What am I supposed to tip for this?

[ManyMinnie]

I've had laser hair removal done on and off for years. I have never once tipped, nor has it ever been hinted at by the staff. It is done at a plastic surgeon's office, so I don't know if that is the difference or not.

There has never been a tip line on the receipt.

I've never tipped a mechanic, plumber, repairman, either.

 

[daughtersrus]

I'm not sure about her salons but the ones near me no longer allow tips to be charged. They must be in cash only. Apparently a lot of salons are now doing this. I had never heard of it and it was new last time I went and I had no cash! LOL I stammered that I would be right back and I went to an ATM and got some cash for a tip and ran it back to her. Thinking it might be just this one salon I went to another one for a different reason a month later and they too only accepted cash tips. Luckily for me I had some on me that day. So yes there are rules on tips at some places as crazy as that seems.

The owners may have set that rule because the credit cards company charges fees based on the amount being charged. By only allowing tips in cash, the owner is keeping their costs down.

Uh - I tip my repairmen, plumbers and mechanics? Because they are providing a service. And I want to be first in line in the event of an emergency.

DH has been a mechanic at a high-end car dealership in a Chicago suburb for 27 years. He hasn't had a tip in well over 15 years. Even then, it wasn't money but a small gift (he had a regular that was a beer distributor and he give him some signs, coasters or other promotional items.) More often than not, he's asked to do work that he doesn't even get paid for. Just last week, he had a customer that didn't want to pay for the air filter to be changed but wanted DH to show him where it was and how to do it.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

Uh - I tip my repairmen, plumbers and mechanics? Because they are providing a service. And I want to be first in line in the event of an emergency.

Do you also tip your doctors, dentist, bank teller, supermarket cashier, etc?

If not, why not? They provide a service too.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Do you also tip your doctors, dentist, bank teller, supermarket cashier, etc?

If not, why not? They provide a service too.

No - but my doctor does a lot with the organization Doctors Without Borders - and I give $1,000 in his name every year.

Bank teller and cashier - nope - they are not providing a specialized service.

Home repair & car repair - could be on a weekend, or at night - so I tip to insure prompt service. Plus not just anyone can fix appliances or a car!

 

[mjkacmom]

I've had laser hair removal done on and off for years. I have never once tipped, nor has it ever been hinted at by the staff. It is done at a plastic surgeon's office, so I don't know if that is the difference or not.

There has never been a tip line on the receipt.

I've never tipped a mechanic, plumber, repairman, either.

Doctor's office - no tip (more expensive)

Salon/spa - tip (less expensive)

 

[chrissyt27]

I have been to two places, one paid full price and once a deal for just my lip for $99. I also get my eyebrows waxed at the 2nd place, bought a packae and neither place has ever asked for a tip. I see someone new each time, there is no checkout, just wave and go or make a new appt.

 

[SamSam]

I am sure I will get flamed as cheap for this, but I don't think this is a service I would tip for. The people providing it are making a decent wage and they aren't like a salon where they are paying for a booth space. Would you tip the person who does a mammogram or sonogram for you? Your mechanic? I know the examples may seem extreme but they provide just as much service as your hair removal person. Of course, I am not getting laser hair removal either.

Edited to add - why is it different from the hair removal the OP had at her dermatologist? I am pretty sure no one would say to tip him/her.

Here is a link that shows these people make on AVERAGE 32,000 a year in 2010. I wish they showed whether that was salary or salary+tips.
http://www.ehow.com/info_8518273_much-hairremoval-technician-make-year.html

I agree, I simply don't see this as a tipped position.

 

[writersblock42]

I believe that any type of spa treatment the person should receive a tip. I personally would tip on the groupon amount and in the case of living social as well because the "valued at" amount is grossly inflated and it is too difficult to tell the real amount.
And my dh delivered pizzas at one point and my SIL delivers now and when all is said and done, they make about $10 an hour on average and they put miles on their own car and most don't reimburse them for gas. So um no they don't make more than engineers.
Also the spa people might be having to pay rent on their booth depending on the service.

 

[Sagginit]

This thread, and some subsequent Googling, is making me feel so much better! It seems like there really is no consensus and lots of people are just as confused as I am.

There seems to be an even split between people who think that laser is a medical service and that you wouldn't tip the tech anymore than you would tip a dental hygienest or sonogram tech, and people who believe that laser is a cosmetic service like a facial and that the person should be tipped just like any aesthetician.

I can see both sides of that argument, especially since the prices of laser treatments can vary so much. I was paying over $360 for 30 minute sessions at my dermatologist and I never even thought about tipping on that. Now that I'm at a medi-spa instead of a doctor's office and I'm paying $38 for 15 minute sessions, tipping seems more appropriate.

That being said, I did think it was a bit cheeky for the receptionist to ask for a tip so boldly. I felt really put on the spot--there was no way to decline without looking bad (which wound up happening anyway) which sort of takes away the "optional" part of a gratuity. They could have just had a discreet sign or put out some envelopes and a drop box like they do at salons.

