Who tips the groomer!

thevelvetsnoot · 04-20-2008, 11:31 PM

If you can't afford to tip them- then go an pick it up yourself! It has little to do with how much money you have. We all have to live within our means. That's what drive-thru's are for. I don't know what Dominos you order from, but I've never heard of them including the tip. Actually they will tell you that the delivery charge is for gas and insurance.

Durbkat · 04-20-2008, 11:34 PM

I can't go and pick it up as the only way to get there is on a busy street with no sidewalks. I would rather eat at a semi nice resturant that is healthier than going to a drive thru and eating at mcdonalds.

thevelvetsnoot · 04-20-2008, 11:35 PM

I 'm sure you would rather eat at a restaurant. But if you do- you should tip the wait staff! How old are you Durb? This could explain everything.

TeddieXRuxpin · 04-20-2008, 11:39 PM

I do most of the upkeep on Ted so I only take him in every 3-4 weeks to have his nails cut. He charges $5-7 depending on how much of a butt Teddie is and I usually give him a couple dollars or so more than what he asks for. He also gives him a sanitary clip sometimes and then I usually tip a little more. He never wants my money though so it makes it very hard. I take him to be groomed every 3-4 months. He gets bathed, blown dry, clipped (how ever short I want), nails clipped, ears cleaned out, sanitary clip, a bandana, and a spray scent for $30.

I've tried many times to give him more, but he tells me to just keep it. I wont force money on some one, but even after just the short amount of time I've been taking Teddie to him we're really close. I think it's because I can't just drop Ted off and come pick him back up. I have to work with him and the groomer so it makes the job a bit more easy..but he wont tell me his "secret" scents! They smell so good I find myself with my nose stuck in Ted's fur for a few days after he's been groomed.

I've also found myself in the petshops sniffing the bottles trying to figure out which one he uses..I've yet to find it.

He'll go this week to get his nails cut and then in May to be fully groomed...I'm picking out hair cuts for him; I'm thinking we're going to go shorter this time.

thevelvetsnoot · 04-20-2008, 11:58 PM

Teddie's a cutie pie!! $30 is a great price though. I used to own a doggie daycare in Chicago (a suburb of Chicago) and we charged $45 and up for bath, ears and nails. Although I will say that we hand dried all the dogs. I sold the business a few years ago (regretibly) and now find myself finding so few places that hand dry the dogs. I have a professional dryer at my house and do the baths myself and have recently purchased the Peticure dremmel to do their nails. The baths are messy but at least they don't have to be stressed out in cages and it saves me money. I started a new business a year and a half ago and am watching every penny.

I will say that I miss having someone do the anal glands. Anyone have any idea how it's done?

crazydays · 04-21-2008, 06:45 AM

I just went to my Springers breeder for Rios haircut. I really wanted to support her because the grooming/boarding part of the business is where she makes her livelihood. She is caring, hardworking and very excellent at what she does. Rio had a bath, dryer and complete hair cut. Her feet have never looked better. We tipped her about 20%. I appreciate knowing she is there to do a excellent job. When we got home she sent this photo by email to us...the best screensaver ever!!! I say support the groomers and excellent breeders in the business!!

Durbkat · 04-21-2008, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thevelvetsnoot

I 'm sure you would rather eat at a restaurant. But if you do- you should tip the wait staff! How old are you Durb? This could explain everything.

I never said we didn't tip the waiter, just not the pizza delivery guy. I'm 16, I'll be turning 17 on may 4th.

thevelvetsnoot · 04-21-2008, 06:01 PM

"Or like the time I went to florida and when me and my family were heading out to the car the waiter ran out and asked if something was wrong and my mom said "no, why?" and then he said "well you didn't tip so I figured I did something wrong". Then I said "nothing was wrong except for the fact you ran out here like a moron asking for a tip". So no I will never tip unless I feel its necessary like if they did something above and beyond what was expected of them."

