How much should I tip a tow truck driver?

[GH85Carrera]

The last time I had my El Camino towed home (dead fuel pump) it was 100+ degrees. My garage is on the side of my house and at the top of a hill. It is a pain to get it backed in. I gave the driver 20 bucks and a botte of cold water. We were both huffing and puffing for air.

[A930Rocket]

I'm in the same boat. I've had a few cars towed by AAA over the years and never thought of tipping them.

This is just for my info and I am cheap, maybe?



Why is there a need to tip the tow truck driver? do you tip your plumber after he repairs your broken sewer pipe? What if the bill is over 10k? ..or your gardener for that matter? How bout your mailman? He's the delivery of bad news, bills and more bills

[Baz]

For those who wonder why a tip is necessary - it is not - just as saying "THANKS" is not necessary.

When you give money to someone who performs a service for you - it's another way of saying "THANKS".

Yes I know you have already shelled out money.....but again......did that money actually say "THANKS" like the tip did? (the answer is no..it did not)

That is how I look at it.

[motion]

The primary issue with tipping, is that it creates a culture where service providers become accustomed to, and begin expecting tips. That puts the rest of us in a hard spot. I don't like that feeling. Know when to say when!

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by motion

The primary issue with tipping, is that it creates a culture where service providers become accustomed to, and begin expecting tips. That puts the rest of us in a hard spot. I don't like that feeling. No when to say when!

This.

[tchanson]

[look 171]

Originally Posted by motion

The primary issue with tipping, is that it creates a culture where service providers become accustomed to, and begin expecting tips. That puts the rest of us in a hard spot. I don't like that feeling. No when to say when!

Yep. I hate those places that add 15 or 20 % to the bill if there are over so many people. Why don't the establishment just post a sign that say you must tip so our waitress can eat because we don't pay em siht. what if the service is poor?

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by look 171

Yep. I hate those places that add 15 or 20 % to the bill if there are over so many people. Why don't the establishment just post a sign that say you must tip so our waitress can eat because we don't pay em siht. what if the service is poor?

Sorry man, but you need to work as a server to get some perspective. When you get a party of 15-20, it becomes your only table for at least an hour or more. If they stiff you, you made nothing. Getting stiffed by some foreign tourist party of one or two (who have no idea about tipping) isn't gonna put a big dent in your shift, since you'll have several other tables for that hour. Spend an hour or two on just one table and you need to be getting a fat tip to make it worth your while.

I worked at a hot spot in G'town in DC. It was the intersection every foreign tourist told their taxi driver to take them. I can't tell you how many tables I waited on where they brought their luggage with them from the airport, were total time vampires, were nice as can be, totally happy with my service and didn't leave a dime for a tip.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Sorry man, but you need to work as a server to get some perspective. When you get a party of 15-20, it becomes your only table for at least an hour or more. If they stiff you, you made nothing. Getting stiffed by some foreign tourist party of one or two (who have no idea about tipping) isn't gonna put a big dent in your shift, since you'll have several other tables for that hour. Spend an hour or two on just one table and you need to be getting a fat tip to make it worth your while.

I worked at a hot spot in G'town in DC. It was the intersection every foreign tourist told their taxi driver to take them. I can't tell you how many tables I waited on where they brought their luggage with them from the airport, were total time vampires, were nice as can be, totally happy with my service and didn't leave a dime for a tip.

Rick, I know its hard work but why not up the bill and give a certain percent to the waiters?

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by look 171

Rick, I know its hard work but why not up the bill and give a certain percent to the waiters?

Be sure to ask that 23 yr. old server next time and see how far that gets you.

[Seahawk]

I don't think tow truck driver expect a tip, at least based on his reaction to me handing him a $20.

I have AAA, mainly because my kids are both out of state, so the tow was already accounted for.

That and he was there in 20 minutes, was great, had me at the rental car place in minutes so I could head to my next meeting in DC and he had a two hour drive ahead of him.

