[1badtantrum]

Like the stripper idea....interesting perspectives all around.
I have tipped the SA the 2 times my car has been in for service. On my first visit to the dealer I asked the SA about tipping and what is expected. He said it depends on the customer, some do tip and some don't. I gave him $20 after he took the car in the first time with no notice and gave me a loaner. Got the same treatment the second time after asking about another small annoyance. Took the car in gave me a loaner took care of it straight away. I gave him $20. Probably could do it without a tip don't know never tried :-)

[darkmercury]

After owning an 01 Corvette and dealing with Chevy Service Advisors...

You pay for the total BMW Experience and that includes a high standard of customer service when you have an issue. The reputation of service from BMW is what I heard more about than driving the cars.
No need for a tip... they are just treating you like everyone should be treated when they have an issue.

[shoei]

Originally Posted by Eau Rouge

This ^^^

Allow me to add: Some of you have probably been around service centers and witnessed someone behave very badly toward an SA. I have witnessed some totally classless behavior. The expectations of some people are simply off-the-charts. The SA's are always the ones who bear the brunt of bitchy customers, and there are a lot of people that think that when all does turn out as expected, or better than expected (e.g. quicker service), that such an occurrence IS the norm and should ALWAYS be the case.

To me, tipping even when not necessarily called for by etiquette, is a matter of human decency that recognizes good service or past good service thanks to the competent efforts of one or more employees. It seems to me that in our society people tend to be quick to rip those who fail to meet expectations even when the individual being shredded is not the culprit, but the same individuals apparently are far less willing (incapable?) to call attention to positive outcomes. If some of you think that SA's and the like don't care or don't take notice of customers that bother with tokens of appreciation, think again.

EXACTLY... i can't even begin to tell you the heinosity i've witnessed while waiting in the service bay... and then people wonder why people who drive bmw's get bad reps, lol... even when things haven't gone accordingly, i've never had a fit, raised my voice, i just came to the understanding that someone somewhere (NOT my SA) messed up... in return for a few meals here and there, the occasional gift at appropriate times, this is what i get in return without me asking;

1) Valentines Day 2009, me and the gf are headed out of town early am, as soon as the car hits the freeway, car dies, another victim of the HPFP... it's saturday, service center here is closed, i text my SA, who on his day off, DRIVES 40 miles to the dealership from his home just to take the car into the bay, puts us in a loaner, and sends us on our way, all the while appologizing that nobody would be in until MONDAY to work on the car...

2) I left something under the passenger seat, someone went to move the seat, item threw the entire seat off the rail... took it in, SA advised me that if any coins or foreign objects were found, i would be charged... calls me a couple hours later to ask me if i'm missing my allen wrench set, lol... no charge, sends me on my way...

3) I accidently leave the ignition on just not the engine running... go into the office, come out 8 hours later, car is dead... SA has my vehicle towed in, calls me and tells me i'm an idiot for leaving ignition in the on position... no charge for anything...

i could keep going all day long, but i think you get the general idea... so you tell me, if the little bit of gratitude that i show my SA is deserved or worth spending a few dollars on?? don't think for a second that because they "service" our bmw's that they are beneath us or it is expected that they provide a superior level of service...

[STALKER]

Originally Posted by shoei

hold up... "those who do makes life more difficult for the rest of us?"
since when does my life actions have to cater to your needs?? if i chose to give my SA a gift for xmas / hanukkah etc, that's my choice, lol...

unless when people say "tip" they just mean straight cash... then i see your point... technically, they aren't allowed to receive cash...

HOWEVER, i am that guy who will go to vegas / atlantic city, and always for a nice "tip" that i slide the front desk person, i do get upgraded to a suite... it's just the way of life, fortunately or unfortunately...

I didnt say you can't give a gift for an occasion. That and tipping are two completely different things, but you are right, in certain circumstances its just the way it is. I still firmly believe that tipping in North America is getting out of hand.
Of coarse, you can do what you like, but when you start or participate in a trend that only benefits those that participate in that trend, then others lose out.
So if half the ppl tip a certain SA, and the others don't, guess who gets better service, even though they are not suppose to get "tips".

I guess we just have a difference in opinion, and I can respect that.

[M3V8Driver]

This thread ranks up there with some of the dumbest threads of all time on this forum. Why should Service Advisors be tipped for doing their job? They get paid a salary, unlike servers at restaurants. I work in Information Technology and nobody tips me to do my job, even though I do it extremely well. If you make friends with your SA and EXCHANGE gifts, that's one thing, but tipping?!? Ludicrous.

[Benjjman007]

As said before they can't take money... But they can take "gifts" (take it as you may)

Always a birthday present for my #1 SA. Around the holiday season my #1 SA, #2 SA, and the Service Manager get bottles of hard liquor. I take the loner car girls various things thru the year.

Sometimes I'll just stop by with a Peet's Coffee Carrier just to say hi.

Various "perks" but its more than just that. My family has been going to the same Dealer for at least the past 13 years. They have watched me grow up and have become friends.

Its more than a tip, even after being away for a year, I still got the same treatment as before. Besides who doesn't want another friend to talk about cars with?

Oh and the 10's and mentioning something about the SA on the Survey really help.

[Benjjman007]

Originally Posted by M3V8Driver

This thread ranks up there with some of the dumbest threads of all time on this forum. Why should Service Advisors be tipped for doing their job? They get paid a salary, unlike servers at restaurants. I work in Information Technology and nobody tips me to do my job, even though I do it extremely well. If you make friends with your SA and EXCHANGE gifts, that's one thing, but tipping?!? Ludicrous.

Its all about Customer Service. The SA and others have to be the face and voice for the dealership and BMWNA. Not the easiest task at all. Anyone who has worked in any area of customer service knows what it means when someone steps out from the pack. Even just a smile and a little conversation can make their day, making you stand out from the typical bimmer driver.

[drey]

"a big bottle of "Chopen" vodka and a jar of Black Caviar from Russia for SA ... in return, I always got express service, never appointment needed, always got foreman's attention... loaner car etc,."

You're sh$%$^%&g me, right?

I agree with the guy who said he only tips strippers...

Seriously, a good rule of thumb is to tip people well when they do a job which you would never want to do - cab driver, waiter, etc.

BMW SA? I should do so well - they're probably sending their kid to Stanford.

[quality_sound]

I like the Japanese approach. In Japan a tip is an insult because you're telling that person that they are not doing their job well and that they need to be paid better to do an acceptable job. Tipping in Japan is HIGHLY disrespectful, even in the restaurant industry.

I like that a lot. You get paid, do your job. Don't like it or want more money? Quit or work harder.

[LemonOne]

I only tip exotic dancers as well.

[Kensta335]

Originally Posted by M3V8Driver

This thread ranks up there with some of the dumbest threads of all time on this forum. Why should Service Advisors be tipped for doing their job? They get paid a salary, unlike servers at restaurants. I work in Information Technology and nobody tips me to do my job, even though I do it extremely well. If you make friends with your SA and EXCHANGE gifts, that's one thing, but tipping?!? Ludicrous.

+1

They are just doing their job. No need to tip. They also make a shit load of money off of commission.

[Schumacher]

They get huge commissions for selling you services and repairs you dont need. If you feel like giving, i would suggest to the homeless by way of a good charity.

People are hurting with not enough jobs.

[amlebede]

No. I am not a big fan of dealerships. I only really had bad experiences with them.