Are You Supposed To/expected to TIP Furniture Delivery People??

Updated on January 23, 2011
C.K. asks from Chicago, IL
12 answers

Hi Mummies!
Another tipping question from an unseasoned resident from another country.....
At last we bought a new lounge suite and we're having it delivered next week. Obviously I paid $100+ at a Chicago store to have it delivered to a high rise. Do I need to tip the deliverers? If so, what amount would that be?
Thanks a million!
GO THE BEARS!!!

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So What Happened?

I am going to play it by ear as to how much I will give. The move in is very straight forward - bring it in and place it. I will tip accordingly, based on their timeliness, helpfulness and politeness.
Thanks!

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C.B.

answers from Boston on

Yes I tip all delivery people. Generally about $10 bill each. That is small enough that they can accept it. I generally say something like " here, go have lunch on me" so if there is a rule about no tips they can say she bought me lunch.

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V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

MamaMia sounds like she has first hand knowledge on this. I defer to her. And am happy to say that that is generally the way I have always approached it. If it is a very simple job, (brining in a sofa and setting it down) then a hearty thank you and offering a small tip is what I have done. If it is more involved (several pieces with any of them requiring assembly or sharp turns with large pieces of furniture that required lots of care in bringing it in, and the guys WERE careful not to knick either the furniture or the walls, etc) then they get a couple of $5's. I've had some tell me "aww thanks that's not necessary" actually (a pair that delivered my son's tallboy dresser and head/food boards and rails). They assembled the bed and left the mattress/boxspring leaning against the wall (per my request). I was about 4-5 months pregnant at the time. I guess they felt sorry for me, so wouldn't take my money.

I look at it like this, the delivery fee charged by the furniture store is for the actually transport of the furniture (a truck, gas, driver). The tip is for they guy getting a sore back and lifting the weight (which I'm sure he is paid for by the company). Not for the actual work (as he is being paid by the company) but for the care and consideration they take when bringing the stuff into my home. I have never met any who weren't very conscientious about their work.

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J.N.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Depending on the challenge of manuvering it up the elevator and into your apartment, and how good of a job they do, you may want to give them maybe $5 or so. If they are courteous, and make sure not to ding corners or anything.
But if they are rude or careless, there is no need to tip. In my opinion, a tip is a way of saying "I really appreciate your great service! Keep it up!"

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L.B.

answers from Stockton on

I do. How much of a tip depends on the item delivered (ex: washers & dryers need to be installed) Forgive me, I'm not sure what a lounge suite is but if it's furniture I tip about anywhere from 5-20 bucks if they took the care to arrange it for me.

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L.A.

answers from Chattanooga on

We used to own a furniture delivery company. Tips are always welcome. It is very difficult work a lot of the time. If it is a single piece of furniture that fits easily through the front door and goes on the main floor with no assembly, no tip is necessary, but always welcome. If it's several pieces of furniture, all needing assembly, with a turning staircase and several difficult doorways to get through, then I'd say $10 per man is appropriate. $5 per man is about average for anything requiring assembly or rearranging furniture.

My husband's crews were always exceptionally careful and went above and beyond. He always loved the people that wanted him to rearrange their entire houseful furniture when they ordered a mattress and they would spend 40 minutes there and no tip or even a thank you! Lots of rude people out there...but some nice ones too :)

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P.L.

answers from Chicago on

my husband did, I didn't....a highrise building, I think I would...
My husband said, they don't make a lot of money...

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C.T.

answers from Dallas on

The last piece of furniture I bought cost almost $200 in delivery fees. So, no I didn't.

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S.B.

answers from Wichita on

I've never tipped delivery people unless it was food. I used to work at an appliance store and our delivery people weren't allowed to accept tips anyway.

C.J.

answers from Milwaukee on

I always do because getting ANYTHING into this house is a nightmare.

My dad was a fire fighter for 31 years and a big part of that time his part-time job was appliance delivery. He seemed to get tipped but it was mostly with food. Those old ladies loved getting their new washer delivered and have some company for a little while. It was the perfect job because fire fighters love to sit and chat! LOL!

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M.L.

answers from Houston on

I do. I tipped for a bed delivery recently. They set it all up for me, and had to move some stuff out of the way to get it through. They put everything back the way they found it. I tipped $10 to each of the guys. There were two of them.

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C.S.

answers from Victoria on

I didn't tip with my mattress delivery, I did pay for the delivery. They put it on the bed. It was very hot out and so I offered them each a bottle of water or cold soda and the use of my bathroom. i offered the bathroom cause my BIL told me that was the hardeest part in delivery. Finding time to go to the bathroom and they are not allowed to ask customers, but if offered then they can. Something about security, criminals who use delivery jobs to gain access to peoples home by using their bathroom & unlocking their window, so that they can return when the people are at work to rob them. Anyway, they seemed happy with the common courtesy of a cold drink on a hot day. Hope this helps you. You could also call the store and ask their policies as well, since I;m not sure about high rise etc.... Around here, we have to pay $25 more for each flight of stairs.

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E.M.

answers from Johnstown on

Coming from a family who actually owns a furniture store--If the business is privately owned--no. If it's a chain store--just like with pizza places--yes.

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