Tipping question!!! The Spa

[pryncess527]

For the last few years I've gone to a local spa for waxing services. The service I get costs $45 and I normally tip $15, bringing the total to $60. That spa was a large spa and I know that the business took most of the cost of the wax.

The person I used left that spa for greener pastures, and so now I'm looking for a new spa. The new spa I found is owner operated -- the owner is the only staff person. She charges $60 for the same treatment.

My question is, do you think she'll expect a tip? As the owner, I know she gets the entire $60, and the cost is in line with my service + tip at the other place. I've heard that you don't tip the owner of a salon, but it feels REALLY weird to think about having a waxing appointment where I don't tip.

At this point I'm budgeting $75 for the treatment, but admittedly at that price I may have to find another salon or stop waxing. I realized today that if I wanted opinions on tipping, the DIS would not disappoint!!

So, WWYD?

 

[hlg22]

I tip 20% on any salon service, regardless of whether the person providing it is an owner or employee, or maybe a little more if the service was phenomenal or if I have a longstanding relationship with the person providing the service. My colorist is a co-owner of the salon, and he gets 20%. I don't think that old "don't tip the owner" rule is really in play anymore - I've seen his other clients tip him too while I've been in the salon, and why should he get less than someone else performing the same service? Yes, he shares profits from the salon, but he's also bears the risk of the business, is responsible for overhead costs, etc.

So to answer your question, I would tip $12 on the $60 treatment, for a total of $72. On your $45 treatment, I would have tipped $9 or $10 - $15 is over 30%!

 

[Judique]

For the last few years I've gone to a local spa for waxing services. The service I get costs $45 and I normally tip $15, bringing the total to $60. That spa was a large spa and I know that the business took most of the cost of the wax.

The person I used left that spa for greener pastures, and so now I'm looking for a new spa. The new spa I found is owner operated -- the owner is the only staff person. She charges $60 for the same treatment.

My question is, do you think she'll expect a tip? As the owner, I know she gets the entire $60, and the cost is in line with my service + tip at the other place. I've heard that you don't tip the owner of a salon, but it feels REALLY weird to think about having a waxing appointment where I don't tip.

At this point I'm budgeting $75 for the treatment, but admittedly at that price I may have to find another salon or stop waxing. I realized today that if I wanted opinions on tipping, the DIS would not disappoint!!

So, WWYD?

Ask her.

If she expects $75 tell her your budget is $60. She may need a customer who comes regularly more than she needs the tip.

 

[Handbag Lady]

For the last few years I've gone to a local spa for waxing services. The service I get costs $45 and I normally tip $15, bringing the total to $60. That spa was a large spa and I know that the business took most of the cost of the wax.

The person I used left that spa for greener pastures, and so now I'm looking for a new spa. The new spa I found is owner operated -- the owner is the only staff person. She charges $60 for the same treatment.

My question is, do you think she'll expect a tip? As the owner, I know she gets the entire $60, and the cost is in line with my service + tip at the other place. I've heard that you don't tip the owner of a salon, but it feels REALLY weird to think about having a waxing appointment where I don't tip.

At this point I'm budgeting $75 for the treatment, but admittedly at that price I may have to find another salon or stop waxing. I realized today that if I wanted opinions on tipping, the DIS would not disappoint!!

So, WWYD?

Is there not another tech at the old spa you went to? I would have tried that route first before going someplace new. Cleanliness in spas bother me (well, LACK of it does!). If I were happy there, I'd want to stay.

 

[Janepod]

For the last few years I've gone to a local spa for waxing services. The service I get costs $45 and I normally tip $15, bringing the total to $60. That spa was a large spa and I know that the business took most of the cost of the wax.

The person I used left that spa for greener pastures, and so now I'm looking for a new spa. The new spa I found is owner operated -- the owner is the only staff person. She charges $60 for the same treatment.

My question is, do you think she'll expect a tip? As the owner, I know she gets the entire $60, and the cost is in line with my service + tip at the other place. I've heard that you don't tip the owner of a salon, but it feels REALLY weird to think about having a waxing appointment where I don't tip.

At this point I'm budgeting $75 for the treatment, but admittedly at that price I may have to find another salon or stop waxing. I realized today that if I wanted opinions on tipping, the DIS would not disappoint!!

So, WWYD?

I tip for pretty much everything, but I would not tip in this case. I do not tip any "sole proprietor" whether it be an aesthetician, an electrician, whatever. The only exception would be at the holidays, when I would tip the value of one service.