This is your posting, isn't it? That's why I asked how old you were. An adult who is paying the bill should know better. No adult would be surprised that a waiter would ask if something was wrong after being left with no tip. Your mom should no better and I'm sorry that she doesn't. IMO, you as a 16 year old shouldn't be slamming the door in anyones face but I guess I'm not that surprised if that's the way your mom has raised you. Maybe you'll learn better by keeping an open mind and listening to input from others. Right now at your age, when someone else is paying all your bills and living expenses, it has to be hard to really imagine how hard everyone works to support themselves and their families. I think it's a good idea to treat other people the way I'd like for them to treat me. The world needs us all to step up and make this a better place to live. Every little bit matters. Good luck and have a Happy Birthday.

Durbkat · 04-21-2008, 06:35 PM

Oh I typed that post out at a time when I had to get off soon and I was mad about something, can't remember,it was quicker to say it was my mom than explaining I was on vacation with my big brother from the big brother and big sister program and his wife and when the waiter ran out and asked he went on and gave him a couple of dollars for a tip.

4dogs3cats · 04-21-2008, 10:12 PM

I ALWAYS tip. I always tip GOOD. If I am going to go out to a restaurant where the bill is 30.00, I give a 6.00 tip MINIMUM. If we get service above and beyond, my tip goes up to about 8.00.

We had a favorite restaurant where the waiter knew us by name, and knew that I was going to order a side salad with ranch every time. Our bill always came to about 22.00. We always gave him about 8 dollars.

It's nice. Its good karma. It's CLASSY.

I take my dogs in for nail trims. Takes all of 5 minutes. It's 8.00 and I usually give them 10 even.

lesliea · 04-22-2008, 01:53 AM

Wow. Was that ever an interesting thread to read. I picked up on it because I am planning to take my Pomeranian to a groomer for the first time this week (the first time since I have had him. He is 6 years old and is a rescue dog and I got him in February) and wasn't completely sure about the general etiquette of tipping groomers. There were some interesting thoughts put out there.

I had fully intended to tip in any case, as I plan on asking for advice on keeping my dog well groomed in between professional groomings. I've never had a Pom before nor have I had a dog with such long hair and prone to mats. I DON'T want to wind up having to have him shaved down!!!!!

My general attitude toward tipping is that it is the portion of the price of a service which I KNOW goes directly to the person who has performed a service for me. The fee I see as going to the business, the tip goes to the person who performed the service.

I would very much hesitate to tell anyone else what they ought to do. As we can see from the previous posts, you never know what situation a particular person is in, especially financially. However, I will make the comment that what goes around, comes around.

0hmyd0g · 08-29-2008, 03:17 PM

Some people tip me and some people don't. If I have a customer who tips me regularly, I tend to get thier dog finished first, or add something nice, like the fancier bows or bandanas.

BandPipe · 02-19-2009, 08:07 AM

I like to leave a tip. My dogs only need to get their nails trimmed (and usually I can do this on my own but occasionally take them in to get it done). I have three and all are good at getting their nails trimmed. I just hate to get really close incase I hit the quick. One of my dogs I actually put on her back and rub her chest a few times and will fall asleep when I'm trimming her nails.

My groomer is also my obedience trainer and where I purchase most of my toys and food. I've been going to her since she set up her shop.

She is the owner of the small shop too. I was a little put off the last time I went when she was giving me a deal of $5 per time/per dog. So I tipped well (gave her $10 instead) then the next few times she must have forgot that she gave it to me at $5 before.. because then she started charging me $8 and telling me how its not very often she gives people breaks etc. I still gave her $10 so for me I'm still paying the same but was more put off by what she was saying to me. I also go in there to purchase food and if you buy 10 bags you get the 11th free (as per the dog food not through her) and I have purchased 4 bags that she wouldn't mark down at all. At $75 a bag I was a little disapointed (one of those bags I purchased for my brothers dog - I was trying to get him to switch over. But I paid for it and was never reimbursed by my brother and that was never the plan to be. Now, I don't tip very often when I'm there. She's still very nice and would support her by purchasing products there (I'd rather support small stores than big box stores).

Binkalette · 02-19-2009, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonE

Wait staff generally makes close to minimum wage if that. The employers assume that customer will tip them.

I've only had Esther groomed a couple of times and I honestly thought I should probably buy the groomer a new car.

Always tip the waiter/waitress! When I was a waitress, we all made $4 an hour and were expected to make the rest in tips. I quit that job after a short time because most of my hours were scheduled for days and there were so few customers during the day... I really WAS being paid less than minimum.

