How much to tip for haircuts?

[Yuri-G]

you are a gay betrayer, but I'll join you. I get my hair cut at a great clips near here. I only do it because most of the girls there are professional stylists who are working there because they say they get a lot more business in a chain place these days, due to the economy. so you get the salon-level haircut, you pay chain store prices, and that leaves you with enough cash to tip them extremely well which means they're still making decent money. everybody happy!

[Atreides]

Yeah, the girl who cuts my hair was just made a manager, she's probably only 3 or 4 years out of beauty school so she's at the point where she's building up a client base. I assume at some point she'll join another salon or open her own, and chances are I'll follow her there along with most of her clients. I guess even great stylists have to start somewhere

[Necronus]

On top of that, it's quite rude for the customer. When I spend 80€ at some restaurant, after choosing for 80€ of meals on the carte, I expect to pay 80€. Adding a 20% tip to this pushes the price up to almost 100€, which comes as a quite bad surprise.
It's better for me to pay a 80€ dinner and give a 2~5€ tip if the waiter is cool, and these 5€ will actually push them above the minimal wage, while they still have a really stable salary.

So tipping sounds bad for the customer and bad for the employee. I guess it works because people feel somehow "richer" or "above" when they give tips (in a way it flatters their ego), which is probably the worst reason to tip.

So, really, I don't understand how this is acceptable in 2010. Sounds like a 1910 system.

I do feel its rude to customers and undermines the entire point of tipping. Tipping is for going above the duties of your job ... be it in the actual product/service itself or simply in demeanor. But here in America, it just part of the assumed cost. Stupid, but in the end its financially equivalent.

(Note: I'll use your currency symbol for synchronisity to your example)

Odds are that 80€ meal you ate would only cost the equivalent of about 66-70€ here in America. Why? With an assumed 18-20% tip (some restaurants its not even optional, they put the tip on the bill automatically) we end up paying 80€.

If we started making minimum wage be the base pay, with tips being reverted to NOT mandatory/psuedo-mandatory, then the price of the meal items would just go up to compensate for the higher labor costs. The meal would still be 80€. Except now it'd make sense WHY you paid 80€ and tipping would actually be a tip, not an obligation.

TLDR Version:

Meal in other countries: 80€ meal + 0€ expected tip = 80€
Same meal in America: 67€ meal + 13€ tip = 80€

[Quixon]

I do agree it's a bit backwards the way waiters/waitresses salaries work here. The business doesn't want to pay them, so I am expected to foot the salary?

That being said, I still typically tip 20% b/c it's not the waiter's fault the system is fucked up. However, if the waiter doesn't come by at least once to check on the food, they get 10%. If I don't like the service, they get nothing.

I also can not stand restaurants that add a mandatory gratuity to the bill. I had one experience at one place I absolutely love to eat at regarding this. Apparently they add a 20% madatory gratuity to parties of 6 or more. This is a very casual seafood place that's been in business for over 30 years. 99% of their business is local and repeat customers I would wager.

Now we had 4 people at our table. Half way into the meal my friends parents stopped by to shoot the shit for a bit. They didn't order anything, just sat down to hang out for a while. We get up to leave, and I tip 15% + a bit to even out the change. I saw the server when I ordered the beverages, when I ordered the food, and when I asked for the check.... that was it.

The bitch actually had the nerve to chase me down, telling me I owed her another 5% for the party of 6 or more. After a bit of back and forth I made her get the owner, and explained the situation and how humiliating that was.

I ended up with a free dinner for two.




TLDR - If you don't earn the tip, you aren't getting the tip.

[Necronus]

I do agree it's a bit backwards the way waiters/waitresses salaries work here. The business doesn't want to pay them, so I am expected to foot the salary?

The customer foots the salary everywhere. It's just that in restaurants and other similar professions, we need to go out of our way to do it. If the restaurants had to pay regular wages, then the meal items would just be increased to compensate. We pay no matter what.