After reading the helpful responses here and doing more research, I think I'm going to tip $15/session, including the one I missed. There doesn't seem to be a straight answer on what the "real" price is for laser, so I'm figuring that between my 15 minutes of treatment time and another 15 minutes for setup and cleanup, I'm taking 30 minutes of the woman's time. Tipping $15 for that works out to $30/hour or roughly $60,000/year. That seems like a fair wage for running a wand over my arms. I don't think I'm going to be going back after I complete this session of treatments, though. Having the tip issue pushed in my face so directly and being embarrassed by that left a bad taste in my mouth.

i don't think she mean to be cheeky. my place had envelopes and the first time i went she flat out asked if i was leaving a cash or credit tip. i did not think anything of it because she needed to know if she was running my card or if i needed an envelope. i completely understand not realizing you are supposed to tip (this happened to me once or twice when travelling and not realizing who certain employees were at certain places). i quite frankly may not have realized it as i was really nervous unless she asked.

the confusion comes i believe from where you are getting laser from. if its at a dermatologist office they charge more i believe and as a dr don't expect tips. if its at a medi/spa (which is where i go) it is like getting a facial and tipping is the social norm.

also i don't know what kind of laser they are offering but at my place there is no wand. she evaluates my skin every time i go in, talks to me about how it is doing, and then has to determine the strength of the laser and individually treat each hair. yes its quick but the room must be cleaned and set up in between (which at my place she does) and then she has to fill out my paperwork like a drs office. she spends 15-20 minutes with me but overall it takes longer.

personally i'm over everyone wanting tips, but this is one place i'm happy to tip because she is really kind to me and i never feel rushed.

 

[USS Disney]

personally i'm over everyone wanting tips, but this is one place i'm happy to tip because she is really kind to me and i never feel rushed.

And that should be the only time you tip anyone. If you feel they did more than what the basic job entailed. They didnt just treat you like a number. A tip is supposed to be a reward for good service, not an expected expense. It is rediculous to me that people think they should just tip everyone no matter what for fear of being "rude". Im not what one would call wealthy, so if you want extra money from me there better be a reason for it.

 

[kim929]

I would think if a pizza delivery person made more then an engineer, that engineer must really stink at their job

 

[rharper1496]

I agree with you. I never understand why services like this are tipped, but no one would even thin about tipping their mechanic, plumber, appliance repairmen... and they're probably providing a service that's probably more necessary.

I've tipped my mechanic and my appliance guy. Not the plumber, he is employed by my property management company and he's terrible. My appliance guy had my washer fixed in 20 minutes and cut me a deal on labour, he more than deserved a tip.

 

[scoutie]

The other thread about tipping says that pizza delivery people make more than engineers. Im sure that people working in a spa make more than most doctors.

Well, if somebody on the internet said it, it must be true.

A tiny bit of research says that this statement is blatantly false. The average salary for an engineer is $63,000. The average pizza delivery person brings in $11 an hour.

The average physician makes $120,000. A spa employee (I'm assuming an esthetician is doing the hair removal) averages $29,000 a year.

 

[Kellydelly]

I have gotten laser treatments before and never thought of tipping. I was at a laser center, though, not a spa. Interesting question!

 

[beavismom]

The average physician makes $120,000. A spa employee (I'm assuming an esthetician is doing the hair removal) averages $29,000 a year.

My point is that there are thousands of jobs that pay $30,000 a year or less that don't get tipped. From retail jobs to teaching and we don't tip them (you could argue that teachers sort of get tips in the form of appreciation gifts). My understanding of tips is that they are a combination of making sure wait staff receive a decent wage (since they aren't subject to minimum wage requirements) and rewarding others for above average service. I think tipping expectations have gotten out of hand these days.

 

[MrsDoubtfire]

I'm an X-Ray Technologist, and have never been offered a tip (haha), nor would I ever expect one....even when I freelance.

DH is a marine engine master tech., and no tips for him either...and he goes above and beyond in his job, even for transient boaters. Nowadays he finds a lot of boat owners who want to do their own engine work, yet ask him for advice and have tons of questions for him, which he often answers - and rarely even gets a thank you, let alone a "tip".

OP - If I were in your position, I wouldn't have gone to this spa expecting that I had to bring tip money. Perhaps now that I read all the responses, I would tip the gal a $10 bill for a 15 minute service - but not a cent more...even that's a stretch. If she could do 4 of these services per hour, even at a reduced rate, and be tipped $10 each time, she'd be making more an hour than me.

Perhaps I'm in the wrong profession

 

[scoutie]

My point is that there are thousands of jobs that pay $30,000 a year or less that don't get tipped

I wasn't referring to your comment. I was referring to the poster who said that on the other thread, it said that pizza delivery people made as much as engineers, and spa workers made as much as doctors. I posted the average salaries for HER to see why she was wrong. It had nothing to do with your comment. I didn't even quote you, so I'm not sure why you thought I was referring to you, but I'm sorry if I was unclear.

 

[beavismom]

I was not part of the other thread so I have no idea what is going on over there. I took your comment to mean that since a dermatologist makes $120,000 and a spa worker makes $29,000 you should tip the spa worker. I simply quoted it to make my point, nothing against you or your post.

 

[scoutie]

[QUOTEI was not part of the other thread so I have no idea what is going on over there.][/QUOTE] The comment was from this thread....the poster said:

The other thread about tipping says that pizza delivery people make more than engineers. Im sure that people working in a spa make more than most doctors

I had just said that this wasn't true, and posted the salary.

No worries!

 

[beavismom]

I skimmed over the comment about pizza delivery paying as well as an engineer. I thought it was sarcasm...