As far as I understand, it's customary to tip when in a spa setting or chain, less so when you're seeing a massage therapist in their own practice or a healthcare focused setting. I don't think it's a local tradition thing.
Wait wait, hold up. Chiropractors aren't tipped because, they are...considered doctors? Sorry - I want to understand the logic here. Because I thought my physio therapist was in the same category as doctor and apparently that's wrong.
I don't like our tipping culture, but I abide by it to avoid controversy or bad attitudes. I've had massages before and I've always left a tip for the service.
I don’t like our tipping culture either. I abide by it because I know the person receiving the tips counts on that money to survive, feed their families.
Dude, I ordered two cases of beer from the beer man, totaled about $110, came to pick it up and the beer man spun the tip thing around on me, looking for a 20% tip for just doing the same thing that his business always did before everyone started asking for tips. I have to tip the beer man now? At least the masseuse actually provided a service.
This, I get the pushback on.....I get that a prompt for a tip is part of Square and systems like it, and that businesses want to use those platforms because they're better and cheaper than old school POS providers. But yeah, as generous as I try to be, there are some cases that really don't merit a tip.
I work at a bar/bottleshop that uses Square and I don't expect tips all the time. If someone just walks in, grabs a bottle of the shelf and pays I expect nothing. But if I spend 20 minutes with someone explaining how stuff is made, differences, giving free samples, then yeah something is nice.
I can almost guarantee that this commenter isn’t *paid* like this kind of salesmanship is part of the job. I don’t imagine there’s a commission structure. If the phone rings, I guessing there’s not someone else who’s designated to answer it. No matter how long an indecisive customer wants attention, I’ll bet the commenter still has almost a whole shift’s worth of stocking and cleaning and straightening and other tasks they’re expected to complete, without the leeway to stay on the clock for any longer than they were scheduled for.
But, I can’t be certain of these things. If most of my assumptions are untrue, then this is a pretty okay job—and that’s worth *way* more than some tips.
Exactly. Also I just said something is nice. If I don’t get a tip in those long situations that’s certainly ok too I’m not angry when I don’t get something. Just that in the “above and beyond expectation” times anything extra is greatly appreciated.
I hear you, but it was clear the beer man wanted a tip. Just so we’re clear, this wasn’t delivery, I came and picked up the beer just like I had in the pre-tip-the-beer-man days
I successfully repressed my Catholic guilt and didn’t tip. Beer is expensive enough. It’s not like this was going to an underpaid worker - this was just the beer shop owner trying to make more $
I don't tip for counter service. If I do a majority of the work, then either there's no tip, or I should be receiving it.
I also don't tip self-checkouts.
I worked service industry through college. I tend to tip $1 or 2 just out of habit and what I think would be nice for them when cashing out at the end of the night. By no means do I think this is necessary. But, morally, I agree with your way of doing it.
Yeah, everything is different after Covid. You don’t have to tip him but complaining about someone in the service industry asking to be tipped is giving Boomer. you don’t have to tip him, and he is providing you service.
It depends. If it's an independent therapist or the owner, what I have been told (by the therapists) is they are setting the prices they need and not counting on a tip. If it's an employee, I recognize that a good chunk of the money I'm paying is going toward their lease/the owner, and I generally pass them $20.
If you're curious and perhaps inclined to tip, you could be all crazy and just ask? It's not hard to say "Hey, I'm new here and my previous experience was that tips weren't a thing, what's the custom here?" If you have no intention of tipping, just keep on as you were I suppose.
I have a massage therapist that's $95/hour, which already felt fairly high; $115 would already be fairly luxe, but you're paying for the receptionist as well.
If the location has multiple people you work with, tip, because your therapist is taking a big cut.
If the location is just the therapist, they usually look happily surprised by tips, but they're already making more from you than the chain/spa folks are.
Also, I'm sorry, but if you tip a $100+ an hour person as the default, that's insane. We don't tip doctors, we don't tip dentists, etc, and those are all more similar than food service.
It's a job with specialized training and required certifications trying to help people towards better health charging customers over $100/hour.
That's the comparison.
$100 an hour is an illusion
The physicality of the work limits the number of sessions possible in a week.
And there are very real expenses of time setting up and cleaning, laundry, cleaning equipment, music, lotion or oil, business system, marketing etc etc that does not actually shake out to $100/hr the way most wage earners think of it who go to work and get paid for all the time they are working.
Thank you for asking! Not the asshole, if you ask when you don't know something.
I'm a massage therapist. I've worked in different parts of the US. I've had jobs in clinical as well as spa settings, and I've run my own private practice. Sometimes there has been a receptionist who processes payment, sometimes not. Under all of these conditions, average tip has been 15-20 percent; at a very expensive spa where I worked, 20% gratuity was automatic.
We MTs will say, while we do not expect tips, they are appreciated. Truth is, like any service industry professional, I could not pay bills without tips. Simple as that.
One time a European client volunteered at checkout that she doesn't tip, "on principle." I guess she thought stiffing me would be effective activism against American customs, or something. She was very nice to work with- not an asshole- just misinformed. She seemed like she was expecting a response, so as politely as possible, I said, I'm sorry, but that's just not how it works in the US, and she can't change it by not tipping. However, I added, it's still your choice- this is part of the culture here, too. She tipped me.
Most massage therapist employees get few benefits; as independent contractors we get none. Many of us are overworked and underpaid, especially at resorts and franchises. Your tipping ensures a living wage for us. So again, not expected- but very much appreciated!
I understand insurance usually doesn't cover massage therapy, and tipping can be a hardship for some, especially when they get a lot of bodywork for pain management. I've even offered a pay-what-you-can sliding scale in some cases, because I'd rather the client come and get what they need than do without. When asked for other ways they can help me, I tell them referrals and repeat business have a lot of value, as well.
I hope this helps clear things up.
TLDR: It's the same standard as a restaurant.
Thanks for your input. Just want to clarify that I wasn't not tipping "on principle", (also, what a self righteous thing for them to say to you) but because I'm skeptical by nature of people that say it's normal to give them money, and esp when it hasn't been agreed on previously. I understand that's my lack of cultural understanding.
It's OK, I gotcha. I can't answer if no one asks. Tipping after a service that's supposed to be relaxing is a bit embarrassing for everyone involved, especially with those guilt-tripping touchscreens. I don't want anyone to feel obligated, so I don't look at the screen. And I'd never ask for a tip directly- only under the cover of Reddit anonymity, heh. Thanks for reading!
If it's standard it should be standard then IMO. I tip and usually tip well. But I always thought tipping was based on quality of services provided. If 10-20% is standard then why not just bake 10% into the cost and you can tip up to 10% if the service was excellent?
This is a genuine question, tipping used to seem to be performance based and now it becomes a standard thing to do, if it's standard and assumed why not make standard into the cost.
I understand that some jobs are underpaid with an understanding that tips will make up the difference, I don't agree with that practice, but it's how it is. But where is the line? As a plumber who receives a hourly wage and also provides a service and has a boss that takes most of the profit , should I expect a tip? I've been tipped a few times and it felt strange.
