By now, it should be clear that tipping is optional. Yet, a few businesses take it too far and decide to force some of their customers to pay tips on top of the expensive services or products they are acquiring. One nail salon in downtown Seattle, Washington, is a clear example of this, as it is asking clients to leave tips between 18% to 25%, calling it a “service tip.” As you can imagine, many people are furious after seeing this, and rightfully so.
One Redditor shared the image of a sign in a nail salon in Seattle that reads, “Notification. The service tip is at least 18 – 20 – 25 percent required. Thank you.“
The OP who posted the image claims that the nail salon is already quite expensive in Washington, with some services, such as a complete acrylic set, going for $70+ plus tips. OP also mentions how when they approached to pay after their service, they wanted to leave a $5 tip first, but the cashier asked them to put more. In the end, the customer gave them more money, which amounted to the required 18%, and also mentioned how they were so happy with the nail tech that they didn’t mind leaving that tip. Still, they thought it was wild to see an establishment demanding such large tips.
A few Redditors claim that the OP inadvertently rewarded this behavior, which, in a way, is true. Those in the nail salon demanded a specific percentage of tips, and the customer paid exactly that, which means the business will continue to do so. However, other people who saw the image shared their thoughts and even gave some suggestions for potential clients.
“Turn around and leave. Give a review to warn others,” said Sure_Acanthaceae_348 via Reddit.
“If it’s ‘required’ and not up to the discretion of the customer, then it’s no longer a tip: it’s a hidden fee. Undisclosed, deceptive, or misrepresentation of fees is considered illegal,” commented Mediocre-Celery-5518 via Reddit.
Most Redditors are in the same boat and think the OP should write a bad review for the place and then file a complaint. Many even shared a link that directs people to the government’s website. Yet, it’s worth noting, the person who shared the image hasn’t replied in the post, so we imagine that not much will change, unfortunately.
In any case, this behavior is unacceptable, and tipping should always be optional. Demanding it and labeling it a service fee is a dirty tactic that needs to stop.
