Massage tipping controversy

[Ary Jan]

By the way, Calloway you have the best sig pic. Everytime I see it, I have to stop and stare for at least 2 or 3 repeats.

 

[??hi?]

I agree with you dissey. IMHO, it is the responsibility of the mpa to watch the time. You should not be expected to pay for that extra half hour. I realize that the mpa might hAve been forced by management to seek the extra cash, which would probably come out of her pocket, but it's still her job to let us know when the time is up. I myself am in a service related industry. When a job is quoted with a price, I can't charge my client more $ because it took me extra time to complete the job.

 

[Jill Kim]

I see your point. I also believe it is the responsibility of the MPA or SP to watch the clock.

In your situation I believe that the MPA was wrong especially because you are a regular of hers. IMHO it was bad customer service on her part. In all MP spas isn't it the motto that in the long run it's more lucrative to keep a regular customer happy as opposed to having to worry about the uncertainty of having clients who just come to see you one time and never return?

Out of curiousity have you gone back to see her since? I personally wouldn't have paid her for the extra half hour but then again I don't have any regulars .

 

[Drixnot]

Excellent post .

 

[Darlene]

I don't think it's a common practice to have 2 girls sharing the same room. Personally I wouldn't work in a place as an MPA at somewhere that did as there's too much potential for lost sessions.

It happens that there's more girls than rooms, but it's not common.

 

[ikenna]

***

$80. Love your sense of humour...

 

[KeithOtron]

I paid for the extra half and never booked an appointment with her again. : )

 

[Pompal 09.]

Based on the original post....$20...unless a higher end mp..then MAYBE $40.

I've been to quite a few places over the years and got the 'basic' .... I went to tip, and I was told " no its ok...no need to tip". I'd still a 20 anyway...in most cases. I've been at this hobby in Toronto for 27 years... I think some of u are far to generous with your cash.

cheers

 

[manhihash]

Thanks for responding. So here we have an MPA whose short term greed cost her a regular customer.

I'm sure that if she wouldn't have charged you for the extra half an hour then you probably would have repeated with her again for sure?

 

[Hope]

My rule is to find out what the market price is and adjust your tips accordingly.

Examples: I don't tip at Platinum as it's slightly above market price. I consider HFH, SRM and Utopia to be market price for spas of the same calibre. I generally don't tip there but will make an exception for a long-time favourite. At Allure I tip an extra $20 or so because their pricing is below market but the girls are just as good as those at HFH, SRM or Utopia. In the end they all end up earning the market price for the same calibre girls at the same calibre spa. If they raise a stink afterwords then that's their problem and not mine as I've treated them fairly. This has yet to happen.

In other words the tip to the attendant for similar services and time then become:
- Platinum 45 minute VIP = $140
- HFH 45 minute VIP = $125
- SRM 50 minute BS = $130
- Utopia 50 minute BS = $130
- Allure 40 minute VIP = $100 + $20 tip = $120

Now, in your example I'd likely give them another $10 if they were bitchy or $20 if they were nice. Generally, they'd expect a NR or BS/VIP to be choosen so anything less is lost money to them. A little tip for doing nothing at least will gain a few points for next time.

 

[Eric Forman~ Ryan Ross]

I'm guessing that at some of the smaller spas the owner also does some of the massages herself ? Maybe it was in those isolated situations that the MPA said that a tip wasn't necessary?

 

[lovelystephanie]

Hornet, I don't see your math 30 min BS at SRM is $150, that's over priced for the market, so how do you pull back $20 to get to $130.

I never tip when they want +$120 for a massage, because I can book SP sessions for same. Which include shower and are less restricted ...

Lou

 

[Bulldoger11]

I'm quoting in room fees to the attendant only. I'm leaving out the door fees in my math as the attendants almost never get any piece of that action. How much I pay the receptionist doesn't put any more food on the MPA's table at the end of the day.
http://www.steelesroyalmassage.com/rates.php

 

[knightrunner13]

In places like Brampton, where they can post the MINIMUM tipping charges, there's no confusion. You pay the door fee and the tipping rates are on the wall.

There's more confusion in the City of Toronto, where I don't believe they can't post the TIPPING rates. Typically pricing on the door or the wall will say:

30 minutes: $40
45 minutes: $60
60 minutes: $80

In those cases it's always better to ask up front. I'd assume an extra $40 minimum for basic in a 30 minute appt.

 

[Antithesis]

Hornet just carrying on with this SRM example does this mean that if you book the attendant for 40 minutes then you are obligated to book the nude massage for $60. Therefore your minimum payment for a 40 minute massage at SRM will be $110. $50 door fee + $60 nude attendant fee?

I also notice that for a 40 minute session at SRM the basic and topless are N/A. I guess that means if you book a 40 minute massage at SRM and just want a topless or basic massage then you are basically wasting the attendants time ? due to the fact the there is not enough money in it for the attendant in question?

 

[Pompal 09.]

Handjob tip $20
Topless handjob $40.
Nude $60
Bodyslide $80

 

[Butterfly Kissez]

Yes, for 40 minutes you are obligated to pay for a nude massage at $60 plus the $50 door fee for $110 in total. But if you ask them to keep their clothes on that's up to you.

You should go in thinking that you are generally wasting a girls time if you choose a fee that is less than the posted NR rate for that length of time. Also, some of the girls don't like the 40 minute session as it's 10 more minutes of their time for the same fee as the 30 minute sessions. Add another 10 minutes to 50 minutes and they would have pocketed another $20. But instead you come across cheap as you took the lowest option for the maximum amount of time before the fee hike kicks in. Now, you can choose any option you want that is posted and pay accordingly. However, you may find a cold attitude if you choose less than a NR at any duration.

Wasting the attendants time really depends on the attendant. If you booked a busy attendant and took a lessor option then you did waste her time as the other guy that could have booked likely would have paid more for a NR, BS or shower massage. Now, if you got an attendant that usually only gets a couple of clients a day you are actually giving her some money that she otherwise would not have earned you may not have wasted her time. However, her perception is what's important as she may still feel it's a waste of her time and would have rather not earned anything. It's the price that she's determined in her own mind for doing this job what is key and how to make the maximum amount of money each day without crossing any limits (hers and/or the spas). This is often implied as being the NR rate at the minimum.

 

[nickjonas4life]

Good point. The spas I've been to have all been in the City of Toronto.

 

[sunshine]

Thanks for the excellent explanation Hornet . I'm a massage newbie but I think I'm finally getting on to the differest fee structures of each individual spa.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[JoelKatz]

I've heard of that in small establishments, nail scratch on the door as a hint, but I can't say that I would work in a spa that allows banging on
the door as a subtle message to indicate the session is overtime.
Sounds absurd, lol, imagine the clients face after the banging on the
door!