Do you tip delivery men?

[dbsam]

My husband and I have always tipped delivery men and moving men. Last spring we had a sofa delivered and I didn't tip (My neighbor had a delivery the same time and was shocked saying she would never tip because that is their job; she is very frugal, actually cheap. I was starting to think it was unnecessary and no longer done.). Since then I've felt like I should have. It was a huge, very heavy sofa and they were very considerate and careful.

Anyway, we have a delivery coming within an hour and I am trying to decide if I should tip or not.

If you do tip, how much do you give?

[bodhitree]

I never have. It actually never occurred to me.

[soccermama]

For delivery of furniture, appliances or moving companies, we've never tipped. I'm sure some of those guys cannot accept tips anyhow, KWIM?

[2xy]

I am frugal, but definitely not cheap. And I work for tips, so the subject is dear to my heart.

Personally, I don't tip furniture delivery/moving people unless they go out of their way for me. For instance, I had a sectional sofa delivered a few years ago that was a royal pain to fit into our living room, and the guys spent quite some time rearranging things and fitting the pieces together. I tipped them.

If someone just drops off a refrigerator and asks me to sign the invoice, I don't think that warrants a tip.

In these situations, I don't think there's a standard percentage that you "should" give. I give what I feel like giving. These folks don't work for tips. Tips are a bonus when you're paid a decent hourly wage.

[dbsam]

Originally Posted by soccermama

For delivery of furniture, appliances or moving companies, we've never tipped. I'm sure some of those guys cannot accept tips anyhow, KWIM?

Those are the exact deliveries we've always tipped - anything large, up or down stairs, etc. No one has ever turned it down. We had a fridge delivered last month from Lowes and my husband even tipped them! I figured a chain type store like Lowes would have a 'no tip' policy.

[dantesmama]

I do. I know it's their job and they're getting paid for it anyway, but it's a nice gesture, especially since delivering furniture seems like such a PITA job (at least for us, since we live upstairs). We've had a mattress set, a living room set, and a dryer delivered, and all of the deliverymen have been very considerate and helpful. I don't think they "expect" it - they always seem pleasantly surprised. But if I'm going to tip the pizza delivery person for bringing food to my door, I'm absolutely going to tip the deliverymen for lugging heavy furniture into my house and setting it up for me!

[Sharlla]

Food delivery men but I just pick up my food to avoid a tip and delivery fee.

[Think of Winter]

Originally Posted by dbsam

Those are the exact deliveries we've always tipped - anything large, up or down stairs, etc. No one has ever turned it down. We had a fridge delivered last month from Lowes and my husband even tipped them! I figured a chain type store like Lowes would have a 'no tip' policy.

Me too. I don't tip USPS, FedEx, or UPS, but we definitely tip for big deliveries.

[dbsam]

Originally Posted by Think of Winter

I don't tip USPS, FedEx, or UPS, definitely for big deliveries.

Like you, I don't tip USPS, UPS of FEDEX
Well, the truck just arrived...

[Think of Winter]

Originally Posted by dbsam

Like you, I don't tip USPS, UPS of FEDEX
Well, the truck just arrived...

Grab a couple of $5s or a $10. I tip $20 for moving men, $5-$10 each guy for furniture/appliances.

[ShaggyDaddy]

Originally Posted by Sharlla

Food delivery men but I just pick up my food to avoid a tip and delivery fee.

Little known fact, depending on where you are (some states have laws to prevent this) often the person working the to-go counter also works for tips (they get more per hour than a server, but still often BELOW minimum wage). The business expects that they will be tipped. I know Chilli's for instance does this.

[ChetMC]

Tipping

We do tip on food deliveries, and tip better when the weather is bad or the order is really big.

We don't tip FedEx or anything like that. Although here, we couldn't tip them even if we wanted to. They just leave the stuff on the step. Even stuff that has to be signed for. We once had "front.door" recorded as having signing for a package.

For big things like furniture, not that we've had stuff like that delivered often, we don't tip, but DH always helps.

[elisent]

My husband delivers furniture and always appreciates a tip! Company policy is that they can't accept tips, but if they tell the customer they can't take it and it's offered again, then they can accept. It can turn a bad day into a good day for them.

"Oh sorry, I forgot to tell you my mile long driveway is lined by cliffs, is barely wide enough for your truck, and has no turn around spot at the end."

"Just take that 300 pound item down those basement stairs. Be careful! They're laying fresh tile at the bottom!"

"This thing you spent two hours assembling has a small scratch on the back. I know I told you it would be okay when you took it out of the box, but now my wife's here and she doesn't like it. Take it apart and back down all those stairs now."

[dbsam]

ok...They just left and I did tip $10/each. After they left I noticed a big chunk out of the wall, although they were really trying to be careful. (I heard the bump but had to run up to the kids at that time.) They also gave me my receipts and I saw the delivery charge was $150! That seems a little high for a local delivery. I don't think I've ever paid more than $85 unless it was from N. Carolina.

Oh well...I think all pp's had valid points and tipping furniture/appliance delivery men is probably not necessary, but I felt awful the time I didn't and feel fine now so I'll probably continue tipping.

elisent...your post made me laugh! I told them the furniture was going into the basement before they arrived.

[crunchy_mama]

WE never use those kind of delivery men, we move big items ourselves- unless of course it was free. I do not tip UPS/Fed EX etc though, they are paid very well- my fil just retired from UPS.

[dbsam]

Originally Posted by crunchy_mama

WE never use those kind of delivery men, we move big items ourselves- unless of course it was free.

We often pick up items ourselves too. We were planning on picking up the fridge last month but the delivery was free. But for furniture we normally have the store deliver so it is in an enclosed truck.

[honeybunmom]

We live in a 3rd floor walk up, so, for furniture deliveries, I generally tip $20.00.

[mom0810]

This is pretty relevant, actually, since we are getting a new sectional sofa delivered in a week or so. Should I tip? they are bringing it in to the family room. First floor, and then moving the old couch into the living room, also on the first floor. Tip? No tip? I don't know if the company even allows this... should I call them and ask? Just offer, anyway? Now I am really concerned. I've NEVER Tipped delivery men before.

[Drummer's Wife]

We just bought a huge sectional couch that took a while to get into the family room and set up, so yes, we tipped the delivery guys $20. I would have felt weird had we not. First floor but there were several pieces and it took almost 20 minutes to put together.

UPS, FED Ex, my mail lady bring packages: nope, I never tip. I wanted to recently when the UPS guy brought 2 toddler beds, but I didn't have any cash. He comes around here a lot and is always very nice and helpful, when I mentioned it he said it was unnecessary and that he owes me some money cause he ran over our trash can before christmas.

When we had grocery delivery in CO, we always tipped. 2nd floor apartment and they carried all the bags up to our dining room.

So I think for furniture coming from the company that sells it rather than UPS, you should definitely tip. Especially if they help set it up!

[mouso]

We always tip delivery people delivering furniture, etc. And, of course, food deliveries.

We also tip our UPS guy with $20 at Christmas b/c he is so accommodating and real friendly. He does a good job of hiding our deliveries when we're not here to receive them in person. So we give him a small Xmas gift.