the towing--but we still tipped him $50, because it was clear that he really was taking time out of his day to do us a favor so that we would not have to spend the weekend in BFE.

So, to me, this is an area where there is no hard and fast rule.

[KevinNU7]

IWH, I edited my post, probably makes more sense now.

I just don't see a reason to tip someone who is providing you a service that you are paying for. When I go to a restuarant I am paying for the food up front, but the waiter/waitress who makes below minimum wage is providing me with a service that has not been compensated and that is why I tip him/her.

This tow truck driver is prodiving you a service that you have paid for and he is being adequately compensated by the insurance company.

[gottimd]

What about when you order food from a restaurant for pick up, and the bartender carries it out to you...do you tip the bartender/server still a small amount?

[KevinNU7]

Originally Posted by gottimd

What about when you order food from a restaurant for pick up, and the bartender carries it out to you...do you tip the bartender/server still a small amount?

This was already covered in another thread. That person is providing me a service, they are allowing me to be lazy and stay in my car, so yes I do tip them. This is a service that is often uncompensated by their employer.

[KevinNU7]

Dola, and they get significantly less then a waiter/waitress because they do far less work.

[Klinglerware]

$0. I have offered a tip in the past--but no tow-truck driver I've dealt with has ever accepted.

[MikeVick7]

Originally Posted by IwasHere

WOW, I never would of thought Zero.

Do we hate mechanics that much?

I think I'm always so appalled at towing prices these days that tipping those guys is the last thing that's on my mind.

[gottimd]

Originally Posted by KevinNU7

This was already covered in another thread. That person is providing me a service, they are allowing me to be lazy and stay in my car, so yes I do tip them. This is a service that is often uncompensated by their employer.

Sorry didnt see that. But this is what I do anyways. And just did it half hour before I posted and wondered if it was a typical thing to do.

[Butter_of_69]

I don't hate mechanics, but the answer is still no. This is like tipping a plumber or a carpenter or something, AFAIC. Makes no sense. We don't have to tip EVERY service provider who walks the Earth. That's how they make their living.

[JS19]

I have never heard of tipping the tow truck guy.

[sabotai]

Originally Posted by IwasHere

WOW, I never would of thought Zero.

Do we hate mechanics that much?

Mechanics make pretty good money. I reserve my tipping for jobs where the people get paid shit, and are expected to make a good protion of their wage off of tips (waitress/waitors, delivery, paperboy/girl, etc.)

[Butter_of_69]

Originally Posted by sabotai

Mechanics make pretty good money. I reserve my tipping for jobs where the people get paid shit, and are expected to make a good protion of their wage off of tips (waitress/waitors, delivery, paperboy/girl, etc.)

This is pretty much what I meant.

[stevew]

I wouldn't tip the guy. You're already paying 50 bucks or more for them to move your car. Like someone else said, you don't have to tip every single person.

[Desnudo]

Originally Posted by IwasHere

WOW, I never would of thought Zero.

Do we hate mechanics that much?

$0. It's a tow tuck driver not a mechanic. It's a lousy business filled with lousy people (the same people tow your illegally parked car for a living). I'd be even less likely to tip a mechanic. Have you ever seen their hourly labor charges?

[GoSeahawks]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

I'd be even less likely to tip a mechanic. Have you ever seen their hourly labor charges?

Ding ding ding!! Didn't one of our FOF members get charged like $90 in labor for installation of a gas cap? I've never thought twice about tipping a mechanic or a towtruck driver.

[DaddyTorgo]

i'd never tip the tow truck guy

[vex]

So, is this a parody thread?