Extra tipping and/or gifts for service professionals

[CJ2008]

I went and got my haircut and nails done today and didn''t give any extra tip or a gift for Christmas. Part of it was that I truly didn''t realize/remember it''s the holidays - I just went to my appointment like any other time...but when it came time for the tip it crossed my mind to give a little more than usual but I just didn''t. I''ve used this haircutter twice (today was the 2nd time) and she''s great. I used the manicurist for the first time and she was great too. But I still only gave 20%. I''m usually a good tipper but I don''t know why I just didn''t "feel" like giving more...they''ll both probably think I''m not very nice, right? Do you guys always do something special for these kind of professionals, or do you sometimes not?

 

[choro72]

Actually I can''t stand the tipping custom, and I most certainly do not tip more during the holidays. When I tip, I don''t tip because of the service; I only tip because I want to live in this country and I''d better follow the rules. There, I said it. Does everyone hate me now?

Now gifts, I will do in the future if I have time. Homemade cookies or something like that.

 

[julesbeth]

I tipped my hairstylist more, I have been going to her for over a year and my last appt was December 5. I think you not tipping a new manicurist is a-ok!

 

[CJ2008]

choro, in some ways I feel like that too - I "resent" the idea of having to give more for the holidays when I''m tipping them 20%, sometimes a little more, all year.

jules...I''ve done that in the past with my haircutters too, and I''ve given my manicurists a card with $10 inside, aside from their regular tip...

I do think it''s a nice thing to do if you feel it, but I''m not sure that it should be expected...

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 12/18/2008 3:24:29 PM
Author: choro72
Actually I can''t stand the tipping custom, and I most certainly do not tip more during the holidays. When I tip, I don''t tip because of the service; I only tip because I want to live in this country and I''d better follow the rules. There, I said it. Does everyone hate me now?

I don''t hate you! In fact, I have "issues" when it comes to tipping hair stylists. There''s been numerous occasions where I gave generous tips and then got home and realized the hair dresser did a terrible job on my hair.

Last year I did have more money than this year and felt generous. This year, I''ve not tipped any more than usual and decided even when I working and have more to spend, I won''t be tipping more than 20% ever again. There''s too many people who want money and it''s impossible to keep everybody happy.

 

[vintagelover229]

Do you know what I hate about tipping sometimes? If your a regular (you go to them all the time, but they have TONS of ppl, so your not really that special, etc)

I get my nails done at a salon and almost always tip 5.00 (not much I know, but for a 17.00 nail fill, that''s good!)
I always go to the same guy, and MOST of the time he does pretty well. However, latley its been lax and I dont feel it desirves a tip. I mean, I can TELL what''s wrong with him and he looks annoyed because he''s super busy (I mean he''s booked, but still squeezes in ppl because he knows they''ll wait for him) and then the ppl that have appts have to wait, and then he rushes and talks on the phone, etc.

i want to try someone else, but everytime I do, they really jack my nails up. I mean really, one lady made me bleed and just looked at me and kept going. The nail job was so bad that I had to have them removed (Which was painful because she ground down on my nails to much when she put them on) because they were crooked.

So idk if I should keep going to him and not tip (will he do a worse job because I don''t tip) or will he try to do better and not talk on the phone, etc to try and get me to tip? Or wont it matter because he rushes anyways to get as many ppl done as possible?

Sry for the thread jack.

But no, I don''t tip more for the holidays.

 

[gemgirl]

My husband and I always over tip for good service, especially the people who care for us in some way on an ongoing basis (haircutters, colorists, dog groomer, mechanics)

My lady mail carrier and our UPS man get gift cards every year. My dog groomer gets scented pump soaps for the shop and a nice box of chocolates to bring home.

 

[Dreamgirl]

I tip the hairdresser. I always give her a larger tip for Christmas. But, I''ve known her for 13 years maybe? So I can''t help it.

When I eat out sometimes around Chritmas Eve or New Years, I usually tip the server more. Only because it''s the holidays and they have to work....

Those are all the extra tips I give.

 

[coatimundi_org]

I''m an over-20% tipper in general--holidays or no. I like to give support to service staff--some lives depend on it.

 

[puffy]

Date: 12/18/2008 6:43:52 PM
Author: coatimundi
I''m an over-20% tipper in general--holidays or no. I like to give support to service staff--some lives depend on it.

ditto. this is how some people make a living.

