Tipping an Owner

Ok, I really want proof of this whole "not tipping the owner" myth!! I have never heard this in the real world. Why would you not tip someone who provided you a service just because they are the owner? They still did the work, and I would think that since they are the owner, the work was above par & that they were more experienced than everyone else.

I would've insisted on tipping her. Maybe slip a Starbucks card in the thank you note as a token of appreciate.

You should definitely still tip the owner. You're tipping for the "service"... If you made an appt for you, next time you go in, apologize and over tip to make up for it :)

My understanding has always been that you don't tip the owner of a business, although you might tip an employee.

I agree that a thank-you note is always in order - and most people don't object to treats! I hope you will enjoy your manicure and perhaps become a regular customer. That pleases a business owner best.

I agree with Hazel - you tried to pay her, she wouldn't let you. If you then tried to tip her it would continue to be awkward.

I think you did the right thing with the thank you note and scheduling an appointment for yourself (hopefully with her) for a later date. Maybe you can tip her extra for your appointment.

After she said that it was her gift to her why would she then accept a tip?? Actually I think trying to tip her would have been a bit insulting. Do a note and a treat-I like that idea.

You are not supposed to tip the owner of a salon-it is bad form. This is from Ehow but this rule can be found all over the internet:

Tipping the Owner

Technically, it is not considered proper etiquette to tip the owner of a business. Instead, the tip should go to the employees. If you frequent a business often, it's a nice gesture to tip generously in order to show your appreciation for services rendered, and to ensure great service in the future. This is especially recommended for establishments like beauty salons and restaurants, since employees often have to give part of their earnings to the boss. It is proper etiquette to tip between 15 and 20 percent for the total bill at a restaurant, and to give $2 to $3 to a spa attendant or an employee who helps to style your hair at a beauty salon.

NO monitory tip, but a nice plate of cookies would be nice. She offered a gift to your girl. If you tried to give her money, in her culture it would be considered an insult. Your husband is wrong in this case.

Hope both girls had a great prom experience and that your girl showed her nails off to the salon owners girl and said aren't we luck to have such great moms..

The best 'tip' would be to patronize her business. I also like the note and some cookies idea-- that would be a friendly way to let the owner know how much you appreciated her gift to your daughter.

And yes, if she's saying "my gift to her", it might seem that tipping would be awkward, owner or not. :)

She wouldn't accept payment for the service. Why would she accept a tip? You did just fine.

I regularly go to a restaurant in which the waitress/waiter is often a family member. I still tip because it's possible that the tips for the evening are divided amongst the staff. That is a common practice. They never refuse the tip even when it would be easy for them to do so.

Your situation is different. She gave you a gift. There was no charge and hence common sense would say there is no tip. I would find it insulting if I were trying to give a gift and the customer still wanted to tip me.

I, too, like the idea of a thank you note and cookies or some other goodies that the whole staff can enjoy.

Since she gave you the manicure for free I think it was fine to not tip. If she hadn't then I would have tipped, owner or not.

I think a mailed thank you from your daughter is all that is needed. Especially since you're coming back for more services. Your continued business will be welcomed.

I always tip my stylist/manicurist, and she is the owner of the salon.
I also occasionally bring her a plate of holiday cookies, etc.
She also gives me odd discounts and products sometimes. So, to us, it all evens out.

Anyhoo, in your situation, the thank you note from your daughter is a lovely thing to do. When you go to your appointment, do generously tip then.

Oh, my stylist/manicurist is Vietnamese, so I don't think this is a cultural thing - just a business thing - ethnicity should not figure into it.

Since it was the owner herself that did your daughters nails, it would have been appropriate to tip her, had you paid. Since she did it as a gift to your daughter, then a tip is not necessary. The thank you note is enough.

An even better thank you/tip is to send your friends and family there to increase her business.

I would do the treat and a thank you note to the salon. When you go back for your mani I would tip a little more generously then you normally would.

I would never have walked out of any place where I received service without leaving a tip of some kind.

I've never heard of "not tipping an owner" until I joined MP years ago. It is something that never, ever crosses my mind.

The owner may be owner but the owner also spent time she could have been spending on a paying customer as well.

I personally believe that anyone who provides a service, owner or not, deserves a quality tip for providing that service. I tip 20% of total bill.

Of course patronizing the business and word of mouth is great. I would take something to them with a little thank you.

I would not add anything to your thank you. Next time you go you could just tip the person who helps you no matter what their status on the deed of the business.

You don't tip the owner. The thank you note was perfectly appropriate. When you go, pay the full amount and bring pictures!

What do men know! No, you should not tip an owner, especially since she gave it as a gift, then by all means, your daughter should hand write a thank you note, without delay.

You DO tip the owner.
I dated a guy whose father owned a salon.
You tip the owner.

My friend of a hair salon who charges about 50+ for hair cuts will charge me about 30 and gave my daughter free bang trims. In the instance of our daughter bang trim I tipped her ten dollars each time.

I would definatly go back and get your own nails done and tip her then. I would also ref her to your friends and add her to your fb and spread the word about her shop. Every time u or ur daughter gets ur nails done post it! Its free advertizing for your friend. Or if ur friend has a special going on post it.

i love the delightful old-fashioned notion not to tip the owner. and in some industries it still holds. but since tipping usually applies to the service industry, and many many owners work in them, it's become pretty normal to tip even if you're taken care of by the owner.
at the bistro i worked for, on very very rare occasions the owner/chef would take care of a table herself. in that case she did not expect a tip (it only ever happened for close friends or VIPs) but if they did tip she didn't fuss, just gave it to us to split, which worked fine<G>.
i get my hair cut at a local salon and will only go to the owner, whom i tip heavily. she's awesome.
now, all that beings said, your case is different.
in this situation, where the work was a gift, i think you handled it just fine. do not slip the tip- she gave you a gift. the thank you note is lovely, and a plate of cookies is a great idea.
don't think it to death!
:) khairete
S.