Tipping the Seamstress?

Tipping the Seamstress?

June 1st, 2006 @ 12:32 pm by Mrs. Firefly
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Today is my final fitting at Mark Ingram. Sorry… I didn’t bring my camera, so y’all won’t see pictures of me in it again until the wedding.

My dress did not require a lot of work — a two inch hem, the lace sewn in on the bottom, a bustle, the lace top taken in a little and the sash needed to be shortened. Mark Ingram charged $485! I wish I had said something to the store because this seems like way too much money for what is just routine work for a wedding dress — but I just handed over my Visa.

I checked around on The Knot and most girls spent between $250-$350 for similar work. The only places that charge more are the high-end bridal salons like Kleinfeld and Mark Ingram because they have you (and your dress) captive; sure you can take it back and have it altered on your own, but it’s easier to just leave it where it is.

So, this is my dilemma: do I now have to tip the seamstress? I checked various sites and asked a few friends and most agree that unless the seamstress does something extra special, there is no need to tip! Frankly, you can have a dress made for $485, so there’s really nothing she can do that’s “extra special” for the amount they charged me.

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7 Responses to “Tipping the Seamstress?”

Guest

Mrs. Bee

I was too lazy to take my dress elsewhere so I got it altered at Mark Ingram too. Tipping the seamstress actually never crossed my mind!

6/1/06 @ 12:35 pm (reply)

Guest

Miss Grasshopper

I am sure it is a nice gesture, but you are already paying a great deal for your dress.

6/1/06 @ 12:53 pm (reply)

Guest

Ariel

The dress company i bought my dress from actually makes each dress the exact length the bride needs it to be for free. They also do custom overall measurements for a little extra. So I don’t need alterations! But still, someone needs to make a DIY alterations/bustle making site… It’s so so soooooooo simple… Plus the dress only needs to hold together for one day, and it would save brides $$$!!!

6/1/06 @ 12:58 pm (reply)

Guest

Miss Caterpillar

I don’t think you need to tip her if all your alterations were routine and there were no special circumstances. I think the cost of alterations at Mark Ingram is on the higher end, so you shouldn’t really have to pay anything extra.

6/1/06 @ 1:38 pm (reply)

Guest

himmelims

I did tip for my dress alterations. But the whole deal was amazing. I asked a store assistant in Hermes for advise (I figured Hermes would recommend a good place) and she told me to go to: Bhambi’s Custom Tailors. They did an amazing job and altered about 9 areas of my dress for 271$ - worth any penny + a $40 tip!!!

6/1/06 @ 2:54 pm (reply)

Guest

Wow that’s a lot of $$$ for alteration! My best friend didn’t tip her seamstress… it didn’t cross her (or my) mind.

6/1/06 @ 5:23 pm (reply)

Guest

Jessica

Here’s the thing: if you want okay service - don’t tip, if you want excellent service- tip at the first fitting. My sister did not tip when she was having her alterations done, however, I did. There was a tremendous difference in service and treatment. The way that I see it is- if i’m already spending so much money on dress and alterations (none of which go to the seamstress) why not spend a 20% more to ensure excellent service??

9/2/10 @ 12:57 am (reply)