Homebrew01

I'm going for a massage at a local spa, and noticed that on their website it says something like "Gratuity not included in prices". I always used to get massages by local people working out of their homes and just paid whatever the rate was. Since this is at a spa, is a tip expected, similar to barbers & hair dressers ??
If so, how much ??

kuan

$10 is good for the hour. Very good I'd say. My massage therapist only charges $50/hr so all in I get a pretty good deal.

crisi13

15% minimum. I mean they are touching your naked body...it only seems fair to me! I usually tip waiters more than 15% and they can't even seem to refill my tea glass!

chesspupil

depends on the service provided I'd say.

That to me is both with and without the wink-wink-nod-nod

obviously with the wink I'd say you better tip VERY WELL indeed

koffee brown

I frequently have massages- at least one every two weeks, but if I'm really sore, I'll bump it up to once a week. When I go to a spa, I tip 20%. As the other poster said, they are touching naked body- for that, they deserve a decent tip. Now, if they don't do a good massage, I'll just never accept having a massage from them again.

If you're worried about a tip, find a massage school in your area. They often charge less for the student massages, and they insist on _no_ gratuity whatsoever. There is usually a grad school and a student clinic. The grad school clinic will cost slightly more. I used to go to the student clinic, but these days- nah. I'm just too old to deprive myself of a good massage, and I can't guarantee that students will get the job done. But the grad school clinic is still cheaper than a normal massage, and with no gratuity to pay, it's definitely worth considering.

koffee

BobSmalls

Service providers (masseurs, restaurants, etc.) should declare their prices up front. I don't tip. If they want $60 instead of $50, then they need to charge that much.

mateo44

catherine96821

lol
or maybe he is just Canadian.

stevesurf

The minimum I'd consider tipping for an hour massage is $20 if a good one. That's one hour for a massage therapist, which is a good deal of work!

aham23

i have been tipping 15%.

later.

chingon77

I only tip if the big finish is really good. If not then i charge them for the privilge of seeing me naked.

Cyclist0383

Why would you tip just because someone has to touch your clean, naked body? It's not like they didn't know it was part of massage therapy before they got into it. Do you all think your naked bodies are so gross as to have to pay someone extra just for doing their job?

mateo44

kuan

It's like going to a bar. You don't tip the owner of the business.

Cyclist0383

I have no problem tipping, and I usually tip the massage therapist when I get a massage, but I certainly don't feel I need to tip because someone has touched my naked body. Do you tip your doctor because he has to touch your naked body?

mateo44

You're right, I agree that touching a naked body has nothing to do with it -- it's the kind of service provided that determines whether you tip or not (in the United States at least). You don't tip your doctor because he/she isn't providing a personal service.

Cyclist0383

How is a doctor not providing a personal service and a massage therapist is? A good doctor will get very personal with you.

mateo44

Don't nitpick. In some sense, everyone who waits on you, etc., is providing "personal" service. But there are kinds of services/occupations that are customarily tipped, and others that are not. I didn't establish these customs, and they vary by country and historical period.

In the U.S., workers in the service sector are generally tipped, not anyone who "provides a service." That's why it's expected that you tip someone who cuts your hair or washes your car and not someone who fills your cavities or prepares your taxes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipping