If it's my first time having a session with someone I generally don't tip because I only bring the amount agreed upon.If later I decide to see them again from then on I always tip.Just my way of saying thank you for letting me be your client.
Who doesn’t love tips? It’s a nice gesture, never required.
I don’t necessarily do the “tip” thing per se’, but I do prefer to give little gestures like a nice gift wrapped scented candle, a fancy shmancy Whole Foods dessert, a cool little succulent house plant or maybe contribute gas money if they’ve traveled a bit to see me. Depends.
(((Note to self: Gifts that DIDN’T go over well: *10 envelopes from Staples, a $3 off mailer coupon good for a car wash armor all upgrade, my old iPhone 5s case or those little green packets of low sodium soy sauce for to-go sushi!)
Tips are appreciated but I don’t expect that. Sometimes the client wants to pay for parking since I’m going to their place and there is not free parking available so the tip comes to cover that expense that I was not expecting 😊
I'm a pro but tip for services outside of this site. I don't go often but I would tip my nail lady, my hair lady and recently went for a massage for my birthday where I also tipped that masseuse as well! Regardless of if they "make their prices", if the treatment, the experience and the the final product is beyond what I was hoping for.. I always tip more to say thank you. I've been tipped as a pro quite a few times but it's never expected. When it does happen I assume exactly what I stated.. that my service was worth it and they want to thank me ☺️
I never expect a tip. But I always tip myself. I more often then not do get tipped.
I never expect a tip but i'm always so grateful when i get one.
In a service industry, tips are never expected but immensely appreciated.
A few ways I tip: my father's barber, the rideshare drivers, dine in restaurant staff, massage therapists, hairdresser, the maid service, basically Anyone in the service industry that is providing and proving that they are making sure the service is on point and/or how the specifically made me FEEL.
With that said, all the challenges any customer facing service industry worker faces, it is important to give credit where it is due by verbal thanks, survey, email, yelp review, ect, and tips, if you can.
At my other job one of my favorite tips are cuttings, seedlings and plants. I am always super grateful, and all of those plants are still alive. Playlists & fresh music from asst. managing an artist studio is another fav tip I receive.
Be kind and do not stress about a financial tip. There are many ways to showcase thanks and possibly earn that barista or clerk a higher raise when the annual reviews pop up. Because they have grateful vocal fanbase.
My biggest tip about tipping; DO NOT be the self-proclaimed math prodigy downgrading their occupation and stating these are starter jobs, I see these many times over especially in the local neighborhood groups about many standard blue-collar occupations, most of these are service based. It is so unkind and hurts to read, see or hear. Life is hard enough. Tip or don't, the choice is yours as the consumer or client.
Hence, we are mostly here on CC for connection and cuddles. Not stress and strife.
Be kind and carry on, respectfully. Sensational!
Again, in the service industry, no matter the CEO, tips are never expected but immensely appreciated.
@lovingspoonfull I always tip because I appreciate, sought out and took value from the service. It is the only mathematical factor for me.
One offs would be restaurants' that state before ordering, on the menu gratuity for parties larger than X or just a standard.
Gotta disagree with your first statements @SunshineHug ; I do agree there are lots of additional ways to show appreciation.
Tips are very much expected in the service industry here in the US. The workers are paid terribly with the idea that tips will augment to a better wage.
Tips are mandatory over a certain size bill or group.
Many businesses lay it on thick with signage that tips ARE the pay (when it’s them refusing to pay a reasonable wage).
There is now an (understandable) attitude that a tip is required, with bigger tips being the way to show appreciation.
The days of a tip being optional for great service are not current reality.
That being said I don’t believe that’s the case for cuddling. I believe here it is purely optional. Completely different paradigm.
@lovingspoonfull I agree with you, If someone other than the service provider is setting the prices.
So I tip waitresses, I tip bartenders, I tip my hair stylist who works for a larger company.
I generally don't tip my massage therapist, my waxer, or any cuddlers I see. Because they are all independent and set their own prices, and get 100% of the revenue. I assume any tip is "priced in."
