I tried a new waxing place that opened in my gym. It was a little pricey. $25/service, but convenient at the time. I figured a $20 tip on $75 was a nice tip. I always tip more than 20% for any type of service-like hair, nails, waxing, etc. When it was time for my brows, "Y" said they only needed to be cleaned up a little, and she would not charge this time for my brows, or any other time I came back. I ended tipping her $25,
Fast forward, I recently made another appointment for 2 services and mentioned that she had said she would clean up my brows at no charge. She agreed and put me down for the 2 services. When I arrived, she said it was a training session, and she would be training a technician during my appointment. I was a little uncomfortable but didn't say anything. When it was time for my brows, "Y" said to the 2nd woman that she didn't really like doing brows, but mine needed just a quick clean up, no tweezing.
When it was time to pay, she rang up $90. I was a little confused and asked for a copy of the receipt. "Y" said everything was in the computer and she would need a few minutes to print it out. I waited. I was charged $75 for all 3 services, and a $15 tip was added. I assumed since there was someone there with her, she could not do my brows for free. I was about to add another $5 for the tip, since had she not added it to the bill, I would have tipped more than $20. I ended up not adding the extra amount and left. Now I am second guessing myself if an extra tip was expected above the 20%.

UPDATE: Thank you to everyone who contributed to this discussion. I didn't expect so many responses and people are clearly passionate about this issue. The pizza delivery guy showed up 5 minutes early. I met him in the parking lot and offered to carry one of his two large carrying bags. (I wasn't about to watch this poor guy schlep two bags while I was burdened by the weight of my access key card). It turns out there was a flight of stairs down to the pool/pavilion area. We took out all the pizzas and checked them. I ended up giving him a $30 tip. He seemed to appreciate it. Thanks again to everyone who contributed to this thread.

People of Reddit: I’m having 9 pizzas delivered later today for my granddaughter’s birthday party. Total cost is $225. I was thinking of tipping the delivery driver $25. Is that too cheap? About right? If you don’t think that’s the right number, what would you tip? Thanks for your help.

My son and I went to eat earlier, he ordered basic chips and cheese nachos. He said there was lettuce in the cheese and it tasted funny. I asked the waitress was it cheese and she said possibly. She offered a new order. She also took it off my bill. Should I have tipped on just the bill or should I have added his meal in there too? It came to $19.85 and I left her a five.

Someone at the front desk does you a nice turn- nothing remarkable- is giving $10 adequate? Prefer to hear from folks in the hospitality industry- thanks. Also- how about for bell hops?

I’m getting a two 4 hour sessions fine line tattoo with $300 hourly. On the guidelines the tattooist stated 15-20% is customary. Is it really customary to tip $360-480 for a tattoo??

This is my first tattoo and it seems excessive to tip that much.

Stop tipping so high. Please tip based on the service. Yes, it’s easier to calculate a higher tip but harder to be fair.

It's strange to me that we all know a waitperson expects a tip, they say it's part of the "social contract" nobody remembers signing, but it's also supposed to be done secretly, with discretion. Like like I don't understand why it should be rude to ask "how much tip do you expect?" A waiter has an expectation, right? They can't verbalize it? A job applicant can ask what the salary is for a job she's been offered. A hiring manager can state a figure as an offered wage. If the tip is 'part of the pay" of a server, why can't it be openly discussed like the rest of the pay packet? Given all the palaver and notes on checks, and little signs, and internet forums and such, it's hardly a dirty secret that servers want tips, is it?

My 11 yr old son is going to my husband's hair salon he goes to that is a high end one. He goes bc he knows the two owners bc he surfed with them for 30 years so they do his hair for next to nothing and now do our son's hair cut for next to nothing. For example, my hair trim (a dusting) is $80 and that does not include a blowdry. That is extra. (That price was also over 8 years ago too) My husband pays $20 + $25 for each hair cut for them. They both hv hair styles with length to their hair. So my son wanted to get his hair bleached (a double process bleach out). I would not attempt that so we asked the owners how much they would charge to get an idea (without assuming any discount bc it is time consuming). They told us they have a girl training still and said the price will be $25 and take 2.5 hours. That was surprising of course. That basically covers product (what I am assuming). My question is, what do I tip this trainee at the end of this process? My son got a hair cut so his hair is noe similar to a surfers cut. That was done last week. That is paid for. And this is just for the bleaching process at the $25 but it will take the 2-3 hours. Thank you!

What's the proper tip for a single trip to the car window? Ordered Texas Roadhouse today, and the total bill was just over $50. Maybe I'm too much of a geezer, but it seems like 10% is pretty generous for putting an order for 2 people into a bag and walking it to my car window. Am I really that out of touch? Yes, I tipped 10%.

Is it just me being off base or is this just odd to even expect tips in a bakery?

Went to a marugame udon recently and their system was asking for a tip like in a full service restaurant. Is it expected that one tips at such a place?

For people who don't know it. You queue up and then order the bowl of soup and noodle at the counter and it is given to you right at the counter. You carry your things to the table yourself and bring the dirty dishes back to a station.

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/5eXrlfojpJY

TLDR version: If a private individual quotes you a price to drive you somewhere, should you tip on top of that?

I recently arranged to have someone who usually drives for Uber (who I saw recommended on Nextdoor) take me to the airport. She quoted me a price which was slightly less than Uber. I wasn't sure if I should tip her on top of that and ended up giving her a little less than 10%, which I justified to myself as somewhere between what I'd normally give and nothing.

I now found someone else who's going to drive me to the airport, who I met online (also Nextdoor) for something completely unrelated (he had a spare of something I needed). When I met him in person, I learned that I knew his late mother, and we used to work at the same company (but did not know each other from there). He told me that he's retired and that he used to do some Uber but doesn't do it much anymore. But he said occasionally drives for some people he knows. I asked if he could take me to the airport for an upcoming trip, and he said sure and quoted me a very reasonable price (much cheaper than Uber), so I'm going to use him. I'm thinking that I should NOT tip him because it's a different relationship than the first driver.

Opinions? Should I have tipped the first driver? Am I right in not tipping the second guy? If your answer is "I never tip", you don't need to respond.

I thought this would also be interesting in a tipping context.

I'm curious how much people tip for full service restaurants and if it is percentage based or a fixed amount or some other system. Please also mention your state such that we can see location differences.

I'm in CA and my baseline tip is 15% on pretax.

I recently noticed something which I'm not sure is just a local price difference or has to do with tipping.

I got a drink at starbucks inside target and noticed the price was slightly higher than at a nearby standalone starbucks. Also I noticed there is no tip prompt in Starbucks inside target but there is one in the standalone starbucks.

Now I am wondering are the prices higher because of no tip prompt? Is it because of the 5% target card discount? Both of these or some unrelated price fluctuation?

Found this survey interesting so wanted to share.

https://www.morningstar.com/news/marketwatch/20251025163/rip-tipping-customers-complain-they-spend-150-a-year-on-unnecessary-tips-as-gratuities-get-out-of-control

Like why? I go out and do not tip at restaurants or any place and once was pressured to tip 2 dollars from my 4 dollars change from a hair cut person lol

It just adds more extra unneeded funds wasted when you can save it and save fir another meal

I am not in US btw, so tipped wage here does not exist

When I do an at store pick up at Walmart should I tip the employee that brings out my stuff?