Posted by Tockk on July 4, 2007, 12:17 am
In my humble barber shop, I've noticed a thing or two about my customers who
tip, and the extra service they get. I guess I'm in a typing mood . . .
thought I'd share my observations . . .
I charge $18 for a haircut in my shop, $21 for a scalp shave, and $24 for a
face shave. In the process, I treat my customers pretty good, they get hot
towels, aftershave, hot lather neck shaves, reasonably good conversation,
and of course, I run the only sanitary barbershop in town (probably the only
sanitary one in Texas, but that's another story).
Some customers don't tip, which is fine by me, and other customers tip a
dollar or two, while others tip $5 or $10. As you may imagine, when it
comes to scheduling and working on customers who regularly tip 5 or 10 buck,
they tend to receive a few extra considerations in their service from me
(and my other barbers). If they tell me they might need a haircut
"sometime next Thursday afternoon" I'll make it a point to keep an
appointment time free just in case they might call. If they show up
unexpectedly in a busy rush, I'll "find a way" to work them in, even if it
means delaying lunch, or staying later than I expected. I'll give 'em a
freebie of something like a sample of an aftershave I'm working on, or I'll
keep an eyeball out for some helpful bit of advice or information they've
been looking for, etc etc etc.
Pretty much, the folks who pay $18 for a haircut and don't tip get a good
haircut (folks say it's the best haircut in town), and they get everything
they pay for, but usually that's all they get -- they probably won't get the
extra scheduling & services the other guys get. Guys who generously tip,
we know who they are, and they get treated with a bit more enthusiasm,
appreciation, and we tend to be a bit more flexible with their scheduling
problems.
So, it seems to me that if you're using a service (a barber or a waiter or
whatever) and you intend to return, if you want average service on your
return trip, then don't tip. If you want your service people to appreciate
you so that they are inclined to give you better than average service, then
give 'em a good tip.
That's what I've learned about tipping in my humble barber shop.
Posted by John Weiss on July 3, 2007, 11:11 pm
> In my humble barber shop, I've noticed a thing or two about my customers who
> tip, and the extra service they get. I guess I'm in a typing mood . . .
> thought I'd share my observations . . .
> I charge $18 for a haircut in my shop, $21 for a scalp shave, and $24 for a
> face shave.
.. . .
Hmmm... Tipping happens to be a "hot button issue" with me -- NOT because I
don't like to do it, but because some service providers try to make it a
"mandatory" practice.
NOTE: I am NOT accusing Tockk of being one of those less-than-amiable
practitioners! I may be the ONLY person from Seattle to ever set foot in his
shop, and I WILL vouch for everything he said about his shop!
My view of tipping regular service providers is of a more practical nature...
My local barber sets her price at $17. I pay $20. Why? It's a convenient
amount. I don't use a credit card, so I don't cause her additional fees. Is
that a "good" amount or a "bad" amount? Frankly, I don't know!
I am not a cheapskate, but I don't want to overspend, either. When I visited
Tockk's shop for the experience (and it WAS worth it!) I paid $25 -- again,
solely because it was convenient; I happened to have a 20 and a 5 lying next to
each other in my wallet. I might not pay the $25 EVERY time if I were a
regular customer, but I might alternate $20 and $25. If I happened to catch a
different barber (of the 3 I met) each time, one might feel slighted and one
might feel "victorious" if they each happened to be on the "wrong" or "right"
week...
Does it really matter? Beyond the "extra effort" described by Tockk, I HOPE
not! I would still expect the same quality of haircut. OTOH, I might
understand if one barber didn't have time to fit me in after closing one
night...
BTW, Rebecca and her daughter at my "home" shop have not given any sign of
complaint yet. I HOPE I'm not a closet cheapskate...
Posted by Tockk on July 4, 2007, 4:08 am
"John Weiss" <jrweiss98155nospamatnospamcomcastdotnospamnet> wrote
> Hmmm... Tipping happens to be a "hot button issue" with me -- NOT because
> I don't like to do it, but because some service providers try to make it a
> "mandatory" practice.
> NOTE: I am NOT accusing Tockk of being one of those less-than-amiable
> practitioners! I may be the ONLY person from Seattle to ever set foot in
> his shop, and I WILL vouch for everything he said about his shop!
Hi, John -- thanks for the kind words . . .
Sorry I didn't get a chance to chat when you were in, but I had a customer
at the time . . . and I hate to neglect a paying customer . . .
> My view of tipping regular service providers is of a more practical
> nature... My local barber sets her price at $17. I pay $20. Why? It's a
> convenient amount. I don't use a credit card, so I don't cause her
> additional fees. Is that a "good" amount or a "bad" amount? Frankly, I
> don't know!
I'll bet that she's happy with $20.
> I am not a cheapskate, but I don't want to overspend, either. When I
> visited Tockk's shop for the experience (and it WAS worth it!) I paid
> $25 -- again, solely because it was convenient; I happened to have a 20
> and a 5 lying next to each other in my wallet. I might not pay the $25
> EVERY time if I were a regular customer, but I might alternate $20 and
> $25. If I happened to catch a different barber (of the 3 I met) each
> time, one might feel slighted and one might feel "victorious" if they each
> happened to be on the "wrong" or "right" week...
