People frequently tip my BMW dealer courtesy van driver $5 or more. Am I a cheapskate for not tipping?

[BavarianPretzel]

People frequently tip my BMW dealer courtesy van driver $5 or more. Am I a cheapskate for not tipping?

I’ve seen it done frequently in the past.

The ride is only 2 miles to my house. I dropped off my car for warranty work this morning. (latest 11/2025 OTA bricked most functions and the center screen)

Shared the courtesy van with a lady who was in my neighborhood. She got off first and gave the driver a $5 bill. When I got out, I just politely thanked him. But as he was backing out of my driveway, I could swear that he was grumbling about something.

[maticCRO]

There is a topic on this subject, go look it out...

[johnnyg238]

they dont give you loaners?

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by johnnyg238

they dont give you loaners?

You have to fight tooth-and-nail with my dealer to get a loaner. It's a total PITA, and if there was another one a reasonable distance away I'd go there instead.

[ppointer]

Originally Posted by BavarianPretzel

People frequently tip my BMW dealer courtesy van driver $5 or more. Am I a cheapskate for not tipping?

I’ve seen it done frequently in the past.

The ride is only 2 miles to my house. I dropped off my car for warranty work this morning. (latest 11/2025 OTA bricked most functions and the center screen)

Shared the courtesy van with a lady who was in my neighborhood. She got off first and gave the driver a $5 bill. When I got out, I just politely thanked him. But as he was backing out of my driveway, I could swear that he was grumbling about something.

Yes, a tip is appropriate, in my opinion.

Thanks for posting about the OTA update. I am keeping that option turned off for the foreseeable future.

[Elderado82]

I've had zero issues with 11/2025 OTA. But yes, you should tip esp. if you live in Seattle from what I hear people like to shit in public.

[johnnyg238]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

You have to fight tooth-and-nail with my dealer to get a loaner. It's a total PITA, and if there was another one a reasonable distance away I'd go there instead.

Damn. Here I get loaners for routine oil changes.

[TimmyTurbos]

You're driving a BMW bro, tip the freaking guy or sit your ass in the waiting room, LOL

[Brandoch]

Tipping someone for doing their paid job, sounds sane and rational.

[TimmyTurbos]

Do you tip your Uber Driver? What's the difference here? Not only is it the holidays, you don't know this man's situation. You pay 4$+ for a damn gallon of gas and you can't throw a dude a fin that gives you a lift home bc you dont wanna walk or sit in a waiting room??? Sheesh.

[Jodedor]

Originally Posted by Brandoch

Tipping someone for doing their paid job, sounds sane and rational.

I got the dry humor

[allinon72]

I'm often conflicted because I like to reward people that have to work with the general population (been there), but at the same time the tipping thing has gotten completely out of control. Tipping should be a mechanism to reward exceptional service, not bolster someone's wages in lieu of their employer offering a decent wage (except those professions where it's understood that tips make up a large portion of their pay). The one time I got a ride home from the dealership (3 miles) it never crossed my mind to tip the guy.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by BavarianPretzel

People frequently tip my BMW dealer courtesy van driver $5 or more. Am I a cheapskate for not tipping?

Probably.

Do you tip in restaurants? After taxi/Uber rides?
Why not courtesy van drivers!?

IMHO,
a

[TimmyTurbos]

Originally Posted by allinon72

I'm often conflicted because I like to reward people that have to work with the general population (been there), but at the same time the tipping thing has gotten completely out of control. Tipping should be a mechanism to reward exceptional service, not bolster someone's wages in lieu of their employer offering a decent wage (except those professions where it's understood that tips make up a large portion of their pay). The one time I got a ride home from the dealership (3 miles) it never crossed my mind to tip the guy.

I 100% agree here..It is WAY out of hand now.. I'm definitely not the guy who tips everyone, everywhere, all the time..I compare this situation to a taxi or Uber type situation- where it's usually customary to tip a couple bucks. Guys let's be real, most of us here are fairly fortunate and can definitely spare $2-$5, especially around the holidays. I seriously doubt this guy parks the van at the end of the day and jumps in his M car for the ride home. Just sayin - you get back what you put out into this world. Be well my friends.

[Randall V]

The problem is the money is really going into the hands of the business owners.. They hire the employees at a lower rate promising tips, and then the employee is disappointed when the tips don't add up to the promise, and the customer is feeling conflicted tipping for a previously described "free" or courtesy shuttle. I think they should pay them a fair wage and charge for the courtesy shuttle with a clear no tip policy. done.... I would have no problem paying $5 for the shuttle if that was told in advance.

[ShocknAwe]

Tipping is out of control.

I think $5 is absurd for a ride in a "courtesy van" where this driver has done you zero favors or service above the mundane description of their job to drive you where you specify. Especially given this van is the mark of a poor level of service offered to you by a dealer doing this to save money. A loaner is standard of care. Courtesy van indeed.

Out of control. A fool is easily separated from his money. Excessive tipping adds up.

And yes I tip in restaurants, at the rate which was acceptable when I grew up based on presence and quality of service I receive.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by allinon72

I'm often conflicted because I like to reward people that have to work with the general population (been there), but at the same time the tipping thing has gotten completely out of control. Tipping should be a mechanism to reward exceptional service, not bolster someone's wages in lieu of their employer offering a decent wage (except those professions where it's understood that tips make up a large portion of their pay). The one time I got a ride home from the dealership (3 miles) it never crossed my mind to tip the guy.

