OMG, I must be an over-tipper! My artist charges $175 per hour and I give him at least one hour plus another $25-$50 on top of that. I just always appreciate the great job he does and feel he deserves the biggest tip I can afford. Am I nuts? :confused: Well, even if I am I’ll continue to do it.
Our shop rate is $100 an hour. I’m a little slow so I charge between $50 and $80 an hour depending on size, location, and complexity. Most tattoos that I do end up costing between $100 and $150. The way I see it, a tip isn’t mandatory, it’s ancillary. Honestly, any tip is greatly appreciated. although if I got a $200 tip I think I would faint.
As a customer, I disagree. Unless the tattooist fucks up so horribly I’m angry, tipping is mandatory, and should, at a minimum, be 15%. People who work in service do not have the same luxury I do of getting paid a secure hourly rate, and a job well done means a tip is a must, or, like Ms. Mercury said, I don’t need to get a tattoo.
Tipping is such a minefield. In the UK there really isn’t a tipping custom and even when I worked in the service industry as a waitress it was pretty unheard of to get tips and I think the maximum I made in a week was about £10 (I suppose I could have just been a really shit waitress!).
I wouldn’t automatically think to tip in this country and I’m not sure the artist would be automatically expecting it either. They (the service provider) charges a rate for the service they provide, if they rely on tips as part of that income then surely they should factor that into the charge they set. A tip should be something special (IMO), an extra bit of appreciation from your customer for going above and beyond. If tipping is mandatory then surely it’s just a surcharge, not a tip.
Any hoo that’s not really answered your question but has been more a rambling from myself about the tipping culture. Sorry!
here in the southeast 10-20% is standard, tattooist pay 50% to the shop owner, some less, some more, a tip is personal, a thank you for a good booking spot, nice work and maybe some extra minutes,
I have experienced some really nice payback for being a solid tipper,
as I have said before, I also try and get personal and shop for personal gifts for artists I know that already make good bank, I feeel it says more if I find out something about their interests and give them a personal gift
I wish there were more people like you. I’m pretty new as a tattoo artist but I think I do a pretty decent job. I would say 25% of my customers don’t tip. I don’t think it’s because they’re cheap or jerks or unhappy. I think thy don’t know any better.
You don’t tip a cashier cause they talked to you nice or was quick to get ur items, you don’t tip a carpet fitter for his work… Why do some tattooists think they have a right to be tipped just because they don’t get a salary? .. There’s plenty of jobs we’re employes don’t get a salary and no1 thinks of tipping them?
I wouldn’t automatically think to tip in this country and I’m not sure the artist would be automatically expecting it either. They (the service provider) charges a rate for the service they provide, if they rely on tips as part of that income then surely they should factor that into the charge they set. A tip should be something special (IMO), an extra bit of appreciation from your customer for going above and beyond. If tipping is mandatory then surely it’s just a surcharge, not a tip.
Any hoo that’s not really answered your question but has been more a rambling from myself about the tipping culture. Sorry!
The UK is a bit different that way. In the US, you tip because wages are generally lower. Waitresses only make about a pound and a half an hour, with the expectation they will get the bulk of money from tips. Eating out is also substantially cheaper in the US. If you order a soda or lemonade, refills are free, and food is generally cheaper.
Especially with “counter culture” things like tattoos, I think people have no sense. Of course, I was having a dinner in a fairly nice restaurant the other day, saw a family of four run up a $70 bill with a waitress I really like and know is good, and tip $5. I don’t think they were angry – It’s just as though people are blissfully unaware how much waitresses make. People who’ve never worked in service are often ignorant, and it shouldn’t offend me personally, but it does.
I figure with a professional like a tattooist, they should be making at least $20 an hour, and if they’re charging $100/hr, it’s not happening after paying the shop, supplies, etc., unless you tip appropriately.
Cashiers generally are not tipped and at least receive a minimum wage. As for not tipping someone doing home repairs and improvements, are you kidding? You absolutely tip if they’ve done a stellar job, charged fairly, and outlined the costs clearly. You obviously do not work in the service industry if you’re such a stingy person. Service providers are not pieces of garbage who have to kiss your butt for a $5 tip. I’m not salaried, but I receive a reasonable hourly wage, so of course I don’t receive tips. (Also, things would get really crooked in my field if tipping was used.)
I just find your post incredibly naive and the result of someone who hasn’t ever really worked in service. You can’t understand the importance of tips unless you’ve worked really hard for them to have people cop the attitude you have right now. I don’t want to fight, but part of me thinks you ought to try to survive as a waiter for a month and then rewrite your post.
Smoked salmon is ALWAYS an amazing gift.
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I’ve workewd behind bars and glass colleceted in nightclubs and currently work in a betting shop, so I’ve delt with a lot of shittly costomes a lot of the time, . But like we’ve agreed. Th UK is diffrent.. And if a tip is expected just add a service charge.
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