Do you tip your mechanic?

[yvesg]

Hi guys,

Since I acquired the aircraft, I used my local shop for the annual and just before that some upgrades that were overdue and required before painting it. I don't recall the exact costs involved as I write this however both events were several thousands. The shop I use is not an MSC and I recall hearing in the past that Mooneys are a pain in the butt to work on... etc.

The maintenance lead (who is not owner of the shop) has a few individuals under him and in November, after I got very good service from him and another individual I elected to give each of them $50 tip. This looked like a surprise to him , that I did not have to do this however in my opinion, a $100 extra on several thousands will not matter much. At last annual, I gave the lead two $50 bills... one for him and I said, please reward the best worker you have on your team... but don't split it (This way, he decides who gets it which is the best way for him to feel in control and get the respect from his workers)

I would like to ear comments on this.

If the maintenance lead would be the shop owner, I would probably not tip the owner but have him decide who gets it.

I believe that this way of providing rewards does increase motivation for the individuals to work on the Mooney right?

Yves

[Scott Aviation]

I'm assuming that your trying to avoid the mechanics spitting down your dip stick shaft or peeing in your gas tanks

Pilots are generally extremely cheap, nice gesture but definitely not the norm.

[N601RX]

I always buy my IA/CFI (Same Person) lunch anytime we go flying or he comes over to help with something.

[TTaylor]

I have not tipped directly, but I do believe in treating mechanics well. My main mechanic works for the local FBO so I am sure he does not make as much as he should of the hourly shop rate. I have given him cash directly when he has helped on projects that were not directly billable through the FBO. I know many of us also buy lunch when the opportunity arises. Especially if you are working in the shop for extended periods like an owner assisted annual or major project.

As far as motivation goes I feel that over the years my mechanic has gone out of his way to help when needed and I find that when I need a preheat or plane prep'ed for a trip it is often done without asking. We "wouldn't fly without them" is the approach I have always had.

[DrBill]

My mechanics have always been on their own. So in the past I've usually given them either cash ($20 or $50) depending on the job or in the last case, it was a husband and wife team that did my prebuy and annual for 2 years, I always gave them a $50 gift certificate to Olive Garden which I knew they both liked.

They have moved on, (he tends his folks farm now in E Tn) but we are still in touch via Facebook.  If they were part of a bigger business, I don't think I'd do that.  Their shop rate covers all the O/H and then some.

 

BILL

[John Pleisse]

You don't tip them. They have a job to do and a ticket to protect, just like you. Pay them what they want, bring donuts to the shop, but call them on the carpet if they do bad work. They aren't waiters, they are people who trained for over 2000 hours, just to earn their license, then thousands more before they probably learned what to do on any plane other than a rental line Cessna. They work hard, don't make much and are very proud of what they do. If they are a good shop, tell them so, spread the word, pay them well and look them bold faced in the eye and tell them your kids will be flying in that plane. IMHO, this is the best way to maintain a mutually respectful relationship.

I'd stick with lunch, gifts, hockey tickets and thoughtful gestures.

 

Best piece of advice? Never screw an IA/A&P/ or shop. There are very few of these professionals left and they all know and respect each other as well as pilots who are fair, reasonable and financially able.

 

Believe me, I have done everything wrong, at least once.

[chrisk]

I brought donuts when I picked up my plane from the last annual!  All in the shop seemed to appreciate it.

[rockydoc]

Do you tip your urologist also?  After all, he's one person that you want to be on your side!   lol

[Riq]

I tipped $150 plus a case of patron to my mechanic at annual. I need him to work on my cherokee in another town so it was more of a bribe.

[fantom]

Of course I tip my mechanic

 

[FAST FLIGHT OPTIONS LLC]

Tip the mechanic who ordered three tires from aircraft spruce for me just like I could have and marked them up 30% for making the call?

[Mooneymite]

Generally, one does not tip a professional.

Tipping a mechanic would be appropriate if he did you a personal favor, but not for professional services rendered (and billed for).

[Alan Fox]

Tip the mechanic who ordered three tires from aircraft spruce for me just like I could have and marked them up 30% for making the call?

Could you install them? Can you sign off an annual????  If there is a problem with those tires , than he is the one who has to deal with it.....and 30% is a relatively small markup.......when the local mechanic goes out of buisness because everybody wanted to chop him on the parts , and worse yet his rate , than you are stuck with the big shops....and they dont work on a 30% margin...... Pay him what he asks , dont bitch where he can hear it or it will get back to him , and be thankful that because of him you can afford to own an aircraft , instead of being a renter..........   My A&P gets his and his familys cars fixed at my shop for free , I pay for the parts , and when I fix my plane , he signs it off , and he still gets a hundred from me every he picks up a pen..... I feel pretty lucky to have him...

[DonMuncy]

My A&P gets his and his familys cars fixed at my shop for free , I pay for the parts , and when I fix my plane , he signs it off , and he still gets a hundred from me every he picks up a pen..... I feel pretty lucky to have him...

Maybe there is some more to this than you are telling, but from what you wrote, your A&P gets multiple cars repaired free and $100 every time he signs off on your work. The only thing he is having to do is assume liability for your work.

I wish I had an A&P license and a hundred guys like you. I would buy a good liability insurance policy and everything is good.

[carusoam]

Coffee and donuts each day while working on the annual. Relationship building while the mechanics were teaching me a few basic things... What to clean, how to clean, what tools I should get from the snap-on truck. What SS fasteners to buy for the next annual...

Same thing I would do for mechanics and engineers at work. All in the name of relationship building...

Best regards,

-a-

[Alan Fox]

Maybe there is some more to this than you are telling, but from what you wrote, your A&P gets multiple cars repaired free and $100 every time he signs off on your work. The only thing he is having to do is assume liability for your work.

