Dear Queenie,
I’m a teacher and at the end of the school year I often get gifts from my students and their parents. One of those parents is a beautician and she gave me a gift certificate for work at the beauty salon where she works.
Queenie, when I use the certificate, should I tip her? Usually I would, but would I be insulting her because this was a gift?—Tipping Etty Ket
Dear Etty Ket,
If the person who gives you service on the gift certificate is not the person who gave you the gift certificate, yes, you should give them a tip. But if the gift-giver is the one who gives you service, she might be insulted if you try to give her a tip.
You would do better to write her a “thank you” note after you use the certificate and tell her how much you appreciate her gift.