 

[neatfreak]

There was just a long thread about this a few weeks ago...

 

[marcy]

We generally tip around 20% unless we get horrid service. I don''t tip different at the holidays except if we go out on Christmas or a special holiday then we tip more.

 

[prettylnpink419]

Okay, I''ve got one that I haven''t been able to decide on so maybe you can give me your thoughts.

I have been through a lot in the past few years with family issues, medical issues, etc and I''ve been seeing a therapist...pretty much every two weeks for about the past year to year and a half. I would really like to give her something for Christmas as I''m seeing her next week. Is this okay or is it crossing a line? Would homemade cookies be better than an actual gift? I was thinking of doing a card and a nice mosaic candle vase with a large decorative candle?

I just didn''t know if it was acceptable to gift someone like that? Thoughts?

 

[bee*]

We don''t have a tipping culture over here and the salon I go to if I get my nails done will not allow tipping. I usually bring the girls in a box of chocolates at Christmas time. For my hair, I give €10 to the girl who styles it and €2 to the person that washes it. I don''t give anymore around Christmas time as that stretches my budget as a student as it is!

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Well, as an ex-stylist who worked in a higher end salon, and had a pretty great cliental...let me tell you all, if you tip us better we will treat you better. Period.

Now, of course tipping is your pergoitive, and no one should ever expect anything, but in a salon your stylist make a small percentage of what you''re actually paying for your cut. Junior stylist or those new to the business can usually depend on making something like 15-20% of the total in commission, Senior stylists and those that have been working in one salon for a longer period of time can probably net around 35-40%. And if your stylist isn''t booked out, or has a no-show, she doesn''t get paid for that time. In reality her tips actually help to suppliment her income wonderfully. Now, in chain salons like "Great Clips" or "Hair Cuttery" a stylist makes an hourly wage instead of commission...this wage can range from minimum wage to (the highest I''ve ever seen) $10.00 an hour.

So, long story short...when you get a "good tipper" your stylist (and others) will want to do the back bends and take care of you because you reward them for it. Non-tippers beware, you''re getting about 1/2 the attention and service you could be (of course, no one would ever say this to your face)....

 

[crown1]

Date: 12/19/2008 8:48:16 AM
Author: Italiahaircolor
Well, as an ex-stylist who worked in a higher end salon, and had a pretty great cliental...let me tell you all, if you tip us better we will treat you better. Period.


Now, of course tipping is your pergoitive, and no one should ever expect anything, but in a salon your stylist make a small percentage of what you''re actually paying for your cut. Junior stylist or those new to the business can usually depend on making something like 15-20% of the total in commission, Senior stylists and those that have been working in one salon for a longer period of time can probably net around 35-40%. And if your stylist isn''t booked out, or has a no-show, she doesn''t get paid for that time. In reality her tips actually help to suppliment her income wonderfully. Now, in chain salons like ''Great Clips'' or ''Hair Cuttery'' a stylist makes an hourly wage instead of commission...this wage can range from minimum wage to (the highest I''ve ever seen) $10.00 an hour.


So, long story short...when you get a ''good tipper'' your stylist (and others) will want to do the back bends and take care of you because you reward them for it. Non-tippers beware, you''re getting about 1/2 the attention and service you could be (of course, no one would ever say this to your face)....

i am really sorry to hear this. there are many that are clients who simply don''t have the means to leave a huge tip. does that mean that they deserve less? i feel the stylists that i know, do their best to do a good job for their clients no matter what the tip. i feel they are pleased with the great tip but understand that some clients are making less than them and don''t discriminate against them.

sorry to hear that those unable or unwilling to "pony up" will get 1/2 the service. i hate the tipping system and would gladly pay the 20-30% more rather than being held hostage to someone''s sense of entitlement. we don''t tip in retail stores and expect to get good service and these employee''s probably make less than hair stylists? i think getting a generous tip is enough no need to add more for the holiday. if the client chooses to gift you with cash or an item it is all extra not required for good service. jmho

 

[BlueSki231]

Date: 12/19/2008 8:48:16 AM
Author: Italiahaircolor
Well, as an ex-stylist who worked in a higher end salon, and had a pretty great cliental...let me tell you all, if you tip us better we will treat you better. Period.


