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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Tip or not to tip

28 replies

foodtime · 09/12/2016 15:56

I will apologise In advice because this is the ultimate first world problem.

I have just been

spectacularly shamed for not leaving a tip after having my eyebrows threaded. I pay £20 to get them done which I think is pretty damn pricey to begin with.

At the end I thanked the women and payed. She asked me if I thought she did a good job? I said yes and she asked where her tip was. She went on to say if I didn't tip I wouldn't be welcome back again.

This all seems a little harsh. Do we tip our eyebrow ladies now? Have I been completely unreasonable and broken a secret rule? And how much is the right amount.
£1-3 seems an insult but anymore seems crazy!

Sorry this must be the Dullest AIBU to date. I just hate the idea of offending anyone!

OP posts:
StillMaidOfStars · 09/12/2016 16:02

I would have tipped.

But she was VERY rude to request a tip. I'd be taking my business elsewhere, and complaining to owner/manager.

DailyFail1 · 09/12/2016 16:08

I pay £2 to get mine done. Would never tip. Beautician wouldn't expect one either as it would cost her next to nothing to thread (you only need the thread most of which is imported from Asia) and she probably does something like 10 people an hour.

MaisieDotes · 09/12/2016 16:10

Tipping is so awkward. I always tip my hairdresser and waiting staff but not necessarily an eyebrow person.

Ideally I would prefer a straight business transaction where both parties are equal and the price = service. I hate the implied superiority/ inferiority dynamic with tipping. That said I can't imagine not tipping in restaurants.

Just to hijack the thread slightly- does anyone tip the supermarket delivery man?

DailyFail1 · 09/12/2016 16:11

Maisie - never.

Bagina · 09/12/2016 16:13

I don't tip anyone. I would decide that I'm not going there again, not have her tell me.

Katy07 · 09/12/2016 16:13

She asked for a tip and then was obnoxious about it Shock
I hope you told her that with that attitude you wouldn't want to go back!!
I don't agree with tipping unless I get over and above service. People should get paid a decent wage and if they don't then continued tipping just encourages their employers to carry on with crap pay.

Twolittlejobbys · 09/12/2016 16:14

SHE SAID WHAT?? How rude to say you wouldn't be welcome back! Sorry I don't get tipped in my job if I do it well why the hell should anyone else?? At a push I tip taxi drivers at xmas and a small tip when having a meal if the service was good! NEVER tip my hairdresser or beautician. Why? Just why?

TheNaze73 · 09/12/2016 16:14

I'm embarrassed for her asking

Katy07 · 09/12/2016 16:14

I do tip the supermarket man - I give him a lovely present of my carrier bags :)

MissCalamity · 09/12/2016 16:14

£20 to get your eyebrows threaded?! Where on earth do you live?
It's very rude to ask for a tip & for that price even more so. I'd definitely find another place to go to.
I hate all the awkwardness about tipping, I don't think I've ever tipped the lady who does mine (£6 op!!)

Osolea · 09/12/2016 16:14

I wouldn't tip the person that threaded my eyebrows, especially not at that price! Surely for £20, not messing it up and therefore doing a good job is a basic expectation.

You haven't been unreasonable at all, but it would seem crazy to me to go back and let someone that rude loose on my face again.

fabulousathome · 09/12/2016 16:15

Of course you won't go back. How rude and £20 is not exactly cheap. How long did it take the plucker?

FizzBombBathTime · 09/12/2016 16:16

Wow. She was fucking rude. Don't go there again.

Quimby · 09/12/2016 16:21

"At the end I thanked the women and payed. She asked me if I thought she did a good job? I said yes and she asked where her tip was. She went on to say if I didn't tip I wouldn't be welcome back again. "

Tell her to get to fuck

Thisjustinno · 09/12/2016 16:22

I don't tip anyone apart from my mobile hairdresser who charges me £12 for a wet cut (I round up to £15) when I've previously been charged 3/4 times that in a salon.

I'm giving her a £20 tip next week because she a) doesn't charge a ridiculous amount for a trim with a few layers and b) doesn't expect a tip for doing her job and c) it's Christmas and I want to show my appreciation as I know she's saving me a lot of money and not taking the piss.

DailyFail1 · 09/12/2016 16:22

Most people pay over the odds for threading. If you go to an Asian/Indian beautician then they'll do it for you far cheaper and much more thoroughly too.

Tanfastic · 09/12/2016 16:25

I can't believe anyone would be that rude to ask where there tip was! I know some rude people as well.

She sounds like an arsehole of the highest order.

pasturesgreen · 09/12/2016 16:27

£20 to have your eyebrows threaded?!? I don't pay nearly as much and I'm in London!

The beautician was spectacularly rude, no way on earth I'd go back there, and I' make sure management knew why.

Original poster
foodtime · 09/12/2016 16:30

I never tip the supermarket delivery person - oh god I am learning a lot today

OP posts:
TwinkleMumsie · 09/12/2016 16:32

My sister for my wedding booked me into a brow bar, I was 24 and 5 months pregnant with twins. When we got there the brow lady asked if I was her mother. My sister is 18. How old did she think I was??Blush

Original poster
foodtime · 09/12/2016 16:34

I used to pay £3 to get it done when I lived in London. She was amazing and would give a great massage after. Tip was never meantioned then. She was one of the reasons I didn't want to leave London ha

Moved further north and can't find anyone to do it less then £15 and it nowhere near as good!

OP posts:
Original poster
foodtime · 09/12/2016 16:36

Aw TwinkleMumsie that did make me laugh.
I am sure you look young and gorgeous. Maybe she had problems with her eyesight?

OP posts:
SheldonsSpot · 09/12/2016 16:37

I wouldn't have tipped.

£20 for however long it took means that in terms of earnings she's most likely on a much higher hourly rate than the majority of people she threads.

I'm in that industry (beauty) and work for myself. I don't expect tips, if I wanted to earn more I'd increase my prices.

Plus she was spectacularly rude so I hope you told her to fuck right off and didn't tip her.

DailyFail1 · 09/12/2016 16:38

Where I live just north of the Watford Junction it's £10. I find it cheaper to travel further up north to where my parents live (a predominantly Indian area) - local salon I use does it for £2. But they have express brow bars there that only charge £1.

Kel1234 · 09/12/2016 16:44

I would tip personally. However someone should never ask for one