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Yet another tipping question

amc80

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I think tipping is out of control these days. There are tip jars everywhere, it's ridiculous. I am a generous tipper when it's appropriate (restaurants, valet, bell hop....that sort of thing).

My question is regarding my hairdresser. I used to go to a salon and I would always tip at least 20%. I now go to a lady who rents her spot. She sets her own rates and hours, and I assume is a sole proprietor who pays rent to the owner of the property. Do I still need to tip? If she charges me $75, I'm guessing it's because she feels that her work is worth $75. If she wanted an additional 15% (or whatever), couldn't she just charge more? Versus a salon where the rates are the same for everyone, and the hairdressers are employees getting paid by the salon.

Same thing with a babysitter. A friend recently asked me if I tip the baby sitter. No, because she sets her own rates. It's not like I'm paying a babysitter service who then pays her a cut.

Thoughts?

ETA- I did tip my hairdresser last time I went, but I wasn't sure if it was necessary and I thought it better to error on the side of not looking like a cheapskate.
 

azstonie

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This is my industrial-sized pet peeve. Tipping self-employed hairdressers who make a great hourly wage and can set their own rate of pay and keep 100% of it (and don't tell me they have to pay rent, utilities, supplies, etc because everyone who sells a service has overhead and that is something you include in the cost of the service).

tipping for hairdressers originated because the owner of the salon set their pay *and* kept a cut; the tip was meant to make the hairdresser 'whole' from that. (This is my understanding/what I've been told by hairdressers.)

So when the hairdresser sets their own rate of pay and rents their work station, that IS the rate of pay they want and get to keep. I don't feel a tip is necessary in that scenario.

I used to pay $100 for a hair cut from the owner of the salon and that is $125/hour rate of pay which is think is excellent and needs no supplementation from a client. Did he want a tip on TOP of that? Yes, because when I paid I was pointed to the tip shelf/boxes.

Therefore, I hate the concept of a tip on top of that. We don't tip other self-employed professionals. We also don't tip teachers, grocery cashiers, bus drivers, etc etc.

I went to a new hairdresser last month. She owns her own kind of cubbyhole or office in a 2-story building of self-employed hair dressers. When it was time to pay, I asked her what the charge was. She said $50. I asked her if $50 was her sweet spot to be paid OR if she was assuming there would be a tip on top of that, I wanted to cut the tip crap and pay her what she felt her time was worth.

She professed to not understand my question no matter how many times I rephrased or explained it. So I paid her $55 and went about my day.
 

momhappy

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I don't understand why you might not think that you need to tip your hairdresser even though she rents her own space? She's still providing a service and if she does a good job, she should be tipped. I tip my hairdresser at least 20% and yes, I tip my babysitters too.
 

amc80

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momhappy|1409767658|3744137 said:
I don't understand why you might not think that you need to tip your hairdresser even though she rents her own space? She's still providing a service and if she does a good job, she should be tipped. I tip my hairdresser at least 20% and yes, I tip my babysitters too.

If I'm a babysitter and am charging $10/hour, I expect to get paid $10 an hour. That's the rate I set based on what I think my time and effort is worth. If I thought I should get 20% more, I would have set my rate at $12 an hour.
 

junebug17

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Yeah, I'd give her a tip, since I'd tip in a salon. I never tipped babysitters though - honestly, I didn't occur to me to do so :oops: since I was paying by the hour, I just looked at it like they were working a regular job.
 

momhappy

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amc80|1409768153|3744144 said:
momhappy|1409767658|3744137 said:
I don't understand why you might not think that you need to tip your hairdresser even though she rents her own space? She's still providing a service and if she does a good job, she should be tipped. I tip my hairdresser at least 20% and yes, I tip my babysitters too.

If I'm a babysitter and am charging $10/hour, I expect to get paid $10 an hour. That's the rate I set based on what I think my time and effort is worth. If I thought I should get 20% more, I would have set my rate at $12 an hour.

I guess that I should have worded it better - I understand the logic, but I don't agree with it. I still tip my hairdressers (even the owner of the salon that I go to) and my babysitters. I consider a tip to be above and beyond the set rate and it's a "thank you" for a job well done.
 

amc80

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momhappy|1409768474|3744152 said:
amc80|1409768153|3744144 said:
momhappy|1409767658|3744137 said:
I don't understand why you might not think that you need to tip your hairdresser even though she rents her own space? She's still providing a service and if she does a good job, she should be tipped. I tip my hairdresser at least 20% and yes, I tip my babysitters too.

If I'm a babysitter and am charging $10/hour, I expect to get paid $10 an hour. That's the rate I set based on what I think my time and effort is worth. If I thought I should get 20% more, I would have set my rate at $12 an hour.

