"Gratuity greatly appreciated but not neccessary"

R

Richard Grasa

New member
I saw a sign somewhere that said that and was pondering if it would be something acceptable to put in a detailing shop? I'm thinking more about my employee on this, he busts his butt and it would be nice if more people tipped him. I think it's a huge morale booster for an employee to get a tip and if it makes my guy happier to work for me, I want to help him get more tips. I'd like to ask for some opinions about this, from a business owner point of view and a customer's point of view. As the owner, I never expect to get a tip, but I think the employee deserves it.



Do you think people should tip their detailer?



What would you think if you walked into a shop (any shop) and saw a sign that said that? Would it offend you, or would you be more likely to tip if you normally wouldn't have?



As a detailer, do you expect to get tipped?



Or anything else you would like to say.



Thanks
 
From an employee standpoint...



I do landscaping in the summer and we obviously don't have a tipping sign hanging anywhere, but it is nice to get a tip, even if its just 5 bucks to buy a drink/pay for some of lunch. Just because the sign is there doesn't mean anyone has to give anything, its their choice.
 
Personally, I'm not really a fan of those kinds of signs. I think most people would understand that if they wanted to tip, they could, but shouldn't feel as though it's expected. If you put up the sign, even though you're bringing attention to it not being needed, the fact that it's there gives me a guilty feeling if I didn't want to tip as I know others probably are.



I don't expect to be tipped because I'm the one doing the job and taking the money. I quote the price as that's what the work was worth. If someone rounds up, or gives 10 extra because that's what the ATM allowed them to pull increments of, I am greatly appreciative, but would never expect a tip.
 
Scooby24 said:
Personally, I'm not really a fan of those kinds of signs. I think most people would understand that if they wanted to tip, they could, but shouldn't feel as though it's expected. If you put up the sign, even though you're bringing attention to it not being needed, the fact that it's there gives me a guilty feeling if I didn't want to tip as I know others probably are.



I don't expect to be tipped because I'm the one doing the job and taking the money. I quote the price as that's what the work was worth. If someone rounds up, or gives 10 extra because that's what the ATM allowed them to pull increments of, I am greatly appreciative, but would never expect a tip.
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I agree it can leave a bad taste with some people. Those that WANT to tip will tip with or without a sign, those who don't will pretend they don't see the sign anyway.
 
PS: I find that I've been tipped on most jobs as the final price is usually a hair less than what I quoted. I try to overshoot, then surprise the customer with a lower final price than they expected. I'd say 75% of the time they still pay me what they were expecting to anyways, but that way they feel good about what they paid and the tip they provided.
 
For several years when I was in college I was the exclusive detailer for a client who happily tipped me 100%. I was never looking for a tip and I was truly flabergasted ,honored, and humbled. I would be delighted to see him again one day and I would detail his car again and I'd refuse to take any money for it. I remembet and appreciate the gesture that much. I know he drives a Bentley GTC now so that would really make the detail fun.
 
I have spent many years working in restaurants and can tell you that people tip what they are going to tip. Period. Some are generous and some aren't and it rarely is based upon the quality of service. I don't think a sign will increase tips, but could offend some.



Does your employee have direct contact with the customer? People are more inclined to tip someone directly than to give it randomly to a tip jar/box. Sometimes pointing out a little issue that was taken care of at no additional cost can also increase the odds. People appreciate when someone goes above and beyond.
 
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.



Now, as for the sign. If the customer is happy with their detail, and they feel the price they paid was fair, NO ONE is NOT going to return to your shop JUST because you have a sign posted somewhere "Gratuity greatly appreciated but not neccessary". Chances of that happening are 0.0005%, and if someone says that's the reason they aren't coming back, then they're just lying and coming up with whatever reason they can come up with.
 
Nth Degree said:
I have spent many years working in restaurants and can tell you that people tip what they are going to tip. Period. Some are generous and some aren't and it rarely is based upon the quality of service. I don't think a sign will increase tips, but could offend some.



Does your employee have direct contact with the customer? People are more inclined to tip someone directly than to give it randomly to a tip jar/box. Sometimes pointing out a little issue that was taken care of at no additional cost can also increase the odds. People appreciate when someone goes above and beyond.
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Agreed! Especially with the highlighted part.



I never expect to receive a tip and I almost always spend a little extra time on a car, more because I'm OCD then anything, but it's nice when those little things are noticed and appreciated.
 
Thanks for the input. One thing that got me thinking about this is the Livingsocial deal I did. It says right on the voucher "Tax and gratuity are not included; don't forget to tip on the pre-discounted amount". I have noticed that about 80% of the people that come in to redeem their voucher tip about $20. People that come in for regular non-deal detailing almost never tip, maybe about 10% of the time. That's a huge difference, they see that on the voucher and think about tipping and most of them do. That got me thinking about the sign thing. I don't think I'm going to put up a sign but I think if people were somehow reminded about tipping, they seem to be much more inclined to do so.



And I want to stress I'm not being greedy here, trying to get more tips, but want my workers to be as happy working for me as possible. I'd love to be able to somehow mention something about tipping that isn't obvious and won't offend customers.
 
ExplicitDetails said:
And I want to stress I'm not being greedy here, trying to get more tips, but want my workers to be as happy working for me as possible. I'd love to be able to somehow mention something about tipping that isn't obvious and won't offend customers.
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There are probably other things you can do to keep your workers happy aside from trying to get customers to tip....
 
Instead of saying, "yes, we want a tip, but no you don't have to"...





...just list your prices as "Pricing does not include tax or gratuity".



EDIT: I Just re-read and saw that you saw it elsewhere :)
 
RaskyR1 said:
Agreed! Especially with the highlighted part.



I never expect to receive a tip and I almost always spend a little extra time on a car, more because I'm OCD then anything, but it's nice when those little things are noticed and appreciated.
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I have a lot of business owners as customers who are very generous, it always works out to a percentage of price - a very nice one. I had one guy tip me, then turn around in his vehicle come back and say "what the hell was I thinking", and gave me an additional 80 bucks because his quick mental math was a hair off :)
 
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. (?)



When tipping is outright mentioned, or I read some signage asking for it, it makes me feel uncomfortable. You feel compelled to do so, even if the service is bad. I'm not cheap, I swear. I just figure if you are charging enough for the service you don't need to do this. Maybe a better pricing strategy needs to be implemented if you are not getting enough for your work?



Of course I am also of the mindset that you should pay employees what they are worth so they don't have to rely on tips.
 
Brad B. said:
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. (?)
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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.)
 
Nth Degree said:
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.)
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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!
 
Nth Degree said:
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.
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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.
 
Shiny Lil Detlr said:
There are probably other things you can do to keep your workers happy aside from trying to get customers to tip....
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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.
 
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