Do you tip your hairdresser?

BWZN93

I don't get the percentage thing; I usually always give my hairdresser a fiver as they do a sterling job and I am pleased to have found her!

As for restaurants, depends on the place - nando's gets nothing for making me queue like its a chippy, but other places; I'll just leave a few quid as a token of thanks for not screwing up my order. I hate Parmesan cheese so I've often had wait staff checking with the kitchen of the ingredients and I tip a bit extra for that as I really appreciate it.

Buzzybee90

jaylee3 wrote: »

I rest my case. :T

Like I said, many people, in many jobs, have low pay and work like a dog, but don't expect - or receive - tips.

Correct, but a lot of them are teenagers so minimum wage is obviously less than adults working minimum wage, plus it could be a Saturday job, it's a bit disheartening to slog your guts out for 10 hours for £38, that's £38 for a week enough to buy about 1 2 hour driving lesson. It's a couple of quid, it's really not going to affect my life but will give them a smile. Waitressing is the only low paid job I can think of where the focus is all on the customer.

Also my hairdresser charges £20 for two hours of restyling, styles, straightens etc, she's very good!

pickledonionspaceraider

I don't tip as a rule (my finances will not allow) but my hairdresser I always tip her. She is amazing

Tropez

74jax wrote: »

I do agree, if you want to tip then fine, but what I don't understand is why it's a percentage.

It comes from the American system of tipping.

In the United States, the government expects that waiters and waitresses will be paid less than the federal minimum wage and supplement their income with tips (interestingly, if they do make less than a certain amount in tips the restaurant is supposed to bring their income in line with federal minimum wage but in practice, they're usually just fired when it looks like they won't hit the target).

Tips are taxable income and the server is supposed to report all of their tips to the IRS. At the minimum, they need to report 8%-10% of their sales receipts to the IRS so that the IRS can work out how much they should have made in tips. The problem with this system is that the IRS works it out based on the expected percentage in that state, town or city taking into account what other servers in the area are reporting. The idea is that this cuts down on servers trying to hide cash tips from the IRS because if everyone else is reporting tips in the 20 to 25% region and one server is claiming they're only getting 15% the IRS assume Miss 15% is trying to fiddle her taxes and an audit could be coming her way.

This is why Americans seem pushy about tips. Because the IRS expects them to have tips, every time somebody doesn't leave a tip it's not just that tip they're missing but they may also have lost extra money because the IRS makes some harsh assumptions. It is also why they adopted the percentage system because it just makes it easier for the servers when it comes to paying their taxes.

There are also some restaurants in the US where the tips are divied back to other staff in the restaurant, sometimes even managers, and if servers aren't kicking back enough they can get fired.

Now, admittedly, in the UK this system doesn't really apply. There may be an argument in some restaurants that the tips are distributed among the other staff such as the chef, and a dish costing £80 is likely more difficult to make but I'm not sure how widespread such a distribution practice is.

Jagraf

Mojisola wrote: »

Do you tip the supermarket worker who helps you find something?

I find it odd that tipping survives in certain jobs - employers should pay a decent wage and workers shouldn't have to rely on getting hand-outs from customers to pay their bills.

My hairdresser refuses tips. She is brilliant and her prices are quite high. It's an excellent USP. She accepted perhaps a "less than decent wage" at the beginning of her career so that she could shadow and learn (after all, most people want hairdressers who have lots of experience). Now she rakes it in, and good for her for seeing a bigger picture. She's only in her mid twenties and has her own business.

Jagraf

I too don't understand percentages. Depends on products mostly, nothing to do with time or effort.

rdone

I only tip if someone has provided me with exceptional service. I hardly go to the hairdresser so I don't have a regular salon and therefore don't tip.

No one tips me for my job!

OrkneyStar

kitrat wrote: »

When I was young my mum used to tip the hairdresser, but as an adult I feel like a pratt doing so. Is there a consensus on this, what is the 'done thing'? Please be gentle, I'm socially awkward and feeling fragile after a trip to the hairdressers, as I always do :P

Generally yes, my last hairdresser was really good and so she generally deserved it (she's since left hairdressing so not sure where to go now! :eek::eek::eek:). I tended to give 10% or thereabouts.

lostinrates

Mojisola wrote: »

And if the owner charged the right price for the haircut, he/she could pay a decent wage instead of having the employees relying on tips from customers.

gemz82 wrote: »

That's a good point, if I were still going to a small, independent hairdresser I'd probably feel more inclined to tip. However as I attend a larger chain salon, I do feel confident their prices are designed to include a tip anyway.

If nothing else, I've been going there every few months for about 3 years now, and they haven't appeared to take it personally or take it out on my hair! :rotfl:

Mojisola wrote: »

Do you tip the supermarket worker who helps you find something?

I find it odd that tipping survives in certain jobs - employers should pay a decent wage and workers shouldn't have to rely on getting hand-outs from customers to pay their bills.

Just choosing first posts that exemplify something that I'd comment on.

On Mse we often look for cheapest solutions to our purchasing options. Very few people choose 'priciest, independent small businesses' for their needs. In many households that is an appropriate budgeting choice, in others I'd say its one that doesn't foster good, health local community jobs. Those more expensive haircuts I presume offer better jobs, often continued training etc etc, presumably better wages?


Re tipping, I have always understood the etiquette to be you do not tip the business owner or franchise owner ever, and that could include those that have chairs equally in an option, but its not always clear. If the business is called 'jane's hair' and jane cuts your hair its clear no tip is correct ever. and appreciation can be shown by regulars at Christmas or special occasions with baked goods or flowers or boxes of chocolates.

Hoipolloi

I often used to tip small salons, but not the larger, especially not chains.