Now, of course tipping is your pergoitive, and no one should ever expect anything, but in a salon your stylist make a small percentage of what you''re actually paying for your cut. Junior stylist or those new to the business can usually depend on making something like 15-20% of the total in commission, Senior stylists and those that have been working in one salon for a longer period of time can probably net around 35-40%. And if your stylist isn''t booked out, or has a no-show, she doesn''t get paid for that time. In reality her tips actually help to suppliment her income wonderfully. Now, in chain salons like ''Great Clips'' or ''Hair Cuttery'' a stylist makes an hourly wage instead of commission...this wage can range from minimum wage to (the highest I''ve ever seen) $10.00 an hour.


So, long story short...when you get a ''good tipper'' your stylist (and others) will want to do the back bends and take care of you because you reward them for it. Non-tippers beware, you''re getting about 1/2 the attention and service you could be (of course, no one would ever say this to your face)....

I can kinda relate to this, but I only partially agree. I''m a massage therapist and a lot of spas/massage places operate in the same way as far as the therapist only getting a fairly small percentage of what the client is paying for the massage. Some "chain" places like Massage Envy do hourly wages I believe.

But the one thing I do not agree with you on is that the "good tippers" get taken care of more than the ones who don''t tip. I dunno if massage is different than hair styling - maybe it is.

I guess I can only speak of the two places where I work (and myself).
I''ve gotten EXTREMELY generous tips, and I''ve gotten no tips at all. I have several regular clients who don''t tip me at all - And obviously it''s not because of poor service because they''re regulars who come back specifically to see me.. I DO NOT hold it against them one bit.
Under no circumstances would I ever THINK for one second to give them less of my time and and focus and half-ass it because I knew I wasn''t getting a tip. And I know the people I work with feel exactly the same way.
A tip is icing on the cake. I appreciate any extra penny they may give me. And if they don''t give me anything extra, then I appreciate them coming to see me at all. They''re providing me with a PAYCHECK. What more can I ask for?

But to answer the original question: I do employee massages twice a month at a place.. and I did notice people being EXTRA generous yesterday. Once again, some people didn''t tip at all, and some went above and beyond.

I always tip generously (unless of course the person was totally RUDE), because I know how it feels to get a nice tip

 

[princesss]

Gosh I hate tipping. (About as much as I hate it when tax isn''t factored in to what I''m paying for something. It''s just the idea of additional money on top of what it says something costs. I hate it all.)

That said, if I''m a regular somewhere, it''s because it''s great. I''m very picky, but very loyal. I''ll follow my stylist anywhere within an hour, and I''ll do my best to bring them good customers. I also tip as well as I can afford to. I already kind of max out my budget on my hair, but I try to tip between 20-25%. I take up anywhere between 1 to 3 hours of his time, and I feel like doing that on top of the amazing care he gives my hair makes it totally worth it. (Plus I just adore him, so it''s easy to want to tip him, lol.)

When I get my nails done, I tip about 25%...but then, it''s a $10 shape and polish, so $2.50 seems like so little, even though it''s a fairly high percentage.

But I really, really hate tipping. And no, when I get my nails done today I will not be tipping extra. I go every two weeks. I''m not going to tip more because the week I was going to go anyways happens to be the week before Christmas. If I was going specifically for a holiday party, I might, just because I''d be in the Christmas mood.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Date: 12/19/2008 11:47:04 AM
Author: crown1

Date: 12/19/2008 8:48:16 AM
Author: Italiahaircolor
Well, as an ex-stylist who worked in a higher end salon, and had a pretty great cliental...let me tell you all, if you tip us better we will treat you better. Period.


Now, of course tipping is your pergoitive, and no one should ever expect anything, but in a salon your stylist make a small percentage of what you''re actually paying for your cut. Junior stylist or those new to the business can usually depend on making something like 15-20% of the total in commission, Senior stylists and those that have been working in one salon for a longer period of time can probably net around 35-40%. And if your stylist isn''t booked out, or has a no-show, she doesn''t get paid for that time. In reality her tips actually help to suppliment her income wonderfully. Now, in chain salons like ''Great Clips'' or ''Hair Cuttery'' a stylist makes an hourly wage instead of commission...this wage can range from minimum wage to (the highest I''ve ever seen) $10.00 an hour.


