I just had to write this. Am I the only one who tipped their salesman? I actually gave my salesguy a card with $50 bucks in it! Just curious if this even crossed anyone's mind. My wife & I have always been good tippers but regardless, this just seemed like the right thing to do.

We're not finished yet, either. When I pick up my plates next week, my wife is going to bake for the dealer - either her famous white chocolate chunk brownies or her hug & kiss cookies!!!

Yeah, we're pretty strange!

 

No, that doesn't seem that strange - for service above-and-beyond - it's a nice jesture; as long as one keeps it meaningful - you dont't tip at Starbucks or McDonalds, do you? But when you get your car two hours after its off the truck ... WOW!

 

actually, the Starbucks I have been to had tip jars !
I agree though, if you feel like tipping the guy, tip him!

 

>>No, that doesn't seem that strange - for service above-and-beyond - it's a nice jesture; as long as one keeps it meaningful - you dont't tip at Starbucks or McDonalds, do you? But when you get your car two hours after its off the truck ... WOW!
>>>>>

Not a Starbuck or Mcdonalds...but we'll put change in a tip jar at maybe an ice cream place if we ordered a lot!

 

Cookies sound delicious!! It would be fun for everybody to submit their favorite recipe for a MINI Cook Book!! Well........maybe not!! Probably, because I'm starving and ready to leave for lunch, made me think of it.

 

I think that is very nice gesture. I know I appreciated the folks at my dealer. Nothing like prior purchases from dealers.

 

You know, tipping is a nice gesture... when the service calls for it. I happen to work at Starbucks and while tipping is NEVER expected, it is GREATLY appreciated. I don't think people understand what goes into a job like working at Starbucks. I've been with the company 9 yrs and while I'm definitely not a Starbucks cheerleader (meaning, I understand that Starbucks definitely has its shortcomings as a company and am very willing to admit it), I have to say that I do love working there because of the interaction with people.The unfortunate thing is the attitude customers show towards us as humans. They assume that we are the equivalent to some 16yr old taking orders at Mc Donald's.

While Starbucks may look and feel like a fast food place, the company really strives to serve a quality product as well as go through a big effort to hire quality people. Unfortunately, the attitude of some of the customers is such that the people working there are beneath them because we don't happen to drive a Lexus or wear a suit. Well, if you're that uptight and your ego is that big, I'll give you decaf next time because it sounds like you don't need anymore caffeine!!!!!! And you can go to 7-11 and pay 1/10th the price for 1/10th the quality.

Again, if your experience at Starbucks was a good one, drop some change in the tip jar, they do deserve it.

Just don't treat me like making drinks is my only bag...


_________________
Awaiting Transport: BRG MCS, sport and prem., white roof, nav. syst., bonnets, driving lights, blk leather,

 

And by the way, I'll definitely tip my salesman...with a starbucks gift card!!!

 

Sorry! Really! I didn't mean to offend the employees of Starbucks (the Corp. is something different) but when I moved to Seattle 25 yrs ago, there was one Starbucks (anywhere) and it had the best coffee in the West! My experience now is the opposite of what skrutzen talks about - the kids behind the counter look down on me! all I want is my dopio espresso and what I get instead is grief for not pouring flavour or milk in it or not just loving the lastest iced-tea-thingy. It seems that the lexus/suit/foamed-milk crowd is what they want ...I still take their beans home anyway.

 

Ok, I must admit, I really don't understand the idea of tipping for service. If you at a restaurant, where they basically live on tips, that's different. But for a car/coffee/other? That's really strange. The people are getting paid already to do their job...and you are paying them as well? I've always felt that if someone treated you well, they did their job. But that doesn't mean you should give them some of your money. I don't get tipped at my job. I've never had a job that ever got me a tip. If I go out of my way to help a customer at my job, it's not because I want a tip...it's because I like my job and want to do good at it. If you don't do a good job, you'll get fired. That's better incentive as far as I'm concerned. I dunno. I'm just not apt to toss my hard earned cash at some coffee person because they actually made the order correct. Gee, thanks. You mean you didn't screw up so I should pay you more?!?! Really now. That's insanity. Why don't we tip our garbage men for taking the trash away? What about the paper boy for delivering the paper? What about the person that cleans up the food court at the mall? I'll tell you why...IT'S THEIR JOB! What ever happened to accountability? We now have to pay people to do the job they were hired (and paid) to do???? Not me, no way. Do a good job and I won't report you to your manager. How's that for a tip?

Sorry for the rant, but I really think tipping has gone out of control, and now people think it is their right to get one from any and everyone. Am I the only one who thinks it's strange too?

