Do most people tip masseurs (sp?)? I have my first sports massage tonight, and I don’t want them to hate after my first visit. Thanks.
I usually give them 20%. Not sure if it is right, but I treat them like my hairdresser - 20%. Anyone else know? Any massage therapists out there? Help!
Only if there’s a happy ending 
JK, I think tipping is customary and expected. For a $50 session I’ll usually add 20%. Post-race I always feel bad that I don’t have any money to tip … then I remember how much the entry fee was and don’t feel much better.
i work at a health club pt that has sports massages and most of the therapist are very happy when they get 15-20%(typically 10-20 dollars) tip, depending on how good you think the services provided were.
do not give them 10%, they usually think they did something wrong and will bitch about it, so when you want another appointment they will be much more accommodating with scheduling and often will give you an extra 10-15 minutes free of charge if you are a good tipper.
I used to tip about 12% because I was easier to just give 80 bucks rather than 85 on a 70 massage. I figured it was just easier rather than asking for change from 100. I go to the same person and and one day I started to give her 85 because someone told me I was being cheap. The extra 5 bucks has made a huge difference in her accomodation and length of time she will spend if I am extra sore. going over 15% is worth the extra few bucks in my book. Maybe I should start giving her 90?
The first time I went to my current massage therapist of choice she went about 15 minutes over the hour trying to get the knots out of my legs. I had planned on giving her a $10 tip for the $60 massage, but decided to give $15 for the extra time. Every time since I have gotten 15-30 extra minutes. Absolutely and completely worth the extra money.
I say, if you find someone good, tip well and keep going to that person.
-C
I think it’s ridiculous for a ‘therapist’ giving a sports massage to expect a tip, and even worse that they’d be offended by a 10% tip. Massage is a therapeutic function and massage therapists are supposedly professionals. Do you tip your Dr.? Your physical therapist? Your pharmacist? Your chiropractor? No.
These are all professionals with advanced schooling who bill out with a certain fee for service. There is no reason these people should expect or hope for a tip. It’s a contracted rate that they feel is appropriate and you agree to. A $50 massage is $50, not $60.
I guess if you’re just getting a massage at a spa to relax, you can equate those types with your hairdresser, so a tip may be appropriate. But a sports massage by someone trained and active in that field should be treated as a professional.
Yes, usually 20%.
Unlike doctors, dentists, etc., most therapists can only work with a handful of clients and perform a limited number of sessions in a day, so tipping a massage therapist as opposed to another “professional” makes sense to me and I’ve never had an issue with it.
No offense to anyone out there but I’m guessing that the schooling for a masseuse is slightly less than that of a physician or any other professional you listed.
Not in our part of the world. You’d no sooner tip a massage therapist than a chiropractor or dentist. They all have set fees and that’s what we pay.
I think of my massage therapist in the same light as a chiropractor or medical professional and would much prefer a higher rate and a no tipping policy. I tip (generously) because it’s expected but the whole tipping thing has gotten out of control in the US.
I was about to post the tipping dialogue that Mr. Pink got into in Reservoir Dogs, but decided against it.
But every time I tip that goes through my head.
Tip or don’t tip, just don’t call him/her a masseur. Unless of course they have a red light at the front door and you think that the tip might get you a little sumthin-sumthin. Even though the definition of masseur is one who gives massages professionally the connotation is that of a massage parlor. My understanding is they prefer massage therapist.
I usually will tip about $10. If they choose to give me crappy service as a result, then I’ll take my business elsewhere, more massage therapists out there than you can swing a dead cat at.
I agree with one-lap. I used to be a sports massage therapist at a clinic where we saw lots of endurance athletes. I never expected a tip b/c I saw my services as more similar to a doctor’s (many of our patients were referred to us by doctors). And most of our clients saw us in a similar light. Thus, I rarely ever received a tip. On those rare occasions when I did get one, it would be about 10 or 12%.
I know doctors have much more training than us. But the fact of the matter is, a lot of athletes who come for a sports massage come b/c they have some specific ailment that is hindering them. We try to fix them. It’s the same problem/goal that one would go to a doctor for. You wouldn’t tip the doctor, so I wouldn’t expect you to tip me either.
With that said, I’d say there is a large degree of variance among sports massage therapists. If you’re going to see one regularly just for general work and not for some specific injury, then perhaps it makes more sense for them to expect tips. But if you’re going for a specific injury, then I wouldn’t expect it.
Just my two cents.
I think it depends if the therapist is self employed or employed by the facility that you are receiving the massage at. If they are self employed it goes into the fee, if they are employed they usually dont get paid a lot and a tip can certainly help. If you are going to a massage therapy school (I teach sciences part time at one) then tip the student because they dont make any money for their massage without it.
How do you get an extra 15-30 minutes? Doesn’t he/she have another appointment scheduled? The one I use is booked tight, 10 minutes longer would just delay all of the other clients.
Yes I tip.
I think it’s ridiculous for a ‘therapist’ giving a sports massage to expect a tip, and even worse that they’d be offended by a 10% tip. Massage is a therapeutic function and massage therapists are supposedly professionals. Do you tip your Dr.? Your physical therapist? Your pharmacist? Your chiropractor? No.
I think most therapist expect a tip is because most of them are not making the amount paid for the massage. the company they are contracting through takes a huge cut. if I am correct they are really lucky if they get half the charged amount. and they never work a full 8 hour day, it is a hard profession to make good money in. they tip goes directly to them. it is a service that you are paying for and you get what you pay for, tip or no tip is up to the individual. I just know from experience if you are a good tipper you get better service and more for your money.
Do most people tip masseurs (sp?)? I have my first sports massage tonight, and I don’t want them to hate after my first visit. Thanks.
My wife is a massage therapist and usually gets tips in the 20% range.
To some extent I agree with the posters who say tipping (in general) is out of control in the U.S. Before I met my wife I never used to tip massage therapists (little did I know). Since then, I’ve conformed simply because it’s the customary thing to do. And yes, you may often get extra massage time if you are perceived as a good tipper, but don’t expect it because your therapist may have someone else booked in the next time slot. Or, like any of us, they may simply have other things to do.
Yes, they are trained professionals, but keep in mind that most therapists can only work 20 hours a week or so due to the physical toll of doing high quality sports massage. Anyway, a great therapist is worth whatever they charge, plus 20%. In my opinion, at least.
p.s. Here’s a ‘tip’: use the term ‘massage therapist.’ Some therapists get offended when you use ‘masseur’ or ‘masseuse’, because in some circles those words have sexual connotations.
Do most people tip masseurs (sp?)? I have my first sports massage tonight, and I don’t want them to hate after my first visit. Thanks.
People in service industries count on ‘tips’ to supplement their already paltry income/wages.
Try for a minimum 18-20%, especially with the holiday season upon us. No need to be stingy. If all you have is an Andrew Jackson, hand it over with a smile.
- kd
How do you get an extra 15-30 minutes? Doesn’t he/she have another appointment scheduled? The one I use is booked tight, 10 minutes longer would just delay all of the other clients.
Yes I tip.
Yeah, I don’t really understand it either. The only thing I can come up with is that the place always schedules 30 mins between massages to get the room ready. I’m certainly not going to question it!
-C