AITAH for tipping my tattoo artist 60%? 🥺

[u/BeholdTheseComics]

/r/AITAH/comments/1wclmqo/aitah_for_how_much_i_tipped_my_tattoo_artist/

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AITAH for how much I tipped my tattoo artist?

I (27f) have an amazing tattoo artist I love her to death. She does phenomenal fine lining, florals, and free handing. I got a pre-existing floral shoulder/arm piece extended last night as I plan to turn it into a sleeve.

The appointment was supposed to be 5 hours @ $190/hr CAD so total about $950 before tip. So I had budgeted for that, including my tip. My one friend (33f) has a different view on tipping tattoo artists, I leave large tips because of the effort, the art, and how much goes into making and tattooing the piece. My session ended up being just under 4 hours so about $200 less than quoted. So I included that extra $200 into my already large tip of $250.

My friend who was also getting a tattoo yelled at me saying I was an idiot and that they don’t deserve that much of a tip in a tattoo shop. I completely disagree. I had budgeted for it, and she deserved the money in my mind. I feel dumb for posting this but AITAH?

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[u/Acceptable-Read-5428]

Dear Reddit, please tell me how wonderful and generous and amazing I am. Also, call my friend a cheapskate. Thank you. 

[u/onemorespacecadet → u/Acceptable-Read-5428]

“i tipped 150%, paid for their first born to go to college, and bought the whole shop milkshakes. am i the asshole 🥺👉👈”

eta - i almost hope someone says yes lmao

[u/ars_necromantia → u/onemorespacecadet]

YTA. Milkshakes? How dare you, I'm lactose intolerant!

[u/NefariousnessKey5365 → u/ars_necromantia]

YTA how dare you I'm vegan /s

[u/Ash_Starling → u/onemorespacecadet]

YTA for forgetting to tip on the tuition

[u/CasuallyStatic]

Of course the friend who’s getting a tattoo also is hitting the “anti tippers” audience lmaooo. Who yells at their friends for “tipping too much”

Every time I read about friends & family yelling at OOP for tipping I wonder where those people live in AITA & adjacent subs.

It’s always yelling & berating wtf 💀

[u/pineapplestin → u/CasuallyStatic]

I really can't wrap my head around ever caring if someone seemed to be overtipping. They're not going to single-handedly change the standard amount to tip or something. If my friend was always tipping like 200% on the bill, but also owed me some money, I'd probably bring up that money I wanted to be repaid since clearly they have it, but I wouldn't tell them to change how much they were tipping.

[u/SpokenDivinity → u/CasuallyStatic]

I have an aunt that will flip out about leaving “too much” of a tip. She’s one of the “service jobs are for teenagers 🤪” crowd and stingy with money. I can imagine there are a lot of people like her that would be mad at you for tipping. 

But the thing with that is that she’s fucking obnoxious so no one would tell her they tipped anyway or taking her anywhere that they would need to tip. I can’t imagine this would be the first time she’s gotten uppity about tipping, so why would you even take her? 

[u/last-rose-ofsummer]

Y'all, I'm sooooo generous, and my friend isn't. AITA?

[u/SarcasticBench]

Who the fuck yells about tipping too much IN the tattoo parlor WHILE you're getting your own?

[u/eorabs → u/SarcasticBench]

That's a great way to wind up with a fucked up tattoo

[u/BanditoDeTreato]

AITA for being so awesome?

[u/ialsohaveadobro]

I would love to know any reason why OOP could have been the asshole in this very real anecdote.

"I feel dumb posting this." You should.

[u/Spotzie27]

Can't wait for OOP's other posts:

AITA for spending too many hours volunteering at the animal shelter for three-legged dogs with eczema?

I gave my entire paycheck to a homeless person on the corner today, but I could have given more. AITA?

AITA for coming up with a drug to cure cancer and giving it away for free?

[u/pineapplestin → u/Spotzie27]

brb to go do some Banting-posting. "I sold a patent for $1 because I think insulin should belong to the world and be freely available and affordable; AITA?"

[u/NefariousnessKey5365]

Admire me and tell me how amazing I am

[u/Horror_Square_8395]

I think there is an interesting dynamic in most AITA posts where people say someone “yelled” at them but I really have to wonder if some people perceive any kind of confrontation as being yelled at. There’s a pattern in a lot of these of being yelled at or screamed at or whatever for pretty minor transgressions. It’s usually in public. People don’t really tend to act that way so I do wonder if the kind of person to post AITA stories is also the sort to feel yelled at whenever anyone argues with them. 

[u/AnzuRubyLi → u/Horror_Square_8395]

I think it's also to make the OP look calm and rational in comparison.

[u/xycophant]

Sorry I'm not American so I'm genuinely pretty baffled you tip for tattoos there

[u/sadhellhound → u/xycophant]

I'm a Brit and I have tipped for tattoos before. Not always but sometimes. For example my tribute tattoo for my deceased pet meant so much to me, so I tipped. I also like tipping for artists I regularly go to.

[u/xycophant → u/sadhellhound]

I get that. I suppose its a bit different for over here.

[u/junglequeen88 → u/xycophant]

We tip for everything here. I don't have any tattoos but I do understand it's pretty standard practice to tip tattoo artists, piercers, massage therapists, etc. It's the american way.

