YATT: tipping dilemma. serious thread

[SandEagle]

ok, normally i get a haircut for $13. i give my barber $20 and tell him to keep the change. $7 tip, normally. been going to him for like 5 years.

today, i received a coupon for a $7 haircut. would it be lame for me to give him $10, which is a $3 tip? would that make me look like a cheap ass? or is he going to expect more?

this fvcking coupon has thrown a wrench in my routine. it has created an unnecessary imbalance in my life. what should i do? serious responses only, please.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

$15.

 

[lxskllr]

$15.

That's what I'd do. Cut him in a bit on your fortune.

 

[sixone]

If he does a good job, give him the same tip you always do. You're still saving $6 on a haircut.

 

[Charles Kozierok]

If he does a good job, give him the same tip you always do. You're still saving $6 on a haircut.

Yep. Same as when I have a discount at a restaurant, I always tip what I would have without it.

 

[SandEagle]

$15.

i am thinking more like $12. money is tight these days.

 

[Schfifty Five]

i am thinking more like $12. money is tight these days.

C'mon, SE, I know you like to act stupid on these boards, but is it that hard to add $7 + $7 tip = $14 total?

 

[Colt45]

I cut my own hair.

I don't tip myself, but sometimes I buy me gifts. :awe:

 

[SandEagle]

C'mon, SE, I know you like to act stupid on these boards, but is it that hard to add $7 + $7 tip = $14 total?

a 100% tip? cmon SF, even the 1%rs dont do this. be serious too, i dont act stupid. im a man of compromise. i may do $6, but $7 is out of the question. there are principalities involved.

 

[lxskllr]

a 100% tip? cmon SF, even the 1%rs dont do this. be serious too, i dont act stupid. im a man of compromise. i may do $6, but $7 is out of the question. there are principalities involved.

This is where percentage based tipping falls apart. Either he did a $7 job, or he didn't. It was worth $7 last month, why not this month? Why not give him an extra dollar since you got free money, and that makes it 2 bills; easy.

I give better tips at Dennys percentage wise than I do at good restaurants. They're still there busting their asses, so I tip what I think it's worth, or at least somewhere close.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

a 100% tip? cmon SF, even the 1%rs dont do this. be serious too, i dont act stupid. im a man of compromise. i may do $6, but $7 is out of the question. there are principalities involved.

It's only a 100% tip if you think about it in reference to the final price. But if you think about the coupon as a savings, ie $6 off a haircut, then it isn't a 100% tip, it is a ~50% tip based on the cost of the original item and exactly in line with your customary tip. That's why all those groupon restaurant savings make sure to point out that you're supposed to base your tip amount on your bill prior to the coupon being applied, not after the deduction has been calculated.

 

[Craig234]

You usually give a 50% tip, stick with that. It's fine. Give him $11.

As for 'why should he get less tip', that's how sales work.

Edit: Or go with Atomic Playboy's version. It's fine also.

You might want to give more just to be generous since you see him a lot. Matter of preference.

 

[pwilson316]

this fvcking coupon has thrown a wrench in my routine. it has created an unnecessary imbalance in my life. what should i do? serious responses only, please.

Throw the coupon away. Balance restored.

 

[Rastus]

Tipping is not a dilemma. 15% for normal service. 20% for exceptional service. 0% for substandard service. That is for everything. Waiters, barbers, pizza delivery, cabs, hookers. Everything.

Your life is so much happier when you adopt that attitude than agonizing about whether you gave too much or too little.

 

[ViviTheMage]

make his day, give him the $20 still and the coupon.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

make his day, give him the $20 still and the coupon.

Or give him $40 and the coupon and explain that you were absolutely dumbfounded how these things work and if he could not give them out in the future, it would really help you out.

 

[Printer Bandit]

i only tip $2 no matter what the price of the haircut.

 

[radhak]

A 50% tip? Wow!

My haircut costs $12, and I give him a $3 tip. At 25% it should be enough. There's a reason I go to the plainly named 'Barber' and not the fancily named '..... Hair Salon' : to save money!

As for your dilemma, I'd think the coupon was a way for you to save money, not for you to shortchange the guy. Value-of-Coupon + $7 = the price you pay; now what's his service worth to you?

 

[Nebor]

Or give him $40 and the coupon and explain that you were absolutely dumbfounded how these things work and if he could not give them out in the future, it would really help you out.

:biggrin:

 

[Murloc]

keep the percentage the same and you'll do no wrong imho.

 

[God Mode]

Screw your barber. I hate businesses that offer better deals to entice new customers while shafting the faithful older ones. See: cable, phone companies etc.

Its like you're subsidizing these new people with your money.

 

[KeithTalent]

Or give him $40 and the coupon and explain that you were absolutely dumbfounded how these things work and if he could not give them out in the future, it would really help you out.

:awe:

KT

 

[HeXen]

just Razor that hair. quick and its free. i haven't been to a barber in 15 years

 

[KeithTalent]

I'm getting my haircut today. Very excited.

KT

 

[rh71]

this is why i changed my hairstyle so I can easily "flowbee" it myself with a Remington. God I hated going out just for a haircut so often. It was only $6.25 but that's not the point.