How much to tip the guy who hand dries you car at the car washes? (1 Viewer)

[Carlo_M]

I was just at a car wash today. I got the premium wash, which was normally $13.99 but I had a coupon for $9.99. The guy who finishes the car--by this I mean does the drying, windows and tires, no hand wax--took about 10 minutes for the job, diligently working the whole time. I tipped him $3 but I have no idea if this is appropriate.
Does this sound right? What would you guys tip?

 

[MikeAlletto]

I always say tip them what you think they deserve. I give them between 3-5 bucks depending upon how fast and friendly they are.

 

[Jay W]

$2-3 bucks usually is my go at the hand car wash
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[Bill Catherall]

By the way, just so everyone knows. That tip goes to everyone that works at the car wash. The guy that does the drying will put the tip into a pot that everyone splits. At least that's the way it was explained to me at one of the hand car washes I used to frequent. That way the guy that did a good job washing off the bird poop, or the guy that vacuumed out all the dirt also gets a piece of the tip.
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Bill

 

[Scott Merryfield]

$14 for a car wash?!!

And I thought I paid a lot at $5 a wash (no hand drying, though -- just a big blow dryer).
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[Ryan Wright]

$14 for a car wash?!!

No kidding. I had a similar reaction. I pay $2, get out, and use the little wand myself. I then get on the freeway and dry it off at a high rate of speed. Works pretty well.
Sometimes I treat myself to a $5 automatic wash...

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-Ryan (http://www.ryanwright.com )
Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes.
That way, when you do criticize them, you'll be a mile away and you'll have their shoes.

 

[Aurel Savin]

My car wash is about $5 ... three or four guys attack the Riviera to dry it ... I leave a buck in the tip box ... The whole process takes 10 minutes.
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[Clinton McClure]

I hand wash, chamois dry, & detail mine myself, usually once a week. I wax it by hand every 3 months. I'm just really anal about my car.

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[Joel Mack]

Dang, I had no idea I was Mr. Moneybags, here.

I routinely drop $20 for a wash and tip $5...
Call me "sucker". Everyone else does... Link Removed
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[Mark Lee]

You guys have to take into account that this is LA -- a car is your second home (maybe even your first home in some cases....). When hordes of people pay for regular $100.00 detailing jobs for their Bimmers and Benzos around here, a $15 car wash don't look so bad....
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Mark K. Lee
"Life is like a sewer -- what you get out of it, depends on what you put into it."
- Tom Lehrer

 

[Carlo_M]

Yes, it's a lot. The $14 wash is for 100% hand wash/dry, no machine scrubbers touch your finish. They do have a $6.99 version that they don't do so much interior/tire/sealer wax stuff, but I figured since I had the $9.99 coupon for the step up, why not spring the extra $3?
Also, I would always do the car wash myself...except this is West L.A. and no one has a lawn or driveway unless you're rich. And there aren't any of those do-it-yourself stations that I've seen. My apartment complex strictly prohibits car washing or repair in the underground parking lot.

 

[Brian Perry]

$2
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[Bruce Hedtke]

This must be a west coast thing, because here: A) I've never tipped for my car wash and B) I've never seen anyone else tip.
Bruce
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[Craig]

I usually tip $3. Here in Atlanta (N. Druid Hills & Buford) it's $14.99, and they send the car through an automatic carwash. The $15 includes vacuuming the interior first, wash and the spray on wax during the auto wash, hand cleaning the interior windows, dash, etc and hand drying the car.

 

[Ron-P]

I wash my car in my driveway.
I wish we would adopt Japans policy on tips. They take it as an insult if you tip them.
Peace Out~

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[AaronNWilson]

Yeah tipping totally sucks, whoever invented standardized tipping should be pointed towards the closest firing range.
When I lived in Ireland tipping was definitely not the norm but then you would get the occasional person who liked to always tip and then they would just drop a load of cash for a tip and I guess this makes up for everyone else.
Aaron

 

[Mark Lee]

A lot of Mr. Pinks here....
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Mark K. Lee
"Life is like a sewer -- what you get out of it, depends on what you put into it."
- Tom Lehrer