Do you tip after a legit massage?

[Pompal 09.]

The reason I am asking is after my session with a legit massuse, I gave her a tip and she was a bit surprised.

Is tipping after a good massage common or did I crossed some unwritten rule?

 

[None-of-ur-business]

No, I don't pay the tips.

 

[dont.panic]

10% Tip is normal. I tip my regular RMT a bit more (about 20%), but a lot of places they don't even expect a tip.

Where do you go for RMT? I'm looking for someone closer.. PM me if you want.

Thanks.

 

[Brecht]

10% is only for Chinese restaurants. The norm is 15-20% for service related gratuity http://www.psoo.com/release_5.htm

For spa & RMT, it's 15%, see End of Day section for tipping

http://www.cityline.ca/fashionandbeauty/beauty/index.asp?articleID=1094&topicID=3&categoryID=32&categoryName=Body+care

True, many that goes to RMT don't tip as people go, because they normal wouldn't pay for it if not for work medical coverage, and they somehow figured its magically covered in the rate.

It's just like if you have a 2-for-1 dinner coupon, you tip on the original and not the discounted meal cost. As Owners do not compenstate staff for less tip earned, true there may be more dinner traffic but how many tables can you squeeze in that few hours of dinner peak?

Some RMT are not accustomed receiving direct tip. The highend places avoid the uncomfortable moment by having envelopes with RMT's name on it, you can leave with front desk or hand to RMT in person if you like, may be leave your cell #...

 

[Corn]

I don't tip my RMT that I see on a regular basis. It's really not expected. It's in a sports injury clinic and it's just not part of the expectation. You have physiotherapists, exercise trainers, nutritionists there, too. It feels like a medical clinic. You just wouldn't tip a health practitioner for fixing your health. I mean, would you tip your chiropractor or physician?

However, when I'm off to a vacation resort or hotel out of town and use the in-house spa, I tend to tip for a RMT massage. It just has a pampering, discretionary, luxury feel there. And I sense that's it's a bit more expected there, too.

I guess it's really the context of the situation and what the expectations are. And I don't think you can directly compare tipping for waitstaff in restaurants (or similar unskilled jobs) to RMTs in spas because the waitstaff really need it and depend on it as part of their lowly compensation. The RMT get their money from the service fee.

 

[I Am Jesus]

A friend of mine in Phoenix, AZ is a LMT and owns a small Massage Theraphy Clinic, she's told me that most of her clients do tip her. The amounts vary according to how much they enjoy the massage.

 

[R. P]

FD, good point with the Sport injury clinics. If they go beyond the standard service, like go overtime, wait for me or work extra hard for stubborn knots, it would be appreciated by the provider, as odd as we may feel.

For Physio, Personal trainers, nutritionist, nurses, chiro and Docs for extra effort, I compensate them with Candy and my handsome smile... Everyone likes reward for job well-done.

If they are hot like my Chrio, or Nutritionist ex-GF, I will leave them with a suggestion which best male MPA-wanttabe to see in T.O.

 

[MY HEAD!!!]

i always tip my legit RMT,USUALLY ABOUT 10% TO 15%. tipping is part of everyday life,i also tip my Barber EVERYTIME!

 

[debijs]

No, Frank doesn't think tipping is ok....he went to rmt school to earn $70 per hr for a massage, no more and no less

but I tell ya...that man has magical hands....goosebumps man...goosebumps

 

[sarasmile]

I tip my RMT 20%. I look at it like it's a very labor intensive service and therefore deserving of a tip.

 

[Helpful Answers]

One thing I loved about living down under was that there was no tipping. I'm not sure why some parts of the world tip but others don't. I tip in North America when I get good service as it is a custom (I have had no experience with RMT). However, I know people who tip even when they get bad service which makes no sense to me.

 

[Indian Dude 713]

RMTs, accupuncture therapists, and physiotherapists, no.

Spa (legit) attendants, always, the amount depending on the service.

The former I associate with doctors and dentists. The latter are more akin to my barber, whom I do tip.