Tattoos + Tipping

2

Replies

  • Brunner26_2
    Brunner26_2 Posts: 1,152
    I would tip if you ever expect to show your face at that tattoo parlor again. Tattoo shops aren't like restaurants, they'll straight up tell you to gtfo if they remember you didn't tip them.

    Not really. The place I go, I get inked by the owner. So, I feel stupid tipping the prick because he's the freaking owner, he makes profit off the entire operation. You don't tip owners. It's stupid, but, nevertheless, I have an internal quandary as he is the artist, so I should respect his work and say thank you, financially, I guess. But it still pisses me off. So, I don't tip him every time, just like every third time. Lol.



    So you, what, verbally tip? I am a BIG fan of always tipping. It's just a respect issue for me. When I was working as a waittress, a "great service, thanks!" didn't pay my bills. Also, as the owner he is still doing work that he probably doesn't have to do.

    I don't what you mean by verbally tip. But, being a waitress and owning the restaurant are two completely different things. You don't tip the owner if they wait on you. That's just ridiculous. You might have to own a business to understand the dynamics of it. But, it's odd to get a tip when you own the business. The waitress does not profit from the food the patrons are eating. The owner is literally making money off the food the people are eating, so tipping is not necessary, it's built in. Lol. I realize not everyone understands this. Again, if you ever own a business, you will.


    Thanks for the condescending answer. Maybe I'll understand one day when I'm all grown up. The owner is doing an extra service for you. Extra work = extra money whether you own the business or not. Good on you for tipping out your employees (as you should) but that decision should be left to individual owners if they do get tipped.

    That wasn't condescending. It's just the way you interpreted it. You'll understand these sort of things one day.
  • Gail3260
    Gail3260 Posts: 354 Member
    Can I ask, is this tipping just an american thing???

    Yes mostly.....it's not common in the UK except for restaurants where there is no service charge included and a few other things by personal choice.
  • briebear77
    briebear77 Posts: 253 Member
    I would tip if you ever expect to show your face at that tattoo parlor again. Tattoo shops aren't like restaurants, they'll straight up tell you to gtfo if they remember you didn't tip them.

    Not really. The place I go, I get inked by the owner. So, I feel stupid tipping the prick because he's the freaking owner, he makes profit off the entire operation. You don't tip owners. It's stupid, but, nevertheless, I have an internal quandary as he is the artist, so I should respect his work and say thank you, financially, I guess. But it still pisses me off. So, I don't tip him every time, just like every third time. Lol.



    So you, what, verbally tip? I am a BIG fan of always tipping. It's just a respect issue for me. When I was working as a waittress, a "great service, thanks!" didn't pay my bills. Also, as the owner he is still doing work that he probably doesn't have to do.

    I don't what you mean by verbally tip. But, being a waitress and owning the restaurant are two completely different things. You don't tip the owner if they wait on you. That's just ridiculous. You might have to own a business to understand the dynamics of it. But, it's odd to get a tip when you own the business. The waitress does not profit from the food the patrons are eating. The owner is literally making money off the food the people are eating, so tipping is not necessary, it's built in. Lol. I realize not everyone understands this. Again, if you ever own a business, you will.


    Thanks for the condescending answer. Maybe I'll understand one day when I'm all grown up. The owner is doing an extra service for you. Extra work = extra money whether you own the business or not. Good on you for tipping out your employees (as you should) but that decision should be left to individual owners if they do get tipped.

    That wasn't condescending. It's just the way you interpreted it. You'll understand these sort of things one day.

    It was before he edited it.
  • PJ64
    PJ64 Posts: 866 Member
    Do tattoo artists get paid by the piece or minimum wage? I would understand if it was minimum wage, like a waiter.

    This is one of the problems in the US. People expect tips! I was in the military for 20 years, traveled throughout the world and most countries do not tip. You get paid for your job.
  • briebear77
    briebear77 Posts: 253 Member
    PJ I agree, it makes much more sense to just be paid for your job. Coming from a job where I made money on my tips, I think I'd much rather just be paid hourly and know how much I can expect to make. It's extremely subjective, plus you always end up with a@@holes who don't tip.
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
    Do tattoo artists get paid by the piece or minimum wage? I would understand if it was minimum wage, like a waiter.

