Should I Have Tipped? - Lincoln,NE

Updated on October 06, 2011
E.J. asks from Lincoln, NE
22 answers

I took my son for a haircut last night and they cut it and I tipped 15% and went off on our merry way. This was in the evening. So, then today I was looking at his haircut and realized they hadn't taken enough off. You couldn't really tell he'd had a hair cut and I knew that I would be back in 2 weeks for another cut which I didn't want to have to pay for so soon.

So, I took him back after school today (with my receipt) and said I wasn't satisfied with his cut and that they didn't take enough off/you can't tell it was cut. The girl who cut it wasn't there, but another girl was very kind and fixed his hair cut for me. I never carry cash (I'm a woman of plastic) and so I thanked her and we left. There was no charge for the fix.

I don't know if I should have tipped her or not. Part of me says that she took the time and was helpful, so I should've. But the other part of me said I paid yesterday for a cut and I tipped yesterday and I had to come back so I didn't think I had to tip.

Do you think I should've tipped or not?

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Thanks for some feedback Mamas.. I will be returning to them as they were very kind.

I don't feel like I was "punishing" anyone as I have a right as a customer to come back if I'm not satisfied. It's hard to tell on a little boy what an inch or 2 is going to do. I'm not a very hair crafty person. Also, the hair salon was dead... we were the only customers in there when we were there. She didn't do a full cut, but took a bit more off the top and it only took about 5 minutes. (Cara's post made me think of how long it took)

I appreciate all your feedback. It's so hard to know when to tip. I think I will send them a card expressing my gratitude and satisfaction. $ can be tight and I didn't want to have to pay for another hair cut in 2 weeks.

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.C.

answers from Joplin on

I am a cash girl, so I probably would have felt obligated to give her $5 or so...but actually you were not under any obligation to pay her anything. Most hair cut places like that have that policy in place so they can retain customers. I would not feel guilty if I was you.

5 moms found this helpful

M.L.

answers from Houston on

Since it was a different girl who did the cut for free, who could have possibly gotten paid for another cut I would have tipped. You aren't obligated to tip anyone, but as a hairstylist, it would have been nice since you didn't request a length change the first time around with the original stylist. I get if a little girl has a weird length on one side that isn't perfect that you don't notice when you get home, but if it is simply because you didn't like the length and didn't have it fixed the first time around, then yeah, you should have tipped her.

PS>>>> In SOME salons, the original stylist will lose her commission and it will be given to the stylist who fixed it, though the original stylist can still keep her tip. This is how it worked at my last salon. :)

3 moms found this helpful

More Answers

L.B.

answers from Biloxi on

I think it is okay, but definitely ask for the 2nd girl who fixed his hair to do the next hair cut - that way you can thank her by giving her your business.
:)

9 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I would find out her name and make sure you let her know you'd like to use her each time in the future. Hair stylist move often from shop to shop and if she has contact information for you she can let you know if she leaves. You can also send her a quick message to see if she is in on the days you want his hair cut again.

This is how they build their clientele so someday they can pursue having their own shop or renting a booth in an established shop. Several of my friends have booths and they can make about $1000 per week if business is steady. Tips are part of that money too. I think she was not expecting a tip since she was just fixing his haircut. But if you really liked her work make sure you support her next time by asking for her and then start tipping her.

4 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B..

answers from Dallas on

You probably should have noticed before you left, so the hairstylist herself could have fixed it. The girl that fixed it took time where she could have been paid by a customer, to fix someone else's mistake. I really would have tipped. I realize they are obligated to fix it, but I wouldn't feel comfortable punishing her, for a mistake that had nothing to do with her. That's just me, though. Obviously, it's not required.

4 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

❤.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

I would have tipped since it was a different girl & becuase she cut his hair.