R

 

Ok, as far as Starbucks goes, I only don't tip there b/c I don't go there! :smile:

 

>>What about the paper boy for delivering the paper? What about the person that cleans up the food court at the mall? I'll tell you why...IT'S THEIR JOB! What ever happened to accountability? We now have to pay people to do the job they were hired (and paid) to do???? Not me, no way. Do a good job and I won't report you to your manager. How's that for a tip?
>>

Wait a minute! You really don't tip the paperboy?!

 

What people need to remember is that tipping is a privilege not a right. You should never expect a tip or think you are owed one. You should just do your job to the best of your abilities and appreciate any appreciation you get whether through compliments or money.

 

>>What people need to remember is that tipping is a privilege not a right. You should never expect a tip or think you are owed one. You should just do your job to the best of your abilities and appreciate any appreciation you get whether through compliments or money.



TIP : To Insure Promptness
I guess in the old days, if you wanted something real bad, you needed to pay for it ... (like getting your Car Fast!) ..... greatgro - just look what you started! from now on, keep your Random Acts Of Kindness to yourself

 

... if you do , i'll tip ya!

 

I bought them all lunch at Ferman Mini. When I
bought the Cooper on 3/29 they really were busy
and there were several snafus on my sale, ie. my
bank is in NY and I am in FL. I couldn't get the
bank to do a wire transfer(too late) on a Friday so I filled
out loan papers, which got me running Friday instead
of Monday. Then the first time I bought the Cooper
in for service I test drove an S and the rest is history.
(now I have an S)
Great job on both sales and I think I owe them
lunch again, and the Mini mechanic, Jack, knows the
car inside out. I guess I owe him lunch as well.

 

>> ... if you do , i'll tip ya!>>>

 

Lunch - now that's a good idea! :smile: We were thinking maybe a gift certificate but we didn't have time - got the car too fast! I stopped at the store on the way to pick it up and bought the card!

 

Tipping in the auto industry isn't a clear cut situation. I wouldn't just "tip" my sales rep for getting me a good deal on a car... that's his job! It would be like someone tipping me for making them a nice web site.... it's silly. Here are the only times and ways I tip in regards to autos:

1. My mechanic: Have brought them pizza and lunch before

2. Car Sales Rep: They moved my auto delivery date up a week on a car once, so I tipped him with a free airline ticket (I considered this special treatment and that's the only reason I tipped)

 

Interesting subject. It never would have occurred to me to tip a dealer. My first reaction was "why the hell... I am spending enough damn money... etc., etc." After further though and the reading of some of your responses, I am seeing it a little differently.

It's all about acknowledgement. There is no need for anyone to feel obligated to tip or to not tip. It's also not the only way to give a dealer acknowledgement. For any of you who do jobs that are rarely acknowledged, you know that an occasional sincere 'thank you' can be a real uplift. So, there is nothing wrong with acknowlegement, and at the same time no one should feel obligated to give any form of it to the dealer.

For myself, I am now thinking that I will do something for my dealer if I am very satisfied. I have a 154,000 miles on my '94 Mazda B4000 pickup and I have been itching for a new vehicle for over 2 years. I have a lot a passion for this new vehicle and because of that, purchasing it will be a major life event, no kidding. In times like these it is not uncommon for people to be generous and show their gratitude.

It's not an act of kindness, but an act of appreciation. There is nothing random about it.

 

I hate tipping... if you do a good service, charge a fair price for the service you're providing... Yet another thing I liked when I was in Japan... not that I had this problem, but if they see you leave a tip, they'll give the money right back to you, because tipping is so not part of their culture, they figure that you left it there on accident...

(and you didn't have to wait for the bill either... you just went up to the counter and paid when you were ready... but that's a discussion for a different topic..)

Rocketboy_X

 

>>Wait a minute!

Tips are a reward for something done outside of expectation. Maybe I have high expectations. But doing you job correctly is hardly doing it above what is expected.

R

 

Yes, I'd tip him-right under the left ear!

 

I'd give him/her a tip!


Don't stand up in a canoe! ROFLMAO

But seriously.... I mean, There are jobs that you normally associate tips with..... waitresses/waiters, doormen, taxi drivers, food delivery guys/gals...etc..... But i don't normally associate tipping with car dealerships........... HOWEVER; being that the Mini brings out alot of unique things in people..... I can see why someone would feel the urge to tip their salesperson! With that said, I guess it all depends on how above & beyond expectation the salesperson goes & how much $$ you've got left after buying a mini! LOL I'm sure that they understand your appreciation whether it be w/ a sincere thank you, a cake or other baked good that you or your wife/significant other cooked, you slip a 50 in a thank you card... or whatever! It's just like any show of appreciation.... It's the thought that counts!! And if the salesperson believes the only way to show appreciation is through monetary compensation.... then they obviously don't understand the mini spirit & should be selling something else..... like volkswagons or pt cruisers or something?! (no offense intended to those who own VW's or PT's!)

 

greatgro, if I give you my address, can your wife send some of those cookies to me?