    This is one of the problems in the US. People expect tips! I was in the military for 20 years, traveled throughout the world and most countries do not tip. You get paid for your job.

    Most artists told me they get a percentage, like 50%, the other 50% goes to the owner. I don't think that's universal though. The place I go to now, the owner just charges his artists monthly rent for their station, so, they can make and charge whatever they want. They just have to pay their rent.

    I don't like tipping at all, but I tip big. Rarely below 20% for anything. I prefer that everyone just makes a proper livable wage.
  • Ivy_leaves
    Ivy_leaves Posts: 103 Member
    I've always tipped at /least/ 20%. Hopefully they did a good enough job for you to want to tip anyway! :D
  • OP mentioned tax as part of the bill. You might be able to avoid paying tax if you take cash too instead of using a card. Both times when I had mine done the artist said it would be more because if tax if I paid with the card and he ran it throught he register. I'm guessing if there's no official record of what the artist/shop is charging you they're reporting it as a lot less and pocketing some. Fine by me if it saves me a few bucks.
  • n2thenight24
    n2thenight24 Posts: 1,651 Member
    OP mentioned tax as part of the bill. You might be able to avoid paying tax if you take cash too instead of using a card. Both times when I had mine done the artist said it would be more because if tax if I paid with the card and he ran it throught he register. I'm guessing if there's no official record of what the artist/shop is charging you they're reporting it as a lot less and pocketing some. Fine by me if it saves me a few bucks.

    ^^This^^ Also, if you live in the States anyway, you always tip. I don't care if they are the owner or not. Tattoo shops are struggling. They go out of business within the first year the majority of the time. They need this extra income because they have to have low prices to compete with the million other shops. So, like your artist? Good, tip him. Don't like him? Good, tip him and don't go back. It's just how it works. It is expected. My artist is amazing, he is also the owner, he didn't use to be, but he is now, and I still tip him. It's just how tattoos work.
  • Pixi_Rex
    Pixi_Rex Posts: 1,676 Member
    The thing to remember is that that artist is generally self employed working out of a home base - that shop takes a percentage of their wage to cover shop fees - health testing etc. so a tip is generally very welcome.

    My artist and I had a conversation about it the last time I was in and I asked if she would like to be tipped after every session or at the end - and she said "I never expect tips from anyone so whenever the client wants to tip I will accept them" With that being said I tipped at the end of the session because it was going to be a while before I was going back in to get more done. - She got about 20% for each sit.
  • MartialPanda
    MartialPanda Posts: 919 Member
    Crap I had no idea about tipping for my first tattoo. I really liked the guy who did mine so i'm a bit worried. I'm planning on getting my second very soon so.....should I try and find another parlor? He didnt seem upset and we didn't discuss a price before hand. I did mine in 1 hour and I paid $115 in total.... What to do!
  • Kismet_35
    Kismet_35 Posts: 28 Member
    I usually tip my tattoo artist 20-25%. I figure she is doing something very permanent on my body...I want her happy! One more session and my back piece will be done! Yay! No more for me, they hurt too much!
  • Ta2dchic20
    Ta2dchic20 Posts: 376 Member
    Correct! 15-20%. Sometimes if you tip really well, the artist will remember you and maybe put in a little extra time at the next sitting :)
  • classycouture
    classycouture Posts: 888 Member
    20% for both piercing and tattoos. Owner or not, tipping is a sign of respect and appreciation for the time the artist has taken to perfect the work that will be on your body for the rest of your life.. Well, unless you laser it off, but you get the picture.
  • Amanda21202
    Amanda21202 Posts: 210 Member
    Interesting. I've never tipped and been back to the same tattooists and still had no problems with them inking me.
    I am in the UK though, must be different here!
  • WRXymama
    WRXymama Posts: 342 Member
    So, what about "touch ups"? I got a peice done about 2months ago, and going back in tonight for touch up work (prolly another hour or so session).
  • sgv0918
    sgv0918 Posts: 851 Member
    I have gone to the same artist repeatedly, never tipped and never got turned away. I pay enough for good ink and the tattoo artist is the owner. He sets his price. I never heard of this tipping the artist but maybe it depends on the area of the country you're in
  • sjohnny
    sjohnny Posts: 56,142 Member
    I've historically done around 20% with a $20 minimum if it was less than $100. The artist who's working on me now is a friend and when I try to tip him he just adds it to my time so I just bring beer when I go.

