when do you draw the line and leave no tip at all?

i hadn't had a "professional" pedicure in a million years as our family works to save money.

i decided to treat myself.

i went to a new nail place. it was so nice. actually looked like a restaurant. the lighting was a bit dim, the music was soft, and the decor was soft and modern.

the lady who was to give me a pedicure BARELY touched my feet and got to painting my toe nails almost right away. this upset me. the whole reason i'm doing this is to get a "proper" pedicure. i mentioned what i needed and where my feet needed attention. she looked at me like i was crazy and gave my feet anther QUICK once over. this really bothered me!

i can understand rushing the job if the place has wall to wall people waiting, but there were only two other ladies getting pedicures.

it seemed like doing her job was a nuisance and i was bothering her.

while she was putting polish on my nails, a little girl came up to her to thank her and to tip her. she snatched the money from the little girl and said nothing... damn!

so, i decided to pay my bill but not to tip. i even mentioned it to the guy who seemed to be the owner.

what level of bad service makes you go from leaving a small tip to leaving no tip at all?

btw: i have a reputation of being a big tipper (something i learned from my dad), SO and my mother are always trying to take money off the table that i've left behind... so for me to not tip... well, she really had to piss me off

when do you draw the line and leave no tip at all?

What kind of a salon was it?

Sometimes in the regular nail places I've gotten quikie pedicures-but sometimes I even ask for them because I just don't have the time. At a place where I'm paying $15 for a pedicure I don't expect much.

A nicer place where I'm paying $40+? I expect a bit more.

Re: when do you draw the line and leave no tip at all?

Message edited 6/30/2013 7:43:46 PM.

when do you draw the line and leave no tip at all?

There have been so many times where I have wanted to leave no tip, but I just can't do it. Like the time I asked for a trim and the woman chopped all my hair off and I was in tears tears when I left. Or when I finally got my eyebrows nice and thick, I told the woman just to clean them up, and she made them thinner than ever. I still tipped her and cursed her out in my head lol

Message edited 6/30/2013 8:56:01 PM.

Re: when do you draw the line and leave no tip at all?

Re: when do you draw the line and leave no tip at all?

There is a nail place by my house that is notorious for this. You can get a pedicure at lightening speed. They actually look at the clock while they are doing it as if they are being timed!

I'm like you and expect a proper job to be done. That's the whole reason for going to the nail salon. I don't care if I get the basic pedicure or not, I'm paying for a service that should be done properly.

Re: when do you draw the line and leave no tip at all?

I don't know.. the place I got to charges 17$ and they pull out hot stones and hot rags. They do a scrub and a great massage and you get a back massage for several minutes.

So I think it's okay not to tip. It's gutsy and I would probably have given something because I have no balls. But, good for you!! I am glad you didn't just not leave a tip but, that you also spoke to the owner.

when do you draw the line and leave no tip at all?

What did the owner say? I feel like a good business person would ave addressed it and invited you back or a free pedicure since you were so unhappy. I've never left nothing but then I have never had an experience like you mentioned- I am in queens and there is a lot of competition- tey can't afford to do a crappy job nd AT&T in business

Re: when do you draw the line and leave no tip at all?

For what you described, I would tip NOTHING! Sounds horrible!

Pedicures are SO important, they are not just decorative but therapeutic and when it's done the way you described, you might as well not get it done at all.

If I were in your shoes, I would probably start pointing out bit by bit what needed to get done, which is pretty much the worse pedicure experience you can have - the kind where you need to art-direct the whole thing— but at least you would get a proper pedicure. Then, if she did do what asked, I would tip.

New time, go to a Russian or Eastern European owned salon and tell them you need a good, thorough pedicure: they really get the job done!

Re: when do you draw the line and leave no tip at all?

when do you draw the line and leave no tip at all?

If I'm receiving a service, I will tip. If it's subpar, I won't tip nearly as much but I wouldn't not tip.

As for the shoddy pedicure, I think it depends on the place. I've gone to a place where I pay $17 and they do a very basic pedi -- no scrubbing, no massage, just trim or file the nails, soak, and polish change. Then I've been to places where I've paid the same and received fantastic pedicures! Just the other day, I went to some hole in the wall for a mani/pedi special ($15 for both!) and it was pretty great!

I feel like the ones that are nicer (some of them anyway), have more patrons, and it's like a factory b/c there are people waiting. And if you don't want an upgrade with your pedicure, they just get in and get out.

Re: when do you draw the line and leave no tip at all?

