Tip for shoe repair?

[JBaby]

I recently gave in a pair of my best shoes (Prada pumps) to be repaired at a shoe shine/shoe repair shop. When giving them in to be repaired, I gave a deposit, and will pay the balance when I pick them up today - I am expecting brand new heels on the $20. Am I obligated to leave a tip? If so, how much? Even if I'm not obligated to, would it be wrong to tip anyway if the person does a great job on them? This is in NYC, btw.

[jamesglewisf]

You don't tip for a shoe repair.

[DataJack]

Well, here I go disagreeing with James again...lol...

TIP = To Insure Promptness.

I think that if anyone does a good job for you and you are happy with it, you should tip them.

Tipping is a way of showing pleasure or displeasure of a service given. If JBaby tips for a job well done, then the shoe repair place will remember her and give her better service next time she shows up. JBaby will become a preferred customer and most likely get a price break on something in the future, or if she needs something done RIGHT NOW they will do it.

Being a $20.00 job i would leave a $5.00 tip. When the wife and I go out and eat Chinese the service where we go is good and so is the food. It always costs about $20.00 and we always leave a $5.00 tip. Thats the only way I can base the amount of a tip on.

Just say to him/her "Thank you for a good job, have a coffee on me."

[jamesglewisf]

TIP = To Insure Promptness.
That is an urband legend. TIP is not an acronym. It's not where the word came from.

I think that if anyone does a good job for you and you are happy with it, you should tip them.

That's not really how tipping etiquette works. There are some industries where you tip and some where you don't. Shoe repair isn't one of them.

People come here to ask questions about tipping because they know I've done a lot of research on it. Anyone can post an answer in here, but it ought to be based more on research and knowledge than just personal opinion. By your definition, I should tip anyone. If my accountant does a good job, I should tip him. If my attorney does a good job, I should tip him. That's not how it works. There are some service industries where tipping is customary, and others where it is not.

[DataJack]

The reason I said "I think that if anyone does a good job for you and you are happy with it, you should tip them. " is because my wife is a graphic artist. She works for a company and the clients are constantly tipping her for a job well done. Maybe tip is the wrong word and gift is the proper one. These gifts/tips range from $50.00 right up to week long vacations. Maybe tipping someone is a poor show of class in some professions, but all professions get it some how.

Doctors, accountants and lawyers are treated to dinner by grateful clients.
A real estate agent might be taken out for dinner on the closure of a tough deal.
We always tip the movers when we move. (not too often do we move)
I leave a tip for the cleaning lady when we vacate a hotel room.

What i am trying to say James is that as far as etiquette goes I concede to you sir. You are most likely 100% right as I have done absolutely no research on it at all.

But in this day and age, etiquette may not be in ones best interest. Etiquette without a doubt is the classiest way to go, but then again most people think whatever class I have is up where the sun never shines.

With that said I have to say I never knew that tip did not mean to insure promptness.

I am sorry that I did not base my answer on research and knowledge and just used my personal opinion.
Live and learn I say I have have leaned something today.
Thanks James.

[raybeck]

Well, I just wanted to say, I think Data Jack you are a very kind and considerate man to "tip" folks as you do, but I have to agree with Jim on this one...where would it stop? I am always happy to reward someone that does an exceptional job for me, but on the other hand, you do have to stop somewhere, or most of us could not afford to walk out of the house with the way things cost these days. I consider myself a very fair and generous person, but I don't think I would feel the need to tip a shoe repair person myself...if they were to do a nice job for me, I certainly would be inclined to let them know how much I appreciate their quality of work and time, but would let it go at that. I do believe in tipping, in lots of instances, but I also have to tend to think that the whole tipping situation has gotten a little out of hand...especially for the average Joe, but this is just my opinion and not based on any real fact...again, you sound like a very kind and sharing person, Jack (it's nice to know there are still some out there...lol)!!!

[Hannamoren]

you sound like a very kind and sharing person, Jack (it's nice to know there are still some out there...lol)!!! Have to sign this.

[jamesglewisf]

I don't mean this to sound harsh or mean, but your wife's clients are ignorant about tipping. When I say ignorant, I mean they lack knowledge on the subject. They may be well-meaning and kind and generous, but they are ignorant about tipping. You don't tip a graphic designer. And that is coming from someone who owns a graphic design firm. I'm not a graphic designer, but I have had graphic designers working for me for 15 years.

In business, people are often given gifts, mostly around Christmas time; but that is not the same as a gratuity. Usually the gift giving is the other way around. The graphic designers would give gifts to their clients.

[DataJack]

I understood when you meant ignorant. You used it in the context of uniformed or uneducated and not in the rude and crude context.

You are most likely right on the tipping thing with graphic artists James, but when a client has been searching for someone to do a logo for them and gets no satisfaction from other firms, then comes to us and within two days they have something they love they show their appreciation by tipping my wife.

I see you live in Texas so you probably have seen some of my wifes work driving around down there. I won't tell you the name until I get the O.K. from the boss. ( my wife ) She has clients in Vietnam, England, Australia, Canada and all over the United States. A lot of these people have paid her more than what she has asked for because they like/love what she did for them.

World famous casinos, resorts and department stores are among her client's.

Not all of them have paid more than what she has asked for, but all of them keep coming back.

Like I said tipping is probably the wrong word for me to use. Gift would be more appropriate I think.

By the way, we offer printing services too. And we can beat the price of every print re-seller we have come across. The reason for this is because we feel we do not have to gouge the public to make a living. If you ever want Business cards James let me know. I can give you a deal, (the same as we offer to everyone else) that will blow your socks off.

[Turf Student]

I know I ain't got no dime in y'alls nickel but: I think if someone does a service you have requested, and performs that service in a manner better than you expected them to, then you should reward that person in such a manner as to show them that you greatly appreciated their extra effort.