Many car owners go to Jiffy Lube for oil changes. Having more than 2000 shops in various locations all over the country, Jiffy Lube is the number one go-to choice for vehicle maintenance services.
Jiffy Lube employs mechanics who perform the oil and oil filter changes in their shops. If you visit one of these shops, you may feel obliged to tip the technicians.
In this article, we will discuss whether you should or shouldn’t tip at Jiffy Lube and other relevant details about tipping and Jiffy Lube in general.
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So Should I Tip the Mechanics at Jiffy Lube?
Even though the idea of whether you should or shouldn’t tip is made in seconds, there are a lot of factors that come into play.
Tipping is more of a behavioral kind of thing. Some people enjoy tipping, and others do not so much. You should be able to know where you fall under this category.
Tipping the mechanics at Jiffy Lube is a great choice. Tips mean a lot to let alone mechanics but to everyone who offers a service.
You would feel good if someone tipped you after working for them? That’s precisely how Jiffy Lube mechanics feel when you tip them.
But, it is not a must for you to tip them. These guys earn a decent wage from Jiffy Lube, and they can do just fine without your tips.
Therefore, you shouldn’t feel forced to do it. Tipping is something that should come from your heart.
Understandably, deciding whether you should or shouldn’t tip can be difficult for some of us. That’s why we compiled this article. We will educate you on why you should or shouldn’t tip at Jiffy Lube.
Why Do People Tip Mechanics?
Tipping mechanics has become a custom in today’s society. Growing up, you may have seen your parents tip the mechanics after an oil change.
You may have acquired this habit, and now your kids see you do the same. Can you see how this has become customary?
Anyway, people tip mechanics as a token of appreciation for a well-done job. But, do these guys earn a salary? Well, that’s true, and it’s why tipping isn’t a must.
If a mechanic asks for a tip, you have the choice to decline politely, and there is nothing wrong with that.
The thing about tipping nowadays is that some people have commercialized it. Who can blame them? We are living in tough economic times.
If you are known at your local Jiffy Lube as a good tipper, you are more likely to get preferential treatment and slightly better service than other customers.
Tips put a smile on a mechanic’s face. This will encourage them to offer special care when handling your vehicle. Next time, they may even go the extra mile and inspect more than oil and oil filters.
The bottom line is, that a lot of car owners who tip mechanics do so out of the goodness of their hearts. Some do it to get special treatment. The choice of whether to tip or not solely lies with the customer.
When Should I Tip at Jiffy Lube?
Certain scenarios make you feel that this mechanic deserves a tip. This differs from one person to another. However, here are scenarios when you may consider tipping the mechanics at Jiffy Lube;
1. If they treat you very well. Immediately you walk into Jiffy Lube. You can gauge the level of treatment you will get from a mechanic by reading their personality.
Have you ever met those mechanics who are always in a bad mood and don’t even want to listen to your opinions? You should never tip such individuals. However, if a mechanic treats you and your car with special attention, feel free to tip them.
2. The second scenario where you should tip mechanics is when you often go to the same Jiffy Lube. At your local Jiffy Lube, mechanics will be fighting to work on your car once you are known as the tipping customer.
Everyone will try to treat you well and offer a decent service so that you can choose them every time you go for oil changes.
3. Finally, you should only tip when you have the extra cash. Never tip a mechanic using money that you had budgeted for other services. If you have some spare cash, you can use some as a tip.
You shouldn’t inconvenience yourself because of a tip. If the technician asks, you can joke about how tough times are these days. This always works when paired up with a fake laugh.
Above are ideal scenarios on when you should tip. But, it’s not a must for you to tip when you find yourself in such a scenario.
There are times when you may be in the mood to tip, and at other times, you want to get done with the oil change and head home.
How Much Should I Tip at Jiffy Lube?
The amount commonly used as a tip at Jiffy Lube is $5. Most mechanics are even used to getting only $5 worth of tips they will be shocked when you give them more.
If you are generous and want to tip more, then you can increase the amount to $20 or $30. $50 is a bit on the higher side.
Most mechanics at Jiffy Lube will appreciate any amount you give them. After all, this money isn’t in their salary. Therefore they have every reason to be contented.
If you have been treated exceptionally well, then you can tip around $10 to $15.
On special occasions, you can tip the entire crew $5. Also, when tipping, always give the money to the one who was working on your car.
If you give a colleague, the money may not reach the mechanic, or they may feel the need to share it with their friends. Once your car has been serviced, identify the guy who did the oil change and tip them.
When You Should Not Tip at Jiffy Lube
There are scenarios where tipping isn’t the ideal choice. Examples of such scenarios include;
- When you have no money.
We have already discussed why you shouldn’t tip if you have no money. But, allow us to emphasize one more time. Never go out of your way to tip if you don’t have spare cash. It doesn’t make sense for you to pay more, yet you have nothing.
- The second reason why you shouldn’t tip is when the mechanic is the owner.
In a mechanic shop, the cost of the oil change leaves a considerable amount of profit to the owner. Mechanics are only paid a fraction of the commission.
If the owner is your mechanic today, they have already earned a good amount of money from you and shouldn’t be tipped. When you tip an employed mechanic, the funds go directly into his pockets. This can complement the hourly wage they receive.
- If the shop has a no-tipping policy.
Some mechanic shops believe that tips affect service delivery. They may come up with a no-tipping policy. You need to respect these policies and not offer any tips.
In coming up with such a policy, the owner had their reasons. And if you tip the mechanics, it can land them in trouble. Please refrain from doing so.
- When the mechanic portrays unprofessional behavior.
There are a bunch of things we can consider unprofessional behavior. One, if a mechanic leaves a mess and fails to clean it up, that’s wrong.
Secondly, if they are rude when offering the services, that should disqualify them as tipping candidates. As mentioned earlier, tipping is more of showing appreciation. Would you appreciate an unprofessional technician?
What Do Mechanics at Jiffy Lube Think about Tips?
Before you can even tip someone, you must ask yourself, do these guys want these tips in the first place? First and foremost, everyone loves getting free money. Therefore, there is no way your mechanic will deny a tip.
However, regarding oil changes. This is often an easy task you can do by yourself as long as you have the right tools and knowledge.
Mechanics perceive this job as simple and don’t expect tips. When working on complex car issues, that’s when a mechanic may feel like they deserve a tip.
A mechanic’s average hourly wage is around $15 to $20.
This also depends on the level of experience. Some earn as little as $10 per hour. Therefore, when you give them a $5 tip for an oil change that takes minutes, it can increase their daily income. Also, when you are referred to as the good tipper, you will always get special treatment.