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Tipping is out of control.

I think $5 is absurd for a ride in a "courtesy van" where this driver has done you zero favors or service above the mundane description of their job to drive you where you specify. Especially given this van is the mark of a poor level of service offered to you by a dealer doing this to save money. A loaner is standard of care. Courtesy van indeed.

Out of control. A fool is easily separated from his money. Excessive tipping adds up.

And yes I tip in restaurants, at the rate which was acceptable when I grew up based on presence and quality of service I receive.

Exactly my feelings. I tip when an actual service is provided and I tip according to the level of the service. The only hourly workers I’m aware of that are traditionally paid a lower hourly wage with the expectation of tips making up the difference are sit down restaurant servers and if they provide above average service I have no problem giving an above average tip, because it’s important to me to enjoy the experience when I eat out. If the service is average I give an average tip. And if the service is downright poor I have no problem leaving a tip that clearly conveys the ball was dropped. I don’t stiff servers, because I want them to know they were not just stiffed by a cheapskate. The reality is I don’t do too many things that involve tipped workers, but on the rare occasion I take a cab or an Uber I do tip there. My barber is the shop owner and I don’t tip him. It would never occur to me to tip a dealership courtesy van driver. I’m pretty confident those guys are paid a normal wage that isn’t based on it being subsidized by tips.

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by Randall V

The problem is the money is really going into the hands of the business owners.. They hire the employees at a lower rate promising tips, and then the employee is disappointed when the tips don't add up to the promise, and the customer is feeling conflicted tipping for a previously described "free" or courtesy shuttle. I think they should pay them a fair wage and charge for the courtesy shuttle with a clear no tip policy. done.... I would have no problem paying $5 for the shuttle if that was told in advance.

This is the biggest problem I have with it – it's just business owners putting their labor costs on my back so that they can further underpay employees. And the worst part is that it works.

My son took a job at Coldstone Creamery (stupidly expensive ice cream place). When he was interviewing, they told him that though they only pay minimum wage he'd make it up in tips, and boy howdy does he; his effective hourly wage can top $20/hour during their busy season, and around $17 during the Winter. It just amazes/disgusts me that this franchise owner is able to pay his employees minimum wage while letting his customers pay more than half of his labor costs on top of the insane profit on the ridiculously overpriced ice cream. And of course outside of the store's manager he has zero full-time employees, so no he's not paying for any benefits. Scummy, but genius.

Everyone expects a tip these day – I picked up some to-go sandwiches the other day and was presented with the tip screen on the payment terminal (that started at 20%, I might add). They literally handed me a bag with the sandwiches. That's it. And I should tip them why? The "but they only make..." argument doesn't really hold much water, either. If they're worth that extra $5 or whatever, perhaps the business owner should pay them what they're worth, no? Why are we okay with these guys screwing their employees as we happily make up the difference? I just don't get it.

To be clear, I'm not entirely anti-tipping. I always tip servers in restaurants, for example, because I know that they get completely screwed without them. But that's stupid too – just put the real cost of the meal on the menu and pay your staff a real wage. Why go through this whole Kabuki? But it's so embedded in the restaurant industry and tax code that I doubt it'll ever change.

I have similar problems with the increasing trend of vendors passing on their credit card processing fees to me and taxpayers subsidizing Walmart's billions in profits, but those are a different rants.

[mmm-five]

Originally Posted by afadeev

Probably.

Do you tip in restaurants? After taxi/Uber rides?
Why not courtesy van drivers!?

IMHO,
a

Do you tip your FedEx/UPS/Amazon delivery driver as well?

[zx10guy]

I agree this whole tipping thing has gotten way out of control. Business owners use this guilt trip to depress wages. But all of this tipping workers when traditionally they didn't get tipped stemmed from the beer bug. Yes. Many people forget about this. People were tipping workers that never got tipped because they made the effort to go into work despite all the fear mongering that was going on or choosing not to sit at home being paid to do nothing.

It's funny those that say we're fortunate enough to drive the vehicles we do and be in a space to afford to tip....so don't be cheap. Well, for me, I'm in the financial situation I'm in because every dollar that I spend...I track and take seriously.

But with that said, recently, I took my GF to a Christmas event. Afterwards, there was a hot chocolate stand where I ordered a hot chocolate for myself. GF didn't want one at the time. The nice lady at the counter saw my GF was with me and gave me an extra one on the house to give to my GF. I tipped the lady. Because she did something above and beyond and she didn't expect a tip.

[dosmildos]

I don’t think the OP was asking us to call him a cheapskate, but stimulated a discussion. He was successful. Thanks. Interesting reading and opinions. I haven’t asked for a van or taken an uber or a taxi in years so I don’t think about this. My amazon/fedex people are always different ones, I think. Hardly ever see their faces. How do you let them know you appreciate their service?

[peterfromsd]

I've never tipped a van/shuttle driver whenever my vehicles go in for service at the dealerships here in WA state and I know some of them fairly well. Some of them are frequent customers at my work and I talk to them whenever I get a chance.