Personal Trainer - Should I tip?

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  Apr 03, 2008 9:40 PM GMT

  I have signed up for a package of some personal trainer lessons at my gym. The trainer does a good job and I am happy with him.
  
  He is not an employee at my gym, but I pay the gym and they pay him.
  
  Should I tip him? I only pay about $30 for each session, I don't imagine that the gym pays him much for each session.
  
  Any advice would be appreciated?
  
  Thanks,
  
  Mark

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  Apr 03, 2008 9:42 PM GMT

  i've been a trainer, and i've had a trainer... i didn't expect tips when i was a trainer, but i was getting paid 30/session or more. i didn't tip my trainer b/c i was paying 50/session...
  
  with that said: if you're only paying 30 your trainer can't be getting more than 15-20. if you're happy, yes i'd tip in that situation.

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  Apr 03, 2008 10:40 PM GMT

  I was paying $55 per session, so no tip. If it were less, like $30 for example, I wouldn't have hesitated to tip $5-$10 a session.

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  Apr 03, 2008 10:42 PM GMT

  i always tip, its natural for me, its the way things are back home...
  
  
  the comcast tech came over last time to fix our modem, and i wanted to tip him five dollars out of courtesy, and my roommate all want banana monkey asses on me, they started telling me i should not tip him, bla bla..i said whatever...
  
  its just good and courteous and generous to tip for everything....especially when they seem happy and are friendly about their job..and when they are cute as hell!

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  Apr 04, 2008 12:27 AM GMT

  Depends on if he throws anything extra afterward ... sorry, bad joke, end of the day, tired ...

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  Apr 04, 2008 2:17 AM GMT

  My sessions are $75/hour. I have heard that Golds takes $50 and gives the trainer $25. But I dont know if that is true...seems like a rather steep cut.
  
  Anyway, I dont tip, but I do gives gifts....I never thought of them as "tips." I just wanted to. I gave christmas gifts for him and his wife. I gave him the book from "The World's Healthiest Food" site. I have given him a book on stretching that he liked after seeing my copy. He is starting his own business (I will end my PT sessions at Golds) and stay with him. So, I gave him $250 as a "business warming" gift.
  
  Oh, I also wrote a testimonial letter for him for his business use.
  
  I would say follow the rule: When in Rome, do as the romans do. Find out what is the "custom" at your gym...to tip or not to tip, and do that.

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  Apr 04, 2008 2:48 AM GMT

  You only pay $30 an hour? And he's good?
  I'm wondering what your definition of good is.

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  Apr 04, 2008 5:27 PM GMT

  When I signed up for training sessions, I specifically asked the sales person if tips were expected or encouraged and his answer was "NO, in fact, we discourage tipping and we discourage our trainers from accepting them." The first two years, I abided by that request. This past holiday season, I offered my current trainer a cash gift and he eagerly and thankfully accepted it. When I told him of my initial conversaton about tips, he was floored. He did say, they are not expected, but they are appreciated.

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• Kman70
  
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  Apr 04, 2008 5:28 PM GMT

  When I was a trainer for 3 years I never received tips and I did not expect them. I was an employee of the gym.
  
  I, at times, did training on the side at other gyms that I was not an employeemember of and the gym just kept $10 per client that I trained at their gym. However, I could charge what I wanted per hour.
  
  The only time I received tips was at christmas time.

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• HndsmKansan
  
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  Apr 04, 2008 5:30 PM GMT

  I think if the person does an outstanding job and you are in sinc with him (and he or she has made a difference), I would do so. I certainly would qualify the tip with an explanation, it would probably mean more. The individual may not have received a tip prior...
  
  I think its a great and generous idea.

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  Apr 04, 2008 5:37 PM GMT

  Here's a good tip - don't bet on the horses.

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  Apr 04, 2008 5:46 PM GMT

  I'm a trainer and I agree with most of these guys.
  
  I am paid well and don't ever expect tips, but I think it would be nice for you to get him some sort of thank you card with a one-time gift/tip. Better than that, for me, is that my clients will give me gift cards to Sports Authority or a local restaraunt. I love these! And if he's only $30/hour, he might really enjoy this also.

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  Apr 04, 2008 5:54 PM GMT

  Caslon saidMy sessions are $75/hour.

  
  
  Holy cow! That's STEEP! How often do you see him?
  
  My gym offers free personal training just for being a member. In fact, they require a session before you even start working out. Granted, I go to the "little old lady gym", and more often than not a good third of the people at any given time are doing Physical Therapy exercises with casts and such rather than general exercise.
  
  Not that a trained professional SHOULDN'T be getting $75/hour, especially if they are good. But in my small town, a trainer charging that much would probably starve from lack of work! LOL!
  
  
  
  
  

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  Apr 05, 2008 7:33 PM GMT

  Hey Guys - Thanks for all the advice. I have decided that I will tip him. I like the thought of a gift card so I'll get it from someplace nice.
  
  I appreciate all the input!

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  May 14, 2008 1:22 AM GMT

  Holy crap. I'm paying something like $80 for each hour session. Is that totally out of line? I mean he does an awesome job, but now that I see people are paying $30, I feel like I'm sorta getting screwed.

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