Spa Automatic Gratuity

[Presley]

They get paid in tips and commission just like the servers. When someone doesn't leave a tip, they get nothing. I tipped more than 20% when it was left up to me to decide. Now that DCL is forcing the issue, I'll go along with their standard 18% because I won't be trying to make up for cheap people.

 

[pearlieq]

Reason #4387 not to bother with the DCL spa...

 

[Wenawen]

In the US, it is customary to tip on any service-Hair, Nails, restaurants, etc...however, there are many countries where it is automatically included in the check. When I waited tables in Orlando, I would serve many a table from the UK and they never tipped unless I advised them that service was not in the check. Then they knew to tip me.

Can you ask that the 18% tip be removed to allow you to tip what you would like to tip or are able to add to the tip if you feel the 18% was not enough?

I am looking forward to my Spa experiences in Aug and the "hard sell" on products. I love to try new things.

 

[Chilly]

I had pretty much already decided not to use the spa again and this seals the deal for me.

 

[the_bUg]

I'm conflicted, because while I'm pretty ticked about this policy... I still want spa services.... argggh.

 

[tajz90]

I'm conflicted, because while I'm pretty ticked about this policy... I still want spa services.... argggh.

I'm not giving up my massage, but I won't tip extra because of the policy. Even though I have always tipped at least 20, it's not ideal that I'm being forced to tip and they can FORGET stopping a bit early to sell me anything. So frustrating.

 

[honeymo78]

Like any other time an automatic gratuity is added, if you are truly displeased with your service or thought it was substandard, you should be able to speak with a manager afterwards about adjusting the tip. And if service was so bad that you wouldn't leave the suggested amount, you should be telling someone anyway so that behavior doesn't continue.

 

[luv2sleep]

Asked this on another similar thread: for discounted devices (same day/port day specials, etc), do you think the 18% gratuity will be added? If it is would it be on the full or discounted price? I only do the spa services that I can book onboard at a discounted rate.

 

[TLSnell1981]

.

Besides, being able to threaten a reduced gratuity if they hard sell products is very effective.

ITA

The hard sell tactic detracted from my second spa treatment. I spent half the appointment, planning my escape.

 

[Dug720]

ITA

The hard sell tactic detracted from my second spa treatment. I spent half the appointment, planning my escape.

I fail to see how this automatic gratuity is going to reduce the hard sell. Now the threat to reduce the tip if given it doesn't exist, so there's no reason for them NOT to hard sell the product.

And for the question as to those of us who would have tipped (more) anyway choosing to cancel, for me, this was just the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. I was already debating cancelling because a) if I get sunburned I wouldn't want it done and might not know that until the cxl policy is in effect, and b) the more I thought about it, the less I was wanting to give up the last hour and a half on CC. So yes, ultimately I decided to cancel.

 

[ladyleslie]

Steiner owns and operates the spas on the ships, so it quite possibly/probably was Steiners decision, and not DCL.

Yes that's true but its DCL's boat - carries some huge weight as a subcontractor, employeer, etc etc... - so if Disney wants it could say "um no - that not in the best interest of our customers - and if you insist - we will have to go shopping for another company to fill this need for DCL somewhere else" - so steiner owning and operating the company jsut doesn't do it for me...

there are many spas that do include auto gratuity, so it's not completely uncommon or strictly DCL doing this

While that might be true - in Las Vegas if you didn't like that idea, you walk out of that resort and hop into your car and find a resort with the service and the tipping policies you could live with (aka letting the customer deciede how they are going to tip) and then drop a couple hundred dollars but because we are stuck on a boat with no option of getting the service / how we want to tip for it any where else, it feels like DCL is trying to take advatage of that situation...

As per me and my household.... after brief discussion (and it was really brief) we have decieded to cancel all of our spa / salon sessions - except for my daugther's appointment at the Bibidibobidiboutique (sp?)....

The spa is suppose to be fun and a pampering activity and if I'm feeling taking advantage of in the process - than it's not fun anymore......

 

[jrbdad]

Got this email yesterday - thought about canceling, didn't. We always tip well - this will save us a few dollars. Still not happy about it and will let DCL know.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I fail to see how this automatic gratuity is going to reduce the hard sell. Now the threat to reduce the tip if given it doesn't exist, so there's no reason for them NOT to hard sell the product.
.

