Another thought on grooming prices...

[Laura & Chewie]

After reading and responding to the grooming prices thread, I realized it never occured to me to give a tip. I guess it would make sense...we do tip our hair stylists.

Should I be feeling embarassed? Do you tip your dog's groomer? If so, how much (if you don't mind saying)?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Don't feel embarrassed; I never thought of it either until my neighbor, who uses the same groomer, mentioned it. I had been using the same groomer for about 6 years, so I realllly felt embarrassed.
I tip Jack's groomer $5, and at Christmas time I give her a $10 tip and a gift. She really goes out of her way to accomodate us when Jack needs special treatment because of his allergies.
But- she is not the shop owner; if your groomer owns the business, it isn't necessary to tip...just like with a hairdresser. The owner is getting the full amount you paid. An employee just gets salary, or maybe commission, and the rest goes to the owner.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I just took Guinness to Petco this morning for a "mini grooming". I use their zoom groom so he doesn't have to be crated. It cost $40 for the following: bath, ear cleaning, toenail clipping, sanitary clipping, plus they scissor trimmed his face and behind his ears. He also had 3 mats in his collar area that they were able to remove without cutting or shaving. They worked on him exclusively for two hours. They did a good job. Although the face is a little shorter than I like, in a week or two it will be perfect so I really don't mind. They are very sweet with him, and I know he is treated very well. Everything is open, so you know exactly what's going on. I gave a $10 tip because I was extremely pleased with the price and the service. I don't think you should be embarrassed at all. I've seen other people who don't tip. I really like the girls that work in the grooming area at my Petco and I just think they seem to "go the extra mile", and that is why I do it. I had a terrible experience at PetSmart when we first got Guinness, and believe me I gave no tip.

[Noble Vestal Labradoodles]

I have a set of standards to be met when my dogs are groomed, I am very specific in my directions (ok maybe a little annal or a pain in the hole) but when my dogs are groomed to my expectations I tip anywhere from $10 to $20.

If they screw my dog up then they don't get tipped! Plain and simple. And when that happens I usually put out notice to my guardian families and local clients and they usually move with me because they want their dog to look good too.

I have had groomers call and offer free grooming because they missed our business and the following that we bring.

I just went back to PetsMart after not having been in a really long time, had a new guy do my dog and he called me 2 hours in and said she was in heat, he couldn't finish her and was very nice and apologetic. He stressed to me how he wasn't able to get her finished. I arrived to a perfect looking dog! I was very surprised. He charged me half price and he was shocked that I brought him back a huge tip.

I have learned that if I tip well I get what I want because they know I will come back and continue to tip well. Once the manager of the shop looked at me and said "Well, your dogs are not show dogs and it is not like the are champions or anything" I smiled and told her while that may be true but that I paid enough and tipped well enough that if I want my dogs cut a specific way that I should get it done that way. *She is a poodle breeder and if it were up to her, doodles would be shaved and have top knotts with super long ears.

I tip even if it is the owner as a way to say "thank you, I appreciate your service and value you" Owners have overhead and rent too

[April Cliber]

Oh Kendra, I can't imagine you EVER being a pain OR being opinionated! :o)

I tip well also and I send my local puppy owners to my groomer. She usually gives me a discount and thanks me for sending her business.

[Noble Vestal Labradoodles]

ya know what you see is what you get with me. : )

I wish my groomer gave a discount for the business I bring them!

[Noble Vestal Labradoodles]

well she is a handler of champion poodles! : ) She always wants to poodle'ize my dogs by leaving ears long, notching out above the ears, trimming out under the eyes, thinning the sides of the face down and cutting the face in general like a poodle!

My dogs are not heavy in poodle and with exception to a few of my curly dogs they do not even look like poodles.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I know of at least one other discussion on this topic so you might try a search for other responses as well. I do tip Lucy and Sophie's groomer. She charges me $58.00 and I tip her $15.00. That is probably a little more than necessary, but I am soooooooooooo picky. I go in with a detailed list of exactly what I want, and I also request that they scissor cut her vs. using the clippers on her. So, I feel like I'm asking more than most people. Mostly it just makes me feel like they will give her extra special love if I tip them well (true, probably not, but it makes me feel better).

[Michele, Biscuit & Mo]

Don't be embarrassed! I think most of learn about tipping groomers either by seeing others do it or hearing about it from friends. I tip a little on the heavy side ($15-20) because Penny has had the same groomers at Petco now for several years. They are WONDERFUL and since they're working on salary, I want to make sure they get a little extra. When Penny gets the full treatment (otherwise known as her "spa" day), the cost is usually around $70.

[Susan]

Michele, I wish I was able to use our friends from PetCo now! I was almost in tears after a grooming fiasco today. Marlow's first trip to the groomer here in FL and the groomer cut off Marlow's beard and shaved him too short. Very uneven, he looks poodly. When we pulled up to pick him up, Ron said "look, she is doing a large poodle." and I put my hand over my mouth in horror and said "that is Marlow!" I guess it is only hair and will grow back, but for $75 I let her know I was not happy! She came highly recommended and I gave her specific instructions. Of course no tip for her! And I have to hunt for another groomer! I also tipped the groomer in AZ $15-$20 and paid $75 for the works, but he always looked great!

[shelly]

Susan, this has happened to me 3 times. Once at Petco, which was the WORST!!! I spent 20 minutes speaking to the grooming manager explaining what I wanted. I went back and she looked like a black sheep or goat. I was SO upset and I told them so. Then I went home and cried. Now, you don't know me, but I NEVER speak up to anybody, but THIS time I sure did. I then tried PetSmart... not as bad, but not what I wanted - very foofooish- like a poodle. I then decided to try a small private place... the guy proceeded to scold me for not brushing her - which I had done.. and didn't do what I wanted either. FINALLY I went to one more private person - she had her own place in the back of Pet Supplies Plus. SHE IS GREAT!!! She spent 8 hours one time working on her inbetween customers to brush her out and I gave her a $25.00 tip and paid her cash.
She charged (only) $80.00 for the cut, for 8 hours! So... NOW finally I am happy. Just afraid to bring her this weekend, because she IS matted from the snow we had, and I feel bad asking her to work on her so long....

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Having been a hairdresser in a past life, I must say that extra nice tippers get all the extra's the salon or I could provide. IE: extra conditioner, a few more minutes showing someone how to style their hair at home, a little longer massage at the shampoo bowl, extra finsihing products, and a sense of appreciation on both sides of the fence. I'd like to say that I did that with everyone regardless, but time didn;t always allow for that.

So I'd think your dogs would also get the little extra time, a nice long rinse and conditioner, with a little massage, and the groomer being extra careful to make sure you get the look you asked for. Nothing wrong with that at all. That sense of being appreciated goes a long way in any business, I'd think. Not tipping is up to you, and I'm not saying you won;t get an excellent job, I just know that it does make one want to go the extra mile when they know there is that extra "appreciation" at the end. just my opinion. I don't use a groomer, but I would tip if I did. If I got the look I asked for especially, But it's nothing to be embarrassed about if you don't. I know the pride and sense of making someone feel better was always a personal tip I gave myself after a job well done.

[Barbara Burrows]

I appreciate that my groomer follows my directions. I don't have to wonder what my dogs will look like when I pick them up. I tip 20%, I feel she earns it.
I would not tip anyone for poor service...