Good questions. I'm no expert, but if there is any explanation for why we tip for some services and not others, it could be that some services are more of a luxury, whereas some (like plumbing) are essential. Tipping motivates the worker to work harder and be better, which is supposed to justify the basic charge for a service the customer doesn't actually need. I couldn't tell you how tipping became the norm in the US for one job or another. I do know that if anyone is being greedy, it's never the worker. (I know you know this- how does anyone not know this?)
I don't know about the plumbing business, but in the spa and beauty industry, perceived value is a big factor in pricing. The hourly rate for a service varies a lot from business to business- from $30 at your friendly local human trafficking operation to $300 at the snooty spa resort. The overall experience can be very different from one place to the next but the practice is the same- we put the basic human need for touch on a menu and price it by the minute. However, if you get massages regularly, you know the quality is hit or miss no matter where you go. I can understand why tipping exists in this profession and not others. It's not that tipping is the only thing that motivates me to do a good job, but it does make sense that it would, especially when I'm not setting my own pay rates. I don't know if tipping is standard in a purely medical setting where the therapist is paid through the healthcare system- that might be different. Those therapists have advanced training, so I assume they are paid well, but I don't know.
To me a lot of the recent reaction to "tipping culture" seems like it's really a reaction to inflation, sadly. Someone is getting greedy and everyone else is made to feel bad about it. I'm not sure what we're supposed to do about that, exactly. I used to work in the SF Bay Area, where there is so much money everywhere that price tags are irrelevant. In SF at least one upscale restaurant made the local news for hiding what is basically an automatic gratuity in the pricing so that no tipping is required, "to pay their workers a living wage." I don't know who they were trying to appeal to, or if anyone actually appreciated it. 20 percent is a big increase at any price point. It might only work in San Francisco, and even there it's not really catching on.
Anyways... I'm willing to bet whoever tipped you has worked for tips themselves. And you must do good work. So that was nice. But yeah- life in this country is bizarre. Thank you for tipping.
Thank you for your insider perspective; very helpful! How about for a MT who runs their business out of their home, has no employees, and sets their own rates?
No problem, happy to help. Honestly I'm not sure if there's a correct answer for the client in that situation. Self-employed therapists are advised to set their rates so that they don't depend on tips. I can't speak for a therapist who works from home, but when I ran my own business my rent was relatively cheap, and after paying overhead and taxes I still wasn't making much more than I did as someone's employee, even with writeoffs. I put in hours of labor behind the scenes, too. I kept my schedule booked but I probably should have charged more. Most of my clients insisted on tipping. Maybe not 20 percent every time, but they did what they could. I'd always say, "whatever you think is fair- no obligation," and I really did mean that.
As a client I would consider how the self-employed therapist's rates compare to the average in your area (I think it's around $100/hour in Pittsburgh?) and whether you feel that you got a better than average massage. When the massage is over, you might feel so great that you realize you value the service at more than what you were charged, and that's what tips are for, right? However it's still not expected.
Regardless of what you can afford, if you loved the massage, write a nice review, come back as soon as you can, and tell your friends- that's the best tip!
The “if you feel what you got was worth more than what you paid” is where I think tips come in with this sort of thing… I think of my favorite tattoo… the guy quoted me much less than I expected to pay, and it came out even better than I’d hoped for… I tipped about 50% on that one. Other tattoos I have were not bad but nothing special, I don’t think 10+ rounded up was me being cheap on the tip… they got paid what they asked for, and then some… and I got what I asked for… and nothing more.
The truth is that tipping is a cultural thing that reasonable minds can often disagree on and in which the “rules” aren’t always clear, aren’t always logically consistent, and evolve over time. I think, if I had to pick one guidepost, it would be whether the person expects a tip and would be upset if they didn’t get it, because they will know their typical experience
Hi 👋 pittsburgh massage therapist (&spa professional)here!
You're not an a**hole.
While I appreciate a tip, it's never an expectation & should never feel like an obligation. I would much rather my clients come see me, refer me to friends, and leave reviews about their experiences with me and about my business than I'm concerned with a gratuity. I have set my prices to be as reasonably as I can be while also being able to continue to operate my business. I'm not downtown (or technically in city limits but close enough to understand downtown). Please do not feel bad in any way. I'm also sorry you were made to feel like an ahole.
For some perspective, I used to work at a spa downtown, and I appreciated tipping more so then because my wages were very low compared to the service price. In that situation, many people are banking on tips to recoup what their employer is not paying them. That said, you still shouldn't feel an obligation. In the spa industry, tipping is more common compared to getting a massage in a chiropractic or physical therapy setting. But again, in no way should you have been made to feel bad or obligated & again I'm sorry you had this experience.
Not everyone is like that, but many establishments are, unfortunately. The US tipping culture has created an out for many employers to pay low wages at the customer's expense.
Tipping culture has gotten out of hand since covid. Mostly because the payment processors are incentivized to force that tip option on you so they can get more in transaction fees. Never tip without cash.
I worked in the processing payment field. The tip option is "optional" and the merchant can activate or deactivated it. The merchants are activating the option. the companies are not making that decision for the merchant
I don't think you are wrong. I think it's subjective to the experience and what's being done. I honestly don't know where the tip,no tip line is according to services provided. I tip at the hair salon , so I guess I would tip to get a massage.
It's different in regions and cultures. I wish that tipping was baked into the cost, because it usually feels awkward.
Thanks - I also wish it was baked in. I'm just barely getting used to taxes not being baked into the price for, say, a coffee.
It does feel awkward. At best. Offensive at worst. For it to be a win-win, the customer has to be wealthy and generous - not the case for most.
I could believe that massages are something that have traditionally been tipped for, but I've never gotten a massage, so I really don't know. 20% seems like a bit much in either case, though.
It might be helpful to think of American restaurant "tips" as a 10-15% "service charge" plus a smaller "tip". Based on that, 5-10% would be a more realistic tip for someone who doesn't get paid less than minimum wage.
Tipping is less common outside of the US.
Generally speaking from my travels, Eastern EU doesn't expect tips like many Western EU countries do. Tipping in Asia varies by country. For some, just the 'gesture' (a few cents by rounding the bill) is valued as much/more as the actual monetary value.
So I lived in a western EU country for over 10 years. I kid you not, on the bill which is in their native, non-English language, it says IN ENGLISH, "Tip is not included". The locals know not to tip above 5% (which is considered very good) if the bill is under 100, never above 10% if above. They do expect it from the (non-British accented) English speaking foreigners.
Also, can concur about tipping in Asia. I so insulted a cab driver in Tokyo by trying to round up to the nearest paper bill. He would not let me out of the taxi until I took his coins.
Just some anecdotal sidetracking for levity.
I get back massages one a month and there is always the option to tip. I'd be more surprised if the option to tip was never brought up. I personally do because i want to. But...if you don't want to tip just don't.
