Key Highlights:
- TikToker Nelly says a permanent bracelet artist added a 35% tip to her group’s bill without discussing it beforehand.
- The reported tip totaled $350 after the artist visited Nelly’s home to make bracelets for Nelly and seven friends.
- Viewers argued that any mandatory tip should be clearly disclosed and agreed upon before the service.
TikToker Says Permanent Bracelet Artist Added $350 Tip Without Notice
Nelly, who posts as @.nelly.venegas on TikTok, said she was shocked after hiring a woman to create permanent bracelets for a group of friends at her home and discovering an unexpected tip on the final receipt. Nelly expected to pay the agreed-upon price, but said the bill included an additional charge that had not been discussed before the appointment.
Nelly hired the woman through a company to make permanent bracelets for herself and seven friends. According to Nelly, the experience was pleasant overall: The woman arrived on time, did a good job making the bracelets and had good conversations with everyone. Nelly said she had no complaints about the service until she reviewed the final bill.
When the receipt arrived, Nelly noticed that a tip had been added. According to her video, the tip was 35%, amounting to an extra $350. Nelly initially thought the charge might have been a travel fee because the artist had traveled to her home, but she said she realized after looking more closely that it was listed as a tip.
Nelly said she had not authorized the charge and contacted the company the woman worked for. After some back-and-forth, the woman reportedly called Nelly and told her that the tip was required. Nelly said the woman had never mentioned a mandatory tip before or during the appointment.
The video had garnered more than 319,200 likes and 2,260 comments at the time of publication.
Viewers Say Mandatory Tips Should Be Disclosed Upfront
Many viewers sided with Nelly and argued that a mandatory tip should have been disclosed before the permanent bracelet service was provided. One commenter criticized the alleged charge, writing, “Tipping yourself over 20 percent without consent is wild behavior and fraud if you ask me,”
Another viewer questioned both the policy and the amount, writing, “Hell no. A 35% mandatory tip?! Absolutely not. I would say show me where it says that.”
Other commenters suggested that Nelly request a refund for the tip. One viewer wrote, “I’d request a 100% refund for the tip. The service is already overpriced. $100 for a thin chain is wild. I bet some have already broken.”
Another commenter said the additional charge should have been explained before the appointment: “Absolutely not. You never agreed to the mandatory tip. All costs should be discussed upfront and agreed upon.”
Someone who said they work in the permanent jewelry business also responded to the video. “Permanent jewelry artist here.. never ever would I expect a tip.. let alone charge a tip to someone’s card without them personally writing in a tip on their own accord. The whole thing is weird.. I’d fight it.. she’s being shady,” they wrote.
Other viewers echoed the concern that a tip should not be added without the customer’s knowledge or consent. One commenter wrote, “It’s never okay to charge a tip unless it explicitly is mentioned due to party size or whatever.” Many said Nelly should have been informed about the charge before the appointment rather than finding it on the final receipt.
Why This Matters
The dispute highlights the importance of clearly communicating service prices, travel fees and mandatory gratuities before an appointment begins. In Nelly’s account, the central issue was not dissatisfaction with the permanent bracelet service itself, but the alleged addition of a 35% tip without prior notice.
The Daily Dot was unable to independently verify the claims made by TikTok creator @.nelly.venegas, which are based solely on her personal account shared in the video.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Nelly say happened?
Nelly said a permanent bracelet artist added a 35% tip to her group’s bill without discussing it with her beforehand. She said the tip amounted to $350.
Who received the service?
Nelly hired the artist to visit her home and make permanent bracelets for Nelly and seven friends.
How did viewers respond?
Many viewers said a mandatory tip should be disclosed and agreed upon before the service. Some suggested that Nelly request a refund or dispute the additional charge.
