Tipping Your Piercer

April 16, 2004 3:36 PM

Piercing studio etiquette: it seems that you're expected to include a tip. Base it on the total, including the price of the jewelry, or base it on the piercer's labor alone?
posted by Mars Saxman to Work & Money (3 answers total)

From my partner, who's been piercing for about twelve years: The piercer never gets a cut of jewelry unless they own the shop, so tip the piercer directly, and don't take into consideration the jewelry costs. Generally 5-15 dollars is a fair tip for most piercings.
posted by Jairus at 4:05 PM on April 16, 2004

I usually tip $5-10 for a $25 piercing-plus-jewelry at a good studio.
posted by mrbill at 7:54 PM on April 16, 2004

Base it on the quality of the work, and the comfort extended to you during it.
posted by scarabic at 12:56 PM on April 17, 2004