So, long story short...when you get a ''good tipper'' your stylist (and others) will want to do the back bends and take care of you because you reward them for it. Non-tippers beware, you''re getting about 1/2 the attention and service you could be (of course, no one would ever say this to your face)....

i am really sorry to hear this. there are many that are clients who simply don''t have the means to leave a huge tip. does that mean that they deserve less? i feel the stylists that i know, do their best to do a good job for their clients no matter what the tip. i feel they are pleased with the great tip but understand that some clients are making less than them and don''t discriminate against them.

sorry to hear that those unable or unwilling to ''pony up'' will get 1/2 the service. i hate the tipping system and would gladly pay the 20-30% more rather than being held hostage to someone''s sense of entitlement. we don''t tip in retail stores and expect to get good service and these employee''s probably make less than hair stylists? i think getting a generous tip is enough no need to add more for the holiday. if the client chooses to gift you with cash or an item it is all extra not required for good service. jmho

Thats okay that you don''t like it...or you find it unfair...but, behind the scenes, that''s how it works...

When I was working as a stylist, you could tell who the good tippers were by the shampoo assistants. They would RUN to clients who would slip them a five or ten for a great shampoo, and yet, when a non-tipper sat down for a wash, suddenly no assistants could be found anywhere. Good tippers got a 5 minute scalp massage...while a bad tipper gets a 2 minute wash.

Maybe its not fair, but thats life...

 

[violet3]

Date: 12/18/2008 3:24:29 PM
Author: choro72
Actually I can''t stand the tipping custom, and I most certainly do not tip more during the holidays. When I tip, I don''t tip because of the service; I only tip because I want to live in this country and I''d better follow the rules. There, I said it. Does everyone hate me now?

Now gifts, I will do in the future if I have time. Homemade cookies or something like that.

This is one of the most rediculous things I have ever heard.

I have worked in the service industry off and on for about 12 years. It is not my primary job, but i have relied on it many times when things were difficult financially (like now). Are you aware that people working in the service industry can make as little as $2.21 an hour (possibly less)? Weather you like it or not, tipping is the way they make their living, and the way it is set up in this society for them to make their money, or they would make a better wage per hour. Now i am not saying you have to leave rediculous tips for people, or even leave any more for them during the holidays - it''s nice if people do, but we certainly don''t expect it for a holiday gift.

But not agreeing with the idea of tipping at all is just a completely ignorant notion. Society, service businesses, and their employees understand that tips are THE ONLY WAY some of these people make a living - by the time taxes are taken out from their $2.00 an hour, they are likely to get a paycheck that reads $.00. So you do the math...tips ARE THEIR WAGES/INCOME. period.

Let me put it to you another way. Weather you leave the tip, or the employees are paid more per hour YOU, THE CUSTOMER is going to pay that gratuity somehow. If employers have to pay an actual annual salary to all their servers, salon workers, etc. that company will HAVE to raise thier prices so they can pay salaries to their employees. But either way, YOU will pay that tip, weather it comes included in the bill or is added on at the end.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 12/19/2008 2:55:22 PM
Author: violet3

But not agreeing with the idea of tipping at all is just a completely ignorant notion. Society, service businesses, and their employees understand that tips are THE ONLY WAY some of these people make a living - by the time taxes are taken out from their $2.00 an hour, they are likely to get a paycheck that reads $.00. So you do the math...tips ARE THEIR WAGES/INCOME. period.

Cutomers are paying for that service, though, and paying a huge tip on top of that is basically double paying for those services. I always do tip, so I''m not going to leave a person with only a $2.00 paycheck, however I would like to point out that MOST of those people have choosen to be in that perfession. When agreeing to take on that job, they are setting themselves up for situations where at times they will not make as much with certain clients. The reason my attitude is as such is that a good friend of mine is VERY sick and lives on SS income. She can''t even walk! She still deserves to get a haircut, right? She cannot afford to give a tip. Does this make it her fault that a service individual only gets $2.00 an hour for that hour? She didn''t force that person into their profession.

 

[Lauren8211]

Date: 12/19/2008 2:55:22 PM
Author: violet3

Date: 12/18/2008 3:24:29 PM

Author: choro72

Actually I can''t stand the tipping custom, and I most certainly do not tip more during the holidays. When I tip, I don''t tip because of the service; I only tip because I want to live in this country and I''d better follow the rules. There, I said it. Does everyone hate me now?


Now gifts, I will do in the future if I have time. Homemade cookies or something like that.

This is one of the most rediculous things I have ever heard.

