Tipping hair stylists

[KenNYC]

This just seems to trivial to put in the Q&A forum, I figured I'd just put it here. Am I supposed to tip the hair stylists? I go to a rather pricey salon and kinda figured if I'm already paying $100 for a haircut, a tip is rather excessive, but am I supposed to?

[Alonzo-ny]

Yep.

[ZippyTheChimp]

Apply that thinking to an expensive restaurant.

If the type of service requires a tip, the amount of the bill doesn't matter. And assuming you like the service and will be a regular customer, you don't want your ears nicked.

[KenNYC]

Fair enough, although I don't quite buy into the restaurant analogy. Then again, I'm not a fan of this tipping culture/under the table money to begin with :p

[Fabrizio]

When I lived in NY, for years I went to a fellow who cut hair at his apartment. He was a real pro but it was cheaper and of course no tipping and fuss. He did a good job and had great clients.

[Schadenfrau]

This just seems to trivial to put in the Q&A forum, I figured I'd just put it here. Am I supposed to tip the hair stylists? I go to a rather pricey salon and kinda figured if I'm already paying $100 for a haircut, a tip is rather excessive, but am I supposed to?

A $100 haircut should be costing you at least $120. If you've been stiffing the stylist on the tips, I imagine you won't care much for your next cut.

[KenNYC]

I don't really believe that, I can't imagine a hair stylist is going to risk her job proving a point over shorted tips.

[Alonzo-ny]

The place I used to go to (great cuts, great people, complimentary beer, $60) they put your tip in an anonymous envelope without your name on so they didnt know who was tipping who.

[Schadenfrau]

Why would giving someone a bad haircut risk anyone's job? Frankly, if you show such little respect to a stylist as to consistently underpay, I don't know why they'd continue to accept your appointments. A tip isn't considered "excessive," regardless of how much you're paying for the service- a tip is considered mandatory. If you don't care for that, you can always use the money you're saving on professional cuts to buy yourself a pair of good shears.

[KenNYC]

If I ran a professional service store of any kind, and my employee deliberately gave a customer a bad product/service to prove a point, I'd have his/her ass on the street in a heartbeat. I would imagine most business owners in New York approach their business with the same level of expectation and pride too. I could certainly be wrong.

If you think not tipping is about being disrespectful, I guess you just haven't been much out of this country, this "gray" economy is very unique to America, and is not something the "rest of us" are used to. It's not about being disrespectful, it's about not knowing about it.

The fact that I don't like it is a different matter. Put all the costs on the tab, and pay taxes on the money. Don't get me wrong, the fact that I don't like this, doesn't mean I do not accept it. I tip, and I tip generously. I still do not consider it a proper way to run a business, or for the economy in general.

[Schadenfrau]

If you think not tipping is about being disrespectful, I guess you just haven't been much out of this country, this "gray" economy is very unique to America, and is not something the "rest of us" are used to. It's not about being disrespectful, it's about not knowing about it.


I don't mean to argue, but I've been outside out this country plenty, and understand your claims about the "gray economy." I've also made it a point to acquaint myself with the local customs of places I visit, and I do believe that you, KenNYC, have done the same.

However, you're not getting your hair cut outside of this country, and you appear to be well aware of America's tipping customs. Like them or not, they are a fact of life, and I believe that you're well-informed enough to know that. As such, all you're doing is complaining about an expensive haircut. If it's too much for you, find something cheaper.

[ZippyTheChimp]

If it's too much for you, find something cheaper.That was my point about the restaurant.

[Alonzo-ny]

If a tip is mandatory then its not a tip its a charge. Which in my opinion renders them pointless.

At my old hair place they asked if you would like gratuity envelopes, they didnt force them upon you.

[NYatKNIGHT]

So what does everyone generally tip their hair stylist? I think I generally wind up giving about 20%. Just curious what everyone else does.

I agree our tipping culture has gotten out of control, and if given the choice I would prefer not to have it, or at least use it sparingly. It used to be something rewarded for good service above and beyond, but has grown into something mandatory which I agree is pointless.

[Schadenfrau]

Here's an honest question: if you're aware that in America, tipping is considered mandatory, how does one rationalize NOT tipping based upon the practices of their home country/any other random place in the world? You don't go to China and say, "Well, that's not how they do it in Egypt..."

NYatKnight, I tip my stylist 20% as a standard, and more if they've given me exceptional attention or fit in a last-minute appointment. Around $5 for the person who washes my hair, if it's not the stylist.

[Alonzo-ny]

People take exception to being required to tip even when service isnt above average. When you come from a different culture you can see the absurdity of it. Tipping is supposed to be for great service, not for all service.

I used to tip 25%.

