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Thoughts on adding gratuity to ticket for massage service in spa

Hi everyone~

I am employed as a F/T masseuse in a spa/salon in my city (new job, there for 2 months) and am noticing that, while clients truly appreciate my skill and express that clearly, I am often receiving gratuities of $5, $10, or $0 for a $70 service--because the salon does not accept tips on credit cards. I'm getting whatever spare change clients have left over. Now, this doesn't happen ALL the time. I do receive $15 tips sometimes, too, but I am chagrined (to put it nicely) by the less-than-wonderful earnings from tips. I have years of experience as a massage therapist and am increasingly uncomfortable with this situation.

Does anyone have an opinion or experience about having a 15% gratuity added to the ticket for my services? It is something I'm considering approaching my boss about.

Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Barbara Helynn Heard on May 1, 2011 at 9:10pm

Aloha Shannon,

Personally, I would be VERY! put off if I a gratuity was added to my bill for massage. As I see it, a gratuity is my gift, made at my discretion.

I would however like the option of adding the tip to my credit card bill.

Warm wishes,

Barbara Helynn

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Permalink Reply by shannon egan on May 1, 2011 at 9:49pm

Thanks for replying, Barbara. I'm hoping others will chime in.

I worked at a resort spa in another state where an 18% charge was added automatically and no one seemed particularly bothered by it there. That's why I'm pondering it in this position. However; the REAL issue IS that clients are being inconvenienced by our policy on credit card tips and my earnings are suffering. So far, management is not on board with accepting them. It is a sore point.

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Permalink Reply by Relax & Rejuvenate on May 4, 2011 at 10:03am

I am vehemently opposed to mandatory tip/service charges. That is up to the client, based on their satisfaction and personal preferences.

What you should discuss with the boss is paying them 3% of your tips to cover CC processing charges. If you are an employee -- and not an IC -- you will have to bump that up to about 12% of your tips, because they have to pay FICA, FUTA and the state equivalents on all of your reported earnings, and charged tips fall into that category.

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Permalink Reply by Donna Whitton on May 5, 2011 at 6:03am

I am also opposed to mandatory tip charges! And never so much so as when I went with some friends for spa day and received less then wonderful treatments only to discover the initial price quoted had not included to gratuity and the end price did. Not only was the service not really worthy of a tip but it most definately wasn't of the tip we each were mandated to give!

I charge what I perceive my skills and experience is worth and have taken on the thought-process of a former colleague - the best "tip" I could receive is for a client to return monthly, bi-weekly, weekly; this regular income far surpasses a one time $10+ tip!