Pressing "NO TIP" when paying your barber is one of the most awkward interactions

Status
Not open for further replies.
iPaul93 said:
This thread made me cringe.How can you not tip your barber if you're a regular?
Click to expand...

What's more cringy is the goofy reactions from foreigners who can't seem to comprehend how tipping someone works or why it might benefit someone. I mean the NERVE of us to give someone who's in a service position a little extra financial help. Why do those filthy peasants deserve my hard-earned cash?!

I'll never understand the fascination with shitting on mundane, unimportant aspects of American culture just because it's different. It seems to deeply offend some people that we deviate a little from the European way, which as we all know is 100% flawless.
 
OP, you live in the US, tip the barber. I'm from a tipfree country and even I can see the point of tipping a barber, he's doing some... artisan stuff, like cooking. Tip makes sense.
 
If I have one of those tip options but I'm getting food to-go should I still tip? Sometimes I don't but other times I feel bad and tip. Halp.
 
I'm from England - never tipped a hairdresser before and never would. They have a price for a haircut - I pay it and jobs a good un.
 
I genuinely do not know what is worse, the fact tips seem to be mandatory in the USA, or the fact I think this is one of the strangest things in a country that has elected trump, has no health care (and striving to ditch what you have), has a police force that is getting more and more militarized, is highly racist, spies on all its citizens and passes judgement with no due process because of "national security", has a high rate of genital mutilation for men (done while they are babies), not to mention the big ticket items like the nonsensical imperial system, badly designed toilet flush systems and the lack of bidets.

Also had no idea barbers in the US for the most part just rented the chairs.
 
StopMakingSense said:
No and there's a chance the business pockets the credit card tips. I know places that do that.
Click to expand...

Alright~ Whenever I get that option I get anxious and I always love it when the cashier walks away to put the order up so I don't have to look at them when I select "No Tip." That's gonna ease my guilt a bit.
 
This thread is stressing me out. I'm glad I live in a country where tipping is not required and people are paid proper wages. There seems like such an easy solution too, just raise the prices and services so they cover wage costs. It's like the dumb excluding tax on the advertised price thing California does, what's there point of showing a price that isn't accurate? It's crazy how acceptable it is
 
Tipping is bullshit. It's the establishments responsibility to adjust the prices of their services and pay their employees properly. That isn't my job. I still tip quite regularly, but I absolutely hate it. I even worked as a tipped employee for years making only $3/hr and it still didn't change my mind. In fact it made me feel even stronger against tipping after all the mad shit I had to listen to my co-workers say about customers who tipped poorly. The sense of entitlement is off the scale. I wish I had the nerve to just stop tipping altogether.
 
First time I heard about such a tipping app, quite pressing. I tip barbers for good service not because I feel obliged to do so.
 
PaulloDEC said:
Every time one of these threads comes up I feel grateful that this freaking insane shit doesn't exist where I live.

Also, I love the number of people hinting at the idea that not tipping might result in being deliberately sabotaged by employee in question. I hope y'all are joking, because if not... yikes.
Click to expand...

I was in New York a couple of weeks ago, travelling from Ireland where tipping isn't such a big thing. Naturally we tipped when were supposed to becuase we're not dicks and knew how things work in the US. However we were at a bar one night and orderd a round of drink, and the guy paying forgot to tip. It was an honest mistake, it's not something we're used to doing and most places we'd been to before that had included the tip in the bill, it wasn't like he was trying to be cheap or anything.

The lady who served him, after realising he didn't tip, came and found us in the bar and started giving off stink. 'You're telling me I just made like 6 drinks and you didn't even leave a fucking tip? Are you fucking kidding me?!'

We were just like 'Jesus, chill. We're not from here and it was a genunie mistake'. I get it if you wanna bring it up and be like 'Hey, just a heads up, I can tell you're not from here but tipping is kind of the norm here' and we would have been happy to correct the mistake, but there was no need to act like an asshole over it. Needless to say we tipped her much less than we otherwise would have then switftly left the bar after we finished our drinks.

Piggus said:
What's more cringy is the goofy reactions from foreigners who can't seem to comprehend how tipping someone works or why it might benefit someone. I mean the NERVE of us to give someone who's in a service position a little extra financial help. Why do those filthy peasants deserve my hard-earned cash?!

I'll never understand the fascination with shitting on mundane, unimportant aspects of American culture just because it's different. It seems to deeply offend some people that we deviate a little from the European way, which as we all know is 100% flawless.
Click to expand...

It's a stupid tradition though. Pay your staff more and increase your prices if you need to. I just hate the idea of having to do maths in my head everytime I buy something in the US to work out how much I'm actually going to be paying once tax and a tip is applied. Just tell me up front what I owe.
 
