Tipping BMW service advisor

[omasou]

Originally Posted by No one

At BMW they want me to rank their service when receiving the key, before I've even seen the car which is nonsense! Especially if I didn't watch them work on it and have to trust them.

Seems sketchy to me...if they are trying to control their reviews like that...it might be time to find a new BMW dealer.

I've always received an email or text.

[DanG]

Originally Posted by ///MPhatic

I never even considered tipping my advisor. Must be a different demographic. I have also only been to my dealer a few times, and won't be going back.

I have used the same service advisor for over ten years. Always have gotten excellent service. And with the $225 four oil changes it is hard not to use them. (States 3 years of oil changes, Buy it on day one of needing an oil change and come back 3 times before the day of day one).

P.S. Never have tipped him.

[cooolone2]

Tipping for doing your job? Nah...

I had been offered tips or appreciation when I worked and always turned it down. Professing appreciation for the thought. But when pushed told the person a letter to my boss or corporate on my behalf about their satisfaction was worth more than Gold! And a few actually did just that.

Jobs that work for tips, different story... But the entire tipping culture here in the U.S. is out of control so I've been a bit resistant to it lately. I'm not tipping a worker at the bakery counter, or likewise. Do your job, when the register shows what tip % you want to give when ringing up, I select ZERO! And I'm not apologetic about it either. Is what it is...

[No one]

Originally Posted by omasou

Seems sketchy to me...

Of course it is! Last time I couldn't set my star mark on the paper the advisor offered as it did not say to evaluate my experience with him, particularly, just the service. I've no doubt he took the liberty to do it himself then. I found my passenger seat stained with dirt. Luckily I managed to wash it off, but not that easily: a wet paper towel didn't do it but a wet (alcohol based?) cleaning cloth did.

Originally Posted by omasou

it might be time to find a new BMW dealer.

The choice is limited. There was a reason why I chose to buy the car from another dealer and had the car serviced/repaired there since even though they are much farther. But the last time they diverted me from themselves by trying to dig even deeper into my personal data, creating a serious scam vulnerability, than these do, referring to a law they hadn't read and hoped I hadn't either. To me (I read many reviews) these are criminals, those are rednecks and the others (I visited some briefly when choosing where to order the car) aren't more attractive.

Originally Posted by omasou

I've always received an email or text.

They used to call the next day but they couldn't reach me (only once, perhaps) as I don't use the phone even when I have plenty to say. Lately they turned to sending survey links from the local BMW representative and they push my review to the service.

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by DanG

I have3 used the same service advisor for over ten years. Always have gotten excellent service. And with the $225 four oil changes it is hard not to use them. (States 3 years of oil changes, Buy it on day one of needing an oil change and come back 3 times before the day of day one).

P.S. Never have tipped him.

Yeah, that's a great deal, it costs me nearly that much to do it myself, and I buy oil when the price is right.

My issue with all dealers is that they aren't particular enough for me. I find something they did wrong almost every time. And with this car in particular my dealer is 135 miles away.

[DanG]

Originally Posted by ///MPhatic

Yeah, that's a great deal, it costs me nearly that much to do it myself, and I buy oil when the price is right.

My issue with all dealers is that they aren't particular enough for me. I find something they did wrong almost every time. And with this car in particular my dealer is 135 miles away.

There are four dealers in my area and I will only take my car to one of them. The rest are inconsistent in their quality of service. So it seems that BMW doesn’t hold their dealers to a high standard of quality. It depends on the individual dealer to enforce quality standards.

[snareman]

I've never once even remotely considered tipping anyone at my dealership. Not even close. In fact there have been many times where I'd like to deduct some money from their pay.

[Efthreeoh]

I tip my barber.

and

At Christmastime, I tip the guy who cleans out my sceptic tank, because that literally is a shitty job.

[eliphil]

I have taken care of several service advisors over the years when they show they care. My dad was way ahead of his time in the 80s giving them tickets for free loaners before it became common at us dealers

[OCRick82]

I would. I find that if you take care of those that take care of you,you are better taken care of. I’m not saying that only tippers should be treated well,but sometimes you need that extra mile provided by a history of taking care of those that take care of you. Mighty redundant,sorry 🤣

I even tip the Amazon delivery folks,not big tips,but 5 bucks or so. Your SA will most definitely appreciate it.

