Quote:
Originally Posted by Xfun
Obviously everybody has their own thoughts about when to hand over the tip. Personally I give all of the tip before leaving room, and I try to ensure, if possible, that the man doesn't leave before the tip is passed over.
But there's another point - In some places the captain/mamasan will (after the customer has disappeared, and away from other customers) either officially (it's part of the known deal) or unoficially ask for a cut of the tip, regardless of the fact that the customer had paid a fee to the house for the massage.
In these places the working boys would usually prefer that nobody knows anything about how many Baht they received direct from the customer. If the mamasan asks the boy how much tip the he received (which is quite normal practice) the boys usually say 700 (as an example) when in fact they actually received perhaps 1,500. And, as already mentioned, most boys don't want the other boys to know what tips they receive, because of pressure to loan money, pressure to buy drinks after work, etc.
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I've never done massage except two times at Wat Po, and one time a foot massage, and I have no plans to get caught up in all this tip ambiguity, relatively high charges, etc.--especially since nice guys are available if I simply cruise outside, in saunas, etc. I've had great times for free or 500 or 700 baht. I don't need the massage part. And I think an oil massage would be gross. I know everyone will attack me for being insensitive to worries about the safety of cruising outside, picking up a dangerous dude, etc. But I just can't understand all the fixation with massage places. And considering how much these young guys would make at a real job, it's all way overpriced. (I also don't understand the whole go-go bar scene.)