They should charge for the service, I'm not getting a hair cut because I'm a charitable person, I just want my hair cut. I'd just laugh if someone put a phone in my face saying do you want to tip one of these three percentages.
 
I went to school with the girl that cuts my hair and she cuts from home. I still tip her.


I understand the awkward feeling though. When I order carry out pizzas I always select no tip and the employee is standing right there watching the receipt machine. GAF should I be tipping with carry out or am I in the clear?
 
Strange that tipping for service oriented jobs is a foreign concept to people even in parts of the US or Europe.
I never even considered not tipping my barber, especially since I found a good one I visit every 3 or 4 weeks. The cost of the hair cut is the basic fee I pay, which I would pay anyway anywhere. The tip says "here's to a job well done, thanks for the nice look".

If you plan to visit the same barber again, tip! (Imo you should tip though anyway, even if you don't plan to visit the same guy again, and even if it's just a dollar/Euro)
 
Allforce said:
Dude they make like 2 bucks an hour after paying the chair rental. Hair stylists live on tips.
Click to expand...

They could, you know, increase their price with $5 so they make 7 an hour instead of relying on tips...

Then again, I'm not from America so the concept of tipping as a mandatory thing is absolutely baffling.
 
Tip your hat to him as you leave through the door. Easy.

UK, so I don't tip. It's £10+ for an actual decent cut in London I swear (or I'm unlucky and hate my experiences at cheaper places). People do tip here and there as regulars. But consider most barbers are cash only near me, that tells me enough.

Tipping and added VAT when paying in the US is such a long thing. It doesn't sound consumer friendly at all. Plus side is, as tourists I wouldn't head back to a place instantly to get a revenge bagle.

Fight the power op.
 
White Wolf said:
They could, you know, increase their price with $5 so they make 7 an hour instead of relying on tips...

Then again, I'm not from America so the concept of tipping as a mandatory thing is absolutely baffling.
Click to expand...

In the US barbers don't set the price. Shop sets the price. Barbers rent their chairs from the shop.

Barbers are considered contractors and do not earn a wage. Generally a tiny commission on cuts and the rest in tips.
 
big_z said:
I went to school with the girl that cuts my hair and she cuts from home. I still tip her.


I understand the awkward feeling though. When I order carry out pizzas I always select no tip and the employee is standing right there watching the receipt machine. GAF should I be tipping with carry out or am I in the clear?
Click to expand...

No. There's never any expectation for a tip with takeout food.
 
plidex said:
I'm from South America and I always tip my barbers.

I have wondered if other people do it, the barbers don't stand beside me like waiting for a tip, they start cleaning and after paying to the cashier I go back and tip them.

I go to a chain barber, I guess that's how it's called, it's a guy who owns more than one barbershop and all the barbers are hired employees.

It's pretty expensive too, it costs like $15 - $17, which is expensive for my country, I have female friends who would think I'm crazy if they knew I pay more than them.

I've been going there for around 10 years, going to the barber is not a good experience for me.

I have anxiety so there's always the problem of talking / not talking, thinking that I may look like I'm mad and I'm not liking the haircut, I still don't know what to say when they ask me how I want them to cut it, but they always end up cutting it pretty well. They always ask me if I want them to put hair wax after finishing and I say yes just because I think it's what they think is best, but I'm sure they can tell I don't use it on my own.

R5ikaNq.jpg

New 2017 resolution!
Click to expand...

I have until the 1st of March until I have to start working, so after watching a couple videos, I said f*ck it, if I want to try cutting my hair now is the perfect time.

Doesn't matter that I'm unprepared and pretty clueless, even if I mess it up I have some time to grow some hair back.
 
Piggus said:
What's more cringy is the goofy reactions from foreigners who can't seem to comprehend how tipping someone works or why it might benefit someone. I mean the NERVE of us to give someone who's in a service position a little extra financial help. Why do those filthy peasants deserve my hard-earned cash?!

I'll never understand the fascination with shitting on mundane, unimportant aspects of American culture just because it's different. It seems to deeply offend some people that we deviate a little from the European way, which as we all know is 100% flawless.
Click to expand...

I think a situation where a normal business transaction relies on you treating the other party as a bit of a charity case is fucked up.
 
Shadow Ranger said:
Tip your hat to him as you leave through the door. Easy.

UK, so I don't tip. It's £10+ for an actual decent cut in London I swear (or I'm unlucky and hate my experiences at cheaper places). People do tip here and there as regulars. But consider most barbers are cash only near me, that tells me enough.

