About tipping in America

[AnnaLiza]

I was in LA last week and decided to get a haircut so I went to a salon near the hotel which had good reviews. The owner was the sole hairdresser and did a decent job at cutting my hair but it was by no means the best haircut I've ever had. Anyway, when I was paying ($85) his secretary asked "so are you leaving a tip for Nico today?". I must have gone purple as I was not expecting that...I then said "I don't think it's necessary" and hurried out as quick as I could, feeling like the meanest person ever, which I'm not at all.
I can just about undertstand tipping the waiter when there's no national minimum and they rely on tips for a living...but what's the justification for asking for a tip when you're a professional who charges $85 for a haircut? I find it very rude to be asked for money and then made to feel like shit for not forking out more. If you think $85 is not enough then just charge more and let people decide if they want to pay for your services.
Am I missing something?

I tip my hairdresser and I would certainly tip one in the US.

We have just returned from Mexico, I had a pedicure in the spa at the resort, I tipped the lady who carried it out.

I tip hairdressers and also the youngster who washes my hair. (UK).

God, just realized I sound really stingy. I do always tip 20% in restaurants for good service, 15% for average service but get confused about the greyer areas.

worldcitizen mine is "how are the first few bites?" I have a mouthful, I don't want to talk.

As well, the standard questions. I asked a shop assistant for a particular album in a record store. It wasn't there so I bought what I had chosen. "Did you find everything you wanted?". Ummmmm, no.

Yes I tip here always, it's minimum 15% I usually go for closer to 20%. If you don't tip a waiter they will be out of pocket, they are taxed on tips, and it's figured by how much food was bought at their table. So if you don't tip the tax man still takes taxes like you gave them a cash tip.
I only tip in sit down restaurants the waiters are usually paid less than minimum wage and it's made up by tips. So Starbucks can whistle I'm not putting money in their jar at the register, they are paid more per hour to work there, and they don't have restaurant service. More like fast food. My son was working in a fast food chain during high school they weren't allowed to accept tips.
Taxi's, hairdressers, etc I do tip also.

I've always tipped my hairdresser.

I can vaguely remember reading something (years ago) that HMRC assumes hairdressers are paid tips and tax them accordingly.

I always tip my hairdresser and she owns the salon.
I tip after eating out but I won't if service has been poor. I have even asked for the 'service charge' to be removed if it's added to the bill as I'd prefer to give money directly to the staff.

Napa I like your hairdresser story, as it is a perfect example for showing your disappointment, actually your anger, and it is clear you do not wish to have anything to do with them and most likely won't recommend them either.

They got your message and that's fine. That's how you do it there.

wonky I doubt it varies by region, it is pretty similar and an all-american way of life, I'd say.

They probably asked OP because they noticed she was foreign & reckoned she wouldn't get the local custom.

I kind of think it's crap system, too, and I'm American! BUT the tips are a huge part of the income for those who get tipped, their actual wages are often poor even if you think you paid a lot. Waiter Rant is good for explaining the economics.

Baggers at our supermarket aren't supposed to accept tips. But I have seen people give them change, or a dollar. I don't bother, I take my own stuff to the car and leave them to help the elderly, or Moms with a load of kids.

MrsTerry it's hilarious!!!!!! I cannot stop laughing, as I still cannot really understand how this is supposed to be good service

I cannot stop laughing...can't get that picture out of my head now

I've had long discussions with my American friend about tipping - who, when, how much etc. etc. When I'm with her over there I always give her a look if I'm not sure or she nudges me or whispers (e.g. when we're in a bar). But she reckons absolutely don't tip the supermarket bag packing people. No idea why, but she's my guru so that's my answer!

Napa that's exactly right IMO. It is a gratuity after all ado why would I leave even 10% if I didn't feel like it?
On another occasion I got my arm pits waxed and the girl did a right mess. She made me bleed because she kept pulling and pulling and not getting it out. I politely said to just leave it because it was hurting.
When i had to pay once again i got asked for a tip and didnt leave one.
Also I'm confused as to where to draw the line. I do tip taxi drivers and hotel staff as the norm but for other services I generally don't whether Im in the uk or North America. I

I also would second, that baggers are not supposed to accept tips. it is really not common practice at all, BUT on a U.S. military base, there it is the norm to tip in the commissary.

I tip my hairdresser. She's lovely and chatty and I can't imagine she makes a fortune.

I don't tip the large impersonal place in my nearest city.

I do tip everywhere in the USA although I tend to 10% rounded down, I get very fed up of it.

Strangely although you had to tip absolutely everyone that moved in California it didn't seem expected at Disney and around Orlando anything like as much.

We travel to the US a lot and have got used to the tipping culture. However, there are some instances that bug me like compulsory gratuity of 18% for parties of 6 or more at restaurants - even if your youngest in the group of 6 is an infant that isn't eating as in our case. I think normally you're expected to double the sales tax which is about 7% so compulsory 18 is a bit of a cheek IMO!
DH and I were in a bar in Florida at the weekend and ordered a cocktail each. I gave the barman $50 to pay for the drinks which came to about $20 and he asked me if he could keep the change
Napa no you're not expected to tip for the people who take your bags to the car. At Publix supermarket they have a sign that says this.

We only tip in restaurants when we go to America. If they are incredibly bad at their job - don't ask if we want refills/ serve under cooked meat/ get the order wrong/ give our order to another table by mistake/ taking a 20% tip out of the change before returning it to us cheeky bitch ect (has all happened during one meal) then we tip 1 cent (or a larger amount reflecting our experience) as not tipping could suggest that we simply forgot.

blue that's more than cheeky

It's the 'compulsory' element that gets my goat. OK, I get that wages might be poor in the service industry in the US but eating out is not exactly cheap, so where does the money go if not to provide decent pay for the staff? Nor is an $85 haircut cheap. What's the rationale for tipping the salon owner, ffs?

And what if you genuinely don't think the service was worth 15 pct of the bill? Not to mention it's inconsistent -- you don't tip staff in fast food joints, hotel receptionists, or bus drivers, or cabin crew. DH refuses to tip in the US unless service is worth it and then 10-12 pct max. (I scuttle out hastily in his wake.)

We generally tip around 10-12 pct in restaurants in the UK if no service charge has been included, and round up a bit; eg if a bill was, say 89 quid, we'd leave £100. Always tip taxi drivers and hairdresser (a freelance and who comes to me), again around 10 pct. Tip workmen or builders £10 or £20 depending on the length and cost of the job, but only to show appreciation of a job well done. But, crucially, all that is entirely up to us.

Exactly tartyflette. I could have written that myself (except I don't tip hairdressers in the UK either!)
I'm quite generous when I feel someone deserves it but if I feel forced I just leave nothing.

IME tipping is expected everywhere and for everything in the US. The amount expected seems to be rising every time we go there too. Last year they were expecting 20-25% as a tip! It's about time employers starting giving their staff proper wages rather than expecting the public to do it for them.

They have a two tier minimum wage in the USA - jobs that are normally tipped (waiters, taxi drivers, hairdressers etc) get a lesser minimum wage as it is expected that tips will make up their wages.

PILs's friend had dreadful service in one New York restaurant and refused to leave a tip when asked. However when they left the restaurant a member of staff followed them out and down the street, hassled them and shouted and pretty much demanded a tip. Good for them, they stuck to their guns and refused and quickly marched off.

great post tartyflette

great post tartyflette