My car is being transported and arrives this evening (be nice to finlly have it back...been the better part of 6 months). Is it customary to tip the driver? Never transported a car before. Thanks for the insight.
Good question. My 355 was delivered last week and I didn't tip. For some reason, it just didn't enter my mind as I was so focused on the car. Now I feel a bit like a cheapskate. The guys did a great job with the car and delivered it 3 days ahead of expectations. I could've at least bought them a nice lunch somewhere. That said, they didn't mill about after getting the car unloaded looking for tips either. In the past, whenever we moved from one house to another, I always tipped the crew. But these guys also worked their asses off for 3-4 days. With the 355, the guys offloaded and were gone within 20 minutes.
The delivery driver who brought mine covered the car in a plastic sheet and also brought the original muffler with. I tipped him $150
sometimes yes sometimes no Just had a GT3 delivered from Co to OH....$1600 I didn't tip. Ferrari 355 FL to OH $600......I tipped Sometimes you feel as if the quote is a little much for the service.
I usually just give a $20 and say "i know it's not much but you can get something to eat" and they're always very appreciative.
Did the driver charge $1600, or did his boss charge the $1600? The tip amount really depends on who's pocketing the change, right? Some drivers are self owned business people - the fee they charge goes into their pocket. If they do a good job I'll tip them an additional $25-$50. But the guys that drive for the big named shippers who have nothing at all to do with the number you're quoted - they get paid hourly. I've tipped them $150-$200 if I saw they did a good job.
I did. An extra $100 from San Diego to Livermore, then to Lucerne and finally to San Rafael. It was a whirlwind experience but if they deliver as scheduled and treat your 'baby' like it was their own, it's worth it.
I tipped the driver $100 when he delivered mine and that was 8 yrs ago. However the car was completely cover and he brought to my on a Sunday.
Gave my last driver the twenties I had. 60 or 80, I think. Next thing I know he asks, "Do you want a Ferrari cover? I've had this red garage dust cover in here for a while, just waiting for the right Ferrari driver who could use it..."
Perhaps, but when it costs them 1k in fuel, 4 days on the U.S. highway system, and your baby is delivered on time and in good condition it's the least you can do. The driver from horseless who delivered my first 355 10 years ago he closed the bonnet with the battery cover unhitched. It caused a dent. No problem for PDR, but no tip. (I also had bigger problems with that car when delivered, as the prior owner was a scum and sent the car to me running on 4 cylinders, but that's a story for another day) When the driver picked up my white GTS at 10pm on a Friday, he was so meticulous. He even asked if I would drive the car up on the ramp while the car was lifted 20 ft up into the air into the second level of his enclosed transport. At that point, it wasn't my car anymore but I still gave him something like $50 for his time. The car arrived unmoved and in perfect condition on the other side of the country for the new owner. I recently bought a 911 from Michigan. The guy picked it up at 5pm and called me from my driveway in Maryland at 7:30 am the next day. I didn't ask, but I'm sure he didn't sleep. I think I gave him $100. While in college, I was a waiter. My time in the service industry has engrained in me that when you get good service, you should tip. Worst case scenario is that you might make someone's day much better. Not too much to ask from the guy who's having his Ferrari delivered to his doorstep from a guy who might make $25 per hour at best... Pay it forward.
This thread is quite interesting. I worked as a limo driver for 7 months while I was in between jobs and I can tell you from experience that the more money my clients had, the worse they tipped. Guys coming in on private jets NEVER tip. Working stiffs that only get to ride in a limo because the company pays for it were the BEST tippers. Seems the more successful my passengers were, the less it occured to them that the person driving them around all day was working for peanuts and depended on the generosity of others to make ends meet. I'm pretty sure the guy driving the truck is not the guy pocketing the full fare (I could be wrong). Moral of the story? Always tip.
I used a well known carrier to grab my 348. He sub'd it out to a single car enclosed trailer. The guy was great and the amount he was paid to drive from TX to MD wasn't much at all. I gave him $100 extra for treating the car well.
I always tip. My daughter had her car delivered from NJ to CO recently and she asked me should she tip the guy. It was an open trailer and the driver/owner had washed the car before delivery and did a great job communicating along the way. I told her absolutely. You can tell when someone is giving that little but of extra that is worthy of acknowledgment.
I drove professionally for a short time but I can say I never ever expected any tips it was never on my radar as far as commercial drivers. Now my last 355 was delivered by a couple with an enclosed trailer and a pick up. Nice little set up, but they were from my home state so they were on a return trip home. ( that's a bonus not driving out of the way to get home after a delivery is saving the driver money) After I got the initial pricing quote it then jumped up $100 more because it was the busy season when all the grey hairs ship their cars home from Florida so I had to pay more for my car to get in the trailer. They got their tip and I still saved money over doing it myself.
I just started an enclosed transportation business a couple weeks ago. It seems like tips are fairly common with enthusiast clients. The dealers and very wealthy have proven to be rude in every way and are surely not tipping. 10-15% is what is am seeing but I am running shorter distances here in California and Arizona. I am glad to see people taking care of the drivers as it will be an added bonus for my future employees. This is not an easy job. The goal for me of course..is to keep great help and still remain profitable. So, thank you to those paying it forward.
