No tip clients

[Yoyotonodo]

Is it common that clients do not tip or only when service is too bad? I had a few clients that feel very satisfied and says good things but then they do not tip and it feels so weird and confusing. I tried to provide best service and charge low base rate so when they do not tip I assume I did a bad job or is this common people just don't tip these days? 

[MscleLovr]

I don’t know where you’re based @Yoyotonodo nor do I know your cultural background. 
 

Tipping is a vexed issue on this forum. In the US, tipping is common while in Europe and Australasia, it varies considerably from country to country. In Japan, tipping would be seen as demeaning to the provider. 
 

In the US, I was brought up to tip for personal services but NEVER to tip the business owner. It was generally held that the business owner set the price and therefore there was no need to tip (rather as in Japan). The staff working for a business owner would appreciate a tip (or gratuity) and that money went to them to supplement low wages. 

[Jamie21]

Most of my clients don’t tip. I know they’re satisfied though because they come back. If I charge by card the card reader has an option to add a tip but I don’t use it because it seems like I’m expecting them to tip, so card payments never include a tip. About 20% of clients pay by cash and some of them add a tip. I don’t expect it though. I prefer that if they enjoyed their session they book again or leave a positive review. 

[+ poolboy48220]

@MscleLovr is correct, this has been discussed over and over; it could be hard to find the threads since searching on short words like 'tip' is difficult.  I lean towards his "brought up to tip for personal services but NEVER to tip the business owner" model, back in the days of agencies I tipped more often. 

[+ Lucky]

If someone is being paid some $300 an hour, usually in cash, I would be astonished if they expected a tip as well.

[+ robear]

In NYC at least, there is a great difference between the services of a masseur in a spa setting, where a generous tip is appropriate and expected (100% of the fee or more, depending on the quality of the service), and the services of any provider in a private setting, where the provider is getting the entire agreed upon fee.  I might add a bit to the fee for a masseur or escort who goes the extra mile, ahem, but I don't feel any need to tip someone who provided service at an agreed price for $180-$300 or more for an hour.

[cany10011]

To the OP, if you are relying on your tips, you are not charging enough. 

[Guest]

6 hours ago, Jamie21 said:

Most of my clients don’t tip. I know they’re satisfied though because they come back. 

Totally agree. When you find yourself busy with more and more regular and return clients, it can be a good moment to raise your rates. 

[Rudynate]

6 hours ago, MscleLovr said:

I don’t know where you’re based @Yoyotonodo nor do I know your cultural background. 
 

Tipping is a vexed issue on this forum. In the US, tipping is common while in Europe and Australasia, it varies considerably from country to country. In Japan, tipping would be seen as demeaning to the provider. 
 

In the US, I was brought up to tip for personal services but NEVER to tip the business owner. It was generally held that the business owner set the price and therefore there was no need to tip (rather as in Japan). The staff working for a business owner would appreciate a tip (or gratuity) and that money went to them to supplement low wages. 

I think those Emily Post tipping guidelines arent that relevant anymore.  Almost anyone appreciates some extra cash,  Where I come from, tipping someone is often called "greasing" them.   It's amazing how smooth things can go when you just spread a little bit of grease around.

[+ KensingtonHomo]

I rarely tip for the reasons @robear pointed out. The provider has set the price, and I've agreed to it. With a massage or other service in a spa I always tip but I don't go to spas for erotic massages. I have at times tipped providers who took me last minute or otherwise went above and beyond. We also tend to be return clients. 

[BtmBearDad]

Like @MscleLovr, I too was raised with the understanding one does not tip business owners, only the staff. So if you’re sat at the local pub, and the landlord is the one pulling pints, you don’t tip him. 

In this hobby, the providers are the business owners, so I am not one to tip regularly. I will note that I do make sure I have a few extra bills to tip with should the provider knock my socks off, which has occurred on occasion. 

[MikeBiDude]

42 minutes ago, BtmBearDad said:

too was raised with the understanding one does not tip business owners

I’m always confused at sushi bars 😉owner may prepare your sushi, but wait staff bring you drinks, side orders. Assistant sushi chef may help with your order? Who do I tip!?
sorry I digress…back to topic.

[TorontoDrew]

I will tip a lower rate like $200 or $250 as long as the session was good.  For the more expensive guys they have to be amazing.

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

12 hours ago, Jamie21 said:

Most of my clients don’t tip. I know they’re satisfied though because they come back. If I charge by card the card reader has an option to add a tip but I don’t use it because it seems like I’m expecting them to tip, so card payments never include a tip. About 20% of clients pay by cash and some of them add a tip. I don’t expect it though. I prefer that if they enjoyed their session they book again or leave a positive review. 

Thank you, as always, for giving us a Provider's point of view in the "Ask the Provider" forum

[+ DrownedBoy]

3 hours ago, TorontoDrew said:

I will tip a lower rate like $200 or $250 as long as the session was good.  For the more expensive guys they have to be amazing.

Ditto. I have a long-term regular who keeps my rates low, where they started, so I make sure he gets a little extra per visit. It's paid off well (he's willing to find other guys to come with him, etc.)

[jtwalker]

I usually tip if I think the provider undercharged and was excellent as an extra thank you.  For example, I met an excellent provider that only charged $400 for two hours, so I gave him $500.  If someone is asking $300 off the bat, then the odds of me tipping are very low.  If the service is great, I tend to pay $250-$300 an hour regardless of what they ask. 

I also round up to 20, because 20's come out of the ATM, so some mediocre guys get $260 because I'm not asking for change.

