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Do you tip your piercer?
Question:
Hi everyone, Next Thursday night I’ll be getting my navel and tongue pierces and since these are my first (beside ears, years ago) I was wondering if you’re supposed to tip you piercer, like you’d tip your hairdresser? If so, how much? I believe my piercings (for the jewelry I plan) will be $160 Thanks, Christi
Response:
> Hi everyone, > Next Thursday night I’ll be getting my navel and tongue pierces and since > these are my first (beside ears, years ago) I was wondering if you’re > supposed to tip you piercer, like you’d tip your hairdresser? If so, how > much? I believe my piercings (for the jewelry I plan) will be $160 > Thanks, > Christi
Most Piercers and tattoo artists work on comission. That means a percentage of that money goes to the shop. The piercer or tattoo artist get to keep 100% of the tips. As a tattoo artist I feel tips are always appreciated but never expected.These services can run quite high and not everyone can afford to tip. But,If you feel you have been given good service tipping is a nice way to show it. I have also recived flowers, thank you cards, toys, dinner and all sorts of other neat stuff. Hope that helps, Misha
Response:
< Hi everyone, < < Next Thursday night I’ll be getting my navel and tongue pierces and since < these are my first (beside ears, years ago) I was wondering if you’re < supposed to tip you piercer, like you’d tip your hairdresser? If so, how < much? I believe my piercings (for the jewelry I plan) will be $160 I had heart that tipping was nice, if not expected, and while the piercer went to the back the run the credit card through, i asked the apprentice, and he said "whatever you feel comfortable with." Mine (tongue) was 65+tax, so about 70, and I gave her five. Don’t know if that’s cheap or not, but, well, that’s what I paid, since you asked. I love it when I don’t know how to finish my thoughts. alex
Response:
> < Hi everyone, > < > < Next Thursday night I’ll be getting my navel and tongue pierces and since > < these are my first (beside ears, years ago) I was wondering if you’re > < supposed to tip you piercer, like you’d tip your hairdresser? If so, how > < much? I believe my piercings (for the jewelry I plan) will be $160
wow. oops, I didn’t tip my piercer…I’ll have to remember to do that next time. as for now, though, my piercer is an entrepenuer (spelling!), so, after rent, equipment and everything, he keeps it all. and at 40$ a pop, minimum (nikel allergy: only niobium 4 me) that must be a lot of money…hmmm, sounds like a good profession to get into.
Response:
> wow. oops, I didn’t tip my piercer…I’ll have to remember to do that > next time. as for now, though, my piercer is an entrepenuer (spelling!), > so, after rent, equipment and everything, he keeps it all. and at 40$ a > pop, minimum (nikel allergy: only niobium 4 me) that must be a lot of > money…hmmm, sounds like a good profession to get into.
Umm.. unfortunately this is not really the case. If the piercer is spending their money on all the proper sterilization techniques and autoclaving and proper equipment, as well as not using sub-standard jewelry; then unless they are getting a lot of business and have no employees then they probably are not making a lot of money. Sure, anybody can run a hack shop and make quick cash. —- "Make it idiot proof and someone will make a better idiot." | ~o~o~o~o~o~o~ Semaj the $piceman ~o~o~o~o~o~o~ | | "Follow me into the desert, as thirsty as you are…" — Soundgarden |
Response:
Your piercer not only has to pay for "rent, equipment, and everything", s/he also must pay (if s/he is doing things correctly) for biological spore test strips and testing, biohazard waste management, several pairs of gloves, autoclaving equipment and repair, uncountable disposable equipment, and continuing education. Out of the $25 to $35 you pay for the piercing itself, your piercer gets to keep approximately $5-10. The relatively small profit from the jewelry about covers the shop’s rent, hospital grade disinfectant materials, advertising, and salaries of the staff, among countless other expenses. This gives your average profiteering piercer about $10-15/hour salary, before taxes. That’s not enough to buy a Jag and a new home, folks! Piercing is a SERVICE PROFESSION. If a waiter, hair stylist, manicurist, or taxi driver gave good service, you would expect to tip a large amount, but even average service would perhaps merit a small token of the work being done. If the service is poor enough to merit no tip, perhaps you are at the wrong establishment! Michaela Grey Gauntlet, Inc. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->wow. oops, I didn’t tip my piercer…I’ll have to remember to do that >next time. as for now, though, my piercer is an entrepenuer >>(spelling!), >so, after rent, equipment and everything, he keeps it all. and at 40$ >a >pop, minimum (nikel allergy: only niobium 4 me) that must be a lot of >money…hmmm, sounds like a good profession to get into.
Response:
says… >Hi everyone, >Next Thursday night I’ll be getting my navel and tongue pierces and since >these are my first (beside ears, years ago) I was wondering if you’re >supposed to tip you piercer, like you’d tip your hairdresser? If so, how >much? I believe my piercings (for the jewelry I plan) will be $160
As a piercer, here are my thoughts. If you got what you felt was top quality service, then a tip is a great way to show that you appreciate everything your piercer did for you. If you had a bad experience or only a mediocre experience, by no means feel obligated to tip. As piercers (and tattoo artists), while we rarely make all of the money that constitutes the price of a piercing, we still generally make good money. So, we aren’t dependent upon your tips as a waitperson may be. Do what feels right to you. And as for amount, again, whatever feels right/you can afford. I’ve been tipped everything from $2 to $100, with a common tip being $5-$10. Hope that gives you a bit of perspective from the other side. — Derek Lowe (member, APP) Steve’s Tattoo and Body Piercing Madison, WI Tel: (608) 251-6111 http://www.inxpress.net/~piercer
Response:
Apologies in advance: When I got my PA, I didn’t tip him, but he sure as hell tipped ME! ba da dum! Switch
Response:
>Your piercer not only has to pay for "rent, equipment, and everything", >s/he also must pay (if s/he is doing things correctly) for biological >spore test strips and testing, biohazard waste management…
I should point out that Michaela is referring to piercers who own their shops; contract piercers don’t have as much overhead to cover. — * Ardvark * Anne Greenblatt Piercing FAQ Manager for rec.arts.bodyart Piercing Exquisite http://www2.ba.best.com/~ardvark
Response:
As a working professional who preforms a service, of course I like getting a tip, even though I am the shop owner. The other artists who work here work on a commission basis and when they get a tip the keep the entire tip. Just like when you go out to eat, if the waiter or waitress gives you good service you show your gratitude with a tip, again the same with your favorite bartender. So to sum it up, you are encouraged to show your gratitude for services rendered. Mad Jack http://www.bodybasics.com – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Your piercer not only has to pay for "rent, equipment, and everything", >s/he also must pay (if s/he is doing things correctly) for biological >spore test strips and testing, biohazard waste management… > I should point out that Michaela is referring to piercers who own their > shops; contract piercers don’t have as much overhead to cover. > — > * Ardvark * > Anne Greenblatt > Piercing FAQ Manager for rec.arts.bodyart > Piercing Exquisite > http://www2.ba.best.com/~ardvark