Anyway, I must be an idiot: I had two new garage doors put in two weeks ago, new tracks, the works.

The two guys who did the install ran the cleanest, most efficient work site imaginable, and didn't mind my dogs hanging around while I ran some errands. They also fixed some things I wanted done extra.

They walked me through all the programming, helped me code all the doors, etc.

I tipped them each $10 bucks for a snack on their way back to VA.

Maybe it is because I put myself through college working in service positions during the school year: Tips were everything.

[on2wheels52]

Originally Posted by Targa Me

The last tow I had was from work to home.
The entire drive the driver kept calling me fool.
"Hey fool, how's your day?"
"Fool, that's a nice car you have."
"Hey fool, last night I bought be a big screen tv."

I finally told him, "Stop calling me fool, because I'm not a fool."

His tip, zero.

I was wondering what Mr. T was doing for a living these days.
Jim

[911SauCy]

Last month when my 911 left me stranded at work, I tipped to tow driver $20.

He was there in 22 minutes, was very careful with the car, let me help where I wanted (sitting in the car when it was being winched up the tilt deck-I'm not 100% on my 36yo tow hooks).

When we got it home he backed the tilt deck to the lip of my garage and we slowly lowered the car into her normal spot.

He was very grateful for the $20.

[Schrup]

What about concrete truck drivers? These guys can make your life heaven or hell depending on their experience & attitude. I've had drivers that would pick up a mag or rake & jump right in, I've also had a guy 2 days from retirement shoot 10 yards as fast as his mixer would roll.

I doubt most folks tip tow truck drivers, I would if circumstances warranted it.

[Rick Lee]

I've never had concrete delivered. If I ever do and it looks like he's going above and beyond, a tip will be warranted.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

The alternator on my 993 left me stranded tonight on the way to dinner. I was starving, hadn't eaten since breakfast, and after a good two hr. wait, the tow truck finally arrived. The flatbed was wet from all the antifreeze the Ferrari 430 he had just towed left on it. He was very careful, used boards, checked clearances religiously and then helped me push it back into my garage. I gave him $20. Is that about right? The tow was only seven miles, so I doubt he got much out of the job and the hookup and unload took plenty longer than the drive.

ZERO!!!!

This business of tipping everyone for just doing their job well is getting out of hand.

[911SauCy]

The $0 tipper responses make me feel a little less cold hearted.

I am always willing to tip $0 to infinity...but the service encountered at my last few restaurant experiences have been much closer to the $0 end of that spectrum. I've worked in a restaurant, know what it takes to make people happy, and just refuse to tip servers/bartenders that suck.

My wife thinks I'm mean. I told her that if I sucked at my job I wouldn't have one, why would I pay someone else more, just because?

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Schrup

What about concrete truck drivers? These guys can make your life heaven or hell depending on their experience & attitude. I've had drivers that would pick up a mag or rake & jump right in, I've also had a guy 2 days from retirement shoot 10 yards as fast as his mixer would roll.

I doubt most folks tip tow truck drivers, I would if circumstances warranted it.

Do you tip your pumper? I don't but I use him each and every time because he's trained, and he will pick up a rake if necessary. His wife get a 100 bucks Gift card at Target near the end of the year if we do any concrete job by then.

Do we start tipping our sub contractors or service people? I always wanted to know this, plumbers that come and work on your siht, and I mean that, do you tip? For some of you, $ 70 to unclog your drain, sure, slip the guy 10-20 bucks. What happens if the job is over 10or 15K? How much do you tip and you guys know they break their backs digging under that house?

[look 171]

By the way Paul, I don't tip my concrete guy siht. I think they all butt heads. no smile, nothing. Well, all the ones that I encountered.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

ZERO!!!!

This business of tipping everyone for just doing their job well is getting out of hand.

yeah, it like giving the new guy a plague for coming to work for the first month. Why, that's him job and getting pay for it? What's next, tip tenants for not destroying the rental in the first year?