Is it customary to tip your LBS mechanic? I just bought a what the LBS calls a "Pro Build/Tune" package for $250 where they assist you in assembling your bike. There really wasn't any "tune" as they said that was a different package, so they set might bike seat to the point of my hip and that was the "tune", but we took my frame that had both derailers on it, front rings on it, seat post on it and then we installed everything else. Wasn't sure if I should tip the kid. I did pay for another $400 in parts from them. Thoughts?
Tipping $ Mechanic?
Critter Cameraman
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Is it customary to tip your LBS mechanic? I just bought a what the LBS calls a "Pro Build/Tune" package for $250 where they assist you in assembling your bike. There really wasn't any "tune" as they said that was a different package, so they set might bike seat to the point of my hip and that was the "tune", but we took my frame that had both derailers on it, front rings on it, seat post on it and then we installed everything else. Wasn't sure if I should tip the kid. I did pay for another $400 in parts from them. Thoughts?
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You already paid $250 for them to put the wheels and handle bars on the bike and now you wonder if you should give them more money? I wanna be your bike mechanic
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There are a lot of bike mechanics on this site so you'll probably get a lot of "absolutely!" replies. 
I'd say if they just did the routine work, you don't need to tip. If a mechanic goes "above and beyond" for you, then a tip would be nice. Examples are staying late to get your bike fixed because you need it tomorrow, or just spends time with you doing more than the basic job. I've asked what kind of beer they liked before going and buying it and dropping it off.
I'd say if they just did the routine work, you don't need to tip. If a mechanic goes "above and beyond" for you, then a tip would be nice. Examples are staying late to get your bike fixed because you need it tomorrow, or just spends time with you doing more than the basic job. I've asked what kind of beer they liked before going and buying it and dropping it off.
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"Customary"? not really. Much appreciated? YES!
A good mechanic is not as common as you might think. Take good care of them if they take good care of you.
More than anything it's the gesture, not the dollar value.
And lastly, to the person that said "you already gave them $250", "them" is the owner of the bike shop not the mechanic. A tip will go directly to the mechanic.
Good mechanics have a wealth of knowledge and are hugely under paid. If you think a tip is warranted, by all means throw them a bone. Beer tips are always appreciated as well, but FFS bring craft beer NOT Bud Light!!
A good mechanic is not as common as you might think. Take good care of them if they take good care of you.
More than anything it's the gesture, not the dollar value.
And lastly, to the person that said "you already gave them $250", "them" is the owner of the bike shop not the mechanic. A tip will go directly to the mechanic.
Good mechanics have a wealth of knowledge and are hugely under paid. If you think a tip is warranted, by all means throw them a bone. Beer tips are always appreciated as well, but FFS bring craft beer NOT Bud Light!!
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9,771 Posts
$250 seems kinda steep, but that's on the shop. LBS I frequent the trad tip is a six pack or two of good IPA, to be shared with fellow employees after closing. Yeah, some might not drink, or are "sober curious", or are recovering alcoholics, or gluten intolerant, etc...
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Lol
First thing I thought of, I'm in the wrong business.
And if you do the work yourself by all means tip away at a high percentage.
What would Jesus do?
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5,260 Posts
Sounds like the OP had a direct sales bike that they then took to the LBS to be built.
With regard to tipping: While beer is appreciated it's often fresh donuts and coffee that are most welcome. When I was wrenching for a living I don't recall ever being given cash.
With regard to tipping: While beer is appreciated it's often fresh donuts and coffee that are most welcome. When I was wrenching for a living I don't recall ever being given cash.
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91,381 Posts
I’ve given them a smile and nice thank you and walked to the register to pay before. Is that considered a tip?
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91,381 Posts
No wonder all the mechanics I’ve met have a drinking problem. You all are tipping in beer.
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In my area, 90% of the mechanics are basically kids punching a clock. Great at doing routine stuff on low end bikes but if you need them for delicate tasks on higher end bikes that require patience and attention to detail, they usually screw it up. Like messing up the chainline after installing a bottom bracket on a boost frame, screwing up a tubeless tape job, messing up the tension from a simple wheel true, and even destroying a $300 XD cassette because the wrong tool was used. So when I do find a mechanic that spends time to get it right and has the experience to get it right, yeah I will tip the person well. Plus, I also want the person to be happy with me as a customer because there is going to be repeat business.
And before somebody chimes in with the "you should do it yourself comment", my time is worth something to me. I can more than cover bike repair with extra time spent working in my real job. Tipping a great mechanic is a win-win situation.
And before somebody chimes in with the "you should do it yourself comment", my time is worth something to me. I can more than cover bike repair with extra time spent working in my real job. Tipping a great mechanic is a win-win situation.
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41 Posts
I tip beer.
I also gauge shop size.. If it's a bigger shop I'll grab 'em a case of PBR to throw in the fridge for the week. If it's a smaller shop with a couple guys that'll help me with anything, throw me some discounted parts, bullshit with me for 30 minutes... I'll go through the trouble of hand picking a mix-a-six pack or two for 'em and ask them what they like in advance. I ordered a shop Chinese food once when an owner specifically said not to bring beer.
I also gauge shop size.. If it's a bigger shop I'll grab 'em a case of PBR to throw in the fridge for the week. If it's a smaller shop with a couple guys that'll help me with anything, throw me some discounted parts, bullshit with me for 30 minutes... I'll go through the trouble of hand picking a mix-a-six pack or two for 'em and ask them what they like in advance. I ordered a shop Chinese food once when an owner specifically said not to bring beer.
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7,336 Posts
I've been given a tip for going above and beyond for a customer. I work full time elsewhere so I have to open up the shop and go out of my way to meet them for their repairs if they're not comfortable dropping off their bike.
It's never expected, but greatly appreciated.
It's never expected, but greatly appreciated.
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42,823 Posts
I couldn't quite figure out what service OP was talking about, to be sure. The shops I've worked for charged much less for building a boxed bike (direct sale bike or not), so I'm not sure what else they did for OP.
At any rate, I wouldn't buy beer for my mechanics unless I knew their preferences. The most frequently brought "tips" in the shops where I've worked were goodies. Donuts, pie (one of the customers owned a pie bakery), boxes of candy (one customer owned a vending machine business), home cooked/baked stuff, etc. Sometimes beer was one of the tip items, but it depended on the mechanic. Usually, the tips weren't brought in for "above and beyond" type service, either. The people who brought stuff were just nice folks who considered us friends.
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