[Alex93108]

19 hours ago, Jamie21 said:

Most of my clients don’t tip. I know they’re satisfied though because they come back. If I charge by card the card reader has an option to add a tip but I don’t use it because it seems like I’m expecting them to tip, so card payments never include a tip. About 20% of clients pay by cash and some of them add a tip. I don’t expect it though. I prefer that if they enjoyed their session they book again or leave a positive review. 

As as rule, I adhere to the following.

1) I only ever tip in the United States, because not to tip is considered rude, and a wages of service providers is built into the American tipping culture.  For "providers" - I round up. So if the festivities are 250, I might give 300, only if it was "good and exemplary". If it was just ok, the dude is getting 250.

2) In the UK, almost all restaurants now will include a discretionary service charge. It used to be 5%. I've seen it as high as 12.5%.  If it was high and I thought total bollocks ( to steal their phrase) I have asked them to remove it. I do not tip in the UK.  I may round up, but to smaller amount. This applies to hires.

What I did learn from friends from smart circles in England is one should always tip with paper notes as opposed to coins. Either give paper notes or give nothing at all. So the bellman that fetched my suitcase would get a £5 at least, but never a £2 in coins ever.   

3) In mainland Europe, as soon as they hear me speak, or worse, the machine picks up that I have an American / US dollar credit card, I'm expected to tip. I do no tip in France either, or Italy for that matter, and never in Germany. In Paris, I might leave a euro or two for good service at the cafe. I follow the UK rule, never tip only if its good.  In france, a euro or two euro coin is acceptable at the cafe.

4) Latin America has been ruined by the American tipping culture. I generally try avoid tipping in Brazil, but in Mexico as soon as they see me they almost expect it. I don't tip in Latin America.  I only ever tipped once in Latin America, a provider I thought was phenomenal, the rest got their quoted rates, rounded up slightly. 

5). Tipping in Japan is rude, and some professionals ( including creatures of the night) might consider it insulting. You can give your entertainer/companion/host/urisen a drink or gift.   I never ever tip in Japan.  If you liked the service, consider upgrading - i.e turning a 1 hour into a 3 hour or buying an expensive drink, rather than a tip.

6) I don't tip in Asia either or Africa. Though in Kenya - again because of Americans they expect it as soon as they see me. Don't tip here either. I don't care how big it was.

7) I also don't tip in the middle east. 

Just because I'm from the US, doesn't make me a tipping machine, people should not expect it. 

If you read this far, I only tip in the United states, not anywhere else.  

I consider myself well travelled, and culturally aware, rather than cheap

 

Edited July 27, 2022 by jetlow

[Hlparx]

On 7/26/2022 at 2:37 AM, Yoyotonodo said:

Is it common that clients do not tip or only when service is too bad? I had a few clients that feel very satisfied and says good things but then they do not tip and it feels so weird and confusing. I tried to provide best service and charge low base rate so when they do not tip I assume I did a bad job or is this common people just don't tip these days? 

I find the payment component awkward overall, so I usually put the provider’s fee in an envelope on my nightstand or hand him an envelope.  I usually do not include a tip because, at least in the US, part of the rationale for tipping is to supplement the wages of employees who usually are not making minimum wage.  Because the provider has set his rate, tipping isn’t on the table in my view.

As others have said, if I have a good time and we seem to mesh, I will make an effort to see the provider regularly.

That being said, I have tipped one provider (in Paris) who accepted me for an outcall, but quoted me his incall rate.  I did that because we’d had a previous meeting that had blown me away and he had volunteered to accept a lower rate than he normally charged. 

[+ keroscenefire]

My standard is an extra $20 kind of regardless of the price of service. Sometimes $50 if it's like an overnight. But no more than that. 

[+ Pensant]

Never tip in the US unless the provider was charging too little for the service, as stated previously. My rate is $500 per session, which could last from over an hour to two hours. lately, I’ve been considering raising that by 10% because of inflation. On the other hand, favored providers have received plenty of expensive clothes, jewelry and cosmetics.

[Jamie21]

1 hour ago, Pensant said:

On the other hand, favored providers have received plenty of expensive clothes, jewelry and cosmetics.

That’s good. I’ve clients who have been very generous in taking me to clubs or for meals. It’s unusual of course but some clients do like to get to know you a little better outside of the actual session. It’s even more of a ‘thank you’ than a tip. 

[+ DrownedBoy]

On 7/26/2022 at 7:09 PM, jtwalker said:

I also round up to 20, because 20's come out of the ATM, so some mediocre guys get $260 because I'm not asking for change.

Another ditto.
 

But honestly - is there a provider here who'd give out $10 in change?

[pubic_assistance]

On 7/26/2022 at 11:03 PM, jetlow said:

What I did learn from friends from smart circles in England is one should always tip with paper notes as opposed to coins.

I learned my lesson in Europe many years ago when I tipped the front desk at a small hotel in Barcelona for unlocking the door to the hotel when I got back in after a late night of partying. He threw the coins on the floor back in my direction. Apparently such token gestures are offensive in certain places.

[+ augustus]

7 hours ago, pubic_assistance said:

I learned my lesson in Europe many years ago when I tipped the front desk at a small hotel in Barcelona for unlocking the door to the hotel when I got back in after a late night of partying. He threw the coins on the floor back in my direction. Apparently such token gestures are offensive in certain places.

Well that was rude.  Many Europeans are actually very arrogant.

[Jamie21]

1 hour ago, augustus said:

Well that was rude.  Many Europeans are actually very arrogant.

That’s a whole continent categorised then!