My daughter got me a massage/pedicure gift certificate of $250 for my birthday. It’s in about an hour and I just panicked. Should I tip cash to each person? The certificate had about $30 left over after the bookings (two different people). Am I overthinking? Is $20 a good tip? Any advice will be appreciated 😅
Perfect answer!! Thank you so much! ♥️
Yes I would tip cash to each person, and ideally it would be 15% of the services minimum (in my VHCOL area we’re up to 20% being the norm tip).
Thank you 🌸
Just a quick tip - if you’re typically a 20% tipper like me, I usually top an extra $5- $10 per nail service I receive. Nail techs spend SOOO much time on those services, make the least hourly at most spas, and are dealing with breathing up that stuff (and for pedis, bending their backs quite a bit). For other services a standard 15-20% is fine.
Such great points! Thank you!!
🌸 Just coming back in to say the service of both was outstanding so I left cash tips for both AND there was enough left on the gift card for a 90 minute facial that I scheduled for the future ♥️ I agree with living wages for all. Tips should NEVER be counted as part of someone’s wages, just a bonus.
I would tip what you would pay if you were paying for it — see how much of the card can be allocated to the tip and adjust accordingly :)
Right, this is what my daughter said 🙃 Also “Quit panicking, Mom. It’s supposed to be relaxing!”
Yes. She got you this gift so that you can relax.
Usually you can't use funds from a gift certificate to pay tips. You can pay tips with cash or a credit/debit card. 20% per service provider is the norm where I am.
Thank you! Good to know! 🌸
I would actually inquire with the spa about this. I’ve worked at and visited spas where leftover funds can definitely be incuded towards tip. If yours has extra the person may have included it.
I work front desk at a salon. At mine, you can add tip on the gift card, but I know that’s not the case at every salon, so I would bring cash with you just in case. Most people try to tip about 20% unless something was wrong with the service or they just don’t like tipping or whatever (then it might be less). Some tip more if they really love it or if they regularly see the provider. But roughly 20% is good, as long as it’s a good experience. Enjoy!
Shouldn't the tip be determined by the service? If the service is outstanding, leave a tip. Otherwise, no tip is required
No people with taste leave tips for service workers because we don’t protest the system by hurting the workers who have no say in the system.
It's unfortunate your country treats it's workers that way, but tips are not the answer
Like I said, the system maybe a problem but protesting it by punishing the people who are living paycheck to paycheck and don’t control the system is not the solution.
The mentality that not tipping equals punishing people is what keeps the tipping system entrenched
That server is working under the current system making minimum wage, relying on tips to make rent and buy food. When you take that table and refuse to tip in protest of the system that server has no control over, yes you are taking a way money they need for rent, punishing them for your protest.
If you want to ethically protest tips then don’t eat at places that ask for them and ensure they pay a living wage.
This thread is about massages and pedicures not servers and restaurants
Agreed, that’s how it is in Europe, Americans r just weird and should start paying their people decent wages instead of tipping
Tips can be a problem and a reasonable person can still see how you don’t protest the systemic problem by punishing the server who has no control over it. They don’t magically make more money that night in their base pay because you didn’t tip, they’re just short on rent.
Doesn’t work like that in europe
I love this subreddit so much 😭
Not American. Sorry your country doesn't value it's workers
Your country is not very classy and you should take a hard look at what your defending here instead of admitting workers rights is something the US does a poor job of
I usually tip $20/hr of service.
Doesn't matter if it's the 40 dollar massage parlor or the $150 massage somewhere fancier. Fancier places are pricing in amenities. The low rent places.. tbh... I just feel like they deserve more than 20% if they do a good job.
Gratuities are per service provider unless the policy of the spa is to auto-gratuity. If it is not auto, 15-20% per provider is normal.