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The Kitchen Table

Tipping question

13 years ago

I see a chiropractor regularly. Today I went for an unscheduled visit due to a specific issue that happened over the weekend. He adjusted me and then suggested I see the masseuse that works in his office for a few visits to help with my issue.

Am I suppose to tip this masseuse? She gets paid by the chiro facility so she is not an independent masseuse. These massages were recommended by my doctor, not because I want them as a feel good beauty treatment.

Tip or not tip? And if I'm suppose to tip, how much for 30 minutes? Thanks.

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Comments (11)

socks
13 years ago
I don't know about the appropriateness, but tipping is based on the fee for the service, 10-20%.
kayjones
13 years ago
I think that's up to you - how would you want to be treated if you were doing her job? My ex-DIL is a self-employeed massage therapist in Las Vegas - she DEPENDS on tips to pay her bills, as her base salary is $10/hour.

I imagine your massage therapist felt she did a good job, and she'd really appreciate being tipped, but you'd just have to offer and see if she accepted the tip.

Personally, I probably wouldn't tip her because she's most likely an employee of the Chiropractor and makes a decent wage. I guess you could always ask if she is salaried or not.
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I moved much like you did when we moved here. I moved my kitchen, bathrooms, artwork, garage and shop things, clothing not in drawers and quite a bit of my office although not a heavy desk. 6 minute drive. I'd boxed books and hadn't put them in my SUV yet, the movers graciously offered to take them as they had room. I had brought my own lamps too I think. . All my living room furniture was new and delivered by the store as were the appliances. I tipped each of the three man crew, who brought the heavier pieces only, $40 each, Same with the movers I hired to move my mother to her retirement apartment an hour from her home. They moved three rooms of furniture and her clothing, I packed her kitchen myself, put those things into my SUV. It was a warm day, I had water which they accepted, soft drinks that they declined. Two men. They preferred to stop and buy their own lunch after they had packed and before they unpacked her things in her new city. I tipped them $40 each, although I think they were worth about 10 times that much for as helpful and good natured as they were that day last Fall ;-) Editing to add - I just remembered with the company hired to move mother, they brought us coffee! They called and asked how many were at the house that morning, and arrived with Starbucks, their treat ;-)
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I was hoping you all would say that's not necessary, but that's what I thought and have done in the past. I'll admit I dislike feeling obligated to tip for massages. I think due to cost. I feel like charge me what you want to charge me and lets be done with it. Kind of like how I prefer to think I'm getting 'free shipping' even if the cost is padded in. I don't think twice about tipping for food or my hair stylist though. If I paid for some type of face treatment - IPL or something similar, I wouldn't tip for that. Out of curiosity, do you guys? I was originally going to use my dentist as an example of someone I don't tip, but that's not quite the same as a massage, or food, or hair.
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quilly
13 years ago
If the massage therapist is an employee of the chiropractor I wouldn't tip. I'd consider it a health care facility. But at a spa I would tip.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
13 years ago
Ask your doctor! He or she will tell you if tips are appropriate, or not.
socks
13 years ago
Good idea, rhizo.

I have gotten this vision of me tipping my doctor's nurse after she takes my blood pressure, and I can't stop laughing.

This post was edited by socks12345 on Mon, Aug 19, 13 at 21:42
angelaid
13 years ago
Ask the doctor (or the gal at the front desk). I do not tip a licensed massage therapist working on my knee after surgery, that was "prescribed". He billed, and was paid by, insurance. If I go for a relaxing massage, not paid by insurance, I tip 20 to 25%.
ghoghunter
13 years ago
I would tip her at least 15%.
Joann
dances_in_garden
13 years ago
Interesting question. When I went to a sports injury clinic and massages were part of my physiotherapy, I did not tip. I also did not tip the physiotherapist, nor did I ever tip my chiropractor or anybody in that office.

When I go for a relaxing type massage, I do tip. Different type of business, and there is no medical billing going on.

I don't tip my family physician either.

Dances.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
13 years ago
no I do not tip since it is a part of the medical treatment and is done through the clinic and billed as such and to insurance, they are paid as such.

If in a spa or an independent massage individual then yes probably 15% as most tipping is.
debo_2006
Original Author
13 years ago
As I thought, and most of you agree, that tipping isn't required since this is a health care facility and the massages are a doctor's request for my treatment.

I do tip when I go for a relaxing massage at a spa.

Thanks for your input. I didn't want to seem like a cheapie but didn't want to tip the first time if I wasn't suppose to b/c she may expect a tip thereafter.
jannie
13 years ago
I would not tip, it was a medical service. Certainly she got paid for it.But I might bring her a gift of candy or something similar.

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