I guess that I should have worded it better - I understand the logic, but I don't agree with it. I still tip my hairdressers (even the owner of the salon that I go to) and my babysitters. I consider a tip to be above and beyond the set rate and it's a "thank you" for a job well done.

I agree with you on almost every other thing I've seen you post on PS, so we were bound to disagree somewhere :)
 

Calliecake

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My hairdresser has charged me the same price for 10 years. I pay $80 for a trim and color which is dirt cheap where I live. For just a color the price is $50. I usually get get my hair colored every 3 or 4 weeks. I always tip her $25 or $30 and the shampoo girl $10. I also bring my own shampoo and conditioner because I'm allergic to the line they use at the salon. I know I would be paying much more than double for the services if I went to someone else. Tipping her more than 20% doesn't bother me at all.
 

redwood66

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I tip my hairdresser because she works in a salon that pays her by the hour with set rates.

I also tip my dog groomer, I have a Chow so she deserves it because sometimes he is a mess when I take him in. What I pay the shop is the same I paid in Cali 20 years ago for another Chow. She also is paid by the hour by the owner. I tip cash directly to her.

I tip my lash specialist because frankly her rate is low and she only charges $40 for a fill. She is the shop owner and only person in the shop. I feel that I am tipping for an excellent service and do not feel bad about it.
 

azstonie

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I tip also when I feel the person providing the service is most likely underpaid (hotel maids) and overworked. In hotels I tip $5/day, and I try to actually give it to the maid when possible.

I tip if I made a problem for someone (late to an appointment, needed more work or attention than the normal level of service).

I tip waiters/waitresses 20% minimum.

I tip our newspaper delivery people.

If I had children/needed babysitter, I would tip if I returned early (less pay for the sitter) or late; I would tip if my children were 'difficult.' I would tip of they became messily ill (vomit or diarrhea) while under the babysitter's care. I would tip and pay holiday rates if it was New Year's Eve, Christmas, etc., when time is at a premium.

I always give money to street musicians IF they play reasonably well. I tip lounge musicians if I ask for a particular tune and they give it a good try.

In my mind, a tip is used to make someone whole (your mistake or addressing poor pay rate) or to reward for a super level of service. Its not meant to significantly increase someone's base rate of professional pay (hairdressers who are SELF EMPLOYED). I have NEVER received a 20% pay raise within my job class or profession without a promotion.

When I was a working musician, I played many weddings/receptions. Many times, guests would attempt to tip us to get us to play something particular. We always graciously refused the tip because we were already being paid our self-set rate of pay and it was our pleasure to make them happy on behalf of the hosts.
 

alexah

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I'm not sure what's right but I'll tell you what I did for about 7 years... When I still lived in NYC, I went to a guy that cut hair out of his own apt - the downstairs of which was converted into a hair salon. It was just him and a shampoo girl (who was different every time I went, every six months, give or take a few months). He charged $85 when I first started going to him and $100 by the time I left. I tipped him 20% and the shampoo girl $5 (unless she blowdried my hair too - then she got $10). If he hadn't given me two tip envelopes the first time I went, I probably would have asked him if he accepted tips. He was cash only so if the tip was on the borderline, I rounded up or down to the nearest $5 increment (if I wasn't happy with the cut, I rounded down).

Since I moved (within the past year), I've tried a local salon and the local Great Clips. I've been tipping 25% or more since the girls really tried and I used coupons... so I tipped on the usual amount and tipped extra since I got a good deal.

When we got the dog groomed in NYC, we took him to a groomer who worked out of her Apt... we tipped her over 25% at first because she was so inexpensive compared to what we'd been paying. Then she moved her business into a "dog wash" (she had to pay the owner a cut) and her fee doubled so the tip became just over 18% (cash only so we rounded to the nearest $5).

Now we have a mobile groomer come to the house (her van & her business)... she charges more than we paid in NYC and we are 50+ miles from any major city. We round to the nearest $5 increment and pay her 18% tip, even though I usually end up fixing his cut afterwards. She's really nice though and I'd give her more if he looked "even"/if I didn't have to fix it.

Sorry for the book! I hope this helped? :wavey:
 

blackprophet

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Mar 13, 2013
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momhappy|1409768474|3744152 said:
amc80|1409768153|3744144 said:
momhappy|1409767658|3744137 said:
I don't understand why you might not think that you need to tip your hairdresser even though she rents her own space? She's still providing a service and if she does a good job, she should be tipped. I tip my hairdresser at least 20% and yes, I tip my babysitters too.

