i called them, and they are coming in 45 minutes cuz they are eating lunch.. and the bettery costs about 149 dollars. i dunno if i should tip him. if i should how much i should pay total?

M.B. roadside techs are paid very well for the services they perform by the factory!
A tip would depend on response time and courtsey offered.
Roadside tech for 13 years
Mike

Ya, plus I'd be hesitant to tip anyone mixed up in a battery sale at $149.

I know, I know.... you can buy a battery for $49.95 at Wally World, but when you lack the knowledge and tools to keep alive the memory of the various computers, it's not a bargain. It's no fun to learn that the battery replacement now makes the car run terrible, the trasmission shifts funny, the radio presets are gone, the sunroof doesn't close, the alarm goes crazy, ect, ect....Plus, how much time will it take to find someone to drive you to Wally World, buy a battery, find the tools, and then go back to the disabled vehicle and install it? A couple of hours? Time is money.

With regards to the tipping, it all depends on the situation. I just bought a new key fob transmitter for my '97 Eldorado. The dealer, cheerfully offered to program it, on the spot, with no wait. It took them about thirty minutes to get the car and the new key fob to like each other. When they were done, they insisted that there was no charge. I pulled the tech to one side and slipped him a $20.00 bill, because I wanted to, not because I felt obligated. Even if they had charged me, I would have still tipped the guy. He even showed me that I could program my own seat adjustments, climate control setting, and radio settings to work with the transmitter. That way, when my wife borrows it, I don't have to spend ten minutes putting the car back the way I left it. It's a ten year old car, and they know I do most all of my own work, they had nothing to gain by such royal treatment.

Tipping, for me, is usually reserved for things people do beyond their normal call-of-duty.

__________________
- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

{I know, I know.... you can buy a battery for $49.95 at Wally World, but when you lack the knowledge and tools to keep alive the memory of the various computers}

Most stores like Autozone and Advance Auto parts will put a battery in for you if you get the car to their store. MB batteries warranty is "only" one year! Others offer three year free replacement with a seven year warranty.

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N. Hodges
1994 S350
1987 300 SDL (for sale)

Autozone and Advance don't know how to keep the memory alive on these cars, and if the adaptation values are high enough, it won't make it out of the parking lot after the kid finished changing the battery.

For $150 having them do it in your drive way or office parking lot, can't beat that! Figure going to buy it yourself and install it yourself is going to eat up two hours of your day, by the time you drive back to the autoparts store and return the core. Even the Autozone special is $80-$90, not $50.

How much is your time worth? If its worth more then $25 an hour, have MB roadside do it. If its worth less then you do it.

I'd only tip them if they go above and beyond. Tips are earned, they shouldn't be expected.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Its not frugel to not tip these guys. In fact I think people who do that are a class act and the benifits to this earn you better service the next time around
This comes from a person in the service business since 1970 and I appreciate every positive comment and tip I get. I go out of my way to make sure people are happy with my services , It brightens my day when I get positive feed back or a tip no mader the size.
Bob Geco

I don't think anybody will find any battery that fits in a MB for less than 85.00. That was trade cost for a NAPA-Exide (The same Exide who make MB Batteries), a few years ago, when I still worked with a garage- car lot. I have put a battery in a 124, 107, and I think I had to do a 140, but I don't remember much of a reprogram process. Now with a Cadillac, you have to run the engine for 15 minutes, switch on AC for 5 minutes, etc. Its time consuming.
Happy New Year, Dave.

__________________
Currently Driving:
1986 Mercedes Benz 560SEL
1994 Lincoln Town Car
1994 Cadillac Deville
1985 Lincoln Town Car- Retired

The Official Car of a Realtor- Lincoln Town Car
The Official Car of the Successful Independent Insurance Agent- Mercedes Benz S Class

I did that once at a detail shop. I brought my car in with a HUGE scuff on the hood and I asked it if could be buffed out. The guy laughed and grabbed a bottle of some of their wax and waxed it out by hand within seconds. With Sigh of relief that I was not making a visit to the body shop I got out my wallet to pay and he said "eh too much trouble to write that up plus your in here all the time". I handed him a $20 and thanked him profusely for his help.

I think tipping is important in cases where people go above and beyond the call of their job to help you. This Friday when I picked up my car from the shop after it had been there a week from a nasty surprise I got with my transmission fluid change I brought some good German beer for everyone at the shop. They went out of their way to call me and keep me updated as to what was happening. Knowing what was going on was incredibly helpful for me to keep my sanity with a soaring repair bill.

TIPS is an acronym for To Insure Prompt Service. If your fine taking a number and being treated like any other customer don't tip. If your time is important to you and you enjoy above and beyond service TIPS are essential.

I checked with both of my roadside techs', and they say "Absolutely".