A couple of weeks ago we went to pick out our Christmas Tree from an overpriced mom and pop Christmas Tree farm where kids are mesmerized by the outdoor electric trains, and you can roast marshmallows by the little human-made campfire, etc. Anyway, the trees are twice as expensive as Home Depot but it’s all about tradition, right? So the “pop” from this farm comes and helps us tie the tree onto the car and my husband tips him and I thought it was sweet of him to help in zero degree temperatures. Instead of quizzing my husband on if we really needed to tip the owner I thought to myself… shut up Krista and think about pay it forward. The next day my tire blew on my car and when the AAA man got there and quickly changed my tire, I had no idea if this was a “tipping situation” but because my husband tipped the “tree guy” I thought maybe I should tip the “tire guy”? I gave him a few dollars and told him it was just a little something so he could get a hot coffee or something and he seemed thrilled. It made me feel good to show my appreciation. Hey, maybe I should tip the anesthesiologist when I give birth next month, ha ha!
OK, so here is my real tipping question for you spouses. … My mom says that if my hairdresser owns his own salon I do not have to tip. Well, for a while I was going to one hair dresser in town that happened to be the owner but I tipped him because I have always tipped him so I didn’t want to all of a sudden stop. But now I am going to a “new guy” who unfortunately also owns the salon so I am back to being confused. Should I trust my mom and not tip him or just forget the “rule” and if I love my hair show my appreciation with a tip, a smile, and the pay it forward mentality? The last couple of times I didn’t tip, but out of guilt I bought some overpriced shampoos and conditioners that cost more than a tip and last visit I even purchased a gift certificate for my mother in law. So now that I am overstocked with product I wanted to get to the bottom of my confusion and ask other spouses if this “no tipping the owners etiquette” is outdated and if my hair dresser deserves a tip?
2 Comments
I have also followed that “rule” for Salon owners. I havent tipped mine…he always gets all the profits where as the “workers” dont get paid as much. I dunno. Makes sense to me. Maybe during the holidays tip as a gift?
My opinion- if you want to tip- tip. If you don’t- don’t.
If you want to do something nice for the person and avoid money altogether, get a card and write a personal thanks. It just seems to make sense.
When I lived in Ireland, tipping is a cultural no-no for a lot of occupations, so I paid the taxi drivers their fare and handed them a Hershey bar. They loved that because it didn’t insult their culture but showed that I appreciated that they didn’t kill me on the streets of Dublin.
The point of a tip is to say thank you for a good job. Being creative about how to give the tip is even more meaningful.