Tipping Seamstress

I have not heard it customary to tip a seamstress or tailor before.. and I get a lot of my items tailored and totally adore my seamstress lady! I've always thought of it as similiar to a dry cleaning service.. that the pricing is inclusive. And I am all about tipping bc I work in the service industry. If you feel they did a fantastic job though, and would like to leave a tip, I would definitely go along with the standard tipping percentages of 18-20% for a job well done. $10 would be like 3% only.

I was thinking about this too. My seamstress did a great job, did a a lot of work and it was only $225. I didn't tip at the time, but was thinking of sending her a thank card with a 15-20% tip.

This really is a great question..

Following

Following

Never heard of tipping a seamstress but it makes sense I suppose but just think--If your bill at a restaurant was $300, would you only leave the waiter/waitress $10 ?

Would this depend if they're an employee in a business (like DB) or independent/ business owners?

Isn't that how it works for other vendors?

You don't have to tip vendors that own the business because they set fees for what their time is worth, but you should tip employees because you know they aren't paid the whole fee or something?

(I am not saying this is correct, it is just what I remember reading on some bride article, hence the question marks)

I did not tip my seamstress, however, she operates her own shop. She had no ties to my bridal boutique and I found her on my own. I think if she has worked as an employee of a boutique I would have tipped her.

OP can i ask what seamstress you used? I think I remember you being located in Charlotte and I've been researching where to take my dress for alterations.

Following

Yes Danielle, I'm in Charlotte. It's Tina's Alterations. I will definitely tip more than $10 after reading these. She does operate her own shop but I was given her name by my dress boutique and she gives all the brides discounts from there.

After doing the math, it looks like 20% is $60. I feel like that's a lot especially if some people don't tip at all.. ugh. ETA: I promise I'm not normally a cheap person!

@A. Magill you always tip the vendor, owner or not. Trust me. I asked on my first day and got clobbered for it!

It depends what she did and charged. I personally think I was overcharged by my seamstress. I thought about leaving her a tip, but when I paid in cash she didn't give me my $20 in change, so she chose her own tip.

The seamstress I used just kind of does it on the side out of her home, she only charged me $75 for adding a corset back, hemming, bustle, letting it out, and adding a modesty panel. So I gave her $100

I've never heard of this.

From my experience, seamstresses charge hourly and for their time. I am paying nearly the amount for alterations that I am for my dress, and I don't think I will be tipping her just because I'm assuming she already is charging for her time, and charging for all the fabric and whatnot as well. I don't see a reason to tip a seamstress.

I haven't heard of tipping the seamstress. A thank you note and a good review maybe? IMO if you're thinking $10, no tip is better than a tip

$10 to $15 is appropriate. It's not expected to tip. It would not be the same standard as a server at a restaurant because of the difference in minimum pay requirements in server wages and other industry wages.

Edit: because.

Well- here's my update... I did tip, $25, and it was the most awkward thing ever when I gave it to them. They were like genuinely surprised and then I couldn't be like oh just kidding. So, if I were to repeat that situation, I would not tip.