 

[Eastern]

I tip ~20% at the salon. $15 on $45 service is a lot. It's not my business who gets what part of the service amount.

I usually tip the owner, but I don't pay huge amounts for my services either. eg I would never get a $200 haircut. Or even a $100 haircut It grows back too fast.

On a $45 service, if it was a haircut, I'd probably give $8 to the stylist and $2 to the person who shampoos your hair.

 

[aprilgail2]

I tip 20% on any salon service, regardless of whether the person providing it is an owner or employee, or maybe a little more if the service was phenomenal or if I have a longstanding relationship with the person providing the service. My colorist is a co-owner of the salon, and he gets 20%. I don't think that old "don't tip the owner" rule is really in play anymore - I've seen his other clients tip him too while I've been in the salon, and why should he get less than someone else performing the same service? Yes, he shares profits from the salon, but he's also bears the risk of the business, is responsible for overhead costs, etc.

So to answer your question, I would tip $12 on the $60 treatment, for a total of $72. On your $45 treatment, I would have tipped $9 or $10 - $15 is over 30%!

I agree- that was an "olden days" thing where you didn't tip the owner, not true anymore.

http://beauty.about.com/od/cutcoloradvice/qt/tipowner.htm

"This hasn't always been the case. Many years ago, you were not expected to tip the owner of a salon, a spa or a barbershop. In fact, offering a tip could be considered an insult. But times have changed, according to etiquette coach Peggy Post of the Emily Post Institute. Post told O the Oprah Magazine that the practice of not tipping the owner is "an old tradition that's dying out." "

 

[pryncess527]

Thank you very much for your feedback everyone!!

to answer a PP ? -- I wasn't really that fond of my old spa, I just liked this one technician so I kept going to her. I did try another one after she left, but wasn't pleased so figured it was time to expand my search.

 

[lucyem]

I also ways tip 15%-20% depending on the level of service. For a basic color and cut appointment I only tip 15% unless it is the holidays or if the service goes above and beyond, then I tip 20%.

 

[JandJ]

Not a response to the tipping question - I think you've gotten great answers . . . but just an idea . . . if you break down the cost you might want to consider laser hair removal. If you're spending, say $60 once a month, over one year that's $720. Two years is $1440. If you tip at the holidays it's closer to $1500. I waxed for about 7 years and I was spending $65/month. When I looked at the cost over years I realized I'd spent over $5000 for hair removal. And I had to keep having re-done every month. It was more cost effective to get laser hair removal. I paid a little under $1500 for 3 areas, and yes, that seems like a lot, but it lasts a lifetime (well, that's what they say; I've only had it about two years). There are often Living Social and Groupon deals for laser hair removal, too, and some places will put you on a payment plan so you don't have to pay all upfront. A full course of treatment will take 6-9 months, but unlike waxing you don't have to wait for the hair to grow out. In fact, you should be closely shaved before treatment. I found it didn't hurt any more than waxing, but whereas waxing was sometimes sore for an hour afterward, and I'd be red for up to a day, the laser only hurt for the second she was applying it and only a couple of times was I red at all.

Just a thought.

 

[gracie1]

Not a response to the tipping question - I think you've gotten great answers . . . but just an idea . . . if you break down the cost you might want to consider laser hair removal. If you're spending, say $60 once a month, over one year that's $720. Two years is $1440. If you tip at the holidays it's closer to $1500. I waxed for about 7 years and I was spending $65/month. When I looked at the cost over years I realized I'd spent over $5000 for hair removal. And I had to keep having re-done every month. It was more cost effective to get laser hair removal. I paid a little under $1500 for 3 areas, and yes, that seems like a lot, but it lasts a lifetime (well, that's what they say; I've only had it about two years). There are often Living Social and Groupon deals for laser hair removal, too, and some places will put you on a payment plan so you don't have to pay all upfront. A full course of treatment will take 6-9 months, but unlike waxing you don't have to wait for the hair to grow out. In fact, you should be closely shaved before treatment. I found it didn't hurt any more than waxing, but whereas waxing was sometimes sore for an hour afterward, and I'd be red for up to a day, the laser only hurt for the second she was applying it and only a couple of times was I red at all.

Just a thought.

Glad to hear about this. I was thinking of looking into the laser removal myself. Although I only spend $20 a month and then every other month is $40.

 

[Lisa71]

I also tip 20 percent...more if service is amazing...spa treatments feel very personal so I want a clean place and a qualified person.