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To tip or not to tip -

(121 Posts)
ExDancer Thu 03-Mar-22 09:18:24

Well, that is the question isn't it?
My hairdresser comes to the house and is self employed, I don't tip her. But every 6 weeks or so I get my eyelashes and brows tinted (otherwise they're invisible) at a salon in town - and she is also self employed, in partnership with another girl - and I do tip her.
What exactly is the etiquette here - who should I tip and how much?
I find the question of tipping quite embarrassing.

felice Sat 05-Mar-22 11:39:02

I am a retired chef, and it does still bug me when people gush about the lovely meal they have eaten, then tip the waiter,,,,,all he did was put it on the table.
I have sacked waiters who stomp into the kitchen with a long list of requests, walk out and do not leave the list, chefs are not machines to read the minds of arrogant toerags.
So if your meal is not as you requested check the attitude of the waiter before you complain about the chef.
Oh and yes I do tip.

TerriBull Sat 05-Mar-22 11:40:08

I know I'm going to get shot down for being disgracefully extravagant, but my last bill for hairdressing was over £200 shock I know bloody awful! Costs have risen dramatically since opening up after Covid, to complicate matters further I moved during that period so am trying out new hairdressers, dumped the first one for insisting on clients wearing the blue maks, instead of our own, masks that were given away freely in shops, but they make a charge of £3.50 for them, which I call taking the piss!. It was however a rude awakening prior to my move and pretty close to London I was paying £100 less than what I'm paying now before lockdown. Going back to the OP, I always tipped but I have baulked at doing so since the dramatic increases.

coastalgran Sat 05-Mar-22 11:40:39

I tip if I feel that I have had good service from the person, I tip the girl who is my beautician as she is the best I have ever been to and her prices are reasonable in comparison to others. I will tip the hairdresser who does a good cut/dry. I used to tip the dog groomer until she announced at Christmas that the price was going up, so yesterday I paid her the fee and left. The service isn't different to last year.

Gwenisgreat1 Sat 05-Mar-22 11:43:04

I always tip my hairdresser - no idea why, but certainly when I worked as a complementary therapist, I don't every remember getting tipped!!

Tooyoungytobeagrandma Sat 05-Mar-22 11:49:58

I usually tip in restaurants and I buy my binmen and postie chocs at Christmas because they are particularly friendly and helpful so I just give them something and wish them a happy Christmas and thank them for their service for the year. My postie is always cheerful and chatty and my bin team really helpful, friendly and put my bin back in place rather than leave it on the street like where I used to live. When I worked in retail now and then a customer would drop a cake, chocs, coffee into us to say thank you for good service used to make our day?

LovelyLady Sat 05-Mar-22 11:50:39

The government tax hairdressers tips. The tax is estimated and they pay tax not only on their income but their tips too.
I feel strongly we should tip and £3 is about minimum.

Pearlsaminger Sat 05-Mar-22 11:51:33

I saw a video on TikTok yesterday, of a meal waiting to be delivered by Deliveroo/Just Eat from McDonalds.

The video stated the buyer had ‘not tipped in advance’, so the meal sat waiting, as no one was prepared to take it - all because no tip had been given.

I always tip after a delivery, depending on when and how the delivery arrives. If the driver is rude or miserable and throws the food at us he won’t get a tip! Sometimes I hand it to the driver in cash, sometimes do it on the app after we’ve eaten.

But… it does explain now why a couple of places I’ve ordered from take over an hour to deliver. I’ve decided to no longer use the delivery apps. If I want a take away I will collect it directly from the shop.

But… Isn’t it their job to deliver regardless? I always thought tips were given for good service and a good meal if that’s what you’re paying for.

Deedaa Sat 05-Mar-22 11:54:05

My hairdresser comes to my house. He's the chap who used to cut DH's hair. I don't tip him but he's retired and just keeps a few customers that he likes. He comes for the chat as much as the money.

Mummer Sat 05-Mar-22 11:55:35

I believe there's no such thing as etiquette! Its outdated and pathetically aspiring upper class tosh! However there's good manners and generosity and appreciation of others' work! If you're pleased with her work, she's pleasant and charges I'll bet a fraction of salon prices, then why do you have to ask?

Mummer Sat 05-Mar-22 11:57:34

Pearlsaminger

I saw a video on TikTok yesterday, of a meal waiting to be delivered by Deliveroo/Just Eat from McDonalds.

The video stated the buyer had ‘not tipped in advance’, so the meal sat waiting, as no one was prepared to take it - all because no tip had been given.

I always tip after a delivery, depending on when and how the delivery arrives. If the driver is rude or miserable and throws the food at us he won’t get a tip! Sometimes I hand it to the driver in cash, sometimes do it on the app after we’ve eaten.

But… it does explain now why a couple of places I’ve ordered from take over an hour to deliver. I’ve decided to no longer use the delivery apps. If I want a take away I will collect it directly from the shop.

But… Isn’t it their job to deliver regardless? I always thought tips were given for good service and a good meal if that’s what you’re paying for.

Exactly! Tips 'taken' routinely and as part of a service without choice is not a tip - it's inflating the price!! Cheeky beggars?

Seabreeze Sat 05-Mar-22 11:57:38

I read some years ago never tip the owner of the salon only the employees. My hairdresser is the owner and clearly much better off than I am. I don’t tip her.

Riggie Sat 05-Mar-22 12:00:08

I was always told that you tip an employee at the hairdressers but if the owner does your hair then you don't tip them. Nut that's difficult these days because the apparent"employee" is a self employed person renting a chair.

I do have a self employed hairdresser and just give her a tip at Xmas. From her apparent lifestyle - fancy car, frequent holidays etc - ahe's better off than me!!

