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Tipping question

last year

last modified: last year

I ’m picking up a dress today that I paid a seamstress to hem for me. I know how to sew but this was a hi/lo hem and between working and -believe it or not a sewing project I’m working on- it was easier to have her do it. I’ve already paid her the fee in cash. My question is whether or not to also tip. My coworker who recommended her says she does not tip unless it’s a rush job.

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Comments (11)

eld6161
last year
last modified: last year
I never have. Mostly because where I usually go, it’s expensive! I used a private woman once a few times. I feel she charged what was fair to her.

Good point for doing so for above and beyond for a rush job.
Annie Deighnaugh
last year
I've not. They are usually the business owner so it all goes to them.
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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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I think the original question was based on having something done that the OP didn't know you were getting? My reading was that you expected to pay $95 for each service but suddenly got a $40 additional charge (and those prices do seem steep but guess its a function of where you go). I think I'd certainly have been irritated; I do not like getting charged for services when I don't know they are being done/billed ahead of time. I've actually had a problem the last 2 times I took my MIL in to get her hair cut. She's got dementia and can't really wash her own hair very well so it's a good way to get it professionally cleaned up too. I take her to a Hair Cuttery which is a chain with the prices posted. Twice now she has had her hair washed, cut and blow dried which according to the posted price should be $28. And twice they have added a $13 charge for additional blow drying. The first time I argued with the cashier/manager but she wouldn't budge. Second time same thing happened! I got the manager to lower the price, but then the hairdresser looked so stricken (and I confirmed the additional money would have gone to her) so I allowed them to charge the higher amount. MIL will wander if she gets bored and I just can't wrangle too long. Still it really annoys me. This place is so convenient to the ALF but I do need to decide if I'll go back. And oh how I wish the stubborn old....dear....would just use the damn in-house ALF beauty salon which charges $20 flat but that's not happening LOL. PS I had to look up hair glaze too, have never heard of that before.
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foodonastump
last year
I wouldn’t feel the need to tip unless she did extras or I felt like her price was too low and I was feeling generous.
porkchop_z5b_MI
last year
I don't tip the tailor.
nicole
last year
No tip...unless a rush or she did extras....
chloebud
last year
Agree with all responses. DH and I were just having a conversation yesterday about why we tip some and not others. I know it can be discretionary or simply not allowed by employers.
Ally De
last year
I agree with the others. In general, if the person who performed the service also owns the business then I (rarely) tip. However as soon as I typed that, I realized I tip the woman who cuts my hair and she owns her own small shop...so take that for what it's worth. I agree with chloebud, it's an interesting tipping culture out there right now.

I agree if you asked for something extra or requested it done quickly, then I'd likely add a tip anyway too though.
Elmer J Fudd
last year
It wasn't necessarily mentioned here, but I think it's curious that many people, when finding themself in a "tip or no tip" situation, seem to often be motivated by feelings of guilt or obligation.
wildchild2x2
last year
Sewing is her trade. I don't tip tradespeople for doing their job. They set the price for their labor and time.
chloebud
last year
Good point, wildchild. Performing a trade and earning a salary factor in for me.
arkansas girl
last year
I hate to have to tip! I wish we didn't do this in the US. The only tipping I do is for the waiter at a restaurant. Next thing you know, Amazon will include a tip spot when we check out in our shopping cart so we can pay the driver a tip! :( Personally, I'm sick of it! Unlike so many of y'all, we are not made of money!

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