Actually, the hard sell is the reason, I'm not booking spa treatments for our upcoming cruise. My response was directed, towards past experience.

 

[emilyann415]

Yes that's true but its DCL's boat - carries some huge weight as a subcontractor, employeer, etc etc... - so if Disney wants it could say "um no - that not in the best interest of our customers - and if you insist - we will have to go shopping for another company to fill this need for DCL somewhere else" - so steiner owning and operating the company jsut doesn't do it for me...



While that might be true - in Las Vegas if you didn't like that idea, you walk out of that resort and hop into your car and find a resort with the service and the tipping policies you could live with (aka letting the customer deciede how they are going to tip) and then drop a couple hundred dollars but because we are stuck on a boat with no option of getting the service / how we want to tip for it any where else, it feels like DCL is trying to take advatage of that situation...

As per me and my household.... after brief discussion (and it was really brief) we have decieded to cancel all of our spa / salon sessions - except for my daugther's appointment at the Bibidibobidiboutique (sp?)....

The spa is suppose to be fun and a pampering activity and if I'm feeling taking advantage of in the process - than it's not fun anymore......

I guess I don't feel they are taking advantage at all. They are sending everyone with spa services a letter stating the change in policy. You most certainly can find a cruise ship that does not have this policy and sail on it. They don't force you to cruise with them. If they didn't tell you of this policy change or post it in some way, then I guess I would POSSIBLY feel a bit different.

They also don't make us use their spa services. I live in rural Iowa and I run into auto tipping ALL the time in service related industries. Is this really that uncommon of an occurrence. I really am having a hard time with all the people that are upset by this. They all say they tip MORE than the 18% anyway so what is the big deal. Don't you frequent restaurants that utilize the auto gratuity guidelines or ever order drinks from the bar on a cruise? I am sorry. Just don't see the big deal I guess.

 

[Dug720]

Actually, the hard sell is the reason, I'm not booking spa treatments for our upcoming cruise. My response was directed, towards past experience.

I wasn't responding to you per se, but rather the people who are saying that they think this will reduce the hard sell as people were threatening not to tip if given it. By making the tip automatic, there's no incentive for them NOT to make the hard sell now.

 

[FJS961]

I cancelled our spa treatments and sent an email telling them why. That's the way to send the message if you don't like a policy.

I don't agree with a mandatory 18% service charge (it's not a gratuity at that point) irrespective of the quality of the service.

 

[honeymo78]

I wasn't responding to you per se, but rather the people who are saying that they think this will reduce the hard sell as people were threatening not to tip if given it. By making the tip automatic, there's no incentive for them NOT to make the hard sell now.

If the hard sell bothers you, people should be speaking to spa management and DCL and having the tip adjusted if the service/attitude was subpar.

 

[Dug720]

If the hard sell bothers you, people should be speaking to spa management and DCL and having the tip adjusted if the service/attitude was subpar.

I would agree. I've never been to one of the spas at a Disney property or on a Disney ship (haven't been on a Disney ship yet...four weeks from today!!), so I don't know how hard the sell is.

 

[tinkerone]

another one here that doesn't see the big issue. to me its easier for them to add the tip cause then I don't have to figure out what to leave, its done. yahoo! if I want to add more I can, just like at the bars. if I want to leave less I will talk to a manager and give them the reason I feel I received sub par service and have them change it. just because its auto grat doesn't mean it has to stay but you better have a good reason to remove it.
as for all the people who are canceling there appointments, there are many right now who are booking in on the time slots you are leaving. lots of people are always waiting to pick them up because there aren't that many. your loss, their gain.
trust me, dcl or who ever owns the spa will not lose any money over this. there business people, they have crunched the numbers. there was a big out cry over auto grats for crew members when it first came out and its still there......just sayin, no flames please.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I would agree. I've never been to one of the spas at a Disney property or on a Disney ship (haven't been on a Disney ship yet...four weeks from today!!), so I don't know how hard the sell is.

I wil request additional information, if I'm interested in a particular product. But, when I say, I do not want or need something...don't drag out the entire line and attempt to push a 3-6 month supply. No means no. Do NOT waste 15 minutes of my time.