Tipping Question for US dwellars

monster · 01-16-2011, 08:44 PM

My friend gave me a gift certificate for a massage. I would normally tip after a massage, but this is in a doctor's office and is viewed as more "holistic medicine" than "spa" So do I tip? You don't tip a chiropractor, but then again, it's unusual to get a gift certificate for a chiropractor.

My friend is the person i would usually ask about these sort of things, but I sort of feel that asking her about this would be on a par with asking someone just how many batteries the new toy they gave you needed -sensible but tactless "thanks for the gift that's immediately costing me money" ...and she's senitive to stuff like that, so the last thing I wasnt to do is make her feel bad.

I don't mind the whole tipping thing -I'm used to it, I generally know the score, but Brit me is uncomfortable with the actual handing over cash bit and would be mortified to try and tip and be told it isn't the done thing or clearly create an awkward moment.

Your opinions, please.

Perry Winkle · 01-16-2011, 10:34 PM

Could you call the place ahead of time and ask? Anonymous and safe...

If you aren't comfortable, PM me the number and I'll do it. My American self isn't too worried about such.

Clodfobble · 01-16-2011, 11:12 PM

I hate the whole concept of tipping. I never do it at the right times, and frequently find out later I was (apparently) a jerk. People should fucking charge what they wanted to make in the first place, and be done with it. Case in point: I've gotten dozens of massages over the years, and never once tipped. This is the first I've ever heard of tipping a massage therapist.

Lamplighter · 01-16-2011, 11:24 PM

/Start RANT

I'm a grumpy old man when it comes to tipping...
I despise it, and yet sometimes I think it's right.
Is a puzzlement.

The breakfast waiter/tress seems OK
The hotel valet or any other employee, not so much.
There's no rhyme or reason as to who or how much.

There are two particular times I hate tipping:

The one I despise most is the independent business person who charges for their service,
and then expects a tip on top of that, such as a fishing guide.
I'd much rather they just raise their price and be done with it.
Then, if I got REALLY SPECIAL, EXTRA ORDINARY, service,
I'd have no problem with a tip in an amount of my choosing.

The other kind is waiter/tress for a dinner meal that probably is already over-priced,
with a bar tab, etc. Grrrrrrrr.
Tipping a % of all that really irritates me.

Sometimes I look at it that if the business is getting a significant sum
from me (e.g., $30+),
then I am not in the mood to tip.
But if the tab just a few $ a tip is not so irritating.

/NOT THE END OF THE RANT, BUT I'LL STOP NOW

Guidance is needed...

TheMercenary · 01-17-2011, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monster

My friend gave me a gift certificate for a massage. I would normally tip after a massage, but this is in a doctor's office and is viewed as more "holistic medicine" than "spa" So do I tip? You don't tip a chiropractor, but then again, it's unusual to get a gift certificate for a chiropractor.

My friend is the person i would usually ask about these sort of things, but I sort of feel that asking her about this would be on a par with asking someone just how many batteries the new toy they gave you needed -sensible but tactless "thanks for the gift that's immediately costing me money" ...and she's senitive to stuff like that, so the last thing I wasnt to do is make her feel bad.

I don't mind the whole tipping thing -I'm used to it, I generally know the score, but Brit me is uncomfortable with the actual handing over cash bit and would be mortified to try and tip and be told it isn't the done thing or clearly create an awkward moment.

Your opinions, please.

Even though it is at a Chiropractor, the person working there is most likely a contractor, where the office will get a cut of the charge and the person just comes in when there is a message scheduled to be done. If this is the case I would tip. The person is already getting ripped off by the office and not getting the full charge.

I am a free tipper, esp when it comes to the waiters, waitresses, and bar tenders. They all work for tips. With the exception of bartenders they work for less than min wage. I tip based on service specifically. Shitty food is a problem in the kitchen and the waitress has to deal with the pissed off people. It is not her fault. Now if the service is crapy I tip appropriately, little to none.

footfootfoot · 01-17-2011, 07:39 AM

Just far enough for them to lose balance, then let gravity do the rest.

monster · 01-17-2011, 08:29 AM

6 posts, that may be a record

glatt · 01-17-2011, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

There are two particular times I hate tipping:

...

The other kind is waiter/tress for a dinner meal that probably is already over-priced,
with a bar tab, etc. Grrrrrrrr.
Tipping a % of all that really irritates me.

You should definitely tip in this situation, and tip well unless the service was bad. Waiters and waitresses are generally paid less than minimum wage, and the tip is how they make their money. Essentially, they are working for you, not the restaurant. You owe them that money.

Look at how many tables they have when you are there, and figure that during a meal, those tables will turn over once, maybe twice, so you can double or possibly triple that number. And then figure out how much you are tipping them, and multiply by the number above. That's what they are making each night.

If they have 5 tables, and you are tipping $5, you can expect that they are making $50 that night. Would you be happy with $50 for a day's work? They earn their money, and you should not be annoyed with them.

xoxoxoBruce · 01-17-2011, 12:58 PM

Yeah, but it's a really good chance to trod on the downtrodden, abuse the abused, why it's better than stomping kittens.

footfootfoot · 01-17-2011, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monster

6 posts, that may be a record

I got here as quick as I could.

Gravdigr · 01-17-2011, 04:03 PM

Gravdigr's Rule On Tippage: I don't tip anybody who makes more money than me.