Sophie's Mum · 02-20-2009, 03:43 PM

Personally, I think it should be against the law for business owners to pay their employees below minimum wage. After all, minimum wage is just that MINIMUM wage. Maybe I'm naive, or maybe I'm just Canadian.... here employers are not allowed to pay below the minimum wage for that province (as far as I know). Whatever a groomer, waiter, or a delivery person makes above and beyond should be extra. It is still taxable income, but it's still shouldn't be used to make up a cheap employer's wages.

Because I know that waiters here make at LEAST minimum and sometimes more than, I feel OK about tipping according to the service I receive. I expect ALOT out of a waiter/ess. I expect a smile, and coming to see if we need anything. If s/he gives me a sour face, I'll not leave a tip.... If she smiles and is amiable even if the food isn't the greatest, I'll leave a tip.

We once had horrid horrid food at a restaurant. The poor waitress kept appologising and having to bring stuff back. In the end, we didn't eat the food. We called the waitress over and told her that we were tipping HER and ONLY her because of her wonderful service. We also told her that we'd be very upset if any of this tip went to the kitchen staff. Perhaps she had no choice but to share it, but at least we made it be known our wishes.

I would treat the service industry people the very same way if I were to come Stateside. If you give me a bad attitude, below minimum wage or not... you're not gettting a tip! I might sometimes give an insulting tip if it was REALLY bad, maybe a quarter and a note to make a point? LOL!

I think shop owners deserve a tip as much as anyone else that works in there, provided they do the work. We have to understand that there's insurance to pay, and overhead, and all kinds of hidden costs. My husband is a contractor and makes alot less than most of his employees. Why do we stay in business? Because he wouldn't be looked at twice as an employee because of his age, we have no choice.

GroovyGroomer777 · 02-20-2009, 07:07 PM

Today when a client picked up her dog, she told me twice, "I really appreciate what you do." - That was a wonderful tip. (She also gave me 10 bucks, but the comment really made me smile. ) I said, "I really appreciate being appreciated" It almost made it worthwhile because her dog is very very hard to groom, and did a really weird poop on my table....

Don152 · 02-21-2009, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Durbkat

I never said we didn't tip the waiter, just not the pizza delivery guy.

Well that explains the extra "toppings" on your pie...

But to the question at hand: There are some jobs where people are paid less (by law) with the expectation that tips are part of their wages. Wait staff are but one of those jobs of course. In these cases one should always tip for any service that is a least acceptable. Business owners make their profit from the success of the business and not paid a wage per say, therefore they are usually not tipped. Then there are a bunch of jobs in which tips may or may not be customarily part of their wages. Frankly I don’t know if dog groomers (who are just employees) are in this class or not. If they report more than 30-40 percent of their income as tips on their IRS form 1040 then they surely are. I doubt that they do however. Myself; I have not tipped the groomers because I usually deal with the owners, think I pay too much already, and I have not seen really exceptional service.

By the way please don’t flame me for thinking I pay too much already.. its just that I am not into the whole grooming thing and prefer to skip the bath, massage, bandanna, etc.. I really just want a haircut and I have found I can do most of a haircut myself. But when I have it done for me, it’s $55 Plus tax and the bandanna goes in the trash.

Also please don't flame me for the last point either.. all the groomers I have used have been professional and good, just not really amazing.

Now if a groomer brings me a pizza, (or anything I am going to eat), then a tip is called for.

GroovyGroomer777 · 02-21-2009, 07:08 PM

w o w

Do you tip your barber?

Don152 · 02-21-2009, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GroovyGroomer777

w o w

Do you tip your barber?

There are three barbers in the shop, one is the owner.. so 1/3 of the time I dont tip. Besides.. a haircut for me is as little as $6.50, not $55.

321gofish · 02-21-2009, 09:47 PM

Tipping goes along with all the other things we do in this life, and this includes activities that cost us for our pets. After all our pets are like family to the majority of us out here.
This person has a business and if they do their job, you will be satisfied and most of all your pet will be happy too.

A little appreciation spread around this country may help in more ways than one. There are a lot of hard working independant business people in this country just like your groomer, trying to earn an honest living.
So don't be affraid to tip this person.

Need help training you pup?
Need to earn some extra money?