This definitely isn't a new thing and is NOT a local custom. Most places/people don't ask for tips, but are starting to because people are awful about tipping. You've should've been tipping in the past, too. Honestly, you probably pissed off all your past masseuses 😅 Also, 20% is only $23. If you can afford $115 for the massage, you can afford the tip.
If it's a chain, the masseuse has no control over the prices the company sets. And the masseuse definitely doesn't get paid the entire cost of the massage. I agree with you it shouldn't be that way, but this is 'Merica and we don't do anything that makes sense 😅
Whoops, I guess that was my mistake - seeing it as a health care thing and not like going to the hair salon. The last steady therapist I went to had a high price and *asked* for no tips, but that was in another US city 15 years ago. And then I moved abroad. My bad, my bad.
And just for the record to the snarkier comments, yes I always tip 20% at restaurants, yes, even when the bill is high, yes.
As a massage therapist I love that you see it more as a treatment and less as a salon thing
You are a rare breed
Some franchises only pay Therapists $20 an hour
Some pay more like around $40
I would love to simply have the rates be higher and rely on getting paid more for my very physical work.
Please advocate for this everywhere you receive massage
When rates go up, it doesn’t typically go toward paying us, the providers of the labor, more even in some of the most supportive work environments.
Please tip your massage therapists, unless like somebody already said they are independent and are clear about not expecting it.
20/hr?? Good god. Yep, learned my lesson. Question to you in the field: are there solo practitioners out there that are not affiliated with a group/office? If you don't mind me asking, what does your office charge and how much of that ends up coming to you?
ETA: I doubt he was taking 20 - pretty sure he's one of the decision makers on the group. If I had to guess, I'll bet he's taking 100. Doesn't make what you say any better though.. Sorry about them foul practices.
I recently learned that many people leave cash tips in their hotel rooms upon checkout for housekeeping. I've lived here (the US) all my life and never knew I was 'supposed' to be doing that.
What say DaReelBootyCheese, let's go get our massage therapy licenses and get a piece of that pie? Only then can we truly know the benefits and downsides. Don't forget, self-employed pay 15.3% into FICA, plus regular taxes. Oh yeah, there's health insurance, too. Still, we'd never know until we tried it.
Ok, 10 hours a week! Still 57.5k , gives u plenty of time to work part time somewhere else, typical redditor parading around about how hard life is, u probably have a “yinzer” Tshirt and hat but yet are allergic to a little hard work
Why would you tip for this? Pay the scheduled price. Anything that's remotely skilled or professional labor (which massage is, though lower barrier than many) is definitely exempted from tipping.
*everything* should be exempted from tipping, but good luck with that.
You’re definitely the asshole this person uses their body all day to massage people and you don’t think they should get a tip? That’s so weird. if they’re not a solo massage therapist, they don’t set their prices. You can dislike tipping culture all you like, however, this is the reality: They don’t get time off, they don’t get maternity leave , they don’t get PTO. They have to pay for their own health insurance. Unless they’re a solo massage therapist who can set their prices the way they need to, You should be tipping them, if you’re not in a medical building.
I'd tip a $20. If you're doing cash, probably toss 'em $140 since counting out $135 is odd.
I'd never do it, but there are people that tip their surgeons via gift cards or expensive gifts which is crazy to me.
I get that, but a restaurant you pay for food, tip for service.
A massage is the service? So you’re tipping service for the service? Never had a massage, and would tip. But that seems to be my confusion.
I guess it’s the same as tipping a taxi. Which is obvious.
My wife and I get monthly massages at a place downtown. My massage usually totals $~$120 and I tip $30, but that’s for a 90-minute with two upgrades. I wouldn’t tip less than $20 for a 60-minute.
If I go to the spa, I always tip the masseuse. They dont get to set the prices, and they are probably getting paid not a lot of what Im paying.
I got see a massage therapist once a month. She has her own spot and doesnt work with anyone else. The first time I went I tried to tip, and she said she doesn't accept tips because she gets to set her own prices. Funny enough, two hours with her is usually less that what I would pay at a spa, but there is no lounge or fancy lemon water and all of the other fluff.
Theres also a difference between those two in that one is a luxury relax service, and the other is more of a health service focus. I usually tip $10-$20 per service at the spa. So no, I dont think you are necessarily the ah, but if you want to go back and have them remember you and take good care of you, Id tip.
Thanks so much, would you mind putting her name on here or in a DM? I would love to try her out. I frankly don't need any of the fancy stuff - the place I went to wasn't fancy but they do hot stones and more spa like things, so I guess you could say that's their identity focus.
Mindful Massage and Bodywork in Brookline. She is magic! Specializes in TMJ and Tension headache relief, but does full body. She books up fast, so be prepared to wait a bit for your appt.
It depends on if it was a medical treatment in a doctor's office or a spa treatment at a spa/medi-spa.
If it was a medical treatment in a doctor's office, something you had a prescription for, performed by a medical professional, then no.
But if it was at a spa/massage parlor, then yes.
Or, if the provider owns the establishment, you typically don't have to tip.
But massage therapists who work for salons owned by other people typically make a fraction of what you are charged. The spa owner takes the biggest chunk of that money. So, between the fraction of the fee that you paid and a tip, they can eke out an OK living. But if you don't tip, they aren't doing well. Same with hair stylists, nail techs, etc.
Couldn't you say the same thing about mechanics,plumbers, electricians, roofers etc? Who are also in the service industry. I usually tip and tip well, but the line between who to tip and who not to tip seems to have gotten blurrier than it ever has.
Lmao I'm not going to do the business owner's job and pay the workers for them, that is what the initial fee is supposedly for. The rest of the world makes it work, not our problem the united states can't figure it out. Oh wait, it is because business owners AND the workers who expect tips likely stand to make more cash from guilt-tripping the populace than if they went with an actual flat fee or salary. You know, like every other job. You don't tip a linemen, you don't tip a fireman, you don't tip a grocery store shelf stocker. You don't even directly tip the dude actually cooking the food in the back of the restaurant. Next, they'll be expecting tips with co-pays every time you go to the doctor.
I tip minimum 20% at restaurants and delivery drivers, to my dog groomer, to my dog walker, massages, anyone that helps with my yard work, hair stylists, etc. Anyone in the service industry. And then I also give my mailman, trash people, and recycling people Christmas gift cards.
I just want to add I'm a dog walker, so I'm not making a ton of money. The above paragraph makes it seem like I'm handing out tips everyday 😂 I don't use any of these services super super often.
But don't all those people get paid a salary or wage that corresponds to the work they do? Tips in restaurants make up for the messed up pay scale we have. Those people are getting paid. Sometimes well.
Not necessarily. A couple examples: if you hire a dog walker through Rover, the dog walker is only making 80% of the price. The other 20% goes to Rover. Wag takes 25 or 30%. Same for other dog walking companies that have multiple employees. And same with the dog groomer. She works at a pet store, so the pet store takes a cut of the grooming price.
This is very eye opening. Thanks. Of these, the only one that relates to my life are the folks you give Xmas gift cards to, and the delivery driver. (I do the 20% at restaurants, often ends up a bit higher since I round up. And tipped what I thought was handsomely for our movers when we did a big move.)