[Asai]

I used to get mine cut for free cuz I had to fix SOMETHING on the woman's computer just about every damn time I went.

[Sanoske]

My haircut costs $28, I always tip $5. Been going to the same guy about 2 years now.

[Siniroth]

I tip $8-12 but the girl who cuts my hair does a super-good job and is extremely hot, would normally only give like $6 if I wasn't getting cans pressed in my face during the shampoo part.

I regularly thank the owner of place I get my hair cut at (friend of family) for the great employees he hires mostly for this reason

[richardd]

slighty off topic:

i kind of want to get my hair straightened lol. im tired of my curly ass hair. would i be obligated to tip those ladies? they make like 30-50 bucks an appointment.


edit: nvm, im not paying crap because im not doing it. ill just have to stop being lazy and carry a comb or something and fonzie it up

[Quixon]

slighty off topic:

i kind of want to get my hair straightened lol. im tired of my curly ass hair. would i be obligated to tip those ladies? they make like 30-50 bucks an appointment.


edit: nvm, im not paying crap because im not doing it. ill just have to stop being lazy and carry a comb or something and fonzie it up

This is one of the reasons I hate our system, and prefer Europe/Asia's system. How the fuck are you supposed to KNOW when to tip. In America Restaurant Service is a given. But like the example above, how do you know when to tip?

I did the same thing myself when I got my tattoo done. I had no idea I was supposed to tip the artist. I don't tip the artist when I buy anything at an art gallery, so why would I tip the tattoo guy. That was my line of thought, and apparently I was wrong lol. After paying near $80/hr, does that guy REALLY need to worry about tips?

[Atreides]

if someone is providing a service other than retail sales then tip, it's really not that hard to figure out if you've lived most of your life in this country. As a general rule you tip everyone who provides a service: mechanics, delivery people, mailmen, maids, waiters, etc. You can always google it if you don't know.

You would definitely tip the people that straighten your hair, 15-20% of whatever the cost is the rule of thumb for anything related to beauty/personal appearance.

edit: also if we're getting technical, it's "customary" if you don't like the service to tip 25 cents instead of nothing. This sends the message that you were unhappy with your service, rather than making you look cheap or potentially making the server just wonder whether or not you forgot. You should probably speak with the server/stylist/manager to resolve the issue but yeah

[jamesfk]

You obviously never done a waiter or barman job. It's anything but easy: lots of work (tons of work to be precise), terrible times to work (cause restaurants and bars work mostly at night).
If it was such good and easy money, be sure they'd be waiters full time instead of studying and striving for a job that pays more for less efforts.

Actually I managed a restaraunt for many years, and have worked the bar and served. Sorry if I struck a nerve, but the job is easy. You dont need any skill other then being a people person and some organizational skills. And at least 90% of the front end staff are full time students. The life sucks, hours suck and working late nights and weekends suck but servers are not the only ones that have to put up with that, and the majority of the rest dont make a killing doint it.

The amount of work compared to any labor job is a joke, you take orders and run food,and get refils.Now im not saying its "easy" theres alot of shit servers have to deal with (which is put off to the manager eventually anyway) but compare the per hour wage+ tips vs even the cook in the back. THe average wage of a cook was $12/h and the server was $7/h+$20/h tip. At 27 an hour I could handle a few cranky moms.

[Quixon]

Tip a mechanic?

Can't say I've ever heard of that in my entire life. I've been in the automotive hobby for a very long time also, not as a profession, but have TONS of friends in the field. Same with delivery people. My good friend has driven for UPS for the last 6 years. He said he was tipped maybe 5 times the entire time he has worked there. You really think it's necessary to tip someone that makes almost $30/hour driving a truck around all day?

I give the garbage man and mailman $20 for Christmas.

Along those lines, are you saying that you would tip plumbers/electricians, what about the guy that delivers your home heating oil? What about a lawyer, they are providing you a service.

