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Q: The new living room set I ordered is scheduled to be delivered soon. It has been so long since I’ve purchased new furniture that I’m not sure whether tipping is expected or required. Do you tip furniture delivery people?
A: You’re not alone in asking, “Do you tip delivery drivers?” We live in a society where many service providers receive tips, and clearly your furniture delivery drivers are performing a valuable service.
On the other hand, you’ve already spent a lot of money on the furniture itself and were likely already charged a delivery fee. So, do you need to tip the driver who delivers furniture to your home? And, if so, how much to tip furniture delivery people? Continue reading to learn whether tipping is customary with furniture delivery, as well as some pointers for when and how much you may want to offer.
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Tipping for furniture delivery is not expected, but is appreciated.
If you tip furniture delivery drivers, they’ll certainly appreciate the gesture. However, tipping is not required nor commonly expected for this service. Unlike restaurant servers who are paid a low wage and rely on tips to make up a large portion of their income, delivery drivers are compensated by the company that is providing the delivery service. These employees should be making at least minimum wage, if not more.
Furthermore, while it is common and maybe even expected practice to tip other delivery people, such as pharmacy or florist, the same is not the case with furniture deliverers.
That said, furniture delivery people work hard, and many homeowners do indeed choose to thank them with a gratuity. Most customers who decide to offer a tip generally give between $10 and $20 per delivery person.
Consider tipping more for especially difficult deliveries.
Some furniture deliveries are more challenging than others. If your delivery is particularly difficult, you may want to consider offering the drivers a larger tip than you might for a relatively straightforward delivery.
Some factors that make a furniture delivery trickier than it might otherwise be include: delivering multiple items or particularly heavy pieces, steep walkways or driveways, tight hallways, or multiple flights of stairs. Rainy, snowy, or icy weather conditions can also make deliveries more challenging—the workers are simultaneously trying to protect your items from damage while protecting themselves from injury. If stairs, ice, bulky furniture or any of these other factors are the case when your furniture arrives, an additional tip may be warranted for the extra effort required on the part of the delivery drivers.
Factor in quality of service when deciding how much to tip.
The answer to “do you tip furniture delivery people?” also varies based on the quality of service you receive. If your delivery person is punctual, friendly, and accommodates your requests, you may want to consider tipping them for their time and expertise.
Some delivery drivers may go out of their way to help you with something that’s beyond the scope of their job. If they move your old couch down to the basement before bringing in the new couch, for example, their efforts might warrant an additional tip.
On the other hand, if your delivery driver is late, rude, or disrespectful of your space, you may decide not to offer them a tip.
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If furniture assembly is included, tip for a job well done.
As you’re thinking about how much to tip a delivery driver, consider being particularly generous if the delivery staff had to assemble the pieces they brought you. Assembling furniture can take a lot of time, and reduces the number of other deliveries the drivers are able to make on a given day.
Additionally, when the drivers assemble the furniture for you, that’s one less hassle you need to work into your already busy schedule. If you are satisfied with the way in which the furniture was assembled and how well the crew cleaned up their mess, you may want to offer an additional tip for their time and attention to detail.
Consider alternatives to a cash tip.
If you’re still wondering, “do I tip for furniture delivery?,” keep in mind that a furniture delivery tip doesn’t always have to be monetary. While your drivers will certainly appreciate cold, hard cash, there are other ways to show your appreciation for a job well done.
Chances are that your drivers had another delivery right before yours and will have one right after yours too. With their busy schedule, it is likely that they won’t have time to stop for drinks or food. Offering a cold bottle of water, a bag of chips, or even a sandwich can go a long way in showing how appreciative you are for the services they are providing.
