Streamliner

At last count, I have had right near 60 brand new cars, all for personal use and about half being high line cars such as MB, BMW, Lexus, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, etc.

In a recent post, someone mentioned that they "tipped" the Service Advisor at their MB dealership. In all my years of visiting dealerships for service in Southern California, I have never heard of anyone tipping an SA and I think this is something we all might like to know about. Please vote.

LovinMercedes

Absolutely agree. At Newport's Fletcher, where the OP is from, I'd be surprised if this wasn't a common occurrence.

I've often, when appropriate, said thank you to the actual mechanic, when a special job has been done.

konigstiger

One hand washes the other and both hands wash the face.

hyperion667

after getting my first car I sent my SA an edible arrangement......but never tipped after that, but always gave hugs(yes, a she ) and was very polite, also always met the tech that did work on my car so the tech would know the face of the car he worked on to hopefully make it a more personal experience for him.......however I will avoid the dealer at all cost now.......
at the indy shop I bring bagels, try to tip, but they never accept a tip, amazing bunch of guys there too

LovinMercedes

I'll fix your car.

Red Marko

Of course you should tip your SA, he/she is in the same shoes as the waitress ... serving you.

During my CL600 ownage I tipped $100 every visit. Although after that when owning CL63 AMG (lemon) my SA refused to take anything, I guess he felt sorry for me (after all, it wasn't his fault that the car was such a POS).

hyperion667

haha, fresh baked too, not the chitty store bagels LOL........of course

Long3494Qut

I tried before but they wouldn't accept it at my dealer. I usually come in for free touchless car washes every month where they do interior cleaning and tire shine. Service advisor only brings the car to their wash facility and then someone else sends it through, vacuums, and tire shines the car. I'd love to tip those individuals but they won't allow us back there...

sam9187

I think it's crazy to tip the SA
What's next - tip the sales person

BenzV12

SA won't accept but I say it's OK then please share the tip for the guys who work on my car . I always bring Scotch ...Ha ha joking I mean SWISS (chocolate) to the dealer or sales persons when I visit their showroom to see what's inside all of them thanks me for that .
It's kinda different business but Burger King staff also won't accept tips

hyperion667

I bought a really nice model car for my salesman.........it was an old old MB car (model), he still keeps it on his desk and gets lots of comments and compliments, but that was along time ago

Streamliner

I like that idea a lot. A gift of some sort, as a token of friendship and thanks to someone you truly have developed a friendship with. I had totally forgotten about it, but I gave my Lexus SA a model car as well, many years ago and I brought candy at Christmas to the girls who handled the Lexus loan cars. As stated before, I used to look forward to taking my Lexus in for service, as it was always such a positive experience. Lexus always believed my complaints and bent over backwards to fix them. I dread taking my MB in, as it's always a zoo and always a fight. Maybe it's not a tip that's in order, but a bribe.

Critter

I gave a tip to my wifes' doctor years ago- Retire
He retired, still have my wife, she lived.

aypues

don't have a S Class (yet) but once in awhile I get my Lexus service advisor Omaha Steaks to say thanks for all the great service. He has comped many expensive parts and gone over and above throughout the 16 years I've been going to him.

Chucky300

I'll fix your car!

Red Marko

With my special needs, trust me it was well worth it

UrBusted

Might have given my car for a few days

emilner

I usually tip $20. Goes a loooooong way towards getting fantastic service at the dealer....

Critter

When the owner of the dealership one day see you guys tipping the SA he will be promptly fired for bribery.

emilner

Nope. I once handed the owner $20 to give the SA because the owner dropped my car off and I never saw the SA....

Critter

Well that is a sure fire way to give to the SA. Owner smiled all the way home. Yup!

emilner

SA called me later saying it was the first time the owner handed him a tip.

You surely are a presumptuous one....

Critter

Anyways, it was kind of you.

hyperion667

dude, just can't help yourself can you?

Streamliner

I think it's a generous and a very nice gesture, but I think it is also a geographic thing. I think that tipping is much more engrained in the east coast culture. I would venture to say that this tipping of an SA is virtually nonexistent in Southern California. I think that my SA would vigorously refuse to accept a tip and I think that any SA caught accepting a tip would be fired.

A few weeks ago, I took my new S550 to another dealer (not the selling dealer) for some warranty work. About ten days later, I get a decent size box of Godiva chocolates delivered in a carton with an ice pack (it has been in the 70's & 80's here in Feb/Mar). I think that dealer management that is so hungry for service work that they send gifts to customers just for warranty work would have a fit if ANY employee accepted a tip--but I will ask and find out for sure.