Tipping Etiquette

Updated on September 08, 2010
M.C. asks from Schaumburg, IL
11 answers

I will get a massage from a good aquaintance of mine, she is a professional, working out of her home...
Should I tip her????

Thanks :)

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So What Happened?

Thank you for all your advice.Somebody once told me,that when someone owns the business you don't tip, for the reason, that that person receives the entire amount of money, versus, if sombody is employed to someones business, they only get a fraction of that money.I was just curious, never had a massage...
thanks again.

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J.B.

answers from Atlanta on

Yes! You always tip service professionals for providing their service -even friends. You should always tip for a massage.

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B.M.

answers from Chicago on

Yes. She is a service provider and the standard is 10-20% of the total 'value' of the massage (ie if you go to the spa with a 50% coupon you still tip based on the value BEFORE the discount).

Or - when a friend of a friend was going through massage school and wanted to "practice" I would go to her home (and/or the home of a mutual friend) and bring her a bottle of wine.

If your massage is being done at the studio/spa you should definitely tip in cash the same way you would for the quality of service you receive from any other provider - regardless of your association and/or how much she charges.

3 moms found this helpful

K.B.

answers from Milwaukee on

Yes 15-20% of what the cost of the massage is, and tipping in cash is preferable (if she is doing it for free maybe tip 30-50% or a gift card to her favorite restaurant or place to shop).

2 moms found this helpful
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I.L.

answers from Alexandria on

If I were in your situation, yes I would tip and tip well. You may be going to her because of your aquaintance, but you are also going to her because this is her profession.
The times I have gone to a restuarant a friend works at I ask to sit in that friends section and I tip her above my norm.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.M.

answers from Washington DC on

Yes, 15-20% as normal.

1 mom found this helpful
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V.J.

answers from Phoenix on

I would definitely tip her 15-20%, assuming that her services are up to par. The way I look at it is that I tip at least 10% for waitstaff at a restaurant when all they do is handle my food/drink order so a person that's massaging my bare skin (be it a full body massage or a pedicure) deserves a bigger tip in thanks for such a personal service. The fact that she's your friend shouldn't really matter-- she's a professional and performing the same service on you that she would for anybody else. I hope this helps. :)

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Yes, absolutely! (15-20%)

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J.P.

answers from Boise on

I think it depends on the quality of the massage and the friendship. With straight logic, if it is a good massage, tip. The normal for good massages seems to be about 20%, less if it isn't great. But, with her being a friend, you may need to tip no matter what to maintain the relationship.

Updated

I think it depends on the quality of the massage and the friendship. With straight logic, if it is a good massage, tip. The normal for good massages seems to be about 20%, less if it isn't great. But, with her being a friend, you may need to tip no matter what to maintain the relationship.

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B.P.

answers from New York on

Yes! I am assuming you pay her as well? If you feel wierd giving her a money tip I am sure she would appreciate a gift certificate every few times if you go to her on a regular basis.

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M.G.

answers from Washington DC on

I go to a friend of mine who works out of her home too. She gives me a discount and I tip her 20% of the regular price.

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M.S.

answers from San Francisco on

YES!~ At least 15 or 20% if she is especially good.

M

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