MarathonRunner Sat 05-Mar-22 12:01:19

I used to tip my hairdresser when I went to the salon but now she's had a family she's doing hair at home . She comes to me and the cut and blow dry takes 20 minutes . I don't tip her but I do at Christmas.
I pay her not much less than I paid at the salon . I wash my hair myself and use my own products . I felt that now she's getting the payment whereas before it went straight to the salon owner so the tip was for her own pocket .
Out of interest what do people pay a home hairdresser . It varies so much .

Happysexagenarian Sat 05-Mar-22 12:01:20

I don't routinely give tips. My hairdresser is the salon owner and senior stylist and I was told once it's 'not the done thing' to tip the owner. Also I always pay by card, and I think the prices are high enough anyway without adding a tip!

I never tip cab drivers, never have done. My late FIL was a cabbie and believe me he made a good living at it.

Occasionally I'll tip a waiter/waitress if the service has been exceptionally good. Like the waitress who was absolutely marvellous with the six small GC we had in tow one day. She deserved a medal for her patience and good humour!

Rosebud61 Sat 05-Mar-22 12:03:03

Having worked in the food service industry I am a very generous tippet—30% unless I get bad service. Yes, every service provider deserves a fair wage but they are rarely earning one. I figure what’s the harm in showing a little extra kindness.

Mummer Sat 05-Mar-22 12:05:47

TerriBull

I know I'm going to get shot down for being disgracefully extravagant, but my last bill for hairdressing was over £200 shock I know bloody awful! Costs have risen dramatically since opening up after Covid, to complicate matters further I moved during that period so am trying out new hairdressers, dumped the first one for insisting on clients wearing the blue maks, instead of our own, masks that were given away freely in shops, but they make a charge of £3.50 for them, which I call taking the piss!. It was however a rude awakening prior to my move and pretty close to London I was paying £100 less than what I'm paying now before lockdown. Going back to the OP, I always tipped but I have baulked at doing so since the dramatic increases.

Ooh you're so disgracefully extravagant!! I had my hair wrecked last summer by a so called top salon and it only cost me £180!!
I digress...... Tipping i.e. 'gratuity' meaning given freely as thanks for good service delivered and received. I detest the 'going rate' crup of 15% on a food bill or 20% if city centre whaaaaa?!?! Yer know I did a sterling job for 42 years and we got tipped on e, government officer, not allowed! In fact I received many y bunches of flowers/choice/nightclub tickets/offers of freebies but where possible everything had to be shared with the public(?) Chics left open on public counter flowers in vases on public office etc NOWT was allowed to be kept or taken home, but I knew we were appreciated by peoples reactions and their smiles. We were paid loads anyway so I do think poorly paid who still manage to smile and be excellent deserve a little treat!

Saggi Sat 05-Mar-22 12:05:52

My hairdresser comes to house to cut mine and my husbands hair… she charges £9 each . We’ve always given her £20….. that’s close enough to 10% tip. She’s a nice woman, and we share same sense of humor . So I’m happy to tip her…. as I am to tip a taxi driver . Although my husband was a train driver and nobody tipped him ….or bus drivers!? Weird protocols really.

Mummer Sat 05-Mar-22 12:06:45

#WE NEVER GOT A TIP!!!! EDITING TOOL PLEASE!!!!

MTDancer Sat 05-Mar-22 12:21:45

I don’t tip my hairdresser as she is only doing her job
I do tip the bin and as he is a young lad and he always puts our bin away even though he doesn’t have to. He used to do this before I tipped him and I feel that is giving extra value

knspol Sat 05-Mar-22 12:42:22

In the US it was expected to give a 20% tip to a hairdresser, wouldn't dare not in case the next visit was a disaster. Here I tip £10 each visit. Never tip a tradesperson who comes to the house even when done a great job, never thought about it until I read this page.

Stella14 Sat 05-Mar-22 12:43:05

I don’t tip people who earn all of the money from the price of the service. That’s an established convention. So if hair is done by the owner of a salon, no tip (although I’ve started putting a couple of quid in the box for all the other staff). The beautician who comes to my house, no tip. A beautician employed in a salon 20%.

Ning74 Sat 05-Mar-22 12:44:24

I am not rich but I feel it is mean not to tip. Yes I agree that everyone should be paid fairly for their work but as this does not happen in some jobs, simply not to tip on the basis of it encourages employers not to pay their employees a reasonable wage is not helpful. While such employees are waiting for their employers to behave fairly they suffer financially and might become destitute!

sodapop Sat 05-Mar-22 12:44:32

Rosebud61 I take it your kindness also extends to shop assistants, bus drivers, librarians etc.
SolaceofLattes no need to feel awkward, many of us in later years have a restricted income and should not feel uncomfortable at paying the stated price for the job without tips.

Yammy Sat 05-Mar-22 12:45:15

I tip my hairdresser we have to pay in cash and I don't take the change and any workman who we feel have gone out of their way to be helpful when we get the bill DH rounds it up. The window cleaner always declines so we give him a bottle of something at Christmas, The chap who mends the washer etc, travels at least 25 miles to us so we always put more on his invoice.
.
My Gardiner pops into shops for plants or compost etc and we give more for petrol money. It's worth it.

Cabbie21 Sat 05-Mar-22 12:45:54

I don’t tip anyone these days.
My hairdresser owns the salon and I was always taught that you don’t tip the owner of a business.
We have lots of different postmen/ women. We used to tip the one regular but not some random person. I have never tipped the bin men though my parents used to. There is a whole gang of them, I don’t know if they are the same ones each time.
I don’t tip tradesmen who come to work at my house. They get paid well enough. We pay the plumber very promptly, as he comes quite often for small jobs. Anyone else quotes for a job and that is what we pay.

I think the last people we tipped were the removal men!