Real life MMD: Should I tip when using daily deals vouchers?

Rachb2

I agree with most of the comments so far, I have worked as a waitress for over 10 years in various different places and have never expected a tip. However, when I got one it used to make my day. Our tipping culture here in the UK is directly imported from the States, but the waitresses over there don't have minimum wage like we do. I met and talked to one waitress in Florida and she said that although they are supposed to be paid minimum wage, she was paid a lower rate and her tips made her wage up to the minimum. I was pretty disgusted by this and glad that in the U.K. we don't have this system.

In addition over the years tipping in the states has gone from 10% of the bill if you're happy to over 20% of the bill in 12 years. Even if you're not happy with a service you're expected to tip. We had terrible service in one restaurant and myself and my family were prevented from leaving until we left a tip!

I have had a couple of massages in my time and I have never left a tip. I've never left a tip for my hairdresser or for a waitress in a coffee shop/cafe. I will only leave a tip if the service in a restaurant is exceptional and that's how I think tips should be given...for exceptional service. So in terms of your moral dilemma, if the massage you receive is fantastic and you think the masseur deserves a tip then give one. If it isn't good, or just average then don't. It doesn't sound like you go for massages very often and so the chances of you going back to the place is unlikely, so what does it matter if you don't? And above all else don't give someone money if you can't afford to, no matter how good the service is!

BlackbirdCar

I found out during a massage a couple of weeks back that the salon gets little or no money back on some of these vouchers. The salons sign up hoping that you'll be so impressed you'll go back again and pay full price. So yes, I would always tip when using a voucher as it might be the only money the therapist is getting for your treatment.

milvusvestal

Irrespective of the price you paid for the service, it will automatically include enough for a tip, unless the voucher states otherwise.

Look at it in the same way as when you visit the hairdresser, nail-bar or other cosmetic agent - the price includes the tip.

tallgirld

I have never tipped when using a voucher. I stopped tipping my hairdresser as I am there on a regular basis so I pay more than enough already. I will tip for food but never more than £2.

Gosh I am sounding like a right tight wad!!

happyinflorida

OMG I cannot believe how tight so many of you are about tipping! Why don't you tip?!

I used to work as a waitress - when I was young and it so annoyed me if people didn't tip as I always went out of my way to give really good service.

I only don't tip now if the service is bad.

I think it's so wrong not to tip if you're given good service - it's a service industry, you should tip. Why should a person be left on just minimum wage which is hardly enough to survive on nowadays. If you can afford to go out to eat and drink then include the tip as it's not fair on the person serving you to not tip - don't be mean!

kerriejw

i dont HAVE 10-15%. if i liked what i bought meal, cab whatever i tip. and it doesnt really matter how much as long as its not pennies. if its a cab i round to a pound, and if its a meal and ive paid by card, if i fancy it ill look in my purse and draw out usually 20p (as i barely ever have any money, and that time they got lucky) and drop it in the bowl.

10-15% as a rule is just snobbery and an unfair influence on anyone who simply wishes they could.and when i worked any counter jobs, sometimes if lucky youd get to keep the change, thats not 10-15%. how many people have actually worked those kind of jobs?

NancyH

I'm a complementary therapist and I use other complementary therapists without paying a tip. Having said that, I participated in one of these voucher schemes last year as it was organised through our governing body. I ended up getting £5 for a treatments lasting 75 minutes, I don't have anything else to sell apart from my skill (which took 3 years of training), so I ended up with less than minimum wage and no repeat bookings.

As a result, if I were using vouchers, I would give a bit of a tip, the amount would depend on whether or not I thought I received the equivalent of full-price service.

pennypinchUK

No, don't tip the masseur. I'm sure they just love giving massages for free and they'll not be expecting any thanks from you, your mere presence will be enough. After all, their time is worthless, and remember, 10% of £0 is still £0.

Or, don't be such a tight-wad, and accept: 1) Their company is giving the offer, not them; 2) They're still giving the same level of professional service even though you're only going 'cos you're bagging a freebie; 3) The masseur probably lives on the tips they receive, particularly as their company is already undermining them by giving their time and professionalism away for nothing.

It's shocking you're even asking the question.

Ebenezer_Screwj

This all depends upon how you feel about the service you receive. Generally speaking I regard tipping as a token of appreciation not as an absolute right.

tindella

Why would you tip someone for doing their job? I don't get tips - I just get paid. It's not like it's waitress service in a bar in the US where they only get $1 an hour and need the tips to live on.