Massage...TIP?

cls052909

So DS is over one year old and I am finally treating us to a well deserved massage. Surprising DH....Though it is so hard to spend the money on it right now....How much should you or do you tip for a massage? I have only had two in my life and he is the one that bought them for me so I have no idea what the etiquette is.

august8080

I usually tip about 20%

el_twirpo

august8080:

I usually tip about 20%

same here. about 20% 

abh1977

I think 20% is pretty standard.  Although, my mom has given me a few GC's to Massage Envy, and I refuse to tip them that much because there are signs EVERYWHERE with suggested tip amounts, and that p!sses me off.  So I rebel. 

Xtina712

I usually do 20% as well but if it is a bad expereince or they end too early I subtract.  If I get bonus time or just a really great massage I'll give extra.  I start at 20 and it's up to them whether that changes.

m_and_m

Xtina712:

I usually do 20% as well but if it is a bad expereince or they end too early I subtract.  If I get bonus time or just a really great massage I'll give extra.  I start at 20 and it's up to them whether that changes.

Ditto. 

FusionLMT

abh1977:

I think 20% is pretty standard.  Although, my mom has given me a few GC's to Massage Envy, and I refuse to tip them that much because there are signs EVERYWHERE with suggested tip amounts, and that p!sses me off.  So I rebel. 

So you punish the therapist b/c of some stupid signs that the business has up? They have no say in what signs are posted. Those therapists are making $13-$15 a massage and live off of their tips. I completely understand not tipping as much b/c they did a crappy job, but not for something so petty.

abh1977

FusionLMT:

abh1977:

I think 20% is pretty standard.  Although, my mom has given me a few GC's to Massage Envy, and I refuse to tip them that much because there are signs EVERYWHERE with suggested tip amounts, and that p!sses me off.  So I rebel. 

So you punish the therapist b/c of some stupid signs that the business has up? They have no say in what signs are posted. Those therapists are making $13-$15 a massage and live off of their tips. I completely understand not tipping as much b/c they did a crappy job, but not for something so petty.

This is actually a very good point....I feel kinda stupid that I never thought of it this way because I'm usually pretty thoughtful to those in the service industry (I'm one!).  I'll re-think this - thanks!

Jess.O

FusionLMT:

abh1977:

I think 20% is pretty standard.  Although, my mom has given me a few GC's to Massage Envy, and I refuse to tip them that much because there are signs EVERYWHERE with suggested tip amounts, and that p!sses me off.  So I rebel. 

So you punish the therapist b/c of some stupid signs that the business has up? They have no say in what signs are posted. Those therapists are making $13-$15 a massage and live off of their tips. I completely understand not tipping as much b/c they did a crappy job, but not for something so petty.

Is this really what they make?  I always wondered about the pay rates at places like this but never knew how it worked.  If I had known this, I would have been tipping more when I went.  (I followed the recommended charts.) 

FusionLMT

abh1977:

FusionLMT:

abh1977:

I think 20% is pretty standard.  Although, my mom has given me a few GC's to Massage Envy, and I refuse to tip them that much because there are signs EVERYWHERE with suggested tip amounts, and that p!sses me off.  So I rebel. 

So you punish the therapist b/c of some stupid signs that the business has up? They have no say in what signs are posted. Those therapists are making $13-$15 a massage and live off of their tips. I completely understand not tipping as much b/c they did a crappy job, but not for something so petty.

This is actually a very good point....I feel kinda stupid that I never thought of it this way because I'm usually pretty thoughtful to those in the service industry (I'm one!).  I'll re-think this - thanks!

 

FusionLMT

Jess.O:

FusionLMT:

abh1977:

I think 20% is pretty standard.  Although, my mom has given me a few GC's to Massage Envy, and I refuse to tip them that much because there are signs EVERYWHERE with suggested tip amounts, and that p!sses me off.  So I rebel. 

So you punish the therapist b/c of some stupid signs that the business has up? They have no say in what signs are posted. Those therapists are making $13-$15 a massage and live off of their tips. I completely understand not tipping as much b/c they did a crappy job, but not for something so petty.

Is this really what they make?  I always wondered about the pay rates at places like this but never knew how it worked.  If I had known this, I would have been tipping more when I went.  (I followed the recommended charts.) 

Yes, at Massage Envy and those similar types of places. And it is paid per massage, not per hour, so the therapist could have down time between clients that they don't get paid for but have to still stick around. They typically hire new grads and have high turnover because of their pay rate. A therapist at a spa/wellness center can potentially make much more depending on where it is located and what they charge, plus they can make more with spa add-ons and selling merchandise.