If I'm a babysitter and am charging $10/hour, I expect to get paid $10 an hour. That's the rate I set based on what I think my time and effort is worth. If I thought I should get 20% more, I would have set my rate at $12 an hour.

I guess that I should have worded it better - I understand the logic, but I don't agree with it. I still tip my hairdressers (even the owner of the salon that I go to) and my babysitters. I consider a tip to be above and beyond the set rate and it's a "thank you" for a job well done.

This.

Someone mentioned not tipping a teacher. But did you get them a gift at Christmas time? Tips don't necessarily have to be monetary. I'm sure a babysitter would take a nice gift or gift card too. Once a year gift is a thank you for a job well done. Like a once time tip.

I tip my barber 20%.

I also (personally, this is just my opinion) see it as service insurance. When I tip when, the next time I go, they will remember me and I will get good service again. I do this with restaurants I really like and frequent a lot. If I only go once a year, they won't remember me the next time.
 

momhappy

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amc80|1409768693|3744154 said:
momhappy|1409768474|3744152 said:
amc80|1409768153|3744144 said:
momhappy|1409767658|3744137 said:
I don't understand why you might not think that you need to tip your hairdresser even though she rents her own space? She's still providing a service and if she does a good job, she should be tipped. I tip my hairdresser at least 20% and yes, I tip my babysitters too.

If I'm a babysitter and am charging $10/hour, I expect to get paid $10 an hour. That's the rate I set based on what I think my time and effort is worth. If I thought I should get 20% more, I would have set my rate at $12 an hour.

I guess that I should have worded it better - I understand the logic, but I don't agree with it. I still tip my hairdressers (even the owner of the salon that I go to) and my babysitters. I consider a tip to be above and beyond the set rate and it's a "thank you" for a job well done.

I agree with you on almost every other thing I've seen you post on PS, so we were bound to disagree somewhere :)

:lol:
I guess it's not that we disagree - I agree that tipping has gotten a little over-the-top these days. but I guess that I just tip to keep things running smoothly. For example, if I tip my babysitter, then maybe she will be more likely to say yes the next time that I need a sitter - or if I tip my hairdresser, hopefully, she will keep doing a great job, be more accommodating when it comes to scheduling, etc.
 

Karl_K

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no one tips their computer guy lol
Even when I spent all night fixing their server so they can pay 500 people the next day.
Well with money anyway I have been offered lunch or dinner a time or 2 and more often a pop.
I don't expect anything and would be shocked if offered a tip.
 

kenny

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Tipping is personal.
A debate resulting in a one tipping policy that everyone would, or even should, agree to is as futile as herding cats.

I think everyone should tip whatever they want.

What you and I tip is nobody's business.
What others tip is none of our business.

Tippers vary.
 

GliderPoss

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Wowsers - You all seem to tip EVERYONE! :-o It's not common practice here (Oz) thank goodness or I'd be constantly broke. :lol: Usually only tip for exceptional service in a restuarant and maybe some spare change in a cafe. That's it. I've never heard of tipping hairdressers or babysitters but then again I think wages system may be vastly different there? I feel like a tip is a reward for something earned, above & beyond the norm not just beacuse it's expected. Otherwise why wouldn't you just factor it into the price?
 

AprilBaby

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My hairdresser is on her own and comes to my house. She sets her own fee. I always tip her but I feel funny. Do I really need to tip her? Do you tip your nurse? Your dental hygienist? The UPS carrier? Hairdressers seem to make decent wages.
 

mochiko42

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I much prefer the Japanese tradition of not tipping anybody for anything, but ensuring everyone makes a living wage.
It just seems simpler and more equitable for everybody.
 

azstonie

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Living wages.

This.

I made a bartender in Canada sniffy with me when on my first trip there I gave him a tip. Same thing in other countries where a living wage and professional you-name-the-jobs prevails.
 

TooPatient

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HotPozzum|1409787091|3744352 said:
Wowsers - You all seem to tip EVERYONE! :-o It's not common practice here (Oz) thank goodness or I'd be constantly broke. :lol: Usually only tip for exceptional service in a restuarant and maybe some spare change in a cafe. That's it. I've never heard of tipping hairdressers or babysitters but then again I think wages system may be vastly different there? I feel like a tip is a reward for something earned, above & beyond the norm not just beacuse it's expected. Otherwise why wouldn't you just factor it into the price?

I had that thought too and I live in the US :lol:

Hairdresser -- I do tip because every time I have gone in, they have gone above and beyond. I've had them surprise me with Starbucks and even bring me frozen yogurt. Never felt rushed.
That said, when I was having the lady next door do my hair I did not tip because she chose the price. (I did bring her cookies and stuff on occasion...)

