Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Tipping the Owner

If you look at the general tipping guidelines....most lists will say that a Salon/Establishment Owner does not get tipped.  I think the idea behind it is that they are getting the profits from the place, so that the tip is not necessary as part of their salary.  I think.

The other day, I took Bossy to get his hair cut.  It turned out that it was the salon owner who did it.  In this case, I didn't really care (our regular stylist just left...his hair needed to be cut....and for kids' cuts, it is the same price no matter who does it). 

When I went to pay, I used my debit card.  The receptionist asked me if I would like to add a tip to the bill, as they override the credit card system to make the transaction the full cost, vs service + tip.  I sort of froze, and said "ok."  I wasn't planning on doing this.  I had figured I would get the slip....draw a line through tip....and be done.

Because she asked...I felt obligated to say yes.  In those 2.1 nanoseconds....I decided if I said no, I would be judged.  *OMG...she didn't leave a tip!!!!*  So I just said to add $5 to the bill....which was WAY overkill for the $18 bill.  But 20% would have been $3.60...and that is a weird number....which would have just rounded up to $4...and in my mind, $5 seemed "better" than $4.

*sigh*

I tipped the salon owner 27%...for a 12-year old boy hair cut. 

*sigh*

I am sure many of you would say "I wouldn't have done it."  But you know what...when you have to make a decision in a split second...and you have to make it out loud....it is so much harder to say no!

It is done....and I will probably not add a tip to transaction anymore.  I will just give cash.  The whole thing left me feeling a little taken advantage of, even though I totally could have said No.  And we don't have the money for little screw ups like this.

And just for the people who say...why don't I cut his hair......the kid has 2 cowlicks, a double crown, and the strangest hair growth pattern that any of the stylist we have ever used have ever scene.  Unless I just buzz cut the whole thing....I wouldn't even know where to begin. 

17 comments:

  1. The place where my kids get their hair cut is a barber shop. The owner is the one who always cuts their hair. The charge is either $18 or $19, I'm not sure which, and I give him $25 every time. So I think you're doing what most people would do. I think the notion of not tipping the owner went out a long time ago (I don't really understand all of it,but I want to err on the side of tipping.)

    The lady who cuts my hair is at a different barbershop where they cut women's hair, too, and I think the charge is about $22 and I give her $30 every time. I want to make sure she doesn't take it out on me by giving me a bad haircut, LOL. I'm only in 2 or 3 times per year so I figure the extra tip money is diddlysquat.

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  2. I've never heard that you shouldn't tip the owner. I would have tipped.

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  3. Hmmmm the lady that does my hair owns her salon and employs other stylists but she's also a stylist. I tip her 100% percent, she's cutting my hair and also has to run a business.

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  4. I have heard this before too, but where I get my hair cut is just a one woman shop in her home, so I always tip her. She only charges $12 so I always just give her $15.

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  5. Definetly tip the owner. Just like if you go to a restaurant you are getting a service. I used to be a hairstylist and you would be surprised at how many people dont tip.

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  6. I generally tip 20% at restaurants, hair, etc. Buy I am wondering if the tipping the owner is a regional thing....as in my region doesn't.

    I scheduled this post the other day and something happened since then where I probably won't be returning to this salon.

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  7. I live in the northeast (PA) and heard about not tipping the owner also. I think the receptionist was out of line asking about the tip. Just give me the bill and I will decide. What if you aren't happy with the service? I wouldn't worry what people say to you on your blog, if you wanted to or decided to cut your ds's hair you would have. Most should think before giving a reply to any blog.

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  8. I always tip even if it is the owner. My second one had two very bad cowlicks and a mess for her head. She keeps her hair long to try and hide it!

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  9. I am a former hairstylist. You do tip the owner, as most owners take the same rate of pay as the stylists. The owners I worked for got the same percentage as every other stylist.

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  10. I will always tip the person who did the service, regardless if they are the owner or not.

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  11. I think most people would have had your reaction and tipped. I always tip 15% for my hair which works out to about an $18 tip. I would tip regardless of whether my hair stylist was the owner.

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  12. I get my hair cut at a shop where the stylist works out of her home. I take my mom and we both get our hair cut at the same time. It's only $10 a piece, so I usually give the stylist $25.

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  13. I actually think you did the RIGHT thing. Just because she is the owner, doesn't mean you shouldn't tip her. In this case, she was the one that provided the service, acting in the capacity as a stylist and she should absolutely be tipped.

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  14. I recently read that you now tip the owner. It's an antiquated idea that had gone away. I have never know who the owner my salon is..

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  15. I pay $15 for only a haircut, no wash or styling. I come with freshly-washed, dry hair and leave with haircut. It takes her less that 30 minutes and I tip $5. So, $20 once month for the best hairstylist ever is a deal for me. She is the owner.

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    1. The owner charges $43 for a basic woman's cut, but does include wash and style. No idea what it would be for just the cut.

      The salon has "tiers" of stylist...the higher the tier, the higher the charge.

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  16. I am a lousy tipper... though I am great with math, I am terrible when put on the spot, and I tend to lean on the side of generous... I've heard that about not tipping the owner, but I just tip whoever actually did the service. It would be like being told to tip the chef instead of the waiter. I too would've said yes, even if I was planning not to. I have a hard time saying no still, so don't be hard on yourself!

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