    I don't think an artist would do a sh!tty job on someone who didn't tip them last time but they'll likely be appreciative and may give a little more attention to someone who tipped well. On that note, I don't tip so I'll get good service next time, I tip because I appreciate the good service I have received.
  • sjohnny
    sjohnny Posts: 56,142 Member
    So, what about "touch ups"? I got a peice done about 2months ago, and going back in tonight for touch up work (prolly another hour or so session).

    Are you paying for the touch-up? If so then I'd give 20%. If not I'd give at least $20.
  • itsmyvwbeetle
    itsmyvwbeetle Posts: 272 Member
    Crap I had no idea about tipping for my first tattoo. I really liked the guy who did mine so i'm a bit worried. I'm planning on getting my second very soon so.....should I try and find another parlor? He didnt seem upset and we didn't discuss a price before hand. I did mine in 1 hour and I paid $115 in total.... What to do!

    Just go back and if he does a great job again tip him extra. I am sure since it wasnt a really big piece he doesnt really remember the details of tip/no tip. Dont worry about it at all!! If he had several hours invested and no tip it probably left a memory but since it didnt I would let it go.
  • WRXymama
    WRXymama Posts: 342 Member
    Nope, never had to pay for touchups. ;)
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
    So, what about "touch ups"? I got a peice done about 2months ago, and going back in tonight for touch up work (prolly another hour or so session).

    It depends on the nature of the touch ups. Is it because of slop or something they didn't do that they were supposed to, or is it just filling in detail and making it pop. Those are different things. So, I say, it depends. If I was getting touch up because they messed up or whatever, I probably wouldn't tip. If it was a small enhancement, detail, fill in, or something, or if they say, let this heal, and then come back and we'll finish up, then I would likely tip. It just depends. In general, a tip is because you love the service they provided. If you don't love it, don't tip.
  • logdunne
    logdunne Posts: 132 Member
    Can I ask, is this tipping just an american thing???

    Yes mostly.....it's not common in the UK except for restaurants where there is no service charge included and a few other things by personal choice.

    I tipped my tattoist and the person who did my piercings :-)

    I only ever tip at restaurants if i am certain that the tip doenst go into company profits (a few well known chains are sods for this)

    I rarely tip the hairdresser- £35 for half an hour of listening to blather about reality TV shows? she should tip me :-D
  • WRXymama
    WRXymama Posts: 342 Member
    [/quote]

    If it was a small enhancement, detail, fill in, or something, or if they say, let this heal, and then come back and we'll finish up, then I would likely tip. It just depends. In general, a tip is because you love the service they provided. If you don't love it, don't tip.
    [/quote]

    Yeah, it is a larger peice (expanding from middle left cheek up to under breast line), so going in to add more detail, make it pop. I'll likely be giving her a tip. Been very happy with her work
  • AliciaStinger
    AliciaStinger Posts: 402 Member
    I would tip if you ever expect to show your face at that tattoo parlor again. Tattoo shops aren't like restaurants, they'll straight up tell you to gtfo if they remember you didn't tip them.

    Not really. The place I go, I get inked by the owner. So, I feel stupid tipping the prick because he's the freaking owner, he makes profit off the entire operation. You don't tip owners. It's stupid, but, nevertheless, I have an internal quandary as he is the artist, so I should respect his work and say thank you, financially, I guess. But it still pisses me off. So, I don't tip him every time, just like every third time. Lol.



