Tipping

Jun 14, 2007 20:14

pun brought up the subject of tipping and it's a subject that is near and dear to my heart...so I thought I'd post something about it as it relates to massage therapists ( Read more... )

tipping, massage

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Comments 8

celli June 15 2007, 02:11:50 UTC
One quick tax nerd comment - if you itemize your deductions, then expenses for things like association memberships and such are deductible. If you're like me and take the standard deduction, though, you're out of luck. :/

And thank you! I wasn't sure on the etiquette of tipping for a massage, so this is good info. Is it the 15-20% like waiters?

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disbelief11 June 15 2007, 04:15:30 UTC
Ah, gotcha. The ol' itemized versus standard deduction.

What you tip a massage therapist is always up to you (what I receive certainly varies across a wide spectrum). Lots of people treat it like waitstaff, and others don't. If you decide to tip, make it an amount you find comfortable.

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anathema666 June 15 2007, 03:30:35 UTC
I try to tip my massage therapist ($10 on a $70 massage), but she won't let me do it easily. She keeps refusing and waving her hands around. When I ask her to write it on the Visa statement, she won't. I could press it, I guess, but then I'd feel uncomfortable, and I'd worry that I would make her feel uncomfortable too.

Should I press the issue?

Hey, you're like Dear Abby, but with more hand strength!

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disbelief11 June 15 2007, 04:21:03 UTC
Well, it seems you've already pressed the issue with her. Is this her private practice or is she working at someone else's location? Also, I wonder how it's different in Canada vs. the US.

I do know some therapists who are absolutely against tipping. Personally, I wouldn't be able to pay my bills without what I receive in tips.

When people ask me about whether or not I accept tips my response is this: "you don't have to tip but if you'd like to do so, I'm happy to accept it."

As for being like Dear Abby but with more hand strength, somehow that sounded dirty. You naughty minx!

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tresca June 15 2007, 06:05:06 UTC
Trouble was, one of them was fully comped so the owners didn't pay her anything for that one;

..the fuck? Seriously?? I am kind of filled with rage for your friend. That seems completely ridiculous! The salon is basically expecting her to work for free for coupons that she doesn't issue. (!!!)

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disbelief11 June 15 2007, 12:57:11 UTC
I know! Crazy. She quickly quit that place and found another gig.

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fava_bean June 15 2007, 18:41:01 UTC
You know, I've been wondering about this exact thing (I kept meaning to ask you about it.) The girl I go to is the MT at the physical therapy place I went to. I tipped the girl I used to go to who had her own place, but it somehow seems weird at what is essentially a medical office. None of my visits are covered by insurance, so there is not issue with that. If I buy any therapy implements (like an exercise ball) then the massage is billed separately. It feels weird and slightly tacky to tip in that atmosphere, but am I being tacky by not tipping? Ah, dilemma!

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disbelief11 June 16 2007, 03:02:06 UTC
It can be tough to know what to do. You could always ask if the therapist accepts gratuities.

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