Tipping for a newbie

[Jim_n_NYC]

Hi guys,

 

I've been lurking here for a while and finally had my first m2m massage in a long time last week. One thing I'm curious about is tipping. I thought I read that tipping for an independent masseur is not really necessary and if you go to a spa it's about $40. Does that sound right? My massage at a spa had extras, but he advised that I was tipping too low. Any thoughts?

[clayco123]

I always give them at least a $20 tip. More depending on if I thought it was worth it. Only if it has been weird or just awful have I given them the amount they charge. If there is any chance that I will ever go back, I tip.

[Lewis H]

Hi guys,

 

I've been lurking here for a while and finally had my first m2m massage in a long time last week. One thing I'm curious about is tipping. I thought I read that tipping for an independent masseur is not really necessary and if you go to a spa it's about $40. Does that sound right? My massage at a spa had extras, but he advised that I was tipping too low. Any thoughts?

 

I never go to spas, but that sounds about right. Because the spas probably take such a big cut of your massage payment, it behooves you to pay the masseur more to make up the diff with his tip (esp. if you feel he went above and beyond).

 

I generally don't tip guys who are independent providers unless I was really pleased with the massage. I have a regular masseur that I tip a little more because he's usually excellent, but I feel that if they're charging $140-160 for a massage, that's a pretty good rate already.

[Capitano]

I never go to spas, but that sounds about right. Because the spas probably take such a big cut of your massage payment, it behooves you to pay the masseur more to make up the diff with his tip (esp. if you feel he went above and beyond).

 

I generally don't tip guys who are independent providers unless I was really pleased with the massage. I have a regular masseur that I tip a little more because he's usually excellent, but I feel that if they're charging $140-160 for a massage, that's a pretty good rate already.

 

An independent guy charging $150 an hour makes $4,500 a week by working just 30 hours, most likely, tax free. That's easily over $200k a year, and a lawyer/dentist/consultant would have to earn almost $300k to end up with the same kind of money. Do we tip our dentists? Having said this, I will tip, but ONLY if I am VERY happy with the experience.

 

PS I don't visit spas, the math is different there, of course.

 

PPS It saddens me to report that even the rate of $160 an hour doesn't guarantee much. I am more likely to not leave a tip or to go back than do either at this price level, and I have pretty much given up trying at lower price points. However, every once in a while, someone charging $100-120 will be a pleasant surprise, in which case they get a very generous tip.

[mike carey]

An independent guy charging $150 an hour makes $4,500 a week by working just 30 hours, most likely, tax free.

I'd be surprised if someone working that many hours would escape the tax man. Here, people don't have to file for, or charge GST below (I think) $40k pa, but as in the States they do have to declare income for income tax. Here, both taxes are administered by the same federal government agency, and they are very good at tracking down people who don't comply. Someone who does a couple of massages a week would probably fly below the radar, especially if they had a regular job, but a full-time masseur, not so much.

[Jim_n_NYC]

Well, I went to one of the spas discussed in the forums a couple of days after New Years and was asked for more of a tip...the total being way more than a private masseur. My next try will be an independent guy.

[Lewis H]

@Jim_n_NYC Not knowing what you paid for the spa's price, I would probably cap it at 20% of that price. But I do think the masseur was a bit presumptuous in demanding a higher tip, but then again, it IS his prerogative. I might not be inclined to return unless he was particularly good. If so perhaps next time you could ask him if he does private massages and he can get the total fee then.

[+ sniper]

Guys, 20% is the norm for a LEGIT massage at a spa. If they are doing more than that, hell yes you should be giving them more.

[allyouknow]

My experience has been that the 160 and up guys don't usually deserve a tip, that the 130 and below guys have worked harder and given a better massage. So in the end I tip 20 percent to the 130 and below guys. I think we are seeing good looking men looking to make fast cash charging 180 and more for a "massage" and then they can say that no, they are not escorts....lol

[+ sniper]

And please note I'm talking about the guys in a spa, who are getting less than half of what you are paying the spa. If we're talking an individual working on his own, then 20% is certainly fine and you don't "need" to tip those guys.

[pubic_assistance]

And independent service provider is putting all that cash into HIS pocket. A service provider at a spa puts little to NOTHING in his. Most of the spa payment ( sometimes all of it) goes to the spa...( when they are working at Asian rub-n-tugs).

If you book an independent masseur for a massage and things take a more "personal" direction, and you got a lot more than you expected, then YES it's expected you will tip generously based on how generous the masseur was with taking you "above and beyond". Same goes for the guy as the spa, but in the case of the spa, your hourly rate is probably much lower to begin with, and that young man is most likely working FOR that tip....so don't be a cheap. Some of these boys live off tips.

[CCMaryland]

And independent service provider is putting all that cash into HIS pocket. A service provider at a spa puts little to NOTHING in his. Most of the spa payment ( sometimes all of it) goes to the spa...( when they are working at Asian rub-n-tugs).

If you book an independent masseur for a massage and things take a more "personal" direction, and you got a lot more than you expected, then YES it's expected you will tip generously based on how generous the masseur was with taking you "above and beyond". Same goes for the guy as the spa, but in the case of the spa, your hourly rate is probably much lower to begin with, and that young man is most likely working FOR that tip....so don't be a cheap. Some of these boys live off tips.

I wouldn't think of that kind of spa worker any differently than I would a hair stylist in a salon or dog groomer working for PetSmart. They are probably paid hourly or a percentage of the appointment

[pubic_assistance]

I wouldn't think of that kind of spa worker any differently than I would a hair stylist in a salon or dog groomer working for PetSmart. They are probably paid hourly or a percentage of the appointment

Many of the guys at the budget Chinese massage places around NYC make NOTHING. They are there working for tips, selling "extras"...this is often why they are prone to negotiations once they get you excited. (A tactic often criticized here on the forum.)