Thanks, But No Thanks

The Awaken Collective made the unanimous decision to adopt a no-tipping model in September of 2024. Why? Our mission has always been to provide the most transparent, all-inclusive spa experience in Richmond, which is why we don’t nickel and dime you for aromatherapy, hot stones, or cupping, and why we will never pressure you into a “membership.“ Soliciting tips never aligned with that mission, but we weren’t confident enough to buck this system until recently.

Tipping in the US become popular after the Civil War, when formerly enslaved people and immigrants flooded the workforce with low-cost, low-education labor, and tipping was encouraged to supplement the slave-wages they were able to secure.  Since COVID, the number of new people expecting tips has exploded, and businesses charging mandatory tips, auto-gratuities, and surcharges, has caused us all substantial fatigue.  Those are all just tricks to keep menu prices low and final totals high.  We believe our clients are intelligent enough to see that for what it is, and we want no part of it.

So in 2024, we unanimously agreed to raised our prices 20%, all of which goes directly to our service providers from Awaken directly, and tipping is now strictly prohibited.

FAQs

Q:  Really no tips? What about Christmas tips?
A:  Really, no tips.  No cash or cash equivalents.  No checks, gift cards, no venmos, no vouchers, not even a coupon.  No tips.  Not even Christmas tips.

Q:  But don’t we always tip for services?
A:  Not really. Not when those services are provided by individuals with 500-1200 hours of education, their own licenses and insurance. We don’t tip our dental hygienist, our personal trainer, our real estate agent, or mechanic. We don’t tip our plumber, yoga teacher, physical therapist or acupuncturist. Tips unfortunately still make sense for servers and valets, but probably never belonged in this industry.

Q:  What if I just leave cash in the room?
A:  Please don’t. It will be reported and we will return it to you, but you will cost us needless time and effort. If it happens more than once, you won’t be allowed back.

Q:  Well if I can’t leave a tip, what can I do?
A:  Rebook, refer a friend, or leave a 5-star review on Google, Amazon, or Yelp. Any one of those actions is worth much more to us than an extra bill.