[Yuri-G]

if we're talking about tipping anyone who provides a service, I think there's one obvious question to ask... but I don't want to be the one to say it.

because, you know, it involves services... that uh... most of us wouldn't be proud of obtaining. let's just say that.

...ok fine, I'll put it out there:

Spoiler: show

how much do you tip RMT for leveling your character?

[tyven]

i tip strippers, servers, bartenders, barbers, delivery peeps (food). THATS IT

[Atreides]

eh, there's no set rule, I was trying to generalize.

I tip the mechanic but only because I don't take my car in that often, it's led to a situation in which he doesn't cheat me on repairs. When I moved I tipped the guys who lugged all my shit, since they were just employees of the movers and that was their reward for handling all my stuff with care (I've used them twice before). I guess in those 2 instances the purpose of tipping is to form a long term relationship, I'd rather give my mechanic a case of beer every once in a while than get hosed when a light comes on in my car.

As for delivery guys I guess it's kinda weird, as I definitely would tip someone who delivers a big appliance to your house but I wouldn't tip the UPS driver. Then again, someone like the mailman/UPS guy/garbage man or someone you see on a daily basis doesn't need a tip, instead a yearly gift is usually appropriate.

I would definitely tip a plumber/electrician if they gave you a cheap estimate or didn't charge you a lot, to reward someone's honesty or thank them for coming in a hurry. I tip the handyman in my building all the time, now whenever I have a problem he's usually in my apartment in 5 minutes and has whatever is broken fixed in less than a day.

I agree that these are all things that should be able to happen without tips, but if you can grease a few palms to make sure you always get top quality service then I don't see the problem with that.

[Quixon]

You did say it at the end.

But you are basically paying people more money to do the job they were supposed to do correctly in the first place lol.


Now if someone goes above and beyond what they are paid to do already, that's a different story.

For instance:

I call the plumber to fix my toilet. While he is back there he notices a different pipe leaking, and seals it up for me. That guy is getting tipped.


Here's a good one to think about also:


You're at the bar. Beer is $3, Mixed Drinks are $6, and you paid $10 cover. Do you tip at the end of the night? Do you tip after each drink? Do you tip for beer? Do you tip more for beer than for a mixed drink? Do you tip at all?

I never tip per drink if I'm only drinking beer. Shit takes no effort at all to get for me. I'll usually leave $5 or $10 on the bar when I leave though, if the service was good. Mixed drinks I tip $1 every other drink I order usually.

I have friends that won't tip at all if they are charged to get in (and they are drinking).

[Mizango]

Man white barbers are rape. My haircuts come with a beard/stache trim via a straight razor costs me 15 dollars. I usually give 25.00 or so that that gets me perks like not having to wait and making niggas wait longer when I need a really bad ass cut. Not sure of how many of you guys have ever stepped foot into a black barbershop but maaaan, you short change them and you're liable to get a bowl cut or not get faded up right, which is a cardinal sin and something you dont want to be caught dead without.

But anyway, I usually tip 10.00 but will do 7.00 or so depending on how much cash I have on me but it is never less than 5, no if's and's or but's.

[Mizango]

Here's a good one to think about also:


You're at the bar. Beer is $3, Mixed Drinks are $6, and you paid $10 cover. Do you tip at the end of the night? Do you tip after each drink? Do you tip for beer? Do you tip more for beer than for a mixed drink? Do you tip at all?

I never tip per drink if I'm only drinking beer. Shit takes no effort at all to get for me. I'll usually leave $5 or $10 on the bar when I leave though, if the service was good. Mixed drinks I tip $1 every other drink I order usually.

I have friends that won't tip at all if they are charged to get in (and they are drinking).

See I remedy that situation by starting a tab lol. Ive learn that the more buzzed I am and the hotter the chick bringing me drinks my tips go up in steady increments, so after a few months of spending 40 bucks on drinks and tipping an additional 29 or so I simply started a tab and cut that shit in half.

[Quixon]

Yeah, but you save money on the back end by paying your landscapers in Tacos.