Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I had my first electrolysis session today for $70/hour.  The lady has 29 years of experience and I thought she did a good job, she cleared a larger area than I had expected on the first time. It seems my facial hair has bald areas and is not very dense so it may not take as many hours to complete as I had anticipated.
My question is is it customary to tip electrolygists?  I gave her $80 for the hour and she asked me if I needed change.  That is usually a sign someone is looking for a tip and I was glad to give her one really because I was pleased and I definately want to keep her happy since I will be working with her for some time.  I was just wondering if tipping the practioners was common or them "asking for a tip" is something someone else has experienced?

Yes, it is customary to tip any service provider if they do a good job.  If you went to a salon for waxing they would expect a tip as well.  Hairstylist, laser techs, piercers, tattoo artists, all of those expect a tip for good service.  Now you can be like my wife's mother who doesn't tip at all, but we've found that tips usually end up being well worth the money.  As an example, our stylist gives us TONS of stuff (extra samples and so forth).  Our main tattoo artist also quotes exceptionally low when it is for us because he knows we'll tip well so it all works out in the end.

I've developed a great relationship with my electrologist. She always charged me less (currently: 40/hr 22/half hour) and traded me lots (I've developed websites for both her and her husband in trade) In terms of a tip, I go to her house and help her with computer programs etc on her laptop. Just some ideas perhaps. Similar to what someone stated, I think also if she were charging me 80bux an hour flat out, a tip wouldn't be necessary in my mind and if someone hinted at it when I paid the first time, I'd look elsewhere, period. (this is hypothetical, supposing that there were suitable alternatives available). I tip my laser gal, she's very helpful with me, and goes the extra distance, like doing hair removal touch ups when it's not even what I'm there for!

I tip everyone. When I need gas in the car I ask for $19 and hand over a twenty with the words "and one for you." I like to see people smile. Hugs, Devlyn

Absolutely not! transsexuals are gold mines to electrologist's. $70x150hour for a light beard = $10,500 give or take a couple of hours. $10x150 hours = $1,500 it's your money to invest into your transition, spend it wisely.

I don't buy the whole it's customary to tip a service provider argument.  It's a little different in our situation.  I can see if I got electro maybe a couple times a year, then a tip may be in order.  I see a hair stylist or a nail tech a few times a year, that sounds reasonable.  But, I've spent close to $15K on electro.  If I add in a tip, that's a few thousand more.  And really, you don't always know what kind of a job you are getting because the pitted scarring might take a while before it's evident.  And you can't always tell how accurate they are either.  So, you could be potentially tipping someone who is not doing you much of a favor. 

I have nothing against my zap ladies, but they is expensive.  I've never been guilted by any of them that I should be tipping.  Referrals, on the other hand, I've handed out plenty of those, so in a way I've given a little extra.

 I think that is a very USA thing. In Australia we don't tip anyone and that gets us in trouble when we go to the USA for holidays. My laser people tried to find ways to make it cheaper rather than more expensive.

Quote from: blackMamba on March 24, 2012, 12:26:03 AM
I don't buy the whole it's customary to tip a service provider argument.  It's a little different in our situation.  I can see if I got electro maybe a couple times a year, then a tip may be in order.  I see a hair stylist or a nail tech a few times a year, that sounds reasonable.  But, I've spent close to $15K on electro.  If I add in a tip, that's a few thousand more.  And really, you don't always know what kind of a job you are getting because the pitted scarring might take a while before it's evident.  And you can't always tell how accurate they are either.  So, you could be potentially tipping someone who is not doing you much of a favor. 

I have nothing against my zap ladies, but they is expensive.  I've never been guilted by any of them that I should be tipping.  Referrals, on the other hand, I've handed out plenty of those, so in a way I've given a little extra.

15k? ??? WOW ouch.

I may have 2.5k in laser for face/chest/eyebrows/forearms/underarms.  I've just found that when I tip well then magically it doesn't cost as much the next time.  A tip goes straight to that person vs being split with the house so I think they take that into account.