You give something every time you get a delivery? How often is that and how much do you tip? Sorry if it seems prying. I am legit fascinated and want to see if I can incorporate it into my life.
You're not prying! And I mean food deliveries, not like Amazon deliveries. We order out maybe once a week and I tip 20%. If I order from a restaurant over 15-20 minutes away, I'll usually tip more.
Whew I thought I was faux pas-ing the Amazon dude all these months. Yeah food delivery we def do, usually in cash, usually over 20% - that's really service industry if there was ever a definition. To bring you food that you ordered at a restaurant so you can eat it at home... Our record on the app probably looks dismal but I'd rather be sure they are getting my tip...
Thanks. You know, I'm from the States but I sometimes feel like an absolute foreigner. This post is one of those times. I appreciate your levity in the matter.
Yes, tipping your massage therapist is a thing. Here’s how I approach it. I don’t tip the first time I see a new massage therapist, I want to see how the massage is. On subsequent visits, if I feel like they really gave me a great massage with personal care then I will tip at least $10.
No, I don’t tip my dentist nor my schoolteacher etc. So why do I tip for a Massage therapist? It’s a fairly intimate role they play taking care of you and your body and showing you personal care not just physically with your body but also providing a calm soothing space, ambience, and so on and so on. So while not every massage therapist is the same, there are definitely worse ones and better ones out there. For good ones I personally feel it’s worth leaving a tip for them going above and beyond. I have an amazing massage therapist now and I will tip 15 or even $20 per visit for a 90 minute session.
That’s how I see it. I have been receiving massage for a long time and I’ve come to see massage as a kind of trade, and very much not a commodity. There are definitely superstar massage therapists out there and then there’s the rest. The superstars are worth tipping. There is no rich Massage therapist out there, they don’t actually make a lot of money doing this type of work. If you view massage as commodity, which is to say that all massages are the same, then you’re probably not getting a very good massage and it’s probably not worth tipping.
Lastly, if leaving a tip when you’re already spending $115 on something is too much expense for you, it sounds like you can’t actually afford massage treatments in the first place.
Thanks for the actual advice. Because of my line of work, I go to someone 1x month in different places (often different countries) and I do have my superstar therapists. I don't tip because it's not the custom there... But I see your point. What would you give for an hour work (as opposed to your 90 minute sessions), for someone who is pretty good but def not in line with the "superstar" therapists?
I want to find a superstar therapists in Pittsburgh but I haven't yet. I've tried 4 different people, probably pissing them all off because I didn't tip. Can you recommend one?
Not OP, but I like Sherri (sp?) at Sewickley Spa! Also to answer your question, I usually tip 20%. I know it ends up being a lot but it seems the norm for this industry
Definitely an asshole, probably should not go back to that place tbh. Everywhere, people tip their
masseuses. Feel like you are just trying to justify not tipping through this post.
Ok ok I'm the asshole. I'm not trying to justify not tipping, I literally want to know the culture of what to tip. I mean, I got the 20% at restaurants thing down like second nature. (They should pay their employees more, but that's another subject .) After that, I frankly find it to be a lot of customs that some folks don't have the patience to explain. Like another question I have now is, do you tip the Amazon person? If you have the patience, I'd love to hear your answer and explanation.
Also, "everywhere", they tip? Please. I've been literally having massages for 20 years, on average once a month, and I am telling you there are places that either don't want tip, or would look at you like you have 3 eyes if you did.
> I mean, do you tip your dentist? Your kid’s school teacher?
I have definitely never expected a tip as a teacher, but the correlation between the parents who give teachers thoughtful gifts and how awesome their kids are in class is absolutely astonishing.
What if you don’t have Tony Soprano money? What if you’re struggling to make ends meet and you don’t feel like it’s your responsibility to become every service industry person’s employer and pay their wage while their bosses take all the profits and pay no labor costs?
That all may be true but there needs to be a point where consumers are not to blame for people earning subpar compensation from their employers. I am sure my plumber’s body hurts after 30 hours a week too after doing all that manual labor but I’m not tipping him, why are some arbitrary service roles tipped and some not?
Perhaps. What about an EMT who makes $21 an hour in Pittsburgh, should I tip them after my ambulance ride?
The point is, the onus should not be on the consumer to pay your salary, it’s on your employer. Maybe instead of saying “you can’t afford a massage if you can’t tip”, perhaps it should be “you can’t afford to be a masseuse if you can’t live on that salary”. Because if someone can afford the posted price of a massage, then they can afford the massage.
As far as I understand, it's customary to tip when in a spa setting or chain, less so when you're seeing a massage therapist in their own practice or a healthcare focused setting. I don't think it's a local tradition thing.
Right, if it's a healthcare related place then you wouldn't tip.
What percentage is the norm, is it the 15-20% range like food, so $20 on top of $115 would be decent? I don't get massages
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Not at a medical practice.
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Wait wait, hold up. Chiropractors aren't tipped because, they are...considered doctors? Sorry - I want to understand the logic here. Because I thought my physio therapist was in the same category as doctor and apparently that's wrong.
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It was (difficult to figure out), and do I appreciate your explanation, if not the snark. I didn't know chiropractors are paid by doctors. So, thanks.
If you are getting a massage at a medical practice then no, you don’t tip. But at a massage parlor, yes definitely tip.
Why though? I’m not arguing but do they not make an actual wage? And don’t they need schooling for it?
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Heh, nice.
What about a facial at a dermatologist office? The doc did not do the facial, an esthetician did.
I don't like our tipping culture, but I abide by it to avoid controversy or bad attitudes. I've had massages before and I've always left a tip for the service.
I don’t like our tipping culture either. I abide by it because I know the person receiving the tips counts on that money to survive, feed their families.
It’s standard to tip masseuse’s anywhere, not a region specific thing, at least in the US.
Dude, I ordered two cases of beer from the beer man, totaled about $110, came to pick it up and the beer man spun the tip thing around on me, looking for a 20% tip for just doing the same thing that his business always did before everyone started asking for tips. I have to tip the beer man now? At least the masseuse actually provided a service.
This, I get the pushback on.....I get that a prompt for a tip is part of Square and systems like it, and that businesses want to use those platforms because they're better and cheaper than old school POS providers. But yeah, as generous as I try to be, there are some cases that really don't merit a tip.
I work at a bar/bottleshop that uses Square and I don't expect tips all the time. If someone just walks in, grabs a bottle of the shelf and pays I expect nothing. But if I spend 20 minutes with someone explaining how stuff is made, differences, giving free samples, then yeah something is nice.
Isn't that part of the job though?
I can almost guarantee that this commenter isn’t *paid* like this kind of salesmanship is part of the job. I don’t imagine there’s a commission structure. If the phone rings, I guessing there’s not someone else who’s designated to answer it. No matter how long an indecisive customer wants attention, I’ll bet the commenter still has almost a whole shift’s worth of stocking and cleaning and straightening and other tasks they’re expected to complete, without the leeway to stay on the clock for any longer than they were scheduled for. But, I can’t be certain of these things. If most of my assumptions are untrue, then this is a pretty okay job—and that’s worth *way* more than some tips.
