Not to tip spa/hairdresser?

[becsparkel]

Went to my local spa/salon the other day as a treat (have a 7.5 mo, so this has been a long time coming). Had a lovely relaxing massage & haircut, which was brilliant. The whole thing was pretty expensive and they charged me an extra £10 because I was having a restyle. I don't usually tip spa's as I think they already charge extortionate amounts anyway but I might have tipped the hairdresser if they hadn't charged me an extra tenner.

What's the etiquette and AIBU not to tip the spa therapist and/or hairdresser? The receptionist gave me a dirty look when she saw I hadn't added anything, which makes me wonder if people generally do tip.

Hit me with it!

Zara1984 how do you cope in America out of interest

EFA clearly in the US you have to tip in restaurants. When in the US it's a flat 10% though, and I don't tip anywhere else anywhere in the world. I don't like it, but I've seen first-hand the reaction (waiting staff chasing after you when you leave) when someone doesn't. I understand this is a universal custom in that country because waiting staff are often paid very very poorly in the US - much worse than in the UK. They literally need the tips to live.

However I have run the gauntlet with not tipping barmen in US east coast bars and flatly told them that they should charge more for the drinks if they want more money.

I still think it's bollocks to tip in the US but when I'm over there I can't eat a meal in a restaurant without doing it. In the UK your hairdresser is hardly going to chase you with their scissors if you don't tip....

Repeat after me: it's not the customer's fault if you can't price your services properly.

Interestingly in New Zealand (where tipping in any circumstances is not common), many cafes and restaurants add a 10% service surcharge on public holidays to cover the extra staff costs (staff have to be paid time and a half on public holidays).

If they're struggling, surely the hairdresser/whoever would make more money by increasing their prices by 5% than relying on tips? If someone is providing a good service many customers would be willing to absorb a price increase of 5% or more - I certainly would!

I never tip in the UK, and rarely abroad. I have a behind the scenes type job and no customer would ever tip me. The work I do is just as important though. I don't see why, out of my basic salary, I should increase other people's income. They, like everyone else in the business, should be paid fairly and appropriately.

However I have run the gauntlet with not tipping barmen in US east coast bars and flatly told them that they should charge more for the drinks if they want more money.

Yes we had a barman do that. He was sacked for stealing.

that's dreadful the barman did that erin

After my encounter I did wonder if the barman was going to come back at me with "actually that drink cost $10"....!!

He was at it for ages. He wasn't particularly poor. He was a student from a wealthy family but he was always skint and used to dodge rounds etc. :o

Well, I'm not rich, although I'm comfortable. I work as a teacher and while I'm not rolling in it my monthly salary is more than adequate, and I don't understand why people are dismayed at me spending around £60 a month on my hair. I don't buy designer clothes or shoes, I rarely go out on a social basis and I never ever go away on holiday.

Yes, I do tip my hairdresser. I have a LOT of hair!

A round-dodger AND a thief erin! (Although no surprises, when I'm not with close friends I prefer to

Back on the tipping topic - the law firm I used to work at got bad press when one of its solicitors at the Christmas party (nobody I worked with!) stole money out of the restaurant's tip jar for a taxi home

Moral of the story - it's not mean-spirited not to tip, but it definitely IS mean-spirited to nick money out of tip jar!!

forgot to end that sentence... I meant to say that when I'm not with close friends I prefer for everyone to pay for their own drinks! But of course I would not dodge rounds.

Zara I am in the US (east coast) and $1 a drink or 20% of the bill is the norm tip around here. 10% is a bit stingy if you consider wait staff AND BARMEN are earning $2/hr at most. I can't believe you don't tip barmen here in the US. I am surprised they served you. Please be aware that barmen and waitstaff are not paid proper wages here in the US....

It depends where you are. In Missouri minimum wage applies to waiting staff/bar staff.

I did not know that Supermum. This guy's attitude (when I handed over the exact amount for the drinks) did not appeal - he kept his hand open and said "aaaand??? What about a tip??"

If he had said to me - "Come on - I get paid only $2 an hour! Didn't you know the price of you drinks don't include my service?" - then sure, maybe I would've tipped him.

But if a tip is expected, why don't they put up a sign that says "Service charges are not included. Please tip your waiter/barman at least 20% of your bill"? Hmmm??? Or just pay their staff properly and charge more for the drinks/food themselves. This applies anywhere!!

I gather they - whether it's hairdressers, waiters or barmen - don't put up such signs because it highlights the ridiculousness of the situation that the full cost is not included in the price you pay.

What about if your hairdresser does your hair at their house and has become a friend? I never know whether to tip her or not esp at Christmas ?

Sensual maybe buy her a small prezzie instead of a tip at Christmas if she is your friend too and to show your appreciation? That takes away the uncomfortableness of the stupid tipping situation.

Ooh yes never thought of that will give her a bottle of wine .

Worked as a waitress for years, earnt minimum wage. Tips on top of that made the job worth doing. It's not a particularly hard job (I don't think), but there is often loads of pressure on waiting staff to upsell, and it can be really stressful in that sense. I ALWAYS tip at least 10%, unless the service was completely rubbish (and if it's rubbish because the place is under staffed, then I'd still tip).

I thought it was common knowledge that bar/restaurant staff in the US are paid almost nothing, and tips are used to make up the rest of the wages essentially? That's why eating out is so much cheaper in the US.

Zara I have always known that wait staff and barmen are not paid wages. I know in New York the barmen won't tell you they work for tips as it wouldn't be good service for them to tell you this.

I don't know many people who only work in a bar or wait tables. Most do it in addition to another job, college, raising children. If you can get two Thurs-Sat night slots then you can make a decent living. Other than that you don't make much. The friends I have who work in the local bar midweek make $200-300 a week. This money pays for the extras such as classes for their children, gym memberships and holidays. On weekend evenings they make $1000-$1500 a night depending on the time of year. Those slots are very hard to get and gawd help you if you ask for a fancy cocktail (take up too much time so either tip big ~$5 or get something simple).

No, I don't tip them. They earn more than I do and are already paid a fair amount for what they do. And they certainly shouldn't expect a tip, or give a "look" if they don't get one!

Well I've been to the hairdressers today and spent/tipped the following:

• cut cost £70 with salon owner - did not tip
• colour cost £75 - tipped £5

and left £2 for junior who washed my hair.

I always tip my hairdresser. She does a really good job with my badly behaved hair, and she does my colour so well that it looks really natural. I pay by card but I always make sure I have a tenner on me for the tip - it's my way of showing I appreciate her skills.

But then I tip in general - taxis, takeaway deliveries, as well as restaurants. I think if you get into the habit of tipping so that you always know you'll be doing it, it doesn't feel awkward at all.

See, as I said before I've always tipped my hairdresser, I seriously do not know anyone that doesn't - am in NI. I don't get the "but they earn more than me" argument - I don't tip to supplement their income. I tip her because she does a great job, I feel a million times better when I leave her every month or so. I tip £4-£5 and leave a seperate £1 for the hairwasher.

And I've always left cards, biscuits, sweets etc into the midwives when I've been leaving with the baby.

I tip everyone, especially my hairdresser. Comes in handy when you need an urgent appointment

But surely the extortionate charges that a hairdresser charges clients are enough reward for doing a great job? I just don't get it

They may do a good job, but so do lots of other people in jobs where tips are not usually given.