I don''t understand why that''s ridiculous??

She didn''t say she doesnt tip. She tips because it''s the appropriate thing to do in this country.

However, there are countries where people do not tip, and the service people are still taken care of in other ways.

I think it''s lame that we have to tip people too, and I''ve worked in restaurants my entire life. I wish the system was different.

I hardly think it''s ridiculous to disagree with the current system. It is ridiculous, however, to disagree and not tip because you think it''s unfair. We tip in this country, like it or not.

 

[mayachel]

More relevant, as a massage therapist myself, I''d say try to avoid large flashy chains and seek out independent or small service businesses. When I worked in a spa, the spa charged $150 minimum for a massage. Out of that, I was paid $20, and was dependent on the tip system. I hated it. I resented feeling like I was working at beggars rate, for something I had earned. I do believe that most spas operate like a pyramid scheme, with the people at the top making money, and the workers at the base doing the real work of keeping the clients.

As I worked towards being self-employed, I did an extensive amount of continuing education, and now have a thriving business. I still have expenses, but the bulk of the pay is mine to keep. (Taxes for the self-employed are still crazy). BUT I also rarely get tips...I am ok with this because I charge what I feel I should be paid. Tips are always lovely of course, but knowing I''m being paid at minimum my worth, I can give above and beyond service without hesitation.

I see a hairdresser who is also self-employed. Formerly with a very prestigious salon...she charges a 10th of the fee I''d have paid in the salon. I always pay her double, because I don''t think she charges enough...

Moral of my post...you can get good service in a spa/salon...you''d be surprised how much better that service may be if you see someone with a shorter chain of money AND you can more judiciously give a tip for excellent service, not because you are obligated to pay their wages.

 

[NovemberBride]

Date: 12/19/2008 11:47:04 AM
Author: crown1

Date: 12/19/2008 8:48:16 AM
Author: Italiahaircolor
Well, as an ex-stylist who worked in a higher end salon, and had a pretty great cliental...let me tell you all, if you tip us better we will treat you better. Period.


Now, of course tipping is your pergoitive, and no one should ever expect anything, but in a salon your stylist make a small percentage of what you''re actually paying for your cut. Junior stylist or those new to the business can usually depend on making something like 15-20% of the total in commission, Senior stylists and those that have been working in one salon for a longer period of time can probably net around 35-40%. And if your stylist isn''t booked out, or has a no-show, she doesn''t get paid for that time. In reality her tips actually help to suppliment her income wonderfully. Now, in chain salons like ''Great Clips'' or ''Hair Cuttery'' a stylist makes an hourly wage instead of commission...this wage can range from minimum wage to (the highest I''ve ever seen) $10.00 an hour.


So, long story short...when you get a ''good tipper'' your stylist (and others) will want to do the back bends and take care of you because you reward them for it. Non-tippers beware, you''re getting about 1/2 the attention and service you could be (of course, no one would ever say this to your face)....

i am really sorry to hear this. there are many that are clients who simply don''t have the means to leave a huge tip. does that mean that they deserve less? i feel the stylists that i know, do their best to do a good job for their clients no matter what the tip. i feel they are pleased with the great tip but understand that some clients are making less than them and don''t discriminate against them.

sorry to hear that those unable or unwilling to ''pony up'' will get 1/2 the service. i hate the tipping system and would gladly pay the 20-30% more rather than being held hostage to someone''s sense of entitlement. we don''t tip in retail stores and expect to get good service and these employee''s probably make less than hair stylists? i think getting a generous tip is enough no need to add more for the holiday. if the client chooses to gift you with cash or an item it is all extra not required for good service. jmho

As far as not having the means to leave a tip, I believe that if you can''t afford a tip for a service for which leaving a tip is customary, then you can''t afford the service. As noted in some of the other posts, at least in the US, it is well-established that certain services require a tip (waitstaff, hairdressers, etc) and that the services are priced accordingly and would be priced higher if tips were not expected. If you cannot afford the cost of the meal in a restaurant plus at least 20% or the cost of a hairdressers service plus 20%, you simply cannot afford that service and will have to choose someplace less expensive.

Frankly, I would be too mortified to not leave a 20% tip at a restaurant or salon. In fact, I have personally left a tip for service people when I have seen others leave without tipping, even if they did not privde a service to me because I am so embarassed for that person. My DH thinks I am nuts, but I can''t help myself. It is not the service person''s fault that this is the way our system works, and cheating them out of income which they have earned is not the way to make a point about your feelings on the tipping custom.

