Normally I wash my car myself, but once in awhile I like to ‘pamper’ it at a full-scale car wash place. This is the kind of place where they run it through the machine and then have one or two people vacuum it, clean the windows and wipe everything down.
Now the place I used to go to all the time had a big tip stand outside where I assumed tips were pooled and collected. I would often put in $1-$3 into it, depending on what I had handy, and I once chastised the wife for not tipping the one time she brought her truck there.
The other day, however, I tried a new car wash place, very upscale ($50/month for unlimited car washes inside and out) with internet access while you wait. All hoity-toity, but they did a fantastic job with the cleaning. The valet who brought me to the car showed me what was done and I approved. I then gave him $3 and he acted somewhat befuddled, as though a) most folks don’t tip or b) most folks don’t tip so cheaply. I am leaning towards the former, but did not want to rule out the latter.
I hate being seen as a cheapskate, but is this inappropriate tipping? Keep in mind that the valet did not actually clean the car, but I had no idea which of the dozen or so folks actually did, nor would I really have a chance to run up to them to give them the money.
I live in Arizona where there are countless car washing mecca’s all over the phoenix metro area. I always give a good tip, as they usually remember me when I come back, and put the extra time into making my car look really nice. So yes, I always tip.
I see those guys slinging damp rags around in 25 degree weather, and I think I’d sure as hell want a tip, so I tip nicely. And they do remember you. Actually, I think they remember your car, but isn’t that the same thing?
Once upon a time I was one of those car-wash dudes. The guys/gals who put effort into it usually were rolling in tips by days end. Well, it didn’t hurt to be a hottie either. We would split the tips with the other peons (such as the vacuuming guys).
If I went out of my way to make sure a car was really nice, I would expect the possibility of a tip to increase. One time I did a cop car and the dude tipped me $5 because I cleaned his dash pretty well, as compared to previous employees on previous visits.
So I tip as I would like to have been tipped. More effort = bigger tip.