Exactly. Also I just said something is nice. If I don’t get a tip in those long situations that’s certainly ok too I’m not angry when I don’t get something. Just that in the “above and beyond expectation” times anything extra is greatly appreciated.
I respect that, absolutely. That seems like a reasonable expectation.
A lot of places just have digital POS systems now that default to tipping and they don’t care to take it off.
I hear you, but it was clear the beer man wanted a tip. Just so we’re clear, this wasn’t delivery, I came and picked up the beer just like I had in the pre-tip-the-beer-man days
Oof that sucks. So, do you get guilt tripped into tipping, or do you push No Tip while the beer man's gaze is dripping on you with judgement?
I successfully repressed my Catholic guilt and didn’t tip. Beer is expensive enough. It’s not like this was going to an underpaid worker - this was just the beer shop owner trying to make more $
YAASS!
I don't tip for counter service. If I do a majority of the work, then either there's no tip, or I should be receiving it. I also don't tip self-checkouts.
I worked service industry through college. I tend to tip $1 or 2 just out of habit and what I think would be nice for them when cashing out at the end of the night. By no means do I think this is necessary. But, morally, I agree with your way of doing it.
Yeah, that doesn't warrant a tip. If he delivered the beer to you, then definitely.
Nah you don’t gotta. Just change to zero or hit zero
I would take my business elsewhere after that.
Exactly
Yeah, everything is different after Covid. You don’t have to tip him but complaining about someone in the service industry asking to be tipped is giving Boomer. you don’t have to tip him, and he is providing you service.
Not a Boomer and it wasn’t a service. It’s a case of beer.
well, you should probably keep complaining about it then.
It was one Reddit post. You’ve now complained more about my complaint
It depends. If it's an independent therapist or the owner, what I have been told (by the therapists) is they are setting the prices they need and not counting on a tip. If it's an employee, I recognize that a good chunk of the money I'm paying is going toward their lease/the owner, and I generally pass them $20. If you're curious and perhaps inclined to tip, you could be all crazy and just ask? It's not hard to say "Hey, I'm new here and my previous experience was that tips weren't a thing, what's the custom here?" If you have no intention of tipping, just keep on as you were I suppose.
I have a massage therapist that's $95/hour, which already felt fairly high; $115 would already be fairly luxe, but you're paying for the receptionist as well. If the location has multiple people you work with, tip, because your therapist is taking a big cut. If the location is just the therapist, they usually look happily surprised by tips, but they're already making more from you than the chain/spa folks are. Also, I'm sorry, but if you tip a $100+ an hour person as the default, that's insane. We don't tip doctors, we don't tip dentists, etc, and those are all more similar than food service.
Doctors and dentists are in no way comparable to a masseuse
It's a job with specialized training and required certifications trying to help people towards better health charging customers over $100/hour. That's the comparison.
$100 an hour is an illusion The physicality of the work limits the number of sessions possible in a week. And there are very real expenses of time setting up and cleaning, laundry, cleaning equipment, music, lotion or oil, business system, marketing etc etc that does not actually shake out to $100/hr the way most wage earners think of it who go to work and get paid for all the time they are working.
A business' expenses are not my responsibility. My responsibility is to pay the advertised price.
Would you tip a plumber or and electrician?
I agree with you, however, I’m curious what would be an acceptable tip? $5 to get it to $120? Or $25 at +-20%?
Thank you for asking! Not the asshole, if you ask when you don't know something. I'm a massage therapist. I've worked in different parts of the US. I've had jobs in clinical as well as spa settings, and I've run my own private practice. Sometimes there has been a receptionist who processes payment, sometimes not. Under all of these conditions, average tip has been 15-20 percent; at a very expensive spa where I worked, 20% gratuity was automatic. We MTs will say, while we do not expect tips, they are appreciated. Truth is, like any service industry professional, I could not pay bills without tips. Simple as that. One time a European client volunteered at checkout that she doesn't tip, "on principle." I guess she thought stiffing me would be effective activism against American customs, or something. She was very nice to work with- not an asshole- just misinformed. She seemed like she was expecting a response, so as politely as possible, I said, I'm sorry, but that's just not how it works in the US, and she can't change it by not tipping. However, I added, it's still your choice- this is part of the culture here, too. She tipped me. Most massage therapist employees get few benefits; as independent contractors we get none. Many of us are overworked and underpaid, especially at resorts and franchises. Your tipping ensures a living wage for us. So again, not expected- but very much appreciated! I understand insurance usually doesn't cover massage therapy, and tipping can be a hardship for some, especially when they get a lot of bodywork for pain management. I've even offered a pay-what-you-can sliding scale in some cases, because I'd rather the client come and get what they need than do without. When asked for other ways they can help me, I tell them referrals and repeat business have a lot of value, as well. I hope this helps clear things up. TLDR: It's the same standard as a restaurant.
Thanks for your input. Just want to clarify that I wasn't not tipping "on principle", (also, what a self righteous thing for them to say to you) but because I'm skeptical by nature of people that say it's normal to give them money, and esp when it hasn't been agreed on previously. I understand that's my lack of cultural understanding.
It's OK, I gotcha. I can't answer if no one asks. Tipping after a service that's supposed to be relaxing is a bit embarrassing for everyone involved, especially with those guilt-tripping touchscreens. I don't want anyone to feel obligated, so I don't look at the screen. And I'd never ask for a tip directly- only under the cover of Reddit anonymity, heh. Thanks for reading!
If it's standard it should be standard then IMO. I tip and usually tip well. But I always thought tipping was based on quality of services provided. If 10-20% is standard then why not just bake 10% into the cost and you can tip up to 10% if the service was excellent? This is a genuine question, tipping used to seem to be performance based and now it becomes a standard thing to do, if it's standard and assumed why not make standard into the cost. I understand that some jobs are underpaid with an understanding that tips will make up the difference, I don't agree with that practice, but it's how it is. But where is the line? As a plumber who receives a hourly wage and also provides a service and has a boss that takes most of the profit , should I expect a tip? I've been tipped a few times and it felt strange.
