Comments on: WASWI – Should you tip in the quilting industry?

By: Gayle

Gayle — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 19:47:42 +0000

Your thoughtful observations regarding WASWI has opened my eyes. And I am tracking my time and expenses when making quilts from now on. Sometimes just because I am curious, but also for pricing options when I am asked to make a quilt that someone wishes to purchase upon completion. That said, I have never tipped my longarm quilter, I have purchased treats and given gift cards or other gifts to show my extended appreciation for their handling of my quilts. But I have also never haggled over their stated price for a project and I do expect them to price fairly for both of our benefits. I want them to profit and prosper so they are still available for the work they do.

By: Pam Schenck

Pam Schenck — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 13:54:11 +0000

To me tipping is a personal choice. At one time when my children were small I worked for a horrid wage and survived off tipping. I feel if someone give me above and beyond service not matter their profession I tip if I’m more then pleased with their performance. I tip the plumber who drops everything to fix my problems even. The flip side of that I feel embarrassed when a customer tips me for a quilt. I charged what I felt was a fair price. BUT and there is always a but. If you say no to the offer of a tip, consider your taking away the blessing of the giver who wants to show you how thankful they are for you

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 00:47:42 +0000

I have wondered if I should be tipping my long armer. This really helps clarify. But the comparison to tattoo artists is a bit off. My son is a tattoo artist. Shops do not pay the artists, they charge them, usually 35-50% of their take. Plus he has to buy his own inks and needles. The shop provides paper towels, space, autoclaving – and the reputation that comes with the shop name, not a small thing. I can see why he appreciates tips! Maybe rather than tipping, I will gift my longarmer throughout the year.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 23:21:21 +0000

While I believe the long arm artist is more comparable to a tattoo artist than to the person that does my hair or serves my dinner there is one major difference — the tattoo artist generally gets paid by the shop and the the long arm artist owns their space and their hardware. I do tip my tattoo artist. I don’t think the long arm artist needs to be tipped if the price was fairly negotiated in advance. This puts part of the responsibility on the buyer to know what fair is and to pay for it. This may sound harsh but I’ve heard many quilt makers complain about fair pricing for long arm services. If I was long arm quilting for profit I would rather get a referral and some repeat business than a one-time tip.

By: Ann Armstrong

Ann Armstrong — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 22:28:21 +0000

So this is a hot button for me. As a hairdresser in a shopping mall salon I was underpaid and appreciated the tips. As a hairdresser in a commission booth I set my prices as I felt they deserved and if a customer tipped I graciously accepted but told them it was not necessary. As a knitting and quilting teacher I do not expect tips. I have been tipped by customers when I went above and beyond in my service to them. It was a pleasant surprise, but by no means expected. As a longarmer, again, I set my prices by the quality of my work and I feel that is ample compensation. I don’t discount my prices and I don’t expect tips because my prices indicate true market value. Just my opinion.

By: Edith Ann Dalleska

Edith Ann Dalleska — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 21:37:58 +0000

No. The quilter is expected to give a bid on the job which includes the thread, electricity, batting sometimes, etc. and that is what I expect to pay. Professional people don’t get a tip. Even the sandwich artists at Subway do not get a tip. Nor the grocery checkout person.
We had a long discussion with some Kiwis in New Zealand a few years ago, and they find the US to be entirely confusing as to what something like a dinner will actually cost with taxes and tip. They even got rid of the penny in their system.
Just where did this idea for tipping professional machine quilters come from?

By: Brandi

Brandi — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 21:04:05 +0000

i am a long arm quilter. Sometimes I get tips, but I mostly do not and I’m fine with that. When I do get a tip, it’s a happy little bonus but I don’t expect it.

By: Nancy Tatro

Nancy Tatro — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 19:58:28 +0000

Sam,
Oh, where to start? I read something many years ago in reference to tipping hair stylist that went something like this: You should tip an employee of the salon, or someone “renting” from the salon, but not the actual salon owner. The assumption being that the owner has a better profit margin than an employee. This made a sad kind of sense to me and I have extrapolated it across other service spectrums; ie. is the person doing my nails the owner or employee? The person grooming my dog, cleaning my house etc.
As a professional Longarm Quilter (that is to say someone quilting for a living, not just a hobby) I have always tried to charge a living wage! Keeping in mind that I don’t get paid vacations, sick time, short/long term disability, matching 401k contributions, company sponsored health/life insurance plans and on and on. What I do get is to decide how much my time, effort and learned skills are worth and I do get to stick to my loaded guns when one of my “sisters” tries to shame me into charging less “because everyone else is”!
So, I too say “NO”, longarm quilters should not be monetarily tipped, but chocolate is always nice, and so are referrals!

By: Melanie McNeil

Melanie McNeil — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 19:39:26 +0000

No no and NO! The long-arm quilter is a professional and generally the business owner. I’ll trust the quilter to give me a quote based on time and skill, just as I would any other professional business owner. I don’t tip my plumber or the guy who took out two huge trees or my attorney. Yes, I tip my hairdresser (and frankly wonder why, since at the rate I pay her, she’s making $90/hour (and yes that’s before all her shop expenses, SS, etc…)) But as you say, it’s the custom.

By: Karen Sparrow

Karen Sparrow — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 19:33:22 +0000

What an interesting post!
I don’t usually TIP service providers such as plumbers, electricians, builders, etc.I feel a long-arm artist is in that kind of industry.
Tipping is an odd thing and this was a provoking question to ponder. WHY do I or don’t I tip.
Thanks for making me ponder!