Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To answer the person asking about things being affect by layoffs. yes we are. Absolutely. Businesses down about 50% and doesn’t really feel like a great time to raise prices to make up for that difference.We’ve also had to adjust hours as clients feel less secure taking time off during the day for services. I’m at work later and more in weekends than ever and seeing my family less. It’s stressful. Things will improve but it will take time. We took a huge hit during pandemic and were not quite up to pre COVID numbers. It’s challenging to work in services. You really are a bit at the whim of the market and since many of us are not employees, but 1099, renting space or working on commission, we pay all of our own benefits and don’t always have a say on setting prices. It’s a nice thing to think that we have more control on what we charge than we do. I could happily raise my prices with confidence in service- it’s not up to me - even though I’m an independent contractor. There is a price according to experience level which does help though.

Tips are great. I don’t expect them, but they really do make a difference when bookings are less prevalent.

Thank you for sharing your insight!

OP was fine to say "I want to tip, but I cannot afford to at this moment" and the stylist was wrong for rolling her eyes.

That’s what you took from the stylists post!? Just the last two sentences?

Her business is down, she’s renting space, working on commission, no benefits and even though she’s an independent contractor she doesn’t set her own prices.

Her profession has traditionally been one of commission and tips is part of her income. Whether or not the tipping phenomenon in the US is fair or not is irrelevant. Most everyone, and especially older people who use salons, knows that tips are paid to a stylist. OP knows it too which is why this thread even started.

To the stylist, thank you for contributing your experience and how the industry works for you. Best wishes to you.

And traditionally you don’t tip the owner.

Traditionally, YOU don’t tip the owner. I do.

Anonymous wrote:The tipping situation right now is bad. All the people on here who are so self righteous about 20% or you don’t deserve to eat out or get your hair cut or whatever. Give me a break. This 20-30 percent situation is really over the top. And they stand there looking at you while you fumble with the IPad choosing the LOWEST option, which is 20 %. Sigh. I wish service workers were paid a living wage, and I will continue to tip, but it feels like I’m being extorted and I don’t like it and I feel for the people who are like hell no, and the others who are getting up on your high horses and saying so sanctimoniously well I ALWAYS tip the MAXIMUM, it’s kinda irritating.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To answer the person asking about things being affect by layoffs. yes we are. Absolutely. Businesses down about 50% and doesn’t really feel like a great time to raise prices to make up for that difference.We’ve also had to adjust hours as clients feel less secure taking time off during the day for services. I’m at work later and more in weekends than ever and seeing my family less. It’s stressful. Things will improve but it will take time. We took a huge hit during pandemic and were not quite up to pre COVID numbers. It’s challenging to work in services. You really are a bit at the whim of the market and since many of us are not employees, but 1099, renting space or working on commission, we pay all of our own benefits and don’t always have a say on setting prices. It’s a nice thing to think that we have more control on what we charge than we do. I could happily raise my prices with confidence in service- it’s not up to me - even though I’m an independent contractor. There is a price according to experience level which does help though.

Tips are great. I don’t expect them, but they really do make a difference when bookings are less prevalent.

Thank you for sharing your insight!

OP was fine to say "I want to tip, but I cannot afford to at this moment" and the stylist was wrong for rolling her eyes.

OP never said the stylist rolled her eyes. She said she seemed surprised. Very different.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To answer the person asking about things being affect by layoffs. yes we are. Absolutely. Businesses down about 50% and doesn’t really feel like a great time to raise prices to make up for that difference.We’ve also had to adjust hours as clients feel less secure taking time off during the day for services. I’m at work later and more in weekends than ever and seeing my family less. It’s stressful. Things will improve but it will take time. We took a huge hit during pandemic and were not quite up to pre COVID numbers. It’s challenging to work in services. You really are a bit at the whim of the market and since many of us are not employees, but 1099, renting space or working on commission, we pay all of our own benefits and don’t always have a say on setting prices. It’s a nice thing to think that we have more control on what we charge than we do. I could happily raise my prices with confidence in service- it’s not up to me - even though I’m an independent contractor. There is a price according to experience level which does help though.

Tips are great. I don’t expect them, but they really do make a difference when bookings are less prevalent.

Thank you for sharing your insight!

OP was fine to say "I want to tip, but I cannot afford to at this moment" and the stylist was wrong for rolling her eyes.

OP never said the stylist rolled her eyes. She said she seemed surprised. Very different.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To answer the person asking about things being affect by layoffs. yes we are. Absolutely. Businesses down about 50% and doesn’t really feel like a great time to raise prices to make up for that difference.We’ve also had to adjust hours as clients feel less secure taking time off during the day for services. I’m at work later and more in weekends than ever and seeing my family less. It’s stressful. Things will improve but it will take time. We took a huge hit during pandemic and were not quite up to pre COVID numbers. It’s challenging to work in services. You really are a bit at the whim of the market and since many of us are not employees, but 1099, renting space or working on commission, we pay all of our own benefits and don’t always have a say on setting prices. It’s a nice thing to think that we have more control on what we charge than we do. I could happily raise my prices with confidence in service- it’s not up to me - even though I’m an independent contractor. There is a price according to experience level which does help though.

Tips are great. I don’t expect them, but they really do make a difference when bookings are less prevalent.

Thank you for sharing your insight!

OP was fine to say "I want to tip, but I cannot afford to at this moment" and the stylist was wrong for rolling her eyes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To answer the person asking about things being affect by layoffs. yes we are. Absolutely. Businesses down about 50% and doesn’t really feel like a great time to raise prices to make up for that difference.We’ve also had to adjust hours as clients feel less secure taking time off during the day for services. I’m at work later and more in weekends than ever and seeing my family less. It’s stressful. Things will improve but it will take time. We took a huge hit during pandemic and were not quite up to pre COVID numbers. It’s challenging to work in services. You really are a bit at the whim of the market and since many of us are not employees, but 1099, renting space or working on commission, we pay all of our own benefits and don’t always have a say on setting prices. It’s a nice thing to think that we have more control on what we charge than we do. I could happily raise my prices with confidence in service- it’s not up to me - even though I’m an independent contractor. There is a price according to experience level which does help though.