I wish I had an A&P license and a hundred guys like you. I would buy a good liability insurance policy and everything is good.

My A&P eeks out a living , he is way too nice a guy and people take advantage of him....When he throws in his wrench for the last time , a fair amount of these guys are going to be renters because his type is becoming a thing of the past.....If you are lucky enough to have a guy like this , treat him like gold.....There is nothing "more" than I am telling , Most people that fly a Bonanza or Mooney are paying 4 to 7 K for an annual on average.....That would put my Aviation budget over 20 K per year for the pair........More money than I could ever justify for a "hobby"   If I had a license I would not sign off anyones work , no matter how good they were , So I appreciate him even more than the next guy........ 

[AndyFromCB]

Depends, I tip the line guys at my home airport. Every now and then, I slip them a 20. Then around Christmas, I tip them around $100 each. But, I ask for my airplane to be pulled out, fueled, windshield cleaned all the time via phone and I drop the airplane off in front of the FBO all the time too and then just go home. They put it away. I don't have time to deal with my hangar anymore. I barely have time to fly other than going places, too.

 

As to my mechanic, it's a bit different. I respect them, don't argue about bills, I know how hard the work is, I've done quite a lot of myself in the past. I know how it feels to spend time behind the panel upside down. So instead of money, I actually try to understand what the guys like. I buy gift certificates, beer, sometimes order them a lunch. Goes farther than money and I always get great treatment from Ron and their crew here at  KCBF. We've had our pissing matches too, with the engine mount and stuff. I truly respect these guys, treat them like professionals they are and understand the actually don't bill enough.

[Joe Zuffoletto]

I've never tipped my mechanics or avionics gurus, but I've written strong letters of testimonial for both that are proudly displayed in their offices!

[FAST FLIGHT OPTIONS LLC]

Could you install them? Can you sign off an annual???? If there is a problem with those tires , than he is the one who has to deal with it.....and 30% is a relatively small markup.......when the local mechanic goes out of buisness because everybody wanted to chop him on the parts , and worse yet his rate , than you are stuck with the big shops....and they dont work on a 30% margin...... Pay him what he asks , dont bitch where he can hear it or it will get back to him , and be thankful that because of him you can afford to own an aircraft , instead of being a renter.......... My A&P gets his and his familys cars fixed at my shop for free , I pay for the parts , and when I fix my plane , he signs it off , and he still gets a hundred from me every he picks up a pen..... I feel pretty lucky to have him...

[FAST FLIGHT OPTIONS LLC]

Sounds like your drawing a correlation which does not exist between what your mechanic does for you and what someone charged me in St.Augustine.

[danb35]

I don't tip my mechanic.  I work with him as much as I can (both to save money and to learn the ins and outs of the plane), and I make a point of paying his bill, right away, without complaining.  I haven't seen him mark up parts, but I usually bring my own parts anyway, and he's fine with that.

[marks]

$100 in a Christmas card, but he has also adjusted an invoice downward by more than that when an honest guess on his part turned out wrong.  We have been getting along great for 22 years.

[AmigOne]

"Could you install them? Can you sign off an annual???? If there is a problem with those tires , than he is the one who has to deal with it.....and 30% is a relatively small markup.......when the local mechanic goes out of buisness because everybody wanted to chop him on the parts , and worse yet his rate , than you are stuck with the big shops....and they dont work on a 30% margin"

A very poor argument. It is obvious that even if he could install them he can't sign them off. We all have different budgets and we have to do what is necessary to keep flying. Personally I think that 30% x 3 is too much and will not criticize somebody trying to save some money. Besides if I order them and one goes bad and has to be removed then I'm stuck with the new bill because I would not expect that he will do it for free.

As to another comment that Bonanza and Mooney owners pay an average of between 4-7K for an annual I think that this estimate is way, way off. Also lets make sure we don'

t include in annuals (the garden variety) labor costs needed if having to comply with some expensive AD. Maybe some late model Bonanzas and Mooneys have expensive annuals but at least for Mooneys I think that for every expensive one there 50 or more in the $2K+ range. I have owned 3 Mooneys, one twin Comanche and one Cessna 310 and have never paid that kind of money.

[danb35]

It is obvious that even if he could install them he can't sign them off.

Actually, changing tires is approved preventative maintenance, so yes, the owner could do that work and sign it off himself.  On the issue of the surcharge, if you will, I honestly don't quite get it.  Sure, if the shop stocks these parts, they have some carrying costs, shelf space, money tied up in inventory, etc.  If they order the parts for me, they don't have the inventory costs, but there's still their time in placing the order, whatever they're paying in shipping, etc.  If I bring them a part, though, it costs nothing.  OTOH, if the part I provided fails, that's on me, and I should expect to pay for them to replace or repair it.  If a shop-supplied part fails, that should be on the shop, and I'd expect them to make it right at their expense.

 

As I see it, a shop's labor rate should cover their work, such that they shouldn't need to make a profit on parts.  Clearly, though, not all shops see things that way.  Most auto shops, in my experience, have no interest in working with owner-provided parts; most A&Ps I've worked with have been fine with it.

[AmigOne]

Since most owner preventive maintenance items allowed by the rules do not require any special tools, I always thought that changing tires was not included since a jack ( how about balancing equipment on larger tires?) is needed and most of us do own one. Although my current Mooney came with a pair of jacks, I just checked this article on web http://www.skytreads.com/mounting.htmsome and I think I'll continue to let my mechanic do it since most of times it can be performed in conjunction with the annual. Besides there is another issue, the calendar, I'm getting to old for this kind of effort but it is useful to know that I could do it if I had

to. Thanks.