What is normal gratuity for a day spa?

I want to send my mom and sister for a massage as a Christmas present, but I'm not sure how much money for tip should be added to the gift certificate.What is normal gratuity for a day spa?
Gratuity? Forgive me, but aren't you already paying out the butt for the massage to begin with?!?! Then to add on a $20 tip?! Give me a break. These people make such a killing, it's not even funny. Don't think that your masseuse is a pauper, because they're not. Any trained idiot could give you a massage.





Yes, I'll repeat it - TRAINED IDIOT. More training is required of someone learning to cut hair than give a massage. Heck, I think I'll take a six week night class and get my training, since y'all tip so generously!!!!!!!What is normal gratuity for a day spa?
As with any service (nail salon, hair salon, etc), 15% - 20% is customary. I bought gift certificates for my mom and sister, too, and the salon automatically adds 18% gratuity to each bill. I suppose they had problems with too many people like Heather not tipping at all!
At least $20 per treatment. More if they're great. Extra for happiness.
Umm, trained idiot, Heather? You're essentially calling licensed massage therapists idiots. They do have to go to classes and learn and pass. Some of the subject matter is quite complicated -- muscle and nervous systems, for example. It does take some modicum of intellect. Geesh!





Now to answer the question, my mother-in-law was a licensed massage therapist, so I got to hear the inside scoop. It varies quite a bit, but I guess about the same as you'd tip your hair stylist or nail technician -- for a $60 massage, like $5. For a $75 massage, like $10. Go up exponentially like that for the amount for which you purchased it. They keep their prices as low as possible because of the tips. If everyone stopped tipping, they'd have to raise their prices to compensate.





BTW, I would also think that it would be up to the individual having the massage how much to tip. If I received a gift cert, I would ASSUME that I'd be giving the tip. I really don't think you should include it or add it to the g.c.
You DO NOT give tips to every man jack you come across, what is your country coming to? Does ANYONE in the USA ever receive a salary? is it a nation that survives on tips? perhaps I should open a business there, have 200 employees and never have to pay them, wow, it sounds like an employers heaven