 

[violet3]

Date: 12/19/2008 3:30:19 PM
Author: MC

Date: 12/19/2008 2:55:22 PM
Author: violet3

But not agreeing with the idea of tipping at all is just a completely ignorant notion. Society, service businesses, and their employees understand that tips are THE ONLY WAY some of these people make a living - by the time taxes are taken out from their $2.00 an hour, they are likely to get a paycheck that reads $.00. So you do the math...tips ARE THEIR WAGES/INCOME. period.

Cutomers are paying for that service, though, and paying a huge tip on top of that is basically double paying for those services. I always do tip, so I'm not going to leave a person with only a $2.00 paycheck, however I would like to point out that MOST of those people have choosen to be in that perfession. When agreeing to take on that job, they are setting themselves up for situations where at times they will not make as much with certain clients. The reason my attitude is as such is that a good friend of mine is VERY sick and lives on SS income. She can't even walk! She still deserves to get a haircut, right? She cannot afford to give a tip. Does this make it her fault that a service individual only gets $2.00 an hour for that hour? She didn't force that person into their profession.

Whether or not someone chose a certain profession is a moot point. All people who work in service understand that they will get some good tips and some bad tips - it's a given. Agreed...your friend certainly deserves to get a haircut despite the fact that she cannot tip. That is an extenuating circumstance, and clearly not what i was referring to - see highlighted above.

What i was arguing was the above post that someone completely disagrees or hates tipping in general if they have the money to do so (again, see highlighted above). While yes, you are already paying for that service, you are essentially paying a subsidized rate because the tip is not included in that rate. If people just disagreed with tipping in general or didn't tip, service businesses would have no choice but to pay their employees more money per hour in order to have anyone working for them. And if that were to happen, the charge for that service would go up FOR YOU, not for the business owner, i gaurantee. You are absolutely not paying double for a service by tipping someone, you are paying what is fair. And if tipping were to go away all together, you would still pay the price, including the tip, in the bill itself - and the owner would then pay the employee.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 12/19/2008 3:50:17 PM
Author: NovemberBride

As far as not having the means to leave a tip, I believe that if you can''t afford a tip for a service for which leaving a tip is customary, then you can''t afford the service.

So you''re saying that if a person cannot afford to tip a hair stylist, then she shouldn''t be getting her hair cut even at Supercuts? I''ll be sure to pass that onto my friend with MS. I guess she should cut her own hair?

Stylists CHOOSE to be in that profession. Correct me if I''m wrong, but don''t gals who work in that industry go to school for that and have time to consider other options for making a living? It''s not like a person is FORCED to cut hair for a living. If a hair dresser chooses to work in that field, she should deal with the fact that at times, she may not get a big fat tip.

 

[violet3]

Date: 12/19/2008 3:38:00 PM
Author: elledizzy5

Date: 12/19/2008 2:55:22 PM
Author: violet3

Date: 12/18/2008 3:24:29 PM

Author: choro72

Actually I can''t stand the tipping custom, and I most certainly do not tip more during the holidays. When I tip, I don''t tip because of the service; I only tip because I want to live in this country and I''d better follow the rules. There, I said it. Does everyone hate me now?


Now gifts, I will do in the future if I have time. Homemade cookies or something like that.

This is one of the most rediculous things I have ever heard.

I don''t understand why that''s ridiculous??

She didn''t say she doesnt tip. She tips because it''s the appropriate thing to do in this country.

However, there are countries where people do not tip, and the service people are still taken care of in other ways.

I think it''s lame that we have to tip people too, and I''ve worked in restaurants my entire life. I wish the system was different.

I hardly think it''s ridiculous to disagree with the current system. It is ridiculous, however, to disagree and not tip because you think it''s unfair. We tip in this country, like it or not.

I don''t mind disagreeing with the system, as long as it is understood that to change the system would result in the wages being included in the price of the service, which right now they are not.

I am sorry if i offended any of you - truly didn''t mean to - just giving my opinion

 

[choro72]

Date: 12/19/2008 2:55:22 PM
Author: violet3

Date: 12/18/2008 3:24:29 PM

Author: choro72

Actually I can't stand the tipping custom, and I most certainly do not tip more during the holidays. When I tip, I don't tip because of the service; I only tip because I want to live in this country and I'd better follow the rules. There, I said it. Does everyone hate me now?


