Are you suppossed to tip your seamstress?

[tootsie]

I have to pay my seamstress $275 to alter my dress. Do I need to tip her 15% ???

[mariaandmanish]

I've never tipped any of mine when they've done alterations for me in the past, but you should do what you feel most comfortable with.

[WebLady]

I don't think that a tip is required when you pay full price for a service. But if you feel she goes above and beyond or does an exceptional job then you could consider some sort of a tip.

[tootsie]

Thanks for the advice. :D

[VenusElaine]

From the horse's mouth: A gratuity is not required, but it will be graciously accepted.

I am one who believes a tip should be given for service above and beyond what is normally expected. And it should be entirely the decision of the person giving it.

I do not agree with the practice of including the gratuity in the pricing structure or contract. While I am sure some people do it because they have been "stiffed" even after delivering 110%, I do not.

Example: I recently altered for a bride on short notice. The alteration total was $60.00. She tipped me $40 because I was able to accomodate her in her timeframe, and the work was excellent ( I refuse to do less). On the other hand, a bride I have worked with since February was married this month. After five more fittings than normal, due to changing her mind about bodice fit, bustle, etc., the alterations totalled over $350. I got a hug and promises of pictures.

The point is I appreciated both and accepted them as they were intended, because I realize many brides are confused about the "proper" thing to do in this situation.

Personally, when there are no strings attached, I never refuse money or food!

VenusElaine

[RevMatty]

I never heard of tipping a professional, with the exception of the servers and kitchen staff at a recption (they normaly add a 15% gratuity to the bill, for larger parties) But as I say to people I tip, good service good tip, excellent service excellent tip, poor service no tip.
If you feel like giving a tip, do so, if not don't worry.

[VenusElaine]

A professional is someone paid for their skill, as opposed to an amatuer, who is not paid. In the wedding industry, I am on the same level with a hairdresser or make-up artist. They are professionals and regularly tipped. Why not me?

The money charged for the alterations I perform go to the business I work for. They pay my salary and the overhead for the business, plus a profit for the owner. And while "ettiquette" dictates you do not tip the owner, many owners are no longer sole proprietors, but employees of their corporations on a salary, that appreciate a tip as much as anyone else.

Again, I believe that a gratuity is the sole decision of the client.
Some do, some don't. But do not hesitate to tip if you wish to, due to outdated ettiquette.

VenusElaine

[RevMatty]

I agree with you Venus.
When I was a Chef, my servers made more in tips then I did in wages. However there was one time I got a tip, I wasn't expecting.....
I was working at a truckstop and we had a regular that came in twice a week. Ordered the same thing everytime. He had no family and no real friends, so me and my waitress, Sherry would talk with him.
Well it came time for him to retire, and he stopped by one more time. We talked, a good 5 hours with him. After he left, we were cleaning the tables and saw 2 envelopes on it with our names. Curious we opened them. Inside was $500 to each of us. Along with this note: "for being more then a waitress and a Chef, for being a friend. John"
I may have recieved a few tips here and there for cooking, but John's tip was a statement of me going above my duties, more so it wasn't the tip itself, but the note.

So I'll say it again, if you feel like giving your server, the cook, the minister, dj, whoever a tip. Do so. It's a way of expressing thanks for a job well done. No matter if it's a few dollars or a few 100, or just a simple note.
But me I don't personaly expect it. For my job is to please you no matter if you tip me or not. For if your not pleased, believe me, your friends will know and so on and so forth, and then I'll have no bussiness.