Gretchen has nailed it again ;) Big up Gretchen. I think electrologists make quite enough out of a typical TG person without accepting tips as well. It might be different if they were an employee rather than an independent but normally electro is expensive, save your pennies.... I have heard ;) there's a new electrologist using the latest machine who's doing something crazy regarding rates and how much he charges.... It's not going to last though so if you're in the uk and the London area it might be worth a look...
 

Cindy is right - we don't tip much here in Australia.  Generally I would tip at a restaurant (depending on the type/service), but otherwise no.
In Australia, the minimum wage is supposedly quite substantial, so it's not really as though the staff are dependent on tips to make ends meet.

If i ever give a tip i ask that the person help someone who is less fortunate with the extra.. that way the karma is left to them..

Oh get double inserts for electro and use blend and only get the thickest hairs first don't try to clear the face unless your full time  bt even then its best to just shave the thin ones until the next appointment

double inserts allow the 1st one to slough off the hair while the 2nd insert kills the folicle 100% dead.

doing it any other way will cost you a fortune and take much much longer..

also never do too much around mouth.. just do  a scatter attacking only the top 10% biggest hairs or else you can scar the lips.

Too much heat hurts the skin forever..

I am 50 + hours into it and at $50 an hour I am going to pay for her kids first year of college.  Plus she does laser on my body.  She gets a lot of business from me. 

No I do not tip.  I feel I bring her a lot of business and that is her reward.

I just thought I would give an update.  I have been to five one hour sessions now and still giving her 80 dollars every time for the advertised one hour session, but last time she worked on me solid for one hour twenty minutes.  I feel like she is making the extra effort to work longer on me and do a good job so I am pleased :)

I've had electrolysis now for almost 16 years and never have tipped once.  Never even had it cross my mind.  Whereas I always tip my hairdresser.  My electrologist, btw, gave me a huge discount for being trans and she knew how much I was financially struggling.  We also became pretty good friends and have done lots of things socially like going shopping, going to the movies, eating dinner at my house, etc.  I honestly don't think she was ever expecting a tip either.

It's kind of crazy to me that one would be obligated to tip someone when you're already paying 70 dollars an hour. If you have the money it wouldn't hurt, though. I think there's a difference between expecting something and being willing to accept whatever money comes your way.

If I get electrolysis I will not tip because I would barely be able to pay for it as it is. I would think a good electrologist would recognize that. It sounds like things are working for you, though.

Quote from: TraciMC on May 03, 2012, 12:43:03 PM
I've had electrolysis now for almost 16 years and never have tipped once.  Never even had it cross my mind.  Whereas I always tip my hairdresser.  My electrologist, btw, gave me a huge discount for being trans and she knew how much I was financially struggling.  We also became pretty good friends and have done lots of things socially like going shopping, going to the movies, eating dinner at my house, etc.  I honestly don't think she was ever expecting a tip either.

16 yrs ??? what are you getting done???    ::)

Uhm, no, it's not customary to tip people who charge a lot. That person charges more than my old psychologist used to, and that one had a master's degree and years of experience, + was generally regarded as relatively expensive even in her field. Of course, I wouldn't think of giving her tip.

My general, personal rule is to give tip to someone if, and only if:

-They earn less than you, or not much more than you.
-They did a good job.
-They were nice.

For example, I gladly tip my hairdresser, who only charges me 15 $ for a haircut of half an hour.

Quote from: A on May 03, 2012, 06:12:12 PM
Uhm, no, it's not customary to tip people who charge a lot. That person charges more than my old psychologist used to, and that one had a master's degree and years of experience, + was generally regarded as relatively expensive even in her field. Of course, I wouldn't think of giving her tip.

My general, personal rule is to give tip to someone if, and only if:

-They earn less than you, or not much more than you.
-They did a good job.
-They were nice.

For example, I gladly tip my hairdresser, who only charges me 15 $ for a haircut of half an hour.

What do you think about people who are very poor? I've seen people say that if you can't afford to tip the pizza delivery person, you just shouldn't order a pizza. I'm not sure if I agree with that because it is not the poor person's fault that the pizza delivery person is paid so little relative to car costs. That seems like a way of making poor people blame each other for their problems.

