When I'm advertising enchanting, or alchemy, or leatherworking, or lockpicking, or whatever profession my current toon has, I always say, "Tips appreciated, not required." Now, I get dozens of requests a day on each toon, and at least three times a week someone won't tip. And that's okay because: I said in the ad that you dont' have to tip; tips are supposed to be optional, considering that is what makes them a tip. Anything else is just a service fee. My tip-based business operates under the assumption that you're providing the mats. If you want me to craft something for you with my mats, I'm charging you a set amount. I'll still take extra if you want to add a tip on top of it!

I bring up a service fee mostly in part of this blurb from the article:
"It's okay to even say how much of a tip you'd like. "Enchanting with your mats for 10g a pop by Stormwind Bank" is a pretty simple phrase to throw out on the trade channel. You may find yourself in a pricing competition on the Trade channel, in which case you'll have to be a little more sneaky. But usually, I'd expect that to work out just fine."

Saying, "tip this much or no click" basically means, "pay me or I keep your gem/dust/herbs." Call it a service fee and be done with it.


When I'm having goods crafted for me (I always provide my own mats), I tip a flat 10g. After all, I'm only having a gem cut. If in the rare instance I need something crafted that I cannot make myself (yet), I'll tip a rather generous 200g. Its all a drop in the bucket, really.