Lamplighter · 01-17-2011, 04:36 PM

Grav, I can live with that rule too

Clodfobble · 01-17-2011, 04:40 PM

Way back when I worked at a pizza place, the drivers had a whole system for remembering which regulars were good tippers and which ones weren't, and would fight over who got to take which deliveries. They also all agreed that the working middle-class families were the best tippers; if there was either a BMW or a junk car in the driveway, you weren't getting a tip.

Shawnee123 · 01-17-2011, 04:49 PM

I know what it means to waiters/waitresses/bartenders to get tips. I'm usually a bit over-generous. I even tip a buck to the person who waits on me at the drive-thru (not at a McDonalds or something, like the beer/pop/snack/cigs drive thru. I had a friend who did that job for a while and it helped when people even just left her their spare change.

As to the spa: I would tip. About 15 percent. It's no different than tipping your hairdresser, to me.

Years ago I went after work with some friends to a Hooters. When I paid my bill the waitress said "you've waitressed before, right?" I said yes and she noted that in a place like that you could tell: most women didn't tip unless they've been down the waitressing road themselves.

Clodfobble · 01-17-2011, 06:06 PM

Waitstaff, sure. But massage therapists make a heck of a lot more per hour.

01-16-2011, 08:44 PM	#1
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	Tipping Question for US dwellars My friend gave me a gift certificate for a massage. I would normally tip after a massage, but this is in a doctor's office and is viewed as more "holistic medicine" than "spa" So do I tip? You don't tip a chiropractor, but then again, it's unusual to get a gift certificate for a chiropractor. My friend is the person i would usually ask about these sort of things, but I sort of feel that asking her about this would be on a par with asking someone just how many batteries the new toy they gave you needed -sensible but tactless "thanks for the gift that's immediately costing me money" ...and she's senitive to stuff like that, so the last thing I wasnt to do is make her feel bad. I don't mind the whole tipping thing -I'm used to it, I generally know the score, but Brit me is uncomfortable with the actual handing over cash bit and would be mortified to try and tip and be told it isn't the done thing or clearly create an awkward moment. Your opinions, please. __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

01-16-2011, 11:12 PM	#3
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	I hate the whole concept of tipping. I never do it at the right times, and frequently find out later I was (apparently) a jerk. People should fucking charge what they wanted to make in the first place, and be done with it. Case in point: I've gotten dozens of massages over the years, and never once tipped. This is the first I've ever heard of tipping a massage therapist. __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

01-17-2011, 07:39 AM	#6
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	Just far enough for them to lose balance, then let gravity do the rest. __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

01-17-2011, 08:29 AM	#7
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	6 posts, that may be a record __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

01-17-2011, 12:58 PM	#9
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Yeah, but it's a really good chance to trod on the downtrodden, abuse the abused, why it's better than stomping kittens. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

01-16-2011, 10:34 PM	#2
Perry Winkle Esnohplad Semaj Ton Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: A little south of sanity Posts: 2,259	Could you call the place ahead of time and ask? Anonymous and safe... If you aren't comfortable, PM me the number and I'll do it. My American self isn't too worried about such.

01-16-2011, 11:24 PM	#4
Lamplighter Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bottom lands of the Missoula floods Posts: 6,402	/Start RANT I'm a grumpy old man when it comes to tipping... I despise it, and yet sometimes I think it's right. Is a puzzlement. The breakfast waiter/tress seems OK The hotel valet or any other employee, not so much. There's no rhyme or reason as to who or how much. There are two particular times I hate tipping: The one I despise most is the independent business person who charges for their service, and then expects a tip on top of that, such as a fishing guide. I'd much rather they just raise their price and be done with it. Then, if I got REALLY SPECIAL, EXTRA ORDINARY, service, I'd have no problem with a tip in an amount of my choosing. The other kind is waiter/tress for a dinner meal that probably is already over-priced, with a bar tab, etc. Grrrrrrrr. Tipping a % of all that really irritates me. Sometimes I look at it that if the business is getting a significant sum from me (e.g., $30+), then I am not in the mood to tip. But if the tab just a few $ a tip is not so irritating. /NOT THE END OF THE RANT, BUT I'LL STOP NOW Guidance is needed...

01-17-2011, 04:03 PM	#11
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	Gravdigr's Rule On Tippage: I don't tip anybody who makes more money than me. __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

01-17-2011, 04:36 PM	#12
Lamplighter Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bottom lands of the Missoula floods Posts: 6,402	Grav, I can live with that rule too

01-17-2011, 04:40 PM	#13
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Way back when I worked at a pizza place, the drivers had a whole system for remembering which regulars were good tippers and which ones weren't, and would fight over who got to take which deliveries. They also all agreed that the working middle-class families were the best tippers; if there was either a BMW or a junk car in the driveway, you weren't getting a tip. __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

01-17-2011, 04:49 PM	#14
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	I know what it means to waiters/waitresses/bartenders to get tips. I'm usually a bit over-generous. I even tip a buck to the person who waits on me at the drive-thru (not at a McDonalds or something, like the beer/pop/snack/cigs drive thru. I had a friend who did that job for a while and it helped when people even just left her their spare change. As to the spa: I would tip. About 15 percent. It's no different than tipping your hairdresser, to me. Years ago I went after work with some friends to a Hooters. When I paid my bill the waitress said "you've waitressed before, right?" I said yes and she noted that in a place like that you could tell: most women didn't tip unless they've been down the waitressing road themselves. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

01-17-2011, 06:06 PM	#15
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Waitstaff, sure. But massage therapists make a heck of a lot more per hour. __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

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