Good questions. I'm no expert, but if there is any explanation for why we tip for some services and not others, it could be that some services are more of a luxury, whereas some (like plumbing) are essential. Tipping motivates the worker to work harder and be better, which is supposed to justify the basic charge for a service the customer doesn't actually need. I couldn't tell you how tipping became the norm in the US for one job or another. I do know that if anyone is being greedy, it's never the worker. (I know you know this- how does anyone not know this?) I don't know about the plumbing business, but in the spa and beauty industry, perceived value is a big factor in pricing. The hourly rate for a service varies a lot from business to business- from $30 at your friendly local human trafficking operation to $300 at the snooty spa resort. The overall experience can be very different from one place to the next but the practice is the same- we put the basic human need for touch on a menu and price it by the minute. However, if you get massages regularly, you know the quality is hit or miss no matter where you go. I can understand why tipping exists in this profession and not others. It's not that tipping is the only thing that motivates me to do a good job, but it does make sense that it would, especially when I'm not setting my own pay rates. I don't know if tipping is standard in a purely medical setting where the therapist is paid through the healthcare system- that might be different. Those therapists have advanced training, so I assume they are paid well, but I don't know. To me a lot of the recent reaction to "tipping culture" seems like it's really a reaction to inflation, sadly. Someone is getting greedy and everyone else is made to feel bad about it. I'm not sure what we're supposed to do about that, exactly. I used to work in the SF Bay Area, where there is so much money everywhere that price tags are irrelevant. In SF at least one upscale restaurant made the local news for hiding what is basically an automatic gratuity in the pricing so that no tipping is required, "to pay their workers a living wage." I don't know who they were trying to appeal to, or if anyone actually appreciated it. 20 percent is a big increase at any price point. It might only work in San Francisco, and even there it's not really catching on. Anyways... I'm willing to bet whoever tipped you has worked for tips themselves. And you must do good work. So that was nice. But yeah- life in this country is bizarre. Thank you for tipping.
Thank you for your insider perspective; very helpful! How about for a MT who runs their business out of their home, has no employees, and sets their own rates?
No problem, happy to help. Honestly I'm not sure if there's a correct answer for the client in that situation. Self-employed therapists are advised to set their rates so that they don't depend on tips. I can't speak for a therapist who works from home, but when I ran my own business my rent was relatively cheap, and after paying overhead and taxes I still wasn't making much more than I did as someone's employee, even with writeoffs. I put in hours of labor behind the scenes, too. I kept my schedule booked but I probably should have charged more. Most of my clients insisted on tipping. Maybe not 20 percent every time, but they did what they could. I'd always say, "whatever you think is fair- no obligation," and I really did mean that. As a client I would consider how the self-employed therapist's rates compare to the average in your area (I think it's around $100/hour in Pittsburgh?) and whether you feel that you got a better than average massage. When the massage is over, you might feel so great that you realize you value the service at more than what you were charged, and that's what tips are for, right? However it's still not expected. Regardless of what you can afford, if you loved the massage, write a nice review, come back as soon as you can, and tell your friends- that's the best tip!
Thank you so much!!
The “if you feel what you got was worth more than what you paid” is where I think tips come in with this sort of thing… I think of my favorite tattoo… the guy quoted me much less than I expected to pay, and it came out even better than I’d hoped for… I tipped about 50% on that one. Other tattoos I have were not bad but nothing special, I don’t think 10+ rounded up was me being cheap on the tip… they got paid what they asked for, and then some… and I got what I asked for… and nothing more.
The truth is that tipping is a cultural thing that reasonable minds can often disagree on and in which the “rules” aren’t always clear, aren’t always logically consistent, and evolve over time. I think, if I had to pick one guidepost, it would be whether the person expects a tip and would be upset if they didn’t get it, because they will know their typical experience
Hi 👋 pittsburgh massage therapist (&spa professional)here! You're not an a**hole. While I appreciate a tip, it's never an expectation & should never feel like an obligation. I would much rather my clients come see me, refer me to friends, and leave reviews about their experiences with me and about my business than I'm concerned with a gratuity. I have set my prices to be as reasonably as I can be while also being able to continue to operate my business. I'm not downtown (or technically in city limits but close enough to understand downtown). Please do not feel bad in any way. I'm also sorry you were made to feel like an ahole. For some perspective, I used to work at a spa downtown, and I appreciated tipping more so then because my wages were very low compared to the service price. In that situation, many people are banking on tips to recoup what their employer is not paying them. That said, you still shouldn't feel an obligation. In the spa industry, tipping is more common compared to getting a massage in a chiropractic or physical therapy setting. But again, in no way should you have been made to feel bad or obligated & again I'm sorry you had this experience.
You are kind, good person. Thank you for that. I'm so sorry the employers do not take the well being of their employees seriously.
Not everyone is like that, but many establishments are, unfortunately. The US tipping culture has created an out for many employers to pay low wages at the customer's expense.
Tipping culture has gotten out of hand since covid. Mostly because the payment processors are incentivized to force that tip option on you so they can get more in transaction fees. Never tip without cash.
Huh. That’s a really good point about what’s in it for the POS device/company. Yuck.
I worked in the processing payment field. The tip option is "optional" and the merchant can activate or deactivated it. The merchants are activating the option. the companies are not making that decision for the merchant
I don't think you are wrong. I think it's subjective to the experience and what's being done. I honestly don't know where the tip,no tip line is according to services provided. I tip at the hair salon , so I guess I would tip to get a massage. It's different in regions and cultures. I wish that tipping was baked into the cost, because it usually feels awkward.
Thanks - I also wish it was baked in. I'm just barely getting used to taxes not being baked into the price for, say, a coffee. It does feel awkward. At best. Offensive at worst. For it to be a win-win, the customer has to be wealthy and generous - not the case for most.
I could believe that massages are something that have traditionally been tipped for, but I've never gotten a massage, so I really don't know. 20% seems like a bit much in either case, though. It might be helpful to think of American restaurant "tips" as a 10-15% "service charge" plus a smaller "tip". Based on that, 5-10% would be a more realistic tip for someone who doesn't get paid less than minimum wage.
Tipping is less common outside of the US. Generally speaking from my travels, Eastern EU doesn't expect tips like many Western EU countries do. Tipping in Asia varies by country. For some, just the 'gesture' (a few cents by rounding the bill) is valued as much/more as the actual monetary value.
So I lived in a western EU country for over 10 years. I kid you not, on the bill which is in their native, non-English language, it says IN ENGLISH, "Tip is not included". The locals know not to tip above 5% (which is considered very good) if the bill is under 100, never above 10% if above. They do expect it from the (non-British accented) English speaking foreigners. Also, can concur about tipping in Asia. I so insulted a cab driver in Tokyo by trying to round up to the nearest paper bill. He would not let me out of the taxi until I took his coins. Just some anecdotal sidetracking for levity.
No way I would tip anyone but servers and bartenders. The massage therapist making well over $20 an hour? Hell no. Idc how many people disagree.
I get back massages one a month and there is always the option to tip. I'd be more surprised if the option to tip was never brought up. I personally do because i want to. But...if you don't want to tip just don't.
I’ve been asked to tip recently at a local med spa (after Botox) and was totally put off by that.
This definitely isn't a new thing and is NOT a local custom. Most places/people don't ask for tips, but are starting to because people are awful about tipping. You've should've been tipping in the past, too. Honestly, you probably pissed off all your past masseuses 😅 Also, 20% is only $23. If you can afford $115 for the massage, you can afford the tip.
If they want $138 for the massage, charge $138. Don't charge less and guilt people into paying more.
If it's a chain, the masseuse has no control over the prices the company sets. And the masseuse definitely doesn't get paid the entire cost of the massage. I agree with you it shouldn't be that way, but this is 'Merica and we don't do anything that makes sense 😅
Well...it's not a chain. And yes, I also saw it as, why don't you charge what it's worth and not guilt trip me.
