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'What’s the Etiquette?’: Woman's Car Window Gets Smashed. Then She Finds a Mobile Mechanic Day-Of. Then He Asks for a Tip

"Am I in the wrong?"

Woman's car window gets smashed. Then she finds a mobile mechanic day-of. Then he asks for a tip

Photo by: madison.the.dentist & Dan Truong

Alexandra Samuels

By: Alexandra Samuels

Jan 4, at 10:00am ET

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A woman is going viral after sharing her dilemma over whether she should have tipped a same-day mobile mechanic who replaced her car window.

Madison Brown (@madison.the.dentist) says she walked out to her car one morning to find one of her windows smashed. "One of the beautiful things about living in San Francisco," she jokes.

Wanting to get it fixed quickly, with rain in the forecast, Brown says she found a mobile mechanic who came out within hours and replaced the window that same day. She knew the convenience would come at a cost, and the final bill reflected that.

"The total was $403," Brown says. "It all worked out, and I’m just thankful that I had the means and was able to get it replaced [the] same day."

The stress kicked in when it was time to pay. Brown says the tap-to-pay screen prompted her to leave a tip, which caught her off guard. She admits she initially felt pressure to add one, but ultimately chose not to.

Now she says she’s second-guessing that call.

"But should I have tipped?" Brown asks viewers. "Am I in the wrong? Or should I have tipped?"

She doubles down in the caption of her clip, asking, "What’s the etiquette for tipping nowadays?"

Brown’s questions struck a nerve online, with commenters split over whether tipping is expected for mobile mechanics or if the steep service price already covers the work. As of posting, the video had racked up just over 4,000 views, along with plenty of viewer opinions.

Should You Tip Your Mobile Mechanic?

There’s no evidence that people are obligated to tip mobile mechanics, and the workers themselves certainly don't expect it the way a server at a restaurant would.

Still, according to the Portland Press Herald, some customers do tip—but only when they think their mechanic went above and beyond. The convenience factor is another reason why someone might throw a few extra bucks at a mobile mechanic. After all, if someone comes to your home on short notice, during the holiday season, performs a long or complex job, or saves you the headache and cost of a tow, it can feel worth it to acknowledge them.

That said, for people who do tip, it’s usually a modest amount—think an extra $5 to $20, depending on how generous you’re feeling that day (or how grateful you are for their service). The Herald notes, too, that some people skip cash entirely and offer a cold drink or a snack, something similarly thoughtful but straightforward.

According to AutoNation Mobile Service, though, money isn’t the only way to show appreciation. Leaving a five-star review on Google or Yelp can be equally valuable, especially for small businesses.

To be clear, though, tipping is optional, and you’re not stiffing anyone by skipping it. Unlike restaurant tipping, throwing an extra few dollars at your mobile mechanic is more of a gut call based on whether the service stood out.

Viewers Are Torn About Tipping Mobile Mechanics

People who watched Brown’s video were split on whether the same-day mobile mechanic deserved a tip. Some argued that the speed and convenience alone warranted a little extra, especially since he arrived quickly and got the job done without delay.

"I would have tipped because he came so quickly," one viewer said.

"I would’ve tipped $10 or $20 if he was nice. Sorry for the news. I had a spare tire replaced, and they came to me, and that’s what I tipped," another added.

"You should have tipped at least something," someone else insisted.

"$5 max," said a fourth.

But plenty of commenters pushed back, saying the mechanic’s quoted price already reflected the convenience of same-day service—and that Brown shouldn’t feel guilty for skipping the tip.

"No tip! You paid premium, and that’s more than enough," one person argued.

"No, he is paid hourly. No tip for anyone that gets paid hourly," added another viewer.

Others aimed at tipping culture more broadly. "Getting asked to tip on a car service is WILD," one commenter wrote. "Prime example of tipping culture getting out of control."

What do you think?

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Comments

"Absolutely not! I guarantee he made more than minimum wage for tipped workers," another said. "His markup is his tip."

Motor1 has contacted Brown for comment via a direct message on TikTok. This article will be updated if she responds.

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