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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not tip my hairdresser?

164 replies

hypermum1 · 02/03/2013 16:20

I have been going to her for years and always spend over £100 per visit (once every couple of months) but I never tip her. I think the hair cut is expensive enough let alone adding a tip! And I guess the standard is 10/15% which adds another £10-20 to the whole thing! But the lady before me tipped and now I feel bad for not......! What to do think?

OP posts:
exoticfruits · 03/03/2013 08:38

I think that the message is OP that you can choose, 50% will think you right whichever you do!

PuffPants · 03/03/2013 08:39

I don't tip the hairdresser. She tells me the price and I pay it. Isn't that how commerce works?

If I pay £50 for a 45 min cut and blow-dry I consider I have paid plenty. It's up to them how the money is distributed.

rottentomatoes · 03/03/2013 09:27

exotic Fruits "They will continue getting rotten pay while they are expected to get tips."

This is not true at all. It may have been true before minimum wage was introduced but not now. Wages will not change because people stop tipping there will just be more people earning minimum wage.

exoticfruits · 03/03/2013 09:38

It still doesn't answer why lots of people are on a minimum wage - give a service and yet never get tips. (Or only at Christmas)

Jossysgiants · 03/03/2013 09:44

I always tip for hair. I factor it into the cost if you see what I mean. I tip a fiver to the hairdresser and a couple of quid to the hair washer. I suppose I wouldn't tip if it was their own business.

rottentomatoes · 03/03/2013 09:46

I'll answer to those who want to know why tips are not given to all minimum wage or customer facing jobs.

Generally tips are given for luxury services, things that are not essential. So dining out, pampering, taxi's etc. These are all seen as luxury's and non essential (generally) so therefore the theory is that if you can afford the luxury then you leave something for the person serving you.

It makes perfect sense to me that you don't tip a bus driver because it's a basic service not a luxury.

StuntGirl · 03/03/2013 09:49

My reply wasn't to you lavender!

rottentomatoes · 03/03/2013 09:54

Other than extreme circumstances, such as the lady who posted about having mental health issues and not working, I think people should tip for luxury services.

As others have said you should just factor it into the cost. Using the fact that other jobs, such as carers, are poorly paid to justify not tipping is not right IMO.

MamaBear17 · 03/03/2013 10:01

I never tip. I pay on card and it never occurs to me.

valiumredhead · 04/03/2013 08:17

That's like saying you should never take a taxi if you can't afford a tip! Utterly ridiculous, I've never heard such nonsense

lannyshrops · 04/03/2013 11:21

I don't tip my hairdresser. He is the salon owner, has a 5 bed detatched, has a holiday home in Spain and drives a Mercedes. I have a 3 bed semi, drive a Yaris and have no holiday home. I'm afraid I just can't tip him as it just wouldn't feel right to me.

KindleMum · 04/03/2013 11:52

I don't tip and I hate the entire system. I want pricing to be transparent, I want businesses to pay a living wage. And the period when employers were allowed to use tips as part of the NMW was just ridiculous. Most of the time it doesn't reward good service as those who tip tend to tip regardless. Tipping rewards customer facing staff while ignoring those who do important but badly paid jobs elsewhere. And I don't really care if they're trainees on NMW, there are plenty of other jobs that also pay trainees a pittance and don't get tips and probably have university debt attached as well.

And the idea that people should cut back on their hairdressers, window cleaners etc if they can't afford a tip is insane. Any business and employee would prefer that they kept your custom rather than lost it because you can't afford a tip.

I do however reward voluntary workers that have benefited me and mine and I've had rows with people over this. 2 Christmases, in 2 different locations I've given a present to the volunteer who runs the mums and toddlers group I've attended. At the same time I was asked for £10 for a Xmas collection for my older child's school teacher. I declined to pay £10 for the teacher who is doing a job that she is paid for but I've been amazed both times at the grief I've got from others for discreetly giving the volunteer toddler group leader a gift ( the very same people who have given money/gifts to the school teacher). Apparently you should tip the paid worker but not show your appreciation to the volunteer because "they choose to do it". I'll do it my way, each to their own.

Murphy0510 · 04/03/2013 12:29

My hairdresser rents a chair in a salon. She had to pay a flat fee for this per day that she works, plus a percentage of what she earns. She has to buy all her own products and hairdressing tools. Despite this, she earns £200 per day after paying for child care and all her equipment.

After she told me this, I don't tip her. She has Caribbean holidays and drives a sports car. She doesn't need a £3 tip. If I was going to tip it would be to the apprentice that washes my hair as chances are they would appreciate the money more.

Murphy0510 · 04/03/2013 12:31

When I worked for brewers fayre we weren't allowed to keep tips. We had to put them into a pot and they were then given to management and to full time staff. I never saw a penny of any tips that I got. I hate it in restaurants like frankie and bennys when you pay by card and they give you the opportunity to add a tip onto your bill. Like the waitress serving you will ever see a penny of it.....

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