After a great massage, one thing that many people are unsure about is how much to tip a massage therapist. It is normal, as in every business, to appreciate a waiter, for example. This is due to the fact that you enjoyed either the massage or the spa treatment.
I am sure this article will be helping you respond to the issue of proper tipping when booking a massage or spa treatment.
The Important Part of Tipping in Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is part of the service industry and therefore a gratuity is expected. A masseuse focuses so much on the client that he or she may include a tip in the session, as many people depend on them to add extra pay to their income. If, during the session, your massage therapist has combined different massage techniques, a tip is considered as a reward for a job well done.
General Tipping Guidelines
Common etiquette is to tip around 15-20% of the actual cost of the massage service received. A 15% tip would be enough for fairly good service while tips for great service start at 20%. For example, $15 to $20 would be the range for a massage therapy session tip on a $100 cost. However, if you have had a specialized massage like a sports massage where the therapist focuses on muscle recovery or stress relief, more gratitude is expected by tipping due to the skill involved.
Factors That Can Influence Tip Amount
There are several different variables that can determine the percentage to be given as a tip:
Service duration: Perhaps a sixty-minute session may also be tip-worthy, but one can assume that the massage therapist will do a better job with a massage session that is eighty minutes or longer, so the tip percentage will increase as a result.
Complexity of treatment: Certain types of treatments, such as cupping therapy, require additional specialized training and skills beyond what massage therapists perform. Such services often bring a larger tip because they are more focused.
Setting and location: Apprehension about the tip amount is higher when clients are receiving services at higher-priced spas or even highly rated studios, compared to the tip expected when visiting an independent therapist.
Tipping Scenarios
There are several situations presented in which the client has to give a certain amount depending on the work done.
Scenario 1: 60-minute full body massage at a spa: If the treatment including massage is performed at a spa where the cost of the service is $100, a tip of $15-$20 would be given depending on whether or not the client enjoyed the service provided.
Scenario 2: For a special massage within the confines of a luxurious resort for $200, occasions to tip in the range of $30 to $40 are acceptable, provided the performance has been at least satisfactory. Tipping during lunch is usually easy to calculate based on the menu price tip.
Scenario 3: Consider the case where a massage therapist comes to your residence to perform dry brushing or perhaps a sports massage, such massage therapists are mobile and beyond normal reach, so a tip of 20% or more is usually appreciable due to the extra service and distance involved.
Some Occasions When Tipping Is Not Necessary
There are some situations where tipping is not mandatory - even though it may be of value.
For example - a therapist who owns a business will tip, so what he or she prefers will depend. However, in other such scenarios, especially in the case of a haircut at a cheaper place, one should use the amount of the haircut as a reference guide for the tip that should be taken if it was a $100 charge, for example.
Tip by cash or credit card
Most therapists prefer cash tips because they can keep the maximum amount of the cash tip without any credit card processing fees, so yes, in most cases, there is nothing wrong with tipping by credit card, especially at larger spas or franchises that facilitate electronic forms of transactions.
Tipping and Customs Around the World
People around the world have different customs when it comes to tipping. In American culture, tipping is customary but in other cultures tipping is not encouraged. If you are traveling abroad and decide to book a Lomi Lomi massage or another unique treatment, it is helpful to check local norms. This avoids a situation where the tip is too high or too low for the area guidelines.
Holiday Gifts to Your Masseur for a Job Well Done
Imagine you are able to have a great experience with a therapist, and for some reason you don’t want to tip them but instead recommend them on various platforms. And regardless of whether you are one of the many people looking for the best massage studio in Denver or just a casual spa, reviews allow therapists to gain more clients through their hard work and dedication.
How to Find the Best Fit Therapist
There is nothing more pleasurable than having the best fit therapist assist you. There are many therapists with different areas of expertise such as those specializing in Swedish massage, sports massage or cupping therapy. This research can be done through the internet, firms, referrals or scoops on where you can find your desired female or male therapist. However, this information can be difficult to find.
Final Remarks
It is very easy to refuse to tip during a massage, in fact, it is best to leave a controversial complex system of around 15%-20% with other variations such as different services or types of massage. The information mentioned above may be self-explanatory, but it is always good practice to be careful, especially on how much reward you leave as a tip.
All therapists appreciate generous patients. However, if rewards are not given in cash or non-cash form, it is always possible to give good feedback on social platforms like Google My Business, Facebook and directories where referrals are available.
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