[lexlopez]

Hi!

My SA has been really nice and understanding. He even let me get my tire of choice delivered to the dealership. And had me use the loaner for almost 5 days since there was a delay in shipment. I really appreciate it. Do you guys tip your SA? Was planning to give him maybe $50 Amazon GC or cash. I dunno…

Suggestions appreciated 😊

[Pauldunlop13]

You sure can

I never have…

[DanG]

Never have seen anyone tip a service advisor.

[Oldgixxer]

I always use the same SA,he takes care of me and I take care of him. Perhaps thats the reason why I always get a loaner and 90% of the time its another M,which has lately been an M8C. Or perhaps not

A $50 Visa gift card and a "lunch is on me" when he went out of his way awhile back has paid off in spades for some time now

Meanwhile,my BMW-owning neighbor who uses the same local dealership gets a clapped out 3 series or X1 every single time let alone an M8C,if a loaner is even available that is

[335i54n]

its usually gifts around the holidays for longtime relationships, imo good idea if ur gonna be under warranty/cpo for a bit

[lexlopez]

That’s what I’m thinking too bro bro. I’ve had tons of service advisors from my past cars and no one has been nice my current SA now. I will give him an Amazon GC I think would be great!

[Westside Guy]

I tip my SA $20 everytime he takes care of me. I also drop off a really good Cabernet Sauvignon for Thanksgiving as I know he appreciates a good red wine. In return his outstanding service is even more outstanding!!!

[BIGW0RM]

I give my SA 20 bucks every single time I see him. This is a cheap insurance policy IMO.

Doing this has helped me a few times now. For example, I scratched (broke hand, cast scratched leather) my m performance streering wheel on my old F80 M3. It was my fault. I didnt even bother asking them for help on it. Dropped my car off for an oil change and it came out with a brand new steering wheel.

They seem to just be more attentive to your needs when you tip them. At least thats my experience.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Tipping is so weird.

[Hit_Apex]

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

Tipping is so weird.

Agree, but it has crept into our culture and it doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Check this out, I was on a website recently looking to buy a part for my Jeep. It is a small company that probably uses Shopify or similar eCommerce provider who have now integrated tipping into their storefronts. It literally said "our production team works hard for you, please consider tipping them". I was so turned off I bought the part somewhere else. Many restaurants are now adding a sustainability fee to your bill and they go out of their way to inform on the menu that it does not go to staff as a tip - that is separate. They don't tell where the fee goes or why they can't just price accordingly. Huge backlash on the way. Stop it people, enough already.

[Efthreeoh]

So how do you make this tip? Use the 'ole $20-bill-in-the-palm-of-your-hand trick when you shake hands? Do you tip on the amount of the service? That would seem counterintuitive. Is this a protection payment to fend off up-selling of services?

Interesting.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

So how do you make this tip? Use the 'ole $20-bill-in-the-palm-of-your-hand trick when you shake hands? Do you tip on the amount of the service? That would seem counterintuitive. Is this a protection payment to fend off up-selling of services?

Interesting.

The $20 bill in the palm of my hand is may preferred method of delivery. My $20 tip remains the same no matter how small or big the service is.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

Tipping is so weird.

Perhaps it is a cultural thing?

[XutvJet]

BMW advisors make good money and a large portion of their pay is largely based on what they can sell you. Keep that in mind. Of course they'll be nice, helpful, acting like they're looking out for you, sometimes getting something done for free....with the hopes that they can convince you to buy other services over the long term. I'm not saying any of this is wrong, but these people typically have $60K base salaries plus commissions. Some of the good ones are making well in excess of $150K. I know $100K-150K/yr seems like peanuts to most on a BMW forum (we all make $400K+/yr, right?), but for the common folks, that's good money. Why tip someone for something like this. It's their job to do an excellent job and they get paid well for it.

[xander_g]

Originally Posted by BIGW0RM

I give my SA 20 bucks every single time I see him. This is a cheap insurance policy IMO.

Doing this has helped me a few times now. For example, I scratched (broke hand, cast scratched leather) my m performance streering wheel on my old F80 M3. It was my fault. I didnt even bother asking them for help on it. Dropped my car off for an oil change and it came out with a brand new steering wheel.

They seem to just be more attentive to your needs when you tip them. At least thats my experience.

Some people go as far as befriending and tipping their shop foreman who will often be willing to look the other way when modded cars come in for warranty work.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

BMW advisors make good money and a large portion of their pay is largely based on what they can sell you. Keep that in mind. Of course they'll be nice, helpful, acting like they're looking out for you, sometimes getting something done for free....with the hopes that they can convince you to buy other services over the long term. I'm not saying any of this is wrong, but these people typically have $60K base salaries plus commissions. Some of the good ones are making well in excess of $150K. I know $100K-150K/yr seems like peanuts to most on a BMW forum (we all make $400K+/yr, right?), but for the common folks, that's good money. Why tip someone for something like this. It's their job to do an excellent job and they get paid well for it.

Exactly. Perfectly said.

[Our03z4]

I'm not in the same line of work but I think we all can agree it's nice to be appreciated. Just yesterday one of my customers gave me a bag of Easter candy they hand made for me, they do it every year. Do I value them more? Absolutely! People like that show they value me not only as a service provider but also as a person. I already bend over backwards for all of my customers but will a little more for them and others who show they care. Just human nature.

[Our03z4]

I would like to comment about the post above my previous one. I'm well compensated too but I still appreciate when someone show they appreciate what I do. Am I there to sell them product and service of course, but it still is nice. Does it potentially change outcomes for how they'll be treated, yes. My schedule may allow those people to be squeezed in on short notice or even I might not charge for a product.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

BMW advisors make good money and a large portion of their pay is largely based on what they can sell you. Keep that in mind. Of course they'll be nice, helpful, acting like they're looking out for you, sometimes getting something done for free....with the hopes that they can convince you to buy other services over the long term. I'm not saying any of this is wrong, but these people typically have $60K base salaries plus commissions. Some of the good ones are making well in excess of $150K. I know $100K-150K/yr seems like peanuts to most on a BMW forum (we all make $400K+/yr, right?), but for the common folks, that's good money. Why tip someone for something like this. It's their job to do an excellent job and they get paid well for it.

We will have to agree to disagree about tipping. Just because someone makes a nice salary doesn't mean that one can't show their appreciation with an additional gratuity.

At the end of the day all that this means is that I have selected a different road than you to travel on.

[Efthreeoh]

I see an SA every 5 years or so when BMW issues a recall . So no need to tip someone I see just once. Now, I'd tip if they'd keep the Tech from sending me a stupid video of all the stuff they want to upsell me.

[scotes]

I hadn't really seen SA's as a straight up sales job but then I came across the r/serviceadvisors subreddit. After browsing through there you might rethink your tipping strategy...

[Oldgixxer]

Originally Posted by scotes

I hadn't really seen SA's as a straight up sales job but then I came across the r/serviceadvisors subreddit. After browsing through there you might rethink your tipping strategy...

I always lease,so the service performed at the dealer is scheduled maintenance or under warranty so the SA isn't selling me anything. At least thats how its been since our 1st BMW in '97. I stand by my original reply