Tips are great. I don’t expect them, but they really do make a difference when bookings are less prevalent.

Thank you for sharing your insight!

OP was fine to say "I want to tip, but I cannot afford to at this moment" and the stylist was wrong for rolling her eyes.

That’s what you took from the stylists post!? Just the last two sentences?

Her business is down, she’s renting space, working on commission, no benefits and even though she’s an independent contractor she doesn’t set her own prices.

Her profession has traditionally been one of commission and tips is part of her income. Whether or not the tipping phenomenon in the US is fair or not is irrelevant. Most everyone, and especially older people who use salons, knows that tips are paid to a stylist. OP knows it too which is why this thread even started.

To the stylist, thank you for contributing your experience and how the industry works for you. Best wishes to you.

And traditionally you don’t tip the owner.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To answer the person asking about things being affect by layoffs. yes we are. Absolutely. Businesses down about 50% and doesn’t really feel like a great time to raise prices to make up for that difference.We’ve also had to adjust hours as clients feel less secure taking time off during the day for services. I’m at work later and more in weekends than ever and seeing my family less. It’s stressful. Things will improve but it will take time. We took a huge hit during pandemic and were not quite up to pre COVID numbers. It’s challenging to work in services. You really are a bit at the whim of the market and since many of us are not employees, but 1099, renting space or working on commission, we pay all of our own benefits and don’t always have a say on setting prices. It’s a nice thing to think that we have more control on what we charge than we do. I could happily raise my prices with confidence in service- it’s not up to me - even though I’m an independent contractor. There is a price according to experience level which does help though.

Tips are great. I don’t expect them, but they really do make a difference when bookings are less prevalent.

Thank you for sharing your insight!

OP was fine to say "I want to tip, but I cannot afford to at this moment" and the stylist was wrong for rolling her eyes.

That’s what you took from the stylists post!? Just the last two sentences?

Her business is down, she’s renting space, working on commission, no benefits and even though she’s an independent contractor she doesn’t set her own prices.

Her profession has traditionally been one of commission and tips is part of her income. Whether or not the tipping phenomenon in the US is fair or not is irrelevant. Most everyone, and especially older people who use salons, knows that tips are paid to a stylist. OP knows it too which is why this thread even started.

To the stylist, thank you for contributing your experience and how the industry works for you. Best wishes to you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Disagree on this. Hairstylists pay relies on tips. It’s one of the few professions, IMO, that you should tip (another being a restaurant server). You don’t think your stylist is feeling a pinch from our current economy too?

Well her choice is either getting business from OP or not. Would she rather get $100 or $0? If she NEEDS $120, then she should make that her price. She gets all of the money, she's not an employee or independent contractor but rather a sole proprietor.

You (and OP) know that this profession depends on tips. That’s why the question even came up. If you decide not to get your hair done, your favorite stylist goes out of business.

Also, maybe OP can clear up her stylist being the owner? You can be an independent stylist and rent out a chair in a salon without being the owner. It’s not quite the same as being the owner.

Learn how to read. OP literally says her hairstylist is independent and rents out a closet-sized space. Learn how the economy works. Independent owners set their own prices. They can charge what they want. No need to tip someone who sets their own prices. I will die on this hill.

I do tip my hairstylist who works for a salon very well because she gets paid a salary. There is a difference. You need to go back to school if you cannot understand this.

You can be as snarky as you want and you can die on your hill too. The fact is you should tip the stylist. You know it and you’re cheap.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To answer the person asking about things being affect by layoffs. yes we are. Absolutely. Businesses down about 50% and doesn’t really feel like a great time to raise prices to make up for that difference.We’ve also had to adjust hours as clients feel less secure taking time off during the day for services. I’m at work later and more in weekends than ever and seeing my family less. It’s stressful. Things will improve but it will take time. We took a huge hit during pandemic and were not quite up to pre COVID numbers. It’s challenging to work in services. You really are a bit at the whim of the market and since many of us are not employees, but 1099, renting space or working on commission, we pay all of our own benefits and don’t always have a say on setting prices. It’s a nice thing to think that we have more control on what we charge than we do. I could happily raise my prices with confidence in service- it’s not up to me - even though I’m an independent contractor. There is a price according to experience level which does help though.

Tips are great. I don’t expect them, but they really do make a difference when bookings are less prevalent.

Thank you for sharing your insight!

OP was fine to say "I want to tip, but I cannot afford to at this moment" and the stylist was wrong for rolling her eyes.

That’s what you took from the stylists post!? Just the last two sentences?

Her business is down, she’s renting space, working on commission, no benefits and even though she’s an independent contractor she doesn’t set her own prices.

Her profession has traditionally been one of commission and tips is part of her income. Whether or not the tipping phenomenon in the US is fair or not is irrelevant. Most everyone, and especially older people who use salons, knows that tips are paid to a stylist. OP knows it too which is why this thread even started.

To the stylist, thank you for contributing your experience and how the industry works for you. Best wishes to you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was always told you don’t tip the salon owner. I consider this a salon owner. She gets 100% of the pay. It’s not like a waiter. It’s like tipping the restaurant owner after the meal.

No, she is not the salon owner. She rents the space so has to pay those expenses out of her own pocket, along with any supplies that aren't shared. The salon owner gets the revenue from the renters and that is why you don't tip the owner when she/he does your hair (I do anyway since it is a personal service but it is not customary).