Tipping for paint work?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 164
From: Nashville TN
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
Tipping for paint work?
Hey guys, asking an etiquette question here.
the guy who usually does my paint work did my hood earlier this year, and it had a bubble form a few months later. He stands behind his work and has taken it back to fix. I’m supposed to pick it up today. He’s not charging me for this repair, but I’m wondering if it is appropriate to tip him or something? I appreciate him standing behind his work and want to keep a good relationship with him.
my wife suggested taking cookies or something instead of money, because money could be awkward.
thoughts? thank you!
the guy who usually does my paint work did my hood earlier this year, and it had a bubble form a few months later. He stands behind his work and has taken it back to fix. I’m supposed to pick it up today. He’s not charging me for this repair, but I’m wondering if it is appropriate to tip him or something? I appreciate him standing behind his work and want to keep a good relationship with him.
my wife suggested taking cookies or something instead of money, because money could be awkward.
thoughts? thank you!
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,426
Likes: 229
From: Pennsylvania
I always tip the mechanic after I pay the bill if I feel he truly took good care of my car. It lets him know I appreciated him doing his job well and helps assure he'll take good care of your car next trip around.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,142
Likes: 1,729
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I would not tip, but I'd recommend him to everyone around if he stands by his work like that.
If it bubbled, he didn't prep it well. He should be fixing it.
If it bubbled, he didn't prep it well. He should be fixing it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,019
Likes: 566
From: Conroe Texas
if this is a shop that you use more than once, it builds a client - owner relationship.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 164
From: Nashville TN
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
i hear what you’re saying, but I have had LOTS of work done here before by myself and friends as well. He always does a great job and this is the first issue I’ve ever had. I agree he should be fixing it, but I also want to make sure he knows I appreciate it. He’s really helped me out in the past and I want to keep a good relationship. Overall, I don’t think it was negligence on his part that caused this.
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Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 4,648
Likes: 1,059
From: N.E. Ohio OH
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
the guy that painted the stripes on my car had an issue and the paint all came off. he had to do it again. honored his very good price. a few years ago he gave me a VERY good price welding in new rockers, rebuilding body mounts, cab corners, etc on a pickup I am slowly restoring. he also painted a bird crap and concrete water damaged hood on my 04.5 2500HD for a good price
I gave him a 9mm as a thank you.
the prices he did the work for me at were far less than the cost of the 9mm than I would have paid someone else. he made no money off the parts, I acquired them for the pickup restoration.
it all depends on the relationship you have.
I gave him a 9mm as a thank you.
the prices he did the work for me at were far less than the cost of the 9mm than I would have paid someone else. he made no money off the parts, I acquired them for the pickup restoration.
it all depends on the relationship you have.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,069
Likes: 262
From: Park Ridge New Jersey
I think a case of beer would be fine. I understand he didn't properly prep it, but he didn't 'ghost' you and backed his work. The beer tip might work to your advantage with future paint/body work.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,692
Likes: 349
From: Sacramento California
Generally a tip is for any work or service beyond what is promised or quoted... anything extra or outstanding. For me, the obvious exception is foodservice -- I always give at least a modest tip even if the service is average or even below average. I agree that this situation is just warranty work. He is making good his promise and you already paid for a quality job up front so I don't see any reason to pay anything more. But if you expect to do business with him again sometime in the future, it couldn't hurt to be extra nice, if you know he would appreciate something specific (a 6-pack or a nice steak, for example). But again I would not pay him any more money.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 164
From: Nashville TN
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
So i got my car back today. He repainted the hood again, but told me I will continue to have issues. He says something is wrong with the gel coat and it is bubbling off. He pointed to a small area that’s already bubbling up after only a day. I’m getting the impression he’s not planning to repaint again, he says I’ll have to strip the gel coat and redo it to avoid this issue-and that’s going to get pricey.
did he do a halfway job, or is this outside the realm of normal prep? Should I be pushing him to fix it or accept that it’s my problem not his?
did he do a halfway job, or is this outside the realm of normal prep? Should I be pushing him to fix it or accept that it’s my problem not his?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 6,940
Likes: 1,490
From: New Jersey
Having fiberglass boats... if you do start getting blistering it is hard to stop but that's because they're always wet. If the body is in fact blistering from say heat or something then yea. Not much you can do about that short of fully grinding into the fiberglass and resurfacing then painting. Even then it comes back. That being said, probably should have been addressed before the first paint job imo...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 164
From: Nashville TN
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
Having fiberglass boats... if you do start getting blistering it is hard to stop but that's because they're always wet. If the body is in fact blistering from say heat or something then yea. Not much you can do about that short of fully grinding into the fiberglass and resurfacing then painting. Even then it comes back. That being said, probably should have been addressed before the first paint job imo...
Racer
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 345
Likes: 68
From: New Jersey
Everyone has a return sooner or later. Ask a roofer or plumber if they’ve ever had a leak and if they say no they haven’t been doing it long.
Appreciation goes a long way. Everyone likes to know their appreciated. How you handle it is ultimately up to you. If he’s a recovering alcoholic I’d say beer is a bad idea. If he’s dating Jenny Craig, same with the cookies.
Im not trying to be a stick in the mud but handle it as you see fit. A gift card to a decent restaurant is another option.
Let us know how you handle it.
Appreciation goes a long way. Everyone likes to know their appreciated. How you handle it is ultimately up to you. If he’s a recovering alcoholic I’d say beer is a bad idea. If he’s dating Jenny Craig, same with the cookies.
Im not trying to be a stick in the mud but handle it as you see fit. A gift card to a decent restaurant is another option.
Let us know how you handle it.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 164
From: Nashville TN
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
You are NOT wrong there...most shops in my area won't even touch my car, and many that will automatically double the price the second I pull in. It's part of why I just do everything I possibly can myself. I'm actually considering trying to repaint my car in a homemade paint booth in my garage. Still a long way off from actually doing it, but...the cost of all the work gets pricey FAST.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,430
Likes: 3,279
From: Hartford WI
You are NOT wrong there...most shops in my area won't even touch my car, and many that will automatically double the price the second I pull in. It's part of why I just do everything I possibly can myself. I'm actually considering trying to repaint my car in a homemade paint booth in my garage. Still a long way off from actually doing it, but...the cost of all the work gets pricey FAST.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,185
Likes: 381
From: Lunenburg MA
You are NOT wrong there...most shops in my area won't even touch my car, and many that will automatically double the price the second I pull in. It's part of why I just do everything I possibly can myself. I'm actually considering trying to repaint my car in a homemade paint booth in my garage. Still a long way off from actually doing it, but...the cost of all the work gets pricey FAST.
Body shops just want to do collision work.