Well, we usually don't get a chance to tell how much customers tip, but
usually we mention the tough haircuts that required extra effort (long or
dirty hair, unpleasant customer) and got no tip, and the nice folks who left
$10 or $50 tips (yup, it happens).
> Does it really matter? Beyond the "extra effort" described by Tockk, I
> HOPE not! I would still expect the same quality of haircut. OTOH, I
> might understand if one barber didn't have time to fit me in after closing
> one night...
My two barbers and I agree that we'd give the same quality haircuts
regardless if our customers tipped or not. That's what we do, we take
pride in our haircuts, that's what customers pay for. And we don't want
folks to walk out with a bad haircut and say, "I got scalped at King Barber.
Ugh." So, that doesn't happen. But, we tend to be extra nice to folks
who are extra nice to us. We're happy to wait after closing time for the
guy who tips an extra $25, but not so much for the fellow who doesn't tip at
all. If a guy wants a few pointers on shaving with a straight razor, well,
I'm always happy to help. But if I have a customer waiting, well, the guy
who doesn't tip will have to wait until later.
Funny how that works . . .
> BTW, Rebecca and her daughter at my "home" shop have not given any sign of
> complaint yet. I HOPE I'm not a closet cheapskate...
Nothing to worry about; most likely, you're doing just fine; your generosity
is noted and appreciated. Plus, cheerful customers like you are a pleasure
to work with, and in this business, a smiling and appreciative customer is
greatly appreciated by us barbers.
Anyway, sorry we didn't get a chance to chat; next time you need a haircut
in Dallas, set up an appointment, and we'll talk about the other folks on
this newsgroup . . .
Posted by George Grapman on July 4, 2007, 12:30 am
Tockk wrote:
> In my humble barber shop, I've noticed a thing or two about my customers who
> tip, and the extra service they get. I guess I'm in a typing mood . . .
> thought I'd share my observations . . .
>
> I charge $18 for a haircut in my shop, $21 for a scalp shave, and $24 for a
> face shave. In the process, I treat my customers pretty good, they get hot
> towels, aftershave, hot lather neck shaves, reasonably good conversation,
> and of course, I run the only sanitary barbershop in town (probably the only
> sanitary one in Texas, but that's another story).
> Some customers don't tip, which is fine by me, and other customers tip a
> dollar or two, while others tip $5 or $10. As you may imagine, when it
> comes to scheduling and working on customers who regularly tip 5 or 10 buck,
> they tend to receive a few extra considerations in their service from me
> (and my other barbers). If they tell me they might need a haircut
> "sometime next Thursday afternoon" I'll make it a point to keep an
> appointment time free just in case they might call. If they show up
> unexpectedly in a busy rush, I'll "find a way" to work them in, even if it
> means delaying lunch, or staying later than I expected. I'll give 'em a
> freebie of something like a sample of an aftershave I'm working on, or I'll
> keep an eyeball out for some helpful bit of advice or information they've
> been looking for, etc etc etc.
>
> Pretty much, the folks who pay $18 for a haircut and don't tip get a good
> haircut (folks say it's the best haircut in town), and they get everything
> they pay for, but usually that's all they get -- they probably won't get the
> extra scheduling & services the other guys get. Guys who generously tip,
> we know who they are, and they get treated with a bit more enthusiasm,
> appreciation, and we tend to be a bit more flexible with their scheduling
> problems.
>
>
> So, it seems to me that if you're using a service (a barber or a waiter or
> whatever) and you intend to return, if you want average service on your
> return trip, then don't tip. If you want your service people to appreciate
> you so that they are inclined to give you better than average service, then
> give 'em a good tip.
>
> That's what I've learned about tipping in my humble barber shop.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
I noticed a similar thing on a recent trip to Tahoe.
I spent most of my time in the race and spots book at one casino.
Each time the waitress came with a free drink I tipped at least a
dollar. I noticed some non tippers and a group of four college kids who
took turns giving her a quarter each time she delivered.
Each time they made their rounds they made a point of approaching
those who tipped while the cheapskates got served about once every three
times. This happened even when they changed shifts. Obviously they talk
to each other.
This exchange of information reminds me of my one job that depended on
tips, a cab driver. I would pick up a fare at the airport. Skycap would
tell me they were nice people meaning they tipped well. I would pass
that on the bellhop at the hotel. On the other hand if I heard "three
suitcases and a lousy dollar" I simply opened the trunk and let them
handle the baggage (NYC law said I could not charge for luggage but did
not have to lift it). If we went to a hotel they had to take it but I
would tell the door man.Word was passed to the staff and the people in
room 815 never understand why room service was so slow.
Posted by Mark Anderson on July 4, 2007, 2:32 am
In article tock1@sbcglobal.net says...
> That's what I've learned about tipping in my humble barber shop.
Is there any reason why I should tip the cashier at the Starbucks or the
local 7-11? What about the firefighter who put out my fire or the
garbageman who picks up my garbage every week? Or the mailman or the
guy who changed the oil in my car at Jiffy Lube? Where does the tipping
end? Why can't vendors just charge what they think their service is
worth and forget all this gratuity BS? Is it so hard to pay waiters and
bartenders a decent wage and just charge more for the food like they do
in Europe?
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> tip, and the extra service they get. I guess I'm in a typing mood . . .
> thought I'd share my observations . . .
> I charge $18 for a haircut in my shop, $21 for a scalp shave, and $24 for a
> face shave.
.. . .