    So you, what, verbally tip? I am a BIG fan of always tipping. It's just a respect issue for me. When I was working as a waittress, a "great service, thanks!" didn't pay my bills. Also, as the owner he is still doing work that he probably doesn't have to do.

    I don't what you mean by verbally tip. But, being a waitress and owning the restaurant are two completely different things. You don't tip the owner if they wait on you. That's just ridiculous. You might have to own a business to understand the dynamics of it. But, it's odd to get a tip when you own the business. The waitress does not profit from the food the patrons are eating. The owner is literally making money off the food the people are eating, so tipping is not necessary, it's built in. Lol. I realize not everyone understands this. Again, if you ever own a business, you will.


    Thanks for the condescending answer. Maybe I'll understand one day when I'm all grown up. The owner is doing an extra service for you. Extra work = extra money whether you own the business or not. Good on you for tipping out your employees (as you should) but that decision should be left to individual owners if they do get tipped.

    That wasn't condescending. It's just the way you interpreted it. You'll understand these sort of things one day.

    It was before he edited it.

    The comment I read was still condescending. You don't need to own a business to understand that the owner is presumably making more than anyone else in the joint. However, briebear77 is right: that piece of information is beside the point, because you should still tip the person who's working on you, or serving you. If that owner feels it's unethical to accept it, they'll turn it down. However, if you wanted to tip the owner less, I wouldn't see anything wrong with that because, again, the owner is presumably doing better than the other employees. Still, neverstray, you should at least offer thanks/respect to the person who puts the effort into making your tattoo exactly what you want it to be, and for putting up with your attitude.
  • cmcollins001
    cmcollins001 Posts: 3,472 Member
    I may get shot for this answer but oh well.

    A tattoo artist is nothing like a waitress. "I think I'll go to school, get a license, perfect the art of waitressing!" - said no one...ever.

    Tattoo artists chose their profession, it's not something they picked up on the weekend or night shift because it was the only job available at the time, or they're trying to make some extra cash while going to school.

    Granted, my brother has not 99% of my work and didn't charge me, mostly because he needed the practice...but it was/is good work and he's a good artist. But the few times I did go to a shop for a piece it really wasn't worth a tip. I was a simple tat and it was "just good" work. Nothing elaborate and nothing so fantastic I felt the need to tip.

    It's your career, you're profession, you chose this path...if it doesn't pay what you thought, then I'm sorry, but expecting to tips is just ridiculous. Charge more, add the tip in if it makes you feel better. Nobody tips me for coming in everyday and doing my job.
  • sjohnny
    sjohnny Posts: 56,142 Member
    I'm terrible at these things. I should just start tipping everyone, just to be on the safe side.

    You don't tip FBI men
  • n2thenight24
    n2thenight24 Posts: 1,651 Member
    I may get shot for this answer but oh well.

    A tattoo artist is nothing like a waitress. "I think I'll go to school, get a license, perfect the art of waitressing!" - said no one...ever.

    Tattoo artists chose their profession, it's not something they picked up on the weekend or night shift because it was the only job available at the time, or they're trying to make some extra cash while going to school.

    Granted, my brother has not 99% of my work and didn't charge me, mostly because he needed the practice...but it was/is good work and he's a good artist. But the few times I did go to a shop for a piece it really wasn't worth a tip. I was a simple tat and it was "just good" work. Nothing elaborate and nothing so fantastic I felt the need to tip.

    It's your career, you're profession, you chose this path...if it doesn't pay what you thought, then I'm sorry, but expecting to tips is just ridiculous. Charge more, add the tip in if it makes you feel better. Nobody tips me for coming in everyday and doing my job.

    When they factor in their expected income in this profession, while deciding if they want to do this or not, they factor in tips. Because it is customary to give them.
  • BeeElMarvin
    BeeElMarvin Posts: 2,086 Member
    I've never had the "tip" tattooed.
  • I have a few and I think seeing where they are was tip enough. But I do belive guys are expected to tip.