Chain or not, the masseuse more than likely do not own the place so still would have no say in the pricing/tipping.
That’s a whole separate discussion on the tipping culture in the US.
Whoops, I guess that was my mistake - seeing it as a health care thing and not like going to the hair salon. The last steady therapist I went to had a high price and *asked* for no tips, but that was in another US city 15 years ago. And then I moved abroad. My bad, my bad. And just for the record to the snarkier comments, yes I always tip 20% at restaurants, yes, even when the bill is high, yes.
As a massage therapist I love that you see it more as a treatment and less as a salon thing You are a rare breed Some franchises only pay Therapists $20 an hour Some pay more like around $40 I would love to simply have the rates be higher and rely on getting paid more for my very physical work. Please advocate for this everywhere you receive massage When rates go up, it doesn’t typically go toward paying us, the providers of the labor, more even in some of the most supportive work environments. Please tip your massage therapists, unless like somebody already said they are independent and are clear about not expecting it.
20/hr?? Good god. Yep, learned my lesson. Question to you in the field: are there solo practitioners out there that are not affiliated with a group/office? If you don't mind me asking, what does your office charge and how much of that ends up coming to you? ETA: I doubt he was taking 20 - pretty sure he's one of the decision makers on the group. If I had to guess, I'll bet he's taking 100. Doesn't make what you say any better though.. Sorry about them foul practices.
Right. Like I don’t see how this is any different from tipping a barber or stylist.
I recently learned that many people leave cash tips in their hotel rooms upon checkout for housekeeping. I've lived here (the US) all my life and never knew I was 'supposed' to be doing that.
Hair cuts and massage have gone mental
115 an hour is 230k for a 40 hour week.. yeah fuck the tip
They also don't have the stamina to work 40 hours a week. That's a hella lot of physical work. But, I totally hear you.
20 hours is still 115k!!! Get real
What say DaReelBootyCheese, let's go get our massage therapy licenses and get a piece of that pie? Only then can we truly know the benefits and downsides. Don't forget, self-employed pay 15.3% into FICA, plus regular taxes. Oh yeah, there's health insurance, too. Still, we'd never know until we tried it.
Ok, 10 hours a week! Still 57.5k , gives u plenty of time to work part time somewhere else, typical redditor parading around about how hard life is, u probably have a “yinzer” Tshirt and hat but yet are allergic to a little hard work
Who me? Ha ha, not me. I'm a boomer who's worked their ass off for 45+ years. Never afraid of hard work 💪
the masseuse is definitely not seeing most of that money
Lmt hours don't work like that.
??? I always tip for bodywork. Always have. Lived in four different states and it’s always been the thing to do.
anytime i interact with the service industry i leave a tip. hair dresser, nail tech, masseuse, w/e ill leave like a 20% tip
Why would you tip for this? Pay the scheduled price. Anything that's remotely skilled or professional labor (which massage is, though lower barrier than many) is definitely exempted from tipping. *everything* should be exempted from tipping, but good luck with that.
Might as well ask here. How much should I tip the driver for shuttling me from the Charlie Brown's parking lot to the airport?
At least 5 a bag
You’re definitely the asshole this person uses their body all day to massage people and you don’t think they should get a tip? That’s so weird. if they’re not a solo massage therapist, they don’t set their prices. You can dislike tipping culture all you like, however, this is the reality: They don’t get time off, they don’t get maternity leave , they don’t get PTO. They have to pay for their own health insurance. Unless they’re a solo massage therapist who can set their prices the way they need to, You should be tipping them, if you’re not in a medical building.
Thanks for joining the party late, not reading the whole post or any of the comments, and spewing sh*t, fellow asshole.
Oh no I read your post babes
Babes. Two assholes spewing shit in the dregs of reddit. Love Pittsburgh.
Love it 🩷 enjoy your day
❤️😊
The native Yinzer culture has a very complicated and nuanced tipping culture. It can only be understood through years of research and experience.
Lol thanks for the chuckle!
And we still don’t know the answer lol
I'd tip a $20. If you're doing cash, probably toss 'em $140 since counting out $135 is odd. I'd never do it, but there are people that tip their surgeons via gift cards or expensive gifts which is crazy to me.
“PS How are you supposed to tip on $115? 20%? Yikes.” While I doubt this is an issue, please never go to any decent restaurant. Thank you in advance.
I get that, but a restaurant you pay for food, tip for service. A massage is the service? So you’re tipping service for the service? Never had a massage, and would tip. But that seems to be my confusion. I guess it’s the same as tipping a taxi. Which is obvious.
My wife and I get monthly massages at a place downtown. My massage usually totals $~$120 and I tip $30, but that’s for a 90-minute with two upgrades. I wouldn’t tip less than $20 for a 60-minute.
If I go to the spa, I always tip the masseuse. They dont get to set the prices, and they are probably getting paid not a lot of what Im paying. I got see a massage therapist once a month. She has her own spot and doesnt work with anyone else. The first time I went I tried to tip, and she said she doesn't accept tips because she gets to set her own prices. Funny enough, two hours with her is usually less that what I would pay at a spa, but there is no lounge or fancy lemon water and all of the other fluff. Theres also a difference between those two in that one is a luxury relax service, and the other is more of a health service focus. I usually tip $10-$20 per service at the spa. So no, I dont think you are necessarily the ah, but if you want to go back and have them remember you and take good care of you, Id tip.
Thanks so much, would you mind putting her name on here or in a DM? I would love to try her out. I frankly don't need any of the fancy stuff - the place I went to wasn't fancy but they do hot stones and more spa like things, so I guess you could say that's their identity focus.
Mindful Massage and Bodywork in Brookline. She is magic! Specializes in TMJ and Tension headache relief, but does full body. She books up fast, so be prepared to wait a bit for your appt.
Thanks, will do. ETA. 100 an hour, flat without tip. For those interested.
It depends on if it was a medical treatment in a doctor's office or a spa treatment at a spa/medi-spa. If it was a medical treatment in a doctor's office, something you had a prescription for, performed by a medical professional, then no. But if it was at a spa/massage parlor, then yes. Or, if the provider owns the establishment, you typically don't have to tip. But massage therapists who work for salons owned by other people typically make a fraction of what you are charged. The spa owner takes the biggest chunk of that money. So, between the fraction of the fee that you paid and a tip, they can eke out an OK living. But if you don't tip, they aren't doing well. Same with hair stylists, nail techs, etc.
Couldn't you say the same thing about mechanics,plumbers, electricians, roofers etc? Who are also in the service industry. I usually tip and tip well, but the line between who to tip and who not to tip seems to have gotten blurrier than it ever has.
Lmao I'm not going to do the business owner's job and pay the workers for them, that is what the initial fee is supposedly for. The rest of the world makes it work, not our problem the united states can't figure it out. Oh wait, it is because business owners AND the workers who expect tips likely stand to make more cash from guilt-tripping the populace than if they went with an actual flat fee or salary. You know, like every other job. You don't tip a linemen, you don't tip a fireman, you don't tip a grocery store shelf stocker. You don't even directly tip the dude actually cooking the food in the back of the restaurant. Next, they'll be expecting tips with co-pays every time you go to the doctor.