Then again, if I couldn't afford to tip I would probably just go buy a frozen pizza or go somewhere within walking distance. Or just not get a pizza. I've lived off of very, very cheap food and generally I was glad just to have something to eat, so I wouldn't really mind taking the "then don't order a pizza" advice. I'm not sure I'm comfortable generalizing that to everyone else in all situations though.

Well, I'd go to the source of the problem: if you're poorer than a pizza delivery person, you can't afford to order pizza to begin with, and are being irresponsible with your money.

I sort of feel like it's not okay to say that someone who is poorer than a pizza delivery person should never order a pizza, though, although they obviously shouldn't be doing it very often for their own sake. That kind of reminds me about the woman who got in trouble for taking time of work for being depressed but then posted a picture of herself on facebook where she was smiling.

I guess I'm just a little stiff. Sorry~

I mean, I always consider myself not to be able to afford something unless I can go "all the way" with it, and since I make efforts to save despite relatively small income, I get a little over-critical sometimes.

I tip my electrologist... but I do not think it is mandatory or required, as you would do a waiter in a restaurant or hairdresser.

Quote from: A on May 03, 2012, 08:31:28 PM
I guess I'm just a little stiff. Sorry~

I mean, I always consider myself not to be able to afford something unless I can go "all the way" with it, and since I make efforts to save despite relatively small income, I get a little over-critical sometimes.

I'm kind of the same way in my own life so it doesn't bother me. I'm just not sure how I feel about it in general.

I tip my laser tech, but only because she put up with my jolting around like I was put on a defibrillator every time she did something on my upper lip.

Quote from: Alainaluvsu on May 04, 2012, 12:05:12 AM
I tip my laser tech, but only because she put up with my jolting around like I was put on a defibrillator every time she did something on my upper lip.

Girl I can relate to that. Mine kept saying she was so sorry for hurting me. I told her not to worry, as I emptied the tear filled goggles. To be honest, it hurt like Hell. If I had known how much it hurt I would have thought twice. But on reflection it was a sort of pain of honour. It was a commitment. It was a step and I'm stronger for it.

I think we do things that we need to do to transition without always knowing the consequence or impact, possibly poor definitions for what I'm trying to say. Some of these incidents have given me the strength to move forward. Sort of like, if I had the strength to walk into a laser studio and have my beard removed, there is no way that wearing nail polish at work is a problem. If I can wear nail polish at work there is no way that wearing some make up is a problem. If I've had my beard removed, wear nail polish and makeup, then wearing a blouse and pants isn't a problem. So I look female dress female act female and I am female. What's the problem in telling people at work that I'm having a 'sex change'. If I can do all of that and some ass hole has a problem, I can treat them like the ass hole they are. Since I can do all of that, I'm ready.

Cindy

Quote from: Cindy James on May 04, 2012, 04:21:57 AM
Girl I can relate to that. Mine kept saying she was so sorry for hurting me. I told her not to worry, as I emptied the tear filled goggles. To be honest, it hurt like Hell. If I had known how much it hurt I would have thought twice. But on reflection it was a sort of pain of honour. It was a commitment. It was a step and I'm stronger for it.

I think we do things that we need to do to transition without always knowing the consequence or impact, possibly poor definitions for what I'm trying to say. Some of these incidents have given me the strength to move forward. Sort of like, if I had the strength to walk into a laser studio and have my beard removed, there is no way that wearing nail polish at work is a problem. If I can wear nail polish at work there is no way that wearing some make up is a problem. If I've had my beard removed, wear nail polish and makeup, then wearing a blouse and pants isn't a problem. So I look female dress female act female and I am female. What's the problem in telling people at work that I'm having a 'sex change'. If I can do all of that and some ass hole has a problem, I can treat them like the ass hole they are. Since I can do all of that, I'm ready.

Cindy

Damn, when you put it that way I am too :)

It's a great way to think and it's a step by step process which helps people kind of come to terms with it and understand it too, instead of taking in too much at once, you know?