[KenNYC]

However, you're not getting your hair cut outside of this country, and you appear to be well aware of America's tipping customs. Like them or not, they are a fact of life, and I believe that you're well-informed enough to know that. As such, all you're doing is complaining about an expensive haircut. If it's too much for you, find something cheaper.

Nono, this is of course why I finally DID ask, because if it is customary here, as seems very clear that it is, I do intend to tip for it :)

As Alonzo says, when it is mandatory it becomes a charge and not a tip, and that's true, but meh, whatever. It's not that I mind having to pay what I should pay, it's perfectly fine, but this "system" makes it easy to be confused. Even more so for first time tourists, and in the end it only hurts the people in the service professions.

Anyway, what I do find kinda surprising is if these people would actually deliberately deliver a poor service as "revenge" when you came back. If I was running any form of service business and found out my employees were doing a bad service on purpose because they didn't get tipped, I would be mighty pissed, after all, it's your name/reputation that gets hurts.

[Schadenfrau]

Nono, this is of course why I finally DID ask, because if it is customary here, as seems very clear that it is, I do intend to tip for it :)


Good man.

And to clarify the latter part of your post- I honestly think that most business owners would sympathize with employees receiving sub-par tips. Not that anyone would go out of his or her way to give you bad service, but when a person doesn't give a tip, it's an indication that they're not happy with the service they've been given. Well, either that or they're just cheap.

Much like Zippy's previous suggestion, if you're a regular in a bar and you're known for never giving an appropriate tip, no one's going to be knocking themselves out to serve your drinks.

I get that America is pretty much unique in this, but as I said before, that's just how it is. I don't think you're going to find too many American women who would be keen on the idea of being one of many wives to one man, but good luck trying to argue your case here if that's your bag.

[KenNYC]

Where did polygamy come into this? :)

[Alonzo-ny]

Good man.



You sound alot like the 'if you dont like it get the hell out' people I knew when I lived in NY. Why do alot of Americans blindly defend things like these just because they are American.

[lofter1]

Why "blindly defend" tipping?

Because bosses and business owners don't and won't pay sufficient enough salaries, and if consumers are not properly educated about tipping and how it is structured into various aspects of the US economy then a whole lot of workers will be coming up short.

When I was in London last year I was surprised at the low rate of tip designated for a taxi driver. But when I saw how much a cab ride cost (seemingly double to triple the NYC rate) having to pay much more for a tip would have been onerous.

[Alonzo-ny]

The way I read it was that simply because people in the US do it KenNYC MUST do it, simply because it is the custom, without question. Which reminded me of conversations Ive had in the past along the lines of: If you dont want to tip, get the hell out.

I wasnt referring to why people tip. Like I said before, if consumers HAVE to tip then its not a tip, its a charge. The problem is with the system of how wages are paid, not the tippers, the responsibility shouldnt be ours.

[Schadenfrau]

I actually do believe that if a person is so fundamentally opposed to tipping that they refuse the practice on principle, then he or she should "get the hell out" of any place that requires tipping. No one's starting a revolution by stiffing workers who rely upon tips- they're just being straight up cheap.

And as for this?

"Why do alot of Americans blindly defend things like these just because they are American."

I have no idea about the other 300 million Americans (or why Alonzo-ny is putting some quasi-xenophobic spin on the story), but I'm defending the practice of tipping because that's how people can afford to live.

[ZippyTheChimp]

Tipping is a skill and an art.

[Alonzo-ny]

I'm defending the practice of tipping because that's how people can afford to live.

Hypothetically, if everyone in the US simultaneously gave up tipping, would the minimum wage for someone in a tipping position stay the same? I doubt it. Like i said before the responsibility shouldn't be on the consumer, if it is then it isn't a tip it is charity.

[Schadenfrau]

Hypothetically, if everyone in the world held hands and sang in perfect harmony, wouldn't there be peace in the Middle East?

[Alonzo-ny]

Yes.

[KenNYC]

This wasn't really what I was getting at. Yes, I'd prefer it if people were paid decent wages, like they are in the civilized world, but here I am. :p

Anyway, one more question on the issue of tipping...

In Diners, it seems customary to pay at a cashier not to the waiter. I usually pay with a card, so I don't have a choice in the matter, but ideally, would there be a difference between leaving a tip on the table to the actual waiter towards just tipping on the total bill at the cashier?

I would maybe imagine that tips given at the cashier ends up in a pool that is divided between the staff?

[lofter1]

In that type ^ of situation I always leave the tip in cash on the table before paying at the cashier.

In many restaurants tips are pooled and split between wait persons, bus staff and the kitchen (and bar).

[NYatKNIGHT]

See also Tipping in NYC (http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7930&page=5)

[Alonzo-ny]

In diners I always left the tip on the table.