Should one feel compelled to tip a Massage Therapist after a session? I recently received an icy reception when i just filled out the “total” on the bill after my last massage and omitted the tip. I’ve always been of the belief that because the service was delivered by a health practitioner, offering a tip would be analogous to a gratuity for my Doctor after an annual checkup.
My scope of my question is limited to Registered Massage Therapists only. Don’t be gettin’ any funny ideas.
My massage therapist does not accept tips. She says, “You don’t tip your dentist or doctor do you?”
She’s got a point. At IMNZ I gave the massage therapist I booked for the week a hefty tip on day 1 to reinforce the impression that I needed her best effort since I was having foot problems. She did a fine job on my feet and legs and I appreciated it very much. It certainly made my event easier.
I have always given 10% and it has always been appreciated. Graham
Find your answer here. . .
I think a lot of it depends on where you get your massage. If it’s an RMT in a sports/athletic therapy clinic or similar setting, then no tip is expected. If it’s an RMT in one of those frou-frou salons or day-spas however, I believe a tip would be expected. You’re going to get a very different massage at both places, even though both employ RMT’s.
Especially if you’re a regular however, it never hurts to give a little bonus every now and then - cash or otherwise. I gave my barber a bottle of Bombay Sapphire at Xmas, and the last time I needed a cut in a hurry he bumped someone for me. 
Got a full body massage in the PI in 1991 on the way back from Desert Storm - gave a big tip. Since then, in the US I’ve never felt compelled to give a tip.
I think Khai is right on. Depends on the setting - I get massages from a therapist who works out of a doctors clinic, and he doesn’t expect a tip. I think most of the people he works on are rehab patients anyway who have much if not all of their fees paid by their health and/or disability insurance.
It is nice to remember one’s RMT at the holidays, though.
15-20% is what you should tip your massage therapist, hair dresser, or aesthetician (body waxer) in CASH. Credit cards are a pain in the ass to those of us in the service industry, can be tracked by you-know-who, cost us money ($.25 for debit, 2-5% for credit cards), and can sometimes be pooled (not likely) or the receptionist can steal the tip money.
If you want the massage therapist to work on you a bit harder or squeeze you in, tip higher. If not, then don’t tip.
It’s going to depend on where you are. In the salon world (generally relaxation massages) the therapist is going to receive between 35-60% (rarely above 50%) of what you’re being charged, work a long day and have very short breaks. In a medical practice, they’ll probably be on a higher wage with better conditions. If they work from their own office or house, they’re getting 100% less their expenses.
In the spa situation, tips are the norm and expected, just as you would tip your hairdresser etc. In a home/office situation, it’s not expected but is often appreciated.
When I worked from home I would refuse tips, or suggest that they made a donation to a charity of their choice. I priced my work fairly, and gave, so I’m told, good value for the money. I didn’t work spas, I don’t really like the environment, it’s not where I aim my service.
If I was working in an office environment (on-site chair massage) then some people tipped, some didn’t and I never expected it, but it was always appreciated. I worked a long, busy day with very little break between clients (just long enough to clean and prep the chair and sip some water).
Not knowing where you got your massage, or what type of massage, I wouldn’t like to be judgemental. If it’s an individual practitioner you’re going to, don’t feel bad about not tipping as long as you feel that what you’re getting is worth what you pay. If they do particularly good work, or put themselves out to help you (short notice appointments) etc then a tip might be warranted.
Hope this helps with some guidance, feel free to ask any further questions if you’d like to.
J.
Credit cards are a pain in the ass to those of us in the service industry, can be tracked by you-know-who
If someone is attempting to avoid paying taxes on income that they receive from me, they don’t need to be worried about the amount of the tip, or how they are going to treat me on my return business. There won’t be any return business.
Why should I worry about a fair tip for someone who attempt to rob me and my government?
Ray
I don’t know how it works down south, but I believe the Canadian gov’t assumes a certain percentage of tips for people in service industries where tipping is common and adds it too their income. In that case, by not tipping them you are making them pay taxes on income they never recieved.
I like the way my barber does tips, you put the money in an envelope and drop it in a box. They don’t know who gave them what at the end of the day so noone gets different service, but he still get tips.
Many of us in the service industry pay more than our fair share in social security, self-employment taxes, and pay a higher rate of taxes than people who get a regular paycheck from an employer. Those who work for someone end up with only half (or less) of the money you pay them, and have to wait to receive it. A cash tip can make a person’s day, which can make your future experiences nicer. Not all service industry providers under-report their tips; infact some of us even report it as regular income (which is taxed a LOT higher than tips) when it is in a traceable form. Cash is generally scarce, as more and more people pay with cheques and credit cards.
Robbing? That’s a little harsh. If you want to put it in the context of “robbing”, people who have small businesses get robbed, raped and battered by “your” government while the large corporations “rob” the government in loopholes, by using tax attorneys (whom I have no problems with), questionable “donations”, and dodgy book keeping.
I am just reporting the facts about tipping. I give good service to people who don’t tip. They just don’t receive the extras like pre/post hours appointments, free extras, and the like. But they always receive my best, just nothing extra. With others, I can’t say that is the case.