[Westside Guy]

This tipping discussion reminds me of the famous quote from George Orwell’s Animal Farm.

“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

I am not saying it is right or wrong but I definitely see a return on my small investment. It might not be important to some of you but little things like getting a really nice loaner car without making an appointment way in advance, having a repair that should be “out of pocket” covered, etc. are important to me.

You can argue that this shouldn’t happen and all customers should be treated the same but in reality it does and I like being one of those “more equal” people.

[Oldgixxer]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

This tipping discussion reminds me of the famous quote from George Orwell’s Animal Farm.

“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

I am not saying it is right or wrong but I definitely see a return on my small investment. It might not be important to some of you but little things like getting a really nice loaner car without making an appointment way in advance, having a repair that should be “out of pocket” covered, etc. are important to me.

You can argue that this shouldn’t happen and all customers should be treated the same but in reality it does and I like being one of those “more equal” people.

Agreed
Had the M8 for 6 days a few months back when there was an issue w the wifeys convertible top and a part needed to be sent from Germany. My SA handed me the keys and said "have fun!"

[DanG]

Hmm. I find that having a personal relation ship with the service advisor is all that is needed. He knows who I am and he thinks my car looks and sounds great.

BMW Seattle is a little different with Service Advisors working 3 12 hour shifts. So I make sure I signup online one a day he works and signup as his client.

So far I have only seen him at work about once a year. BMWCCA and BMW Seattle cosponser a Cars and Coffee about twice a year. My advisor does show up for those events and I make sure we say hello.

[snareman]

Originally Posted by Oldgixxer

Agreed
Had the M8 for 6 days a few months back when there was an issue w the wifeys convertible top and a part needed to be sent from Germany. My SA handed me the keys and said "have fun!"

Your dealer has much nicer loaners than mine does. I don't usually take them because I have them pick up my car and I have a second car, but if I'm given them, it's often something along the lines of a 340, or an X2 or occasionally even Volvo.

[///M TOWN]

Tipping is absolutely ridiculous now

No tipping, just a thank you goes a long ways

Maybe give them a $10 Starbucks Card if you really feel the need to

[willyp]

Always...

[Mike F.]

Call me old school, but in my mind, tipping is done to make up for a salary that is well below par. Professional restaurant servers in the US are paid a relatively low wage with the expectation that they can improve that wage with tips that are reflective of the quality of service they provide customers. So, for instance, I don't tip in situations in which the level of service can't really be improved - say, counter service at a fast food restaurant or when someone pours me a coffee at Starbucks. And I don't tip in situations in which I believe the person serving me is making a good amount of money. SAs would certainly qualify there. That said, if I am getting my car serviced to the point that I get to know a particular SA, prefer that one over others, and really appreciate what that person does for me, then I will see if I can develop something of a more personal relationship with him or her. If I find out they like wine or baseball, then I might get them a bottle of good wine or a couple of nice (minor league here) baseball tickets once a year or so. No question that money can get you preferable treatment from some people, but a gift that someone really likes enhances the personal relationship and that will get you much more in the long run.

That's just me, though.

[Efthreeoh]

I saved all the money I'd have tripped SA's over the years and built my own shop with a bitchin' set of tools.

[MADBMWX5MC]

^Funny right there...

[Ximian]

Wouldn't ever consider a tip but I have given small gifts to SAs that have gone "above and beyond." It was after the fact rather than a bribe.

I've also had different advisors almost each time since the ones I like leave to go work elsewhere. Wonder what that means...

[BeEmVe]

Tipping in the US is out of control.

I have never tipped my SA for any of my vehicles. I have given my Toyota SA a gift of a bottle really good Belgian beer to show my appreciation.

I will add the following, during the initial free service periods at BMW we received surveys basically stating if we could not give 5/5 they did not do their jobs. I called BS on that as well as any survey I get like that.


You get a three just for doing the job right that is my expectation. If you screw up, you get 2 or 1. If you doing something beyond my expectation, you a 4 or a 5. But that is not how BMW thinks. I was told if their SA do not get a 5 they dinged. For the most, I quit doing such surveys.

[blockhead25]

Never would have thought about tipping.
2 things that I would think would be as good as gold to them:
1. Perfect scores on customer service survey
2. Sales referrals. Let them make some money on your friends and family.

I could see why tipping could be nice if establishing long relationship at near by dealer.