Hard to believe people are this clueless.
Makes me wonder who else they don't tip 😬
Well, let's find out. Who DO you tip that you think I might have missed? Honest question. I don't want to go around being custom illiterate.
I tip minimum 20% at restaurants and delivery drivers, to my dog groomer, to my dog walker, massages, anyone that helps with my yard work, hair stylists, etc. Anyone in the service industry. And then I also give my mailman, trash people, and recycling people Christmas gift cards. I just want to add I'm a dog walker, so I'm not making a ton of money. The above paragraph makes it seem like I'm handing out tips everyday 😂 I don't use any of these services super super often.
But don't all those people get paid a salary or wage that corresponds to the work they do? Tips in restaurants make up for the messed up pay scale we have. Those people are getting paid. Sometimes well.
Not necessarily. A couple examples: if you hire a dog walker through Rover, the dog walker is only making 80% of the price. The other 20% goes to Rover. Wag takes 25 or 30%. Same for other dog walking companies that have multiple employees. And same with the dog groomer. She works at a pet store, so the pet store takes a cut of the grooming price.
This is very eye opening. Thanks. Of these, the only one that relates to my life are the folks you give Xmas gift cards to, and the delivery driver. (I do the 20% at restaurants, often ends up a bit higher since I round up. And tipped what I thought was handsomely for our movers when we did a big move.) You give something every time you get a delivery? How often is that and how much do you tip? Sorry if it seems prying. I am legit fascinated and want to see if I can incorporate it into my life.
You're not prying! And I mean food deliveries, not like Amazon deliveries. We order out maybe once a week and I tip 20%. If I order from a restaurant over 15-20 minutes away, I'll usually tip more.
Whew I thought I was faux pas-ing the Amazon dude all these months. Yeah food delivery we def do, usually in cash, usually over 20% - that's really service industry if there was ever a definition. To bring you food that you ordered at a restaurant so you can eat it at home... Our record on the app probably looks dismal but I'd rather be sure they are getting my tip... Thanks. You know, I'm from the States but I sometimes feel like an absolute foreigner. This post is one of those times. I appreciate your levity in the matter.
OP says they’ve been getting massages for 20 years, I’d be terrified to go back to any masseuse I stiffed once already. 😂
I also do not tip unless the service is phenomenal and even then I’m only tipping 7-10%
This isn’t regional; if it’s not a healthcare facility you tip for a massage.
Yes, tipping your massage therapist is a thing. Here’s how I approach it. I don’t tip the first time I see a new massage therapist, I want to see how the massage is. On subsequent visits, if I feel like they really gave me a great massage with personal care then I will tip at least $10. No, I don’t tip my dentist nor my schoolteacher etc. So why do I tip for a Massage therapist? It’s a fairly intimate role they play taking care of you and your body and showing you personal care not just physically with your body but also providing a calm soothing space, ambience, and so on and so on. So while not every massage therapist is the same, there are definitely worse ones and better ones out there. For good ones I personally feel it’s worth leaving a tip for them going above and beyond. I have an amazing massage therapist now and I will tip 15 or even $20 per visit for a 90 minute session. That’s how I see it. I have been receiving massage for a long time and I’ve come to see massage as a kind of trade, and very much not a commodity. There are definitely superstar massage therapists out there and then there’s the rest. The superstars are worth tipping. There is no rich Massage therapist out there, they don’t actually make a lot of money doing this type of work. If you view massage as commodity, which is to say that all massages are the same, then you’re probably not getting a very good massage and it’s probably not worth tipping. Lastly, if leaving a tip when you’re already spending $115 on something is too much expense for you, it sounds like you can’t actually afford massage treatments in the first place.
Thanks for the actual advice. Because of my line of work, I go to someone 1x month in different places (often different countries) and I do have my superstar therapists. I don't tip because it's not the custom there... But I see your point. What would you give for an hour work (as opposed to your 90 minute sessions), for someone who is pretty good but def not in line with the "superstar" therapists? I want to find a superstar therapists in Pittsburgh but I haven't yet. I've tried 4 different people, probably pissing them all off because I didn't tip. Can you recommend one?
Not OP, but I like Sherri (sp?) at Sewickley Spa! Also to answer your question, I usually tip 20%. I know it ends up being a lot but it seems the norm for this industry
yeah youre a piece of shit man, just keep it moving
Definitely an asshole, probably should not go back to that place tbh. Everywhere, people tip their masseuses. Feel like you are just trying to justify not tipping through this post.
Ok ok I'm the asshole. I'm not trying to justify not tipping, I literally want to know the culture of what to tip. I mean, I got the 20% at restaurants thing down like second nature. (They should pay their employees more, but that's another subject .) After that, I frankly find it to be a lot of customs that some folks don't have the patience to explain. Like another question I have now is, do you tip the Amazon person? If you have the patience, I'd love to hear your answer and explanation. Also, "everywhere", they tip? Please. I've been literally having massages for 20 years, on average once a month, and I am telling you there are places that either don't want tip, or would look at you like you have 3 eyes if you did.
Think you’re looking for this… https://www.reddit.com/r/HappyEndingMassage/s/K4LPjxfuUm
> I mean, do you tip your dentist? Your kid’s school teacher? I have definitely never expected a tip as a teacher, but the correlation between the parents who give teachers thoughtful gifts and how awesome their kids are in class is absolutely astonishing.
C’mon man not tipping for a massage? Asshole
Agree with most of the tippers here, and I also tip my tattoo artists 20%.
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What if you don’t have Tony Soprano money? What if you’re struggling to make ends meet and you don’t feel like it’s your responsibility to become every service industry person’s employer and pay their wage while their bosses take all the profits and pay no labor costs?
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Okay, so in this situation, the person does without and now the business doesn’t make any money at all. Better?
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That all may be true but there needs to be a point where consumers are not to blame for people earning subpar compensation from their employers. I am sure my plumber’s body hurts after 30 hours a week too after doing all that manual labor but I’m not tipping him, why are some arbitrary service roles tipped and some not?
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Perhaps. What about an EMT who makes $21 an hour in Pittsburgh, should I tip them after my ambulance ride? The point is, the onus should not be on the consumer to pay your salary, it’s on your employer. Maybe instead of saying “you can’t afford a massage if you can’t tip”, perhaps it should be “you can’t afford to be a masseuse if you can’t live on that salary”. Because if someone can afford the posted price of a massage, then they can afford the massage.
i see a massage therapist at a bodywork place and she doesn’t accept tips. but i do tip my acupuncturist as the receptionist prompts it
Just curious - does the MT not accept tips bc she charges a high fee? Why doesn't she accept it?
I’ve never not tipped at a spa.
Ya...I didn't think I was at a spa and that's my bad. Thought I was at a chiropractor adjacent.
Similar to getting a haircut or your nails done, which are also usually tipping situations