Tipping tips

The other day I went to get a haircut, I go to these no frills Russian barbers. The reason I mentioned that they are Russian is, I don't understand them when they speak to each other. That's ok, I just want a haircut and for the last 10 years, they've cut my hair just the way my wife likes it. 

So I was sitting in the chair, the barber (it's always the same 60+ year old guy) was doing his thing and and then he started doing little extras, sometimes he'll make sure that I have no hair in my ears, other times he gives me a neck and head massage with one of those devices you strap to your hand (get you mind out of the gutter) while he was doing that I heard his boss raise his voice at him (in Russian) and my barber answered back (again in Russian) and the only word I understood was "Tip" his boss then looked at him and said "Oh, ok" and that was it. My barber came back and continued what he was doing, I paid him and I left him a tip. Most people don't tip, and some people that do. The norm is between 10% and 20%. My haircut is so cheap I tip 50% and it's still cheaper than any other place I can go to. I only tip that much because of the price and because he's been my barber for years.  

I've learned from talking to friends that have jobs as waiters, doormen, parking attendants or other "tipping allowed" jobs, That they treat the good tippers better than the non-tippers. Now that may seem unfair to some, I mean you're paying for a service, why should you tip? They are paid to do a job, and they do it. What the tip is for is, the extra attention that they give the customer. Something that most people think is part of their job and take for granted.  I also found out that come "Tax time", the IRS expects them to pay taxes on the tips, whether they made the money or not. The IRS puts this number at 20%. They don't take cheap customers into account either, they don't care, they just want their cut.

Ok go ahead and rant about the IRS. 

I'll wait. 

Done? 

good. 

As I was saying, Most people that work for tips sometimes make as little as minimum wage or close to it.  If you get good service, show your appreciation, tip them. Trust me they WILL remember you and give you even better service next time. 

I'm not gonna say what amount to tip and who should and shouldn't get it, but a little kindness goes along way in making 2 people happy, You and the person servicing you.