Tipping and added VAT when paying in the US is such a long thing. It doesn't sound consumer friendly at all. Plus side is, as tourists I wouldn't head back to a place instantly to get a revenge bagle.

Fight the power op.
Click to expand...
In what way is denying money to people in service jobs "fighting the power?"

If they had power they wouldn't need tips.
 
Someday someone needs to explain to me this tipping thing which seems to be tipically american. Here in Italy someone may decide to give a tip to a waiter, but even not doing that would generally provoke the kind of reaction that I see in this thread.

By the way I also agree with the OP since tipping enables the employers to hire staff at a lower wage. It's a vicious cycle.
 
dragonbane said:
You are cheap bro. I even tip my barber here in Germany even though its not as common as in the US
Click to expand...

And I live in Germany and I don't, but I am also going to a barber where I know that they pay their staff and I gladly pay a little bit more for a normal hair cut. Tipping is something that shouldn't be or feel required. Shame guilting people in paying more lol

StopMakingSense said:
In the US barbers don't set the price. Shop sets the price. Barbers rent their chairs from the shop.

Barbers are considered contractors and do not earn a wage. Generally a tiny commission on cuts and the rest in tips.
Click to expand...

Okay, there are still things that the US surprises me with. How stupid.
 
Seijuro said:
Strange that tipping for service oriented jobs is a foreign concept to people even in parts of the US or Europe.
I never even considered not tipping my barber, especially since I found a good one I visit every 3 or 4 weeks. The cost of the hair cut is the basic fee I pay, which I would pay anyway anywhere. The tip says "here's to a job well done, thanks for the nice look".

If you plan to visit the same barber again, tip! (Imo you should tip though anyway, even if you don't plan to visit the same guy again, and even if it's just a dollar/Euro)
Click to expand...

I don't mind tipping. You did a great job, you deserve a little extra. Nice, no problem.

I really dislike mandatory tipping because people don't make enough money with their job. Bullshit, people should make decent money, it's awful that they're pretty much "begging" their money like that, no bueno.

When I visited the US I always tipped because I'm with the workers and I know they need it, but it's a very bad habit when it's mandatory. It should be a nice extra, not something you need to feed your children.
 
My old barber I'd tip him, but only because it was easy to give him a tenner than get 1 pound back each time. He did a good job, I went there a lot, so who cares about £1?
He also didn't speak. Just cut my hair, no bullshit.

Now, I'm looking for a new barber after moving, so I don't tip anyone. It's also more expensive down south.
 
Korey said:
I have a no-tip policy for hair cutters because I don't want to enable tips becoming an obligatory thing for the hair industry, like restaurants.
Click to expand...

" No-tip policy ", give me a break dude. I'd have more respect if you just said you were cheap.
 
Glad I never have to deal with that awkwardness. The closest thing here is at bars and restaurants, where you are asked to enter the total amount. You can just enter the default amount with no extra, and nobody will think you're an ass. Tips are given (if you feel like it) when the service has been especially great, not for just tapping a beer.

I've never even heard of tipping a barber here. They set the price they want, and you pay it. Simple.

17 Seconds said:
why? it's really not a difficult concept, at all.
Click to expand...

Difficult? No (except that you have to do math to figure out what you will really be paying). Dumb? Hell yes.
 
Johnny Cage said:
Why? For pulling a lever to make a pint or using a bottle opener?
Click to expand...

In some places in the US you're literally not getting served past the first drink if you don't tip the bartender. They'll just straight up ignore you no matter what principles or philosophies you have about the matter. You can scoff all you want but you'll be scoffing sober.
 
CloudWolf said:
Must be a Dutch thing then, aside from a few pubs here and there, I can pay pretty much everything with just my bank card.
Click to expand...

It's not only there, in Sweden you can pay with CC or even Smartphone almost anywhere, and is "preferred" many stores or places have at the cash register a sign saying something like; "please pay with CC or smartphone" to minimize risk for robberies/hold-ups". (translation might not be perfect)

Oh and on the topic, got my hair cut a few days ago... 530SEK (~us$60), no need for "tipping" at that price.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Ever have awkward/weird interactions in public?
2
52
3K
Trilobit replied
[NY times] Is the Awkward ‘Diversity Era’ of Hollywood Behind Us?
Opinion  2
71
6K
Futaleufu replied
What happens when the majority of content on the internet is AI generated?
2
86
664
YCoCg replied
Ignoring the Pyramids what is the most famous or most impressive ancient structure in the world to you?
Opinion  2 3
105
4K
jason10mm replied
Sweden makes paying for e-thots illegal
40
81
GymWolf replied
Top Bottom