While I completely agree with that sentiment and understand it, I still tip. Go figure 🤔 🤣
I'm not sure why "tips are not expected, but welcome" is so hard to take at face value when professionals state this.
There are plenty of skilled independent contractor situations where tips are common, outside of "unskilled" service industry (quotes intended). I think the LMT comparison is on point for a lot more reasons that tipping policy.
Either case we spend too much energy worrying about the tipping etiquette of other people.
I think its more important if a professional depends on tips, including cc fees etc, they reconsider their prices in that lens. Within reason a higher fee should not lose the clients they want to keep, and lower fees may actually lose good clients. This may not be obvious if this is their first experience as professional independent work which seems very common.
E.g. : if a client will not book because the price is 15% higher without tip - they may book if its lower but are unlikely to always tip 15% by default; adjusting fees will not lose the clients who would otherwise tip that much 100% of the time in the first place.
But if the rate is suspiciously low but the professional hints and implies tips are assumed raising your eyebrows like groucho marx, some people are going to make non-platonic assumptions. They may not be fair assumptions but it can discourage / encourage the wrong clients.
Why is there even so much debate? You can tip or don't who cares it's not that deep
@pmvines I think ultimately it’s linked to the resentment of “having” to pay for cuddles. I think there’s also resentment to also “have” to tip. I’ve not been here that long but this topic just won’t die. 🤦♂️ I think that’s why no one can let it go.
Ultimately I do think the issue is as simple as you state.
It’s purely voluntary.
@lovingspoonfull That's fair. My thing is this though. Nobody has to pay to cuddle it's a choice, and the very people who seem to resent cuddle pros the most tend to also put in least amount of effort into trying to find a cuddle friend and instead spend their time wallowing in self pity and expect someone else to take on the emotional labor of fixing them. Which is why they would actually benefit from a cuddle pro to be honest. On the flip side of that cuddle pros take on the emotional labor and safety risks and spend up close intimate time with people who they ordinarily wouldn't necessarily want to spend time with. So being upset that they would dare to charge what they feel they are worth and not cuddle every interwebs stranger who messages them for free is silly. Plenty of non cuddle pros you just have to try and spending your days complaining and feeling sorry for yourself doesn't help anything.
Any time I hear people complain about screening process of pros and dismissive of their safety concerns and being mad about not getting responses I think back to all the stories I hear about what they deal with. I was just talking to a cuddle pro friend a couple nights ago. She's been doing this for maybe close to a year. Has had a decent amount of clients. She's on the older than average side of other pros, attractive but doesn't wear a bunch of makeup, doesn't dress provocatively or have revealing pics. She told me that only one of the clients she's had didn't do something to push boundaries like touching her in no no zones, intentionally pushing his erection into her, try to kiss her. One guy she even had to kick out for putting his hand down her pants after being told no for putting hand up her shirt more than once. I mean if that were me and this dude knew where I lived and I lived alone, I would be pretty scared! So when I hear all these threads and posts and comments pissing and moaning about rates, tips, etc I'm like whatever, you don't like it find someone more in your budget but I'm sure a lot of women have their reasons for charging what they are comfortable charging for their time.
@pmvines You’re preaching to the choir.
Worry less about financials and more about people. Less angsting, more respect and relationship building.
Can we merge tip threads too so there’s not more than one?
@Chris2Cuddle- ABSOLUTELY NOT!! Tipping culture is WAY out of control! You go to a restaurant and you order on a kiosk, A ROBOT brings you your food, you get your own refills, you bus your own table, and the ROBOT brings you the bill with a “tip” line- Like..?
Tipping used to be extra, and it should have stayed that way. Now everyone questions if you should tip for everything and NO, no you should NOT!!
Definitely not. Appreciated, for sure, especially if they went above and beyond your expectations like by being genuine, offering snacks, and/or rearranging their schedule to fit in a last minute session. But never expected or mandatory. I've been very blessed to be tipped regularly, but I never anticipate it.