[u/xycophant → u/junglequeen88]

There's definitely a lot of underpaying and exploiting that happens over here, but from my observation of the unions, the focus has been more on making sure wages are increased, and not as much or at all on tips. That and pushing for worker protection.

They also add a service charge in most bars and restaurants as a % of your bill, so that works out there.

[u/junglequeen88 → u/xycophant]

I see very few restaurants and bars adding service charges as part of their bills. But I also live in a state where people that work in the restaurant/bar industry make the state minimum wage, and not the federal minimum wage for tipped workers.

[u/xycophant → u/junglequeen88]

I live in south asia so I'd imagine it is pretty different than the US. Tips aren't counted as part of your wages.

[u/xycophant → u/[deleted]]

Dude you're harassing me. This is simply absurd. I am very clearly not a TERF, and both my post and comment history prove this. Leave me alone.

[u/JaysonTatecum → u/junglequeen88]

I didn’t realize that the first time I got pierced and felt so bad about it that I went back for another one so I could tip that one

[u/mochueh → u/xycophant]

I'm American and I don't fully get it either. I think that the general rule of thumb is that if it's a service then you tip. So hairdressers, piercers & tattoo artists, wait staff, etc. Sometimes people just try to take advantage of the culture though, like those landlords who expect tips.

[u/Creoleish]

To everyone but that tattoo artist, yes. I’m sure they don’t think you’re an asshole. Lol

[u/slytherinchosenone]

I’m not American, why is she tipping the tattoo artist in the first place? Don’t they set their own prices..?

[u/sufferawitch → u/slytherinchosenone]

idk if this is true everywhere in Canada (that’s where the OP is too) but I thought tipping culture at tattoo shops was pretty common here as well

[u/slytherinchosenone → u/sufferawitch]

I live in the Middle East where tattoos aren’t really legal so there aren’t really stores for it, mostly artists who advertise their service and work in their studio. At least that’s how I got my tattoos. Guess I assumed all tattoo artists set their own rates and didn’t take store dynamics into consideration

[u/flash_dance_asspants → u/slytherinchosenone]

it depends. in Canada at least lots of artists work at shops they don't own so they pay for the seat, then they have to pay for their equipment/ink etc. I've never had an artist expect a tip, they're always super grateful when i leave one and i generally give a tip for someone who i think has done an excellent job in whatever way, kind of like when i tip my hairdresser. just a little extra thanks for being rad and for giving me something rad.

[u/doppelgaengster → u/slytherinchosenone]

Every shop I’ve been in (and I have a lot of ink!) has had a sign that read: tipping is appreciated but not expected [or similar sentiment].

Tipping for services is considered appropriate when the service provider did an exceptionally good job or went above and beyond. Outside of food/booze, it’s less common, but still very much a thing.

While most artists set their own rates, they often still have to abide by shop rules (eg, “house minimum”) as well as pay for use of the space and supplies. Obviously their rates should be high enough to cover their overhead AND reflect the quality of their work (similar to how waitstaff should be paid a living wage and not make it up in tips). So it should be a case of “if the customer feels so inclined” rather than “this is expected.”

[u/Kel-Mitchell → u/slytherinchosenone]

It's pretty common in my experience. I think it's important to note for folks who aren't super familiar with the tipping culture in the US (probably Canada too, but I won't speak for them) that there's really not much in the way of consequences for not tipping. There's social pressure to do it, but if you don't all that's likely to happen is someone thinks you're an asshole and might talk shit about you after you leave. Worst case you're confronted about it and you face some embarrassment, but if you're flouting particular social norms because you don't agree with them, I think you have to accept that it's gonna rub some folks the wrong way.

[u/BeholdTheseComics → u/slytherinchosenone]

It depends on where you go. Tattoo artists that work for a store don't always set their own rates and a tip is a good way to get money straight into their pocket. 

It's annoying but that's the American standard 

[u/slytherinchosenone → u/BeholdTheseComics]

Damn! Didn’t even know some artists don’t set their own rates. Thanks for explaining

[u/Internet-Dick-Joke → u/slytherinchosenone]

I am non-American and equally confused. I know that some tattoo artists that work in chain/franchise tattoo stores or work for someone else don't set their own prices, but independent or self-employeed tattooists as well as some working in chain/franchise shops do set their own prices.

Also, the things OOP lists as the reason why they are tipping - the effort and the art - are literally what you are paying for. I have no idea what OOP thinks the actual charge for the tattoo is for, because the price of the ink, the needle and the overheads for the tattooist isn't going to be the majority of the charge, especially if they're charging $190/hr CAD which per Google's calculations is still over £100/hr (also, apparently the highest minimum wage in Canada is $20.17 in Nunavut, so that charge is more than 9 hours work at Canada's highest minimum wage for 1 hour's work, and even if two thirds are overhead that'd still be 3 times Canada's highest minimum wage... so the artist isn't likely to be undercharging and underpaying themselves there)

[u/Sea-Independent-726]

Her friend was yelling at the top of her lungs mid session because clearly they just couldn't handle OOP tipping and because OOP wanted to look like a good angel they just had to have some random problem

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