To not tip the beauty therapist?

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I've just been for some waxing and a manicure at my local beauty salon. They had a 15% off deal on and my bill came to £50 odd quid. I thought about a tip but then thought what's the point in paying a tip when it would cancel out the discount and I had already spent quite a lot in the salon. I know tips go straight to the therapist and I do often leave a small tip but at the end of the day she gets paid for doing her job. I did come away feeling a bit mean though.

Are tips still the norm these days?

I imagine she got paid for the work she did on you. No-one tips me I am a nurse so I return the favour.

I had the same thought myself yesterday. I didn't tip in the end but I was torn because my therapist was so much better than the last time I had a wax but at the same time my bill was £49 for a half leg wax and a bikini wax so I really didn't think I needed to pay any more money!!

I think I concluded that it would be fairer for me to get a discount when my first wax was so bad (wax left all over my legs and she missed patches) rather than pay extra to the therapist who actually just did the job right!

This was me a few days ago, got 20percent off on waxing, but then if I tipped It would have been pointless seeing as the offer is only between certain times and I made a huge effort to fit around it.

YANBU. I don't think anyone should feel obliged to tip. It should be a reward for good service, not an expected extra. Also I don't get why it's considered normal to tip some people (taxi drivers, wait staff, beauticians, etc) when a lot of people don't get anything 'extra' for doing a good job.

Don't even get me started on service charges in restaurants.....

I have this constant worry. The last times I have had my nails and hair done I have just paid the exact bill and scuttled out feeling tight and like they'll be talking about me not tipping.

I also don't tip just going for an 'ordinary' meal - especially when a sulky teenager has just thrown your food at you. I will if someone is very good though - we had a terrible time at a restaurant once and the waiter was brill and we had about half off our bill so DP went and gave him some of what we had saved but I also don't get why some people are tipped and some aren't - are you also subsidising the companies who pay crap wages and rely on it being made better with tips?

Thanks all. Glad it's not just me then . Think I will carry on not tipping - it will save me quite a bit!

I don't tip for waxing. Takes five minutes and costs me 15 quid. I'm paying enough.

I always tip my beautician and hairdresser but I always go to the same place and they have been fab about fitting me in at short notice and even after hours on occasion as I work crazy shifts.
Restaurant's not so much. I tend to tip only if the food/service has been great.

You are not being unreasonable.

There is a general custom that I and others I've spoken to buy into that when someone touches your body (basically beauty treatments and hair), you tip them. However a tip is also a sign job done very well so if the job is only adequate the therapist would be unreasonable to expect a tip.

As I live abroad I've found out that tipping customs can differ hugely. Of course I didn't expect them to be identical but the breadth of variation surprised me. Basically on the continent there is less tipping. I'm not sure I could survive in the U S A with adding up gratuities in my head and then sales tax too in some places!!

I would probably tip if I went somewhere very cheap or if they were a travelling beauty therapist. A pricey place probably not but only because I am skint is the price of the place alone would mean it was a real treat. Where do you get a wax that take 5 mins?!

I worked in salons for years, some clients tip some don't, Tips are a nice bonus but not expected and you wouldn't be thought badly of for not tipping. So don't feel guilty not like you did anything wrong

Thanks IceRocket, that's good to hear.