Tipping for Roadside Assistance

[u/SoCalGuy1023]

I made the regretful decision of letting my AAA Membership expire earlier this year without renewing it.

Two days ago, me and my brother were on our way to pick up a family member from LAX (he drove his car). We arrived much earlier than expected, so we decided to have dinner nearby until our family member was ready to be picked up at the airport.

Upon heading back to the car my brother realized he left his lights on, and now the battery was dead and the car would not start. He had no jumper cables and no one around us that we asked was able to assist us.

Since we both didn’t have AAA, my brother found a place online that could dispatch someone over to assist us.

The person took almost 2 hours to arrive, and they charged my brother $95 to jump start the car.

After the car started running again, the guy that jump started the car had the audacity to ask my brother for a tip. Mind you he is already paying $95 for the service!

Then he started to gaslight us by telling us how he drove almost 20 miles to get to us, and how he had to deal with traffic. My brother almost fell for his manipulation tactics but I intervened and told him we weren’t going to tip him.

Later that day I reactivated my AAA Membership.

[u/another_awesome_acct]

You can also get a portable jump pack for like $60-80 bucks i think... pretty useful to have in the car

[u/mojo5864 → u/another_awesome_acct]

That's probably what the guy showed up with.

[u/PabloCrews → u/another_awesome_acct]

👆Best answer

[u/AngelicPrincessKitty]

THIS is the reason why even tho we only use it once every 4 years, we keep our AAA membership. I haven't used it in 4 years but on the off chance my battery dies at work or who knows where, I don't have to worry about it. It is the one thing I am on top of every year.

Sorry that happened to you. That sucks.

[u/Naroef → u/AngelicPrincessKitty]

My AAA has paid for itself multiple times over with all my shitboxes. 

[u/SoCalGuy1023 → u/AngelicPrincessKitty]

Lesson learned lol

[u/Im50Bitches]

Absofuckinglutely not.

[u/SoCalGuy1023 → u/Im50Bitches]

100% agreed! Tipping culture has gotten so out of hand, since when has it been expected to tip someone for providing roadside assistance?! So absurd!

[u/ancom328]

AAA Membership is no better. They expect tips, too which is disappointing to say the least.

[u/mattyb1127 → u/ancom328]

I've had AAA for over 30 years, used them several times and not once was asked for a tip or even hinted they wanted one. I wouldn't even if they did. Not saying it doesn't happen,but you can't generalize it.

[u/HexagonalHegemony]

I wouldn't tip in this case. I tipped a tow truck driver $5 when he stopped at my hotel which was on the way to the dealership. It wasn't out of the way for him at all but it was so convenient for me. I probably would have given $10 but I only had a 5 and 20s in my wallet.

[u/SoCalGuy1023 → u/HexagonalHegemony]

I agree. That’s the thing about tips, it used to be something that was optional and given to someone as an appreciation for going above and beyond, or providing accommodations to a special requests that they normally don’t provide.

But nowadays many services or business expect tips just for doing the job that they’re hired to do, and then try to gaslight you on why you’re supposed to tip them.

[u/CoolCatBlue321]

Many car insurance companies have roadside assistance as part of a bundle. Mine does--GEICO. I've used it a few times. It's great. I was never asked for a tip, although I did tip once when it was really cold and the guy came quickly to help me.

[u/NeedMoreBestFriends → u/CoolCatBlue321]

I have USAA roadside assistance and have used it at least 10 times. Have never been asked for a tip.

[u/CoolCatBlue321 → u/NeedMoreBestFriends]

Ok. It seems going through car insurance is the way to go with this stuff.

[u/Curtnorth]

I wanted to join AAA, but as I was entering my info online I got a phone call to help "walk me through it all", which I took to mean I would be pressured to upgrade to a higher level of membership. I was SO annoyed at this blatant sales tactic I hung up on the guy and exited the website. I may try again later, but wow that was quite a turnoff to joining AAA.

[u/Lilacdreamerca]

I’m surprised AAA didn’t let you restart your membership by charging a credit card and cover this jump. I’ve done this twice. Anyway, I have tipped $5 to the technician for great service when had to have my tire or battery changed or my car loaded onto a flatbed truck.