What do you all think is an acceptable amount to tip at the AAFES Barber Shop?

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 21:28:58 -0500

Response by TSgt David L. made Mar 8 at 2017 9:49 PM

TSgt David L. — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 21:49:43 -0500

15% would be the minimum. Just because it's cheaper than downtown doesn't me you should stiff the barber/hairstylist. Just my two cents.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2017 10:31 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 22:31:12 -0500

I pay $10 for my hair cut and what they charge is what they charge. They get about a buck or so and sometimes they give me a coupon and keep that extra money for a tip.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Mar 8 at 2017 10:58 PM

COL Charles Williams — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 22:58:07 -0500

25-50% of the cost

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2017 11:16 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 23:16:49 -0500

Couple of bucks.
I'll throw them a five if they are personable and do a great job.

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Mar 9 at 2017 12:24 AM

CPT Jacob Swartout — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 00:24:02 -0500

It all depends on the barber and haircut result but I usually give a few dollars. I have given up to $5 or more at times for the same barbers I liked to have my hair cut. Sometimes a good conversation and listening to their stories will make me provide a better tip.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Mar 9 at 2017 1:19 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 01:19:56 -0500

I pretty much go with a minimum of 20% at the AAFES barber shop. There is also however a Barber I go off base that is 5 minutes from My home and He gives a Military discount that puts the price at about the same amount as AAFES charges.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Mar 9 at 2017 8:05 AM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 08:05:21 -0500

Honestly, I typically give about 50%. On a 9 dollar haircut, I'm usually tipping about 5 bucks. If I have any singles, I'll give them that, but if I only have a 5, that's what I give them. I won't give them any more than 5 bucks.

I know it sounds a little high, but I feel really good about myself after a fresh haircut and my cutters usually do a really good job, so I'm comfortable paying it forward.

But anything under 5 dollars should be acceptable, as long as you're not just handing them a handful of spare change.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2017 8:54 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 08:54:13 -0500

Not sure about AAFES, but at the MCX I might tip $1 on a good day and that's it. The initial haircut is $9 and I make it an even $10 if they did a decent job. But when they spend a minute and a half on my head and start callin' out "...siddy-tree, siddy-fow, siddy-fy..." before I've even gotten up. They don't get a tip.
If I go out in town and get the barber I like, I'll do a $3-4 tip though.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2017 12:08 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 12:08:24 -0500

Back when I would go to any post barber, I would tip 10%, which on a $9 haircut, I rounded up to $10 total.

These days, I shave my own head bald. The numbers don't lie. Pay $10 per week, or spend $20 on a set of clippers and never pay for a haircut again. After 2 weeks, my investment has broken even, and after that, it's saving me $10 per week.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2017 11:34 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 11:34:11 -0500

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2017 1:21 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 13:21:03 -0500

On Fort Jackson, a haircut it $10.95. I got to one of the some three barbers every time, and they get a $5 tip every time because they all do a good job. However, I have been that guy to not tip a barber if I was dissatisfied. There have been a couple times (not since I left Carson, in '14) that I simply did not pay for the cut because they jacked it up that bad. I went to a different barber and paid them to fix it (once, I actually doubled the cost of the cut because he took a REALLY jacked up medium fade and fixed it to keep the hair still looking right. I was happy with it.

But to answer your original question, usually no more that $5.

Response by SGT Christopher Hayden made Mar 14 at 2017 12:37 PM

SGT Christopher Hayden — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 12:37:32 -0400

I just go off post. You can get a better haircut, with less of a wait, for a couple dollars more. Or, "Happy Hour" if you're smart and it'll be the same price for a way better haircut.