Tipping Don't mean to beat a dead Horse.
This is my opinion on tipping, many may or may not agree with my thinking but it makes no difference to me either way. I have been doing this for over 15 years and no one has to tell me how to spend or what to do with my money and I don’t expect to tell anyone how or what to do with theirs. That being said here is my take:
WOW!! It’s amazing and somewhat appalling to see how many cheap guys are out there complaining about tips. First thing you have to remember is that tipping is optional and not an obligation but when given it is usually in the 15% to 20% range. Tipping is also part of our every day life, we give tips in restaurants, the doorman, cab drivers, bellboys, bartenders, barber shops and so many others who provide us with services.
We tip because we are appreciative of a service we have received. No one has to dictate to me what I should or shouldn’t leave for a tip when I visit a spa. What I decide to leave as a tip is nobody’s business because what I am going to leave is based on the quality of the massage (HE or no HE) I received. When I go to a SPA I am very demanding of what I want, I usually pay for 90 min, 70 min for massage and 20 min for any extras, I like my massages strong and therapeutic so the therapist has to work her ass off on me to make me feel great. I go to a SPA when I am feeling lousy (that’s about once every two weeks) and when I come out I feel rejuvenated and am walking on cloud nine and if I decide to tip my therapist $40, $50, $80 or what ever amount I want it is no one’s business,
I will tip based on how appreciative I am of the service my therapist provided regardless of weather she gave me a HE or not. I have traveled the world and visit spas on a regular base and have received great massages and have left very generous tips because I felt the therapist was worthy of it and in others I have gotten lousy massages and walk out without leaving anything because I felt they did not deserve a tip. I think the problem for many is that if they don’t get a HE or a tug then they feel the therapist does not deserves a tip, we are associating the tips we give only to the extras we may or may not receive.
Extras are what the word implies and if received price should be negotiated in advance and has nothing to do with the tip for the service received. Now if you are so lucky that extras are provided without first being pre-negotiated like it has happened to me on numerous occasions my advice to you is to be generous and fair in your tipping if you want that generosity to continue.
Be Safe!!