Now gifts, I will do in the future if I have time. Homemade cookies or something like that.

This is one of the most rediculous things I have ever heard.


I have worked in the service industry off and on for about 12 years. It is not my primary job, but i have relied on it many times when things were difficult financially (like now). Are you aware that people working in the service industry can make as little as $2.21 an hour (possibly less)? Weather you like it or not, tipping is the way they make their living, and the way it is set up in this society for them to make their money, or they would make a better wage per hour. Now i am not saying you have to leave rediculous tips for people, or even leave any more for them during the holidays - it's nice if people do, but we certainly don't expect it for a holiday gift.


But not agreeing with the idea of tipping at all is just a completely ignorant notion. Society, service businesses, and their employees understand that tips are THE ONLY WAY some of these people make a living - by the time taxes are taken out from their $2.00 an hour, they are likely to get a paycheck that reads $.00. So you do the math...tips ARE THEIR WAGES/INCOME. period.


Let me put it to you another way. Weather you leave the tip, or the employees are paid more per hour YOU, THE CUSTOMER is going to pay that gratuity somehow. If employers have to pay an actual annual salary to all their servers, salon workers, etc. that company will HAVE to raise thier prices so they can pay salaries to their employees. But either way, YOU will pay that tip, weather it comes included in the bill or is added on at the end.

I'm sorry I've offended you, but I seriously hate tipping. It doesn't mean that I don't. I'm usually the one nudging FI to tip more because I'm terrified of the thought of spit in my pasta on my next visit.

I know that people actually LIVE on these wages and tip, and it's a cultural thing to change the service you give depending on the tip you get. It's pure capitalism to the core, and that's how this country is operating (Doesn't mean it's bad, just how it is, and it's how the US became an economic superpower). I won't go into the details of the different philosophy of how services run in my country, but there is a plus and minus side to everything.
I admire this country for tons of things that it offers me, a foreigner, and this is where I would like to build my future at. Still, there are certain things that I miss from from my home country, and that's not going to change. I'm used to it already, but if I had a choice, there are things I'd prefer to have/run differently.

ETA, just saw your post and I'm not offended at all. Actually, I would very much prefer to have the increase in wages, therefore price, and have it include taxes too! It will make things so much easier...I hate it when I go out to eat I can't budget according to the price on the menu. I have to always think tax and tip...

 

[icekid]

Date: 12/19/2008 8:48:16 AM
Author: Italiahaircolor
Well, as an ex-stylist who worked in a higher end salon, and had a pretty great cliental...let me tell you all, if you tip us better we will treat you better. Period.

Let''s just hope your doctors don''t feel the same way

 

[NovemberBride]

Date: 12/19/2008 4:11:47 PM
Author: MC

Date: 12/19/2008 3:50:17 PM
Author: NovemberBride

As far as not having the means to leave a tip, I believe that if you can''t afford a tip for a service for which leaving a tip is customary, then you can''t afford the service.

So you''re saying that if a person cannot afford to tip a hair stylist, then she shouldn''t be getting her hair cut even at Supercuts? I''ll be sure to pass that onto my friend with MS. I guess she should cut her own hair?

Stylists CHOOSE to be in that profession. Correct me if I''m wrong, but don''t gals who work in that industry go to school for that and have time to consider other options for making a living? It''s not like a person is FORCED to cut hair for a living. If a hair dresser chooses to work in that field, she should deal with the fact that at times, she may not get a big fat tip.

MC, yes, that''s what I am saying. Sorry if it seems harsh, but in the US, the tip is part of the price of certain services. While I certainly sympathize with those who have disabilities (particuarly MS as it runs in my family and has affected several people who are very close to my heart) or who otherwise have limited financial resources, that does not mean that they get a pass on paying the full price of a service (unless of course they have developed a relationship with the service provider who understands the situation and willingly forgoes a tip). And I am willing to bet there are plenty of generous service providers who would be understanding of your friend''s circumstances, but it should be disclosed up front. Getting your hair cut at a salon (even Supercuts) is a luxury and not a necessity. I have known plenty of people who don''t go to a salon at all, but get it cut at home by a friend or family member.

Whether or not the service people choose this field has nothing to do with the question IMHO.