I cant think of any occassion off the top of my head that I have left NO tip, however, I have on several occassions (usually in a restaurant) left a very small tip. I usually will write a note on the receipt as to WHY as well. In your case where you mentioned what you expected and STILL didnt get it, I would be inclined to do what you do as well. I cant stand when I go to a place and my feet are barely in the water before they're telling me to take them out (what's the point of even putting water in the basis then)

Re: when do you draw the line and leave no tip at all?

I always go to places where they charge $15 and I get a decent pedicure.

So yes, I may be inclined to not tip.

Random thought though, and I know this is not the point of this thread, but I often wonder how many people in those places are there because they want to be or if they may be working for nothing to pay off their way into the country.

Not saying this as an excuse and to start the typical LIF token diabetic drama, but it could explain her attitude.

Touching other people's feet does not exactly scream dream job to me.

when do you draw the line and leave no tip at all?

to answer the question as to what i should have been expecting for my money: i got the "spa" pedicure, which promised a massage and scrubbing.

when i told the owner, he looked at me like i had two heads and was speaking martian.

Re: when do you draw the line and leave no tip at all?

The whole point of tipping someone whether it be a waitress, a hairstylist, a manicurist, etc. is because that person provided really good service. If someone does not meet your expectations or does a terrible job I see no reason to tip. A tip is earned, it's not a guarantee and anyone who relies on tips should realize the amount you're tipped is directly correlated with the service you provide someone.

That being said, I've walked out and not left a tip on very RARE occasions but in those cases the service was so beyond awful I saw NO reason to tip them. They did NOTHING to earn it. Usually when I get mediocre service I just tip average. And alternatively, when someone goes above and beyond I tip more than normal. For me, a tip whether nothing or a lot is COMPLETELY dependent upon the service someone provides, as it should be IMO.

I don't think you did anything wrong by not tipping. I would've done the same thing.

Re: when do you draw the line and leave no tip at all?

when do you draw the line and leave no tip at all?

i would not have tipped. in fact, i may have taken money off the fee for service.

Re: when do you draw the line and leave no tip at all?

Re: when do you draw the line and leave no tip at all?

A little off topic, but I have found, just startinig this year, that nail salons are pushing spa pedicures much more and regular pedicures are sub-par (at best).

when do you draw the line and leave no tip at all?

I agree that a tip is for excellent service. If it was mandatory, it would be included in the fee for service. I would not have tipped in this instance. Every pedicure place I have gone to has provided a "spa type" pedicure with a soak and scrub, and I've never paid more than $20.

Re: when do you draw the line and leave no tip at all?

when do you draw the line and leave no tip at all?

Last year I went for a mani and pedi at a place I had been to once before. It was the worst experience ever. Started out with the pedi - and I had a large cut on my shin from a fall, so I asked her to be careful of that area. She was fine with that, but said I needed to be careful because I am old and injuries like that could be dangerous - wow, thanks lady. After the pedi, I was getting a shellac mani, with the same person. She started out by telling me she loved my wedding band, but that my e-ring was ugly. I should have just left then. Then, she did the WORST mani ever. Had to remove the polish on several fingers at least 3 times (and this was shellac). Finally another manicurist had to come over to finish the job - and it looked horrible at the end. I should have walked out without paying at all, but I did pay but there was certainly no tip after that experience!

Message edited 7/1/2013 10:00:47 AM.

Re: when do you draw the line and leave no tip at all?

Posted by DiamondGirl

Posted by libby2595

to answer the question as to what i should have been expecting for my money: i got the "spa" pedicure, which promised a massage and scrubbing.

when i told the owner, he looked at me like i had two heads and was speaking martian.

I would have paid for the basic. That is totally wrong! (probably I wouldn't have but I would want to )

Re: when do you draw the line and leave no tip at all?

This isn't my first rodeo. I am a receiver of pedicures. Not only would I not tip, I would have not paid.

If I am getting a $20+ pedicure, they better soak my feek, scrub my rough spots and give my feet a minimal massage with lotion. Then the toe nails which to me is a given.

I refuse to pay for crappy service let alone tip.

I am a huge tipper and believe in taking care of someone that does a good job. I know people say that but I really am.

You have to stand up for yourself.

when do you draw the line and leave no tip at all?

I would have felt funny but I agree, that didn't deserve a tip. You did not get what you paid for. Even at the cheap places I get some kind of massage for a basic pedicure. Sorry, it was such a ****** experience.