Babysitter -- When I did babysitting, I usually did not get tipped. The exception to this was a couple of later evenings (I had an hour drive home after so a 10pm end of date night was late for me!) when I had prepared dinner for the kid, given him a bath, put him to bed, done the dishes, cleaned the kitchen, etc.
(Wait.... I could have set the price?!? The parents all told me what they were paying and I either took it or passed.)

Restaurants -- Depends on the service. I feel that I do NOT have to leave ANY kind of tip. I almost always do (and usually pretty generous) but I do feel that 15-20% needs to be earned through at least adequate service. 30-40+% (plus compliments by name to the manager) for outstanding.

DH and I went to lunch a few weeks ago. The service was AWFUL. Took forever to get a menu, another forever to get drinks (just iced tea!), it was a full hour before our food showed up (hamburgers & fries), DH ran out of water & tea, then I had to nearly beg the woman to bring us dessert (no... really -- I had to catch her as she was chatting with her co-workers and convince her that I really wanted pie and then argue that we'd each like one so could she please bring two...).
It took TWO HOURS for lunch!
When we were done, she didn't even come take our payment (we've been there before and they are supposed to). I walked up to the counter and brought the check with me. The woman there ignored me and someone else finally showed up and helped. But then she turned around and started chatting with another co-worker.
I'd been planning to leave an okay tip (adding another $7 to the change she was supposed to be making) but finally gave up and walked out. DH was shocked and asked if I didn't want to go add a few dollars. (change was only about $2)
NO. Begging them to PLEASE come serve us (btw, the place was nearly empty so it isn't like they were busy) is NOT a way to get a tip.
I have NEVER left a tip that small before!
 

chrono

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mochiko42|1409804214|3744489 said:
I much prefer the Japanese tradition of not tipping anybody for anything, but ensuring everyone makes a living wage. It just seems simpler and more equitable for everybody.

This; it feels as though tipping has gotten out of hand in the US.
 

luv2sparkle

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This has always been one of my pet peeves as well. My previous hairdresser owned her own shop and charged, what I thought of at the time , was pretty high prices. I tipped her most of the time, but it really irritated me.

So now, my daughter is a hairdresser. She works at a shop where she pays a booth rental, and she buys most of her own supplies. She really doesn't make a whole lot of money. In fact, she is really barely able to scrap by. She really appreciates the tips but she knows they are not necessary. Her prices are not high. If they were much higher she would lose clients. She also works a part time job where she makes an hourly wage. I would say, it depend on your hairdresser and how a person feels about it. It's not a given, that your hairdresser is really cashing in.

I don't tip my daughter, but I help her out quite often. For a haircut, color and highlight,(I buy my own color and developer), I pay her $100.
 

zoebartlett

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I've gone to salons where the owner was my stylist. I always felt weird not tipping, even though I assume she set her own prices. I always tip, regardless of who owns the salon.
 

stracci2000

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I always tip service people, and I am generous if they do a good job.
I tip bell hops, airport shuttle drivers(if they load and unload your luggage), waiter/waitress-assuming they got my order right and actually brought food to the table.
I dont put money in tip jars at self-service places, or where the server doesn't come out from behind the counter.
And, yes, I tip my hairdresser, even though she owns her own place. She always does a good job and always takes me they day I call.
I think it is a way to show appreciation for a good job, and if you are a regular patron, you are more likely to be treated good in the future, because you are a good tipper.
 

CJ2008

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I would probably tip the salon owner because it would feel weird not to and I'd want to err on the side of caution.

I normally tip my hairdresser 20% or a little more...shampoo girl, $3...I am realizing that my $3 tip is cheap (seems most either tip $5 and that's what articles seem to recommend) but I just can't bring myself to tip $5 for that. And I used to HATE when one person cut my hair and someone else dried it, in essence "forcing me" to still tip the 20% to the hairdresser, plus $5 for the blow dry girl...
 

packrat

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Oofda I'd have to work a full week to pay to get my hair done or...well shoot, do anything, if I had to tip everybody I passed. The hostess, the busboy, the waitress, some tip the salon owner some don't, good heavens. I'm not spending over $100 for a cut and color in this rinky dink town. Nope nope nope. I better get a brow wax and mani/pedi tossed in for that cost.

I'm planning on saving my pennies to go to a "faaaahncy" salon to get my hair done when I turn 40. It's an Aveda salon and I think it's like $40 just for a cut, then w/color and whatever else, yeah it will end up being waaaay more than I've ever spent but it's a special occasion so I'll be all high rolling and have to dish out the tips. Then I'll know if it's worth it to me.
 
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