Also, be sure to get her name & when you go back....ask for her or better
yet call ahead and make an appointment w/her. That will insure she is
working that day. :)

3 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.G.

answers from Rapid City on

My daughter is a hair dresser and this is how it works when they work for a business. The business takes a percentage of the cost of a cut, like 40% while the hair dresser takes 60% and the tip. That is how they get paid, not hourly by the business. If they sell product, like the shampoo, they get a small percentage of the profit and the business gets the rest. If the girl rents her station she pays a set amount to the business and supplies her own product, keeps all she makes off the cuts and is concidered self employed. So that girl who fixed the hair cut did it on her own time, didn't charge you even though she didn't get any money at all for doing it. Yes you should have tipped her. One thing you can do is request her from now on when you go in and become her customer, if you like her cut better. I would tip her next time you go in and say you are sorry but didn't have any cash last time and thank her for fixing the hair cut.

3 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.B.

answers from San Francisco on

I think you should have because the stylist that fixed your son's hair today made absolutely no money for helping you! She didn't get paid for the cut and she didn't get a tip. It was a total waste of her time. I think you should have given her something.

3 moms found this helpful

R.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

Since it was a different person, yes, I would have tipped even though, of course, there was no charge. Had it been the same one I think it would have been understood that they were fixing the problem from yesterday and wouldn't have expected a tip.

I've absentmindedly not tipped and ran in a day or so later with a big wrapped cookie and the tip, the person loved it ; )

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

☆.A.

answers from Pittsburgh on

No...if they would have wanted you to come back & see the original stylist, they could have said so.

2 moms found this helpful

⊱.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Yeah, I think I would have. It's kind of a gray area ... but since the girl who cut it wasn't there and someone stepped in to help I think I would have given her a couple bucks. Don't sweat it, though. Just pay it forward for someone else since she did so for you :)

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.L.

answers from San Francisco on

I ususally tip anyone who provides a service to me, regardless of whether they have to provide that service b/c someone else messed up...

If you really don't feel like tipping I might throw a $5 Starbucks card into that thank you note--you're not tipping per se, just offering a little thank you for going out of her way. I guarantee she will remember you and your son too...

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.F.

answers from San Francisco on

If it was the original hair dresser who was going to fix the hair cut, NO. But since you had a new lady who did it for you---for free....YES~!! You should have tipped!

1 mom found this helpful

J.S.

answers from Hartford on

Nope, you shouldn't have tipped the second time. She was fixing a problem from the first time you went in.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.K.

answers from Phoenix on

I think it could go either way. She knew it was good PR to fix the problem and if you would have tipped her, that would have been okay too. Probably not cut or dry so you did what you had to do since you had no cash. I think you're fine.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.B.

answers from Boston on

My hair stylist is always willing to do another haircut for free if we are not happy with the results. I would not have tipped for the 2nd cut since they were fixing was was wrong and you already paid. Tipping again in my opinion would be like rewarding them for doing it wrong the first time.

1 mom found this helpful

C.B.

answers from Kansas City on

i think when this happened to us, i happened to have some cash and the guy who fixed it was super nice, so i handed him a couple of dollars, i think he even said "oh no that's okay", but he took it and was really nice about it. (this was at a chain, like fantastic sam's or something, can't remember). normally i do NOT carry cash, and i would have been in the same position as you were.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.C.

answers from Cincinnati on

Yes, I think she should have been tipped. You tip for a service and she served you.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.H.

answers from Milwaukee on

I would say not to tip her. However, when you go back next time aske for her. If she is nice and did a good job she should get your business for the next cut.

1 mom found this helpful

K.G.

answers from Boca Raton on

Yes and no...
If you go there often, go to the same girl, and normally really like him/her, then yes.. I would have given 2.00 for a redo.
If you didn't like the place, or the hair dresser, and don't plan to go back, then no..

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

Absolutely no, I would not have tipped. I think you did the right thing. You went back because you were not satisfied. Even though the gal who gave him the second cut did not get paid, she is employed there and has some responsibility to make sure you want to come back there. I'm sure it took her all of 5 minutes anyway. Sheesh, can't anyone do anything from the good of their hearts anymore?

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.P.

answers from Seattle on

It's always nice to, especially if she was kind and didnt mind fixing it for you, but you didnt have any cash or else you probably would have.

If you still feel bad then you can get a cheap card, and write how much you appreciated her helping you and mail it. I am sure she would like it and it would mean more then a couple bucks.

1 mom found this helpful
For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions