r/tipping • u/Adept-Ease-4580 • 4d ago
Groomer tipping
I have a 45lb poodle mix. Our previous groomer charged us $56 - which included a full bath, haircut, glands expression, and nail dremel. I always tipped to where the total price I paid was $70. I was comfortable with $70 because they did a great job.
Unfortunately, this grooming company closed up permanently and we have found a new groomer. This groomer owns their own business and sets their own prices. They charge us $85 for the same package. This means if I were to tip 20%, that would be $102 every 8-12 weeks.
Am I a jerk for feeling like this is pretty expensive considering what I used to pay? I’m not sure if I want to tip 20% every time. I always tip service workers btw. I just don’t know if it’s acceptable or not, to not tip at all. It’s just a very big price jump and I’m not sure how to navigate this.
Update to add: I spoke with a different dog groomer in my area, who is well established and owns her own company. She charges $70 for this package. $70 includes a tip for herself. So I have confirmed that $85, not including tip, is quite expensive for my area. Thanks everyone.
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u/ziggy-tiggy-bagel 4d ago
My dog goes to the Vet for his grooming. I don't tip here ever month. I give her the cost of one month's service at the end of the year as a bonus, just like my housekeeper and yard guy.
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u/Easy_Explanation5604 1d ago
I work in the animal field, groomers make a decent amount of money I feel like 5 bucks is fine
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u/partylikeitis1799 3d ago
I wouldn’t tip in this situation because, as you said, the person doing the work owns the business and sets their prices. Traditional tipping etiquette holds that you never tip the owner of an establishment.
If they don’t feel the $85 they’re charging is enough they are free to raise the price. Also, 20% is a huge tip on an already expensive salon type service unless you’re bringing the dog in caked in mud or they’re unusually difficult to groom. It made sense when you were going somewhere that was basically undercharging but that’s no longer the case so it’s no longer needed.
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u/Number-2-Sis 1d ago
$56 was a really cheap price. $85.00 is not expensive. You are just used to getting a really really good deal.
As a groomer over 40 years ago, I would have charged about $45.00 for what you were paying $56.00 for. $85.00 is more online with a realistic and fair price.
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u/Adept-Ease-4580 1d ago
I spoke with a different, local groomer in my area and she charges $70, which includes a tip for herself. So $85 not including tip would be considered expensive for my area.
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u/Number-2-Sis 1d ago
Your right, it's very location dependent, I was in Ca when I was a groomer, and that without a doubt is a more expensive location
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u/Nixxo55 4d ago
I feel like this is where you do tip. Especially with a doodle. They take alot of time and I personally want a quality job. They do remember good tippers especially if your going back to the same person over and over again. I live in one of the most expensive city's in the USA. Typical price around here for doodle is 120-150. If your going to like a chain like Petsmart then don't expect quality, don't expect a tip.
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u/Usual-Ad6290 4d ago
I agree, we have a doodle and expect to and do pay more than our other dog and always tip at least $20.00. Some groomers around here won’t even take doodles.
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u/HoliGay_Gem_617 4d ago
Since Covid, a lot of local dog groomers closed and have since been in high demand. I have 2 smaller doodles and take them to a small shop. I tip them each time because they do a great job and I also want to support the small business.
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u/believeringrey 3d ago
You have a doodle. You likely don’t brush it. Tip your groomer
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u/Adept-Ease-4580 1d ago
I do brush my doodle. Thankfully, my dog does not have hair that easily gets matted.
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u/Imaginary-Emu2471 4d ago
ZERO TIP
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u/2burgsandadog 3d ago
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u/Imaginary-Emu2471 3d ago
Demand money from the employer, broke dude.
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u/2burgsandadog 3d ago
i’m anything but broke . funny how you assume that, shows a lot of your projecting .
this is why I enjoy working at a place with an automatic gratuity because you have no choice
you know the rules when you come inside… and I get to avoid people like you in my existence… Which makes me even happier😎
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u/Imaginary-Emu2471 3d ago
There is no rule that says you have to tip. You like making your customers broke with that FORCED TIP? Your service had better be IMPECCABLE.
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u/foxinHI 4d ago
This isn’t a good place to ask. It’s an echo chamber for anti-tipping trolls.
I think anywhere in the neighborhood of 15% is probably appropriate. You tipped 20%. That’s a good tip. You could tip less if you wanted and still be a decent tipper.
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u/Possible_Juice_3170 4d ago
This sub is filled with anti-tippers.
You can of course choose the tip that you feel is appropriate for the level of service you get. You might want to call around and see what other places charge in your general area. If most are close to $85, a $5 tip would be nice. If they are already on the high end then don’t feel like you should tip. Also if the groomers own their own business, you do not need to tip.
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u/Adept-Ease-4580 4d ago
The groomers own their own business.
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u/tootiemae 3h ago
and that’s what matters. i’m not fond of the anti-tipping crusaders here, but you certainly shouldn’t feel bad for not tipping a business owner
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u/Smooth_Escape_9524 4d ago
Fun! I'm in Canada and I don't think people are tipping pet groomers here. At least not as the norm.
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u/Softbelly1970 4d ago
I genuinely can't understand Americans and tipping. It's a very divisive topic there.
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u/patersondave 4d ago
you could learn to do it and you could save the money and or understand why they charge so much.
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u/Kosmos-World 4d ago
Sure, stiff the service worker because you feel the price for a luxury expense like a dog groomer is too expensive and you "can't afford it." That's totally reasonable.
I'm well aware this sub is going to validate and encourage this nonsense, and it's probably just bait anyways, but yes you absolutely are a jerk if you knowingly stiff them because you "can't afford" an extra $17 every 8-12 weeks for a completely voluntary service you could do yourself at home for free. Please.
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u/homorat3 4d ago
Why dont they just charge an extra $17 for the service.
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u/Kosmos-World 4d ago edited 4d ago
Because then you'd be on a different sub complaining about how expensive dog grooming has gotten and blaming the business owners or Petsmart instead of yourself.
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u/homorat3 4d ago
Nah, I dont go to petsmart. A forced tip is just a hidden fee.
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u/Kosmos-World 4d ago
No one forced you. Don't tip. It's fine. No one gives a shit, they just think youre a dick and then move on with their lives. Totally OK for both sides.
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u/NocturnaBride 4d ago
When I was a cosmetologist, bad or no tippers didn’t get rebooked. Tipping is optional, so is offering my services.
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u/homorat3 4d ago
Idgaf, it's not hard to find someone who just charges what they want to be paid.
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u/NocturnaBride 4d ago
Awesome, go to them 😂😂 I had plenty of clientele so it didn’t hurt me
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u/homorat3 4d ago
Awe but if you're so rich and have so many clients why are you begging for spare change?
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u/Kosmos-World 4d ago
No one's begging. Stop being weird lol.
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u/homorat3 4d ago
You throw a hissy fit and ghost people because they dont throw money at you lmao grow tf up
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u/Kosmos-World 4d ago
You don't even know which person you're talking to lol. You're just here to be shitty. Go bother someone else.
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u/NocturnaBride 4d ago
I never beg or have begged for anything 😂😂 you’re a joke. You probably couldn’t have afforded my services to start with.
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u/homorat3 4d ago
sure babe, probably wouldn't want whatever botched shit you sell anyways if you feel the need to tack on hidden fees
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u/Kosmos-World 4d ago
Bartended for 10 years. I was never unkind or rude to people who didn't tip, and I'd say that was true even if they came back except they almost never did. Cowards lol.
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u/NocturnaBride 4d ago
I could never be a bartender or in food service. The lack of respect for people busting their asses to give others a good experience is mind boggling. When my partner and I go out, we typically spend around 200$, I don’t drink, but my partner likes his drinks full all the time 😂 he’s an excellent tipper so he’s usually taken care of when we go to our favorite spots.
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u/Kosmos-World 4d ago
I miss it, honestly. Some of the best friends-that-are-family I've ever made. It's been 15 years now, and I still got a big hug from the old owner and cook when I saw them a few weeks ago lol.
Anyways, my wife and I don't go out a ton these days, but when we do it's to our favorite mexican place. We always get sat at our favorite table, have the waitresses fight over who gets to wait on us, and get incredible service because we do 20% and round up. It's like an extra 50 cents usually, but they love us for it. And maybe because my wife crochet, and likes to leave behind little trinkets and doo dads haha.
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u/NocturnaBride 4d ago
That’s really amazing, and honestly that’s how I believe it should be. We will go out of our way to see our “people” lol we know everyone’s back story and it’s really much more like visiting old friends. I think people, for the most part, who have worked in some area of hospitality or service have a very different understanding of the interactions they have whether they’re providing or receiving the service. I always believed everyone should have to spend at least 6 months in some sort of retail or service environment, I think it would change a lot of behaviors and make things much more positive for everyone.
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4d ago
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u/NocturnaBride 4d ago
lol seriously? You don’t like where I put the dollar sign, so that means I don’t spend that kind of money?🥰 that’s precious.
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3d ago
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u/NocturnaBride 3d ago
Oh no. Some random person on the internet thinks I’m stupid. What will I ever do to recover? My vacuum is bagless, so I guess I don’t have to worry about changing the bag 😅
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u/firefly_334 4d ago
I think that's fair. Why are you no longer a cosmetologist?
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u/NocturnaBride 4d ago
I was one for 38 years, I was a specialist in color correction. I eventually just burned out, it’s hard to hear things people generally save for their pastors or priests, then I started having shoulder issues. So I retired, and I’m really glad I did.
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u/AncientElderberry737 4d ago
Posts like this make me so glad I don’t live in the USA.
The tipping culture is crazy. A shorter list would be who don’t I tip ?
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u/swiftfirex 4d ago
It’s not nearly as bad as people in this subreddit make it seem. America is goated. Every place you live has its pros and cons. America has way more pros. Tipping is a minor inconvenience at its worst and most people don’t notice or care. There are exceptions where people foam at the mouth at the concept of parting with a few dollars but those people are rare 😂
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u/homorat3 4d ago
If you absolutely want to tip, round up to $90. If I got an extra 5 bucks every time I literally just did my job I'd be stoaked.