Is it customary to tip your personal trainer?

[Nika]

I am tempted to book few private personal training and Pilates sessions. Can you tell me if I am expected to give them extra after the end of the session? For Pilates, it is one of those Gilt city packages, if that makes any difference.

[bjl584]

I'd say no. You are already paying them $25 an hour or more for their service. All that you are really paying for is for them to motivate you. After a few sessions you pretty much know what to do on your own. The only reason to keep a trainer around long term is to keep you motivated. I would think that a gift or tip around the holidays would be a nice gesture, but to tip them everytime doesn't seem necessary.

[disneysteve]

Why tip someone for doing their job, for which you are paying them?

I agree that a little token gift, either cash or maybe a gift card, at the holidays would be a nice gesture if you have a long term relationship but I wouldn't tip every time.

[Nika]

Why tip someone for doing their job, for which you are paying them?

A waiter or a cab driver or a doorman are only doing their job, but we are expected to tip them.

[disneysteve]

A waiter or a cab driver or a doorman are only doing their job, but we are expected to tip them.

Waiters are different because they really aren't paid (a system I've never understood) but I'm not a big fan of tipping professionals for doing their job.

I've never lived anywhere with a doorman but are you expected to tip them every time they open the door for you? I can understand a little something at the holidays but not as a regular occurrence.

[~bs]

Tipping is generally not expected. They are considered professionals and ser their fees (or does it for a xlub at contracted rates). If you feel .its appropriate, you could tip at the last session or end of year similar to giftinf mailmen or othwr people that service you throughout the year.

But its really up to you.... ive tiped a plumber on top of their alrwady hifh labor rate before just bexause of thwe crazy stuff they hadto do in a job that I thought would have been a simple snake job.

[jpg7n16]

A waiter or a cab driver or a doorman are only doing their job, but we are expected to tip them.

As you said, there are a few professions that it's customary to tip, but there are many many more that it's not. Do you tip your personal banker? Lawyer? Doctor? Nurse? Dentist? Insurance agent? Cashier at Wal-Mart? Real estate agent? Mailman? Kid's teachers?, etc.


At one point I was considering being a personal trainer. I would have just charged what I felt my time was worth, and been glad that I had some regular clients. I would not have expected tips.

If you feel your personal trainer's doing a great job, the best "tip" would be a referral

[elessar78]

Waiters, doormen, bellhops, etc. don't set their rates. So I think it's necessary to tip them. Self proprietors (like massage therapists, hair salon/barbershop owners, independent coffeeshop owners) own the place so they know what they need to make, at least they should, to make a living.

[elessar78]

I'd say no. You are already paying them $25 an hour or more for their service. All that you are really paying for is for them to motivate you. After a few sessions you pretty much know what to do on your own. The only reason to keep a trainer around long term is to keep you motivated. I would think that a gift or tip around the holidays would be a nice gesture, but to tip them everytime doesn't seem necessary.

Maybe, but there are other things that go into it depending how serious you get. Training cycles and all that are difficult to monitor and having someone with an arbitrary eye and knowledge certainly helps.

[elfen lied]

Uh... I wouldn't think so. If I were you I'd wait until the end of the final session and give a gift as a tip. If you want to just give em money, then give a visa gift card or something similar.

[LizfromtheBronx]

I've worked with my trainer for over a year now, and I do not tip him. I gave him a medium (around $50) gift at Christmas. We've become very good friends, and he gives me a lot of extra time that he isn't paid for (not including any time we spend together as friends). Otherwise I would have given him a very small token gift.

[sblatner]

Ditto. A holiday gift and/or birthday gift is appropriate. I gave my trainer both when I worked with her because she was really nice to me and we became friends. She worked at a gym and didn't get the whole amount I paid but I still thought she was compensated enough that a daily/monthly tip was not warranted.