Spas & tip handling question

[Riff Raff]

Servers in restaurants are guaranteed at least minimum wage.

You're right! Your wording precluded what I said and I didn't notice. But rare is it that a server's tips don't make up that difference, even if they are working in midwest farmtown illinois. (We had a $30 dinner, 4 people and the "head of the table" tipped $1 and change. I was AGAST but afraid to say anything. Inlaws, lol) Actually, maybe in that case the restaurant might have to make up for it.

Thanks for being clear BlackSwan.

I've been known to sneak a make-up tip under my plate for the server when dining with really bad tippers! That drives me nuts!!! If I can't afford dinner out *and* a tip, then I stay home and cook.

Hell with that, Sharon. If the person I'm out with doesn't tip properly, I leave the make-up tip out where they can see it. I even make a point of showing it to them. If they ain't got no home trainin', I consider it my duty to educate them myself.

As far as your last sentence, there's probably a few MT's out there who feel the same way about what they do. I had a massage appointment at my alma mater's clinic once that I actually canceled (knowing full well that they'd re-book inside of an hour, because of their reputation) when I realized that I would be able to pay the $25, but didn't have enough money for a tip for the therapist. (Yes, I know the students can't take the tips, but at our school, the money was kept for us to be used to order pizza, etc. for our grad. party.)

So I don't just talk the talk as a therapist, I also walk the walk as a client. Maybe that's why I feel the way I do about it.

 

[Aporia]

Here is an idea, Black Swan. The women wasn't cheap. All that stuff about feeling good was just to say something..... do we honestly think that everyone who says "I feel GREAT" "That was the best massage ever!" ECT. means it???? Seriously, how many clients will be able to look a MT in the eye and say, your massage wasn't good.

I don't mean to be mean, just realistic.

And I know this to be fact because I just got a massage that I didn't like but it wasn't as though I could tell her that.

Not to mention that the lady already paid an arm and a leg for a massage. In her mind, that was enough and whether she actually paid or not, isn't really our concern, is it? It was a gift and she wanted to get her money's worth out of it, who can blame her?

 

[b r]

In my private practice, tips are a gift and I do not ask for them in any way. This is stated clearly in the FAQ on my website.

At the spa, tips are part of the compensation model and are customary.

I have a strange amount of loyalty to this place that I never expected, but this is one of several issues that, if not addressed satisfactorily, will probably lead to me ending my contract there.

So tips do help the business. They help attract and retain good therapists.

There isn't really another place I'd rather work at this point in my career. It's got a lot of good things going on for it, but there are a few things that they just don't seem to get... that other places have down pat.

This other place I worked--that was sooo dysfunctional in many ways--had tips down. I never once didn't get a tip, usually generously sized. I even got a (small) tip from the very disappointed British tourist who was looking for services I don't provide ;-)

As I look at what the differences between these two places might be, I've identified two important ones so far. And the one this thread is focused on is that the Good Tips Spa had front desk staff that asked every time.

Thanks to everyone who's replied so far. I'm still interested in hearing more experiences/perspectives related to the topic.

 

[Santa In Your Panties]

Oh, and BTW, if you're so grateful toward this woman for the tip she gave you, and you know how much she seems to need this massage she gets from you...how about reducing your fee?

I just now noticed this comment.

I don't reduce my fee because I charge what I need to charge in order to give of myself and leave my family for that hour and devote ALL my energy to my client. However - having said that - I did offer her a package deal which she refused. She knows my services are well worth every penny I charge and would not pay less than my stated fee. It is probably MUCH less than what you make per hour but it is sufficient for me in my small rural town.

If you HAVE to have a tip in order to not feel resentful than you need to re-evaluate your compensation and/or situation. Period. If you have such obvious resentment towards anybody who doesn't leave a tip than NO - you do NOT consider them gifts. You consider them your "just due" and something you have a "right" to. Or else you wouldn't feel resentful not recieving it.

I was grateful for her tip because it showed thoughfulness and caring. And it was UNEXPECTED. The true hallmark of a thoughtful gift. If it is an obligation it is not a gift.

Angela <

P.S. I wanted to add - I really did agree with everything else in your post. I just don't think it's fair to label every non-tipping client as cheap bas---ds or b---es. It is a horribly unfair generalization based on two anecdotal examples. That's all I was trying to say.

 

[tikigal16]

There isn't really another place I'd rather work at this point in my career. It's got a lot of good things going on for it, but there are a few things that they just don't seem to get... that other places have down pat.

I would print out the script that Black Swan shared and show it to your spa management. If they adopted it that would certianly be a lot less tacky than envelopes and would flow naturally into the checking out process.