Need a gift idea for mechanic

JonT · 06-12-2002, 07:12 AM

So what would be a good alcoholic beverage I could give to my mechanic before he starts my 3.6 swap?

silverc4s · silverc4s's Garage

Jagermeister???

Not for use while working on the car, right??

Joeaksa · 06-12-2002, 07:26 AM

A case of Jagermeister or a good German bier!

Joe

emcon5 · emcon5's Garage

Maybe you should ask him what he likes to drink, or for that matter, IF he even drinks.

It would suck to find out he is a recovering alcoholic or something.

Tom.

JonT · 06-12-2002, 07:49 AM

Jagermeister!? I want him in a good mood not a coma! Whats a good german beer? I drink Newcastle but thats an english beer.

needlevalve · needlevalve's Garage

I am quite fond of Beck's, Dab and Warsteiner to mention a few.

silverc4s · silverc4s's Garage

Spaten is good, and available in US...

Just a question, now that I see you are serious; why are you giving him a gift BEFORE the work is completed???

Even though it's just a token, what message are you trying to convey?

When my 2.2 MFI motor was FINALLY together and running in the car, I gave my mechanic a gift of a Porsche 911 watch, which he still wears regularly, and never would have bought for himself...
not expensive compared to the $$$ he saw me throw into that motor, dontcha know.

JonT · 06-12-2002, 08:36 AM

The idea is to kiss his a%* a little to butter him up. AND, for those times when he gets frustrated on my project he can loosen up a little--hopefully AFTER work.

pwd72s · 06-12-2002, 09:11 AM

Jon, Bill raised a good question. Do you have a long term working relationship with this guy? Yes, I give the guy who works his magic on my car a bottle of single malt from time to time. But we've known each other for years...well, decades, actually. So, I not only know that he enjoys his occasional scotch drinks, I know the brand... It's a way for me to let him know that his continued good care is appreciated.

Vipergrün · 06-12-2002, 09:13 AM

Sometimes I'll tip my mechanic if he does a rush job or fits me in even though his schedule is full. Heck, if the idiot sandwich makers at Subway expect a tip, I certainly do not mind throwing out an extra $20.00 for quality service.

cheers
-Brad
80SC - and grateful to my mechanic

RazorRacer · 06-12-2002, 09:17 AM

Glenlivet French Oak - it will oils the skids everytime.

rstoll · 06-12-2002, 09:17 AM

Do you really think he works faster under the influence??

jrdavid68 · 06-12-2002, 09:38 AM

I don't even stop by my mechanic's for a visit without at least a six pack of Becks for his fridge.

JrDavid68

jlex · jlex's Garage

I understand in Germany it's traditional to give your Porsche mechanic a bottle of Schnapps at Christmas time. Can anyone confirm the practice? This was told to me by the guy I bought a 914 from who was stationed in Germany. I've always wondered about that.
regards,
jlex.

Bart911Man · 06-12-2002, 11:47 AM

The Schnaps story was actually launched by the mechanics themselves.
You give m the bottle, you don't want m to work on your baby for a month.
You better have m work first, prommise m heaven, then give him a sub(marine that is), thats a pint of whatever german beer with a glass of schnaps next to it, the mec will have a little bit of beer, lower the schnaps in to the beer and have it 'ad fundum'. I'm telling you it's heaven. Try it, dont drive afterwords though!
Bart

Joeaksa · 06-12-2002, 12:07 PM

Jlex,

Its more than a custom. Almost every employee (except self employed I assume) in Germany gets "Christmas money" in November which equals one months salary for the holidays. Some of the luckier ones get "vacations money" (urlaubs geld) and this is paid out in April or so and used for the summer two month vacation...

Do your math and you will realize that they are being paid 14 months money for 10 months work and you soon see why life is expensive in Europe.

Its even written into many labor contracts that the workers get to drink one to two bottles of beer along with lunch. I lived there for almost 12 years and even married a Berlin girl... lots of different things there. Its a wonderful place but very expensive.

On a serious note, a nice bottle of something is always appreciated by the guys who work on my cars. They help me and I help them...

Joe

Jack Olsen · 06-12-2002, 07:50 PM

Give him some time and some space.

jlex · jlex's Garage

Christmas money & vacation money... amazing. No wonder these German cars cost so much! Thanks for the replies, guys.
regards,
jlex.

GRG1911 · 06-13-2002, 12:50 PM

I am sure your mechanic will give himself a gift once you pay for the engine swap. I think some brew is ok to give if he is a nice guy.

Roland Kunz · 06-13-2002, 02:51 PM

Hello

@Joeaksa

Well most from that stuff is true for a majority from the idustrie workers. This deals where handled out by the labour organnizations. If you look into your automotive labour workers scene you also will find those guys are abouve the level you get elsewhere.

But just imagen a average worker only gets 50% netto from his income. The rest goes by taxes and insurances.
Last year a average worker had to work untill md July to earn his first money.

Now that beerstuff always amazed americans. Some Germans are used to drink beer and mostly they drink light beer or leadfree ( no alcahol ). If you work under alcahol you normaly don´t work to long in the company. Also to mauch alc and you loose your driving license sometimes for the rest of your life.

But in fact some workers need a certain amount alcahol in there blood to keep on working.

X-mas is the time when companys send "reminders" to there partners.

Now Schnaps is not a typical reminder or giveaway. Most people brefer a finer note like wine or champane ( Sekt, they mostly got stickers from the company, ever had seen Porsche Sekt ? )

Grüsse