I realize we are in a tipping society but I am getting something delivered from California to my house. I was wondering if tipping is normal or that was what I paid $1000 for.

letmethinkaboutit - no

TBH, the delivery person's wages are built into the delivery cost. Why over-value the labor?

But that's just me and the way my business mind works.

I'd say it depends. A good portion of my work is "delivery" of sorts, and we do get tipped on occasion.

As an example, was the freight quoted as curbside, but the driver put it in your garage because you asked? I'd tip for that. If they dropped it on the street and said that's all they can do, then no.

If somebody goes above and beyond it may be worth considering, otherwise the work quoted has the value of everything factored in.

I live in FL and it’s hot here almost all the time. First summer we moved here we were having new appliances and couches and tables delivered. Then I had a gunsafe delivered and they moved it into a room for me. My house is like 75 yards or so from the road where they had to park their box truck. All these dudes are sweating hard in the heat by the time they move something from the truck to where we wanted it place. Everyone of them I offered a cold bottle of water for the road and slipped them a $20. All were grateful and accepted. We shook hands they were on their way. Same for the guys that came out after hours on a Friday night to drain my septic tank the first time because I was new to septic world. What a truly shitty job. Slipped those 2 dudes a $20 each and said get a beer on me. Or something similar. If they report it on their taxes? That’s their responsibility not mine.

Hell, if I understand correctly, self-service checkouts in some grocery stores now have a tipping option. I do hope I have the opportunity one day to laugh in someone's face when they ask me why I didn't leave a tip at one of those things.

I find it hilarious that people are saying "I wouldn't want to be caught not giving a tip" (referring to a cashier at a grocery store.) Really? Why? Can you not recognize this as symptomatic of our society in its current state? I've been buying my own groceries for more than forty years and I have never tipped a cashier. Why should I begin now? This has never been customary in American society. Used to be, I'd see my mom or dad give a dollar to a grocery bagger who wheeled out the groceries, but that was ages ago. For many, many years, grocery stores I patronized had "No tipping" signs displayed.

As for food delivery, yes, I tip- usually. I never tip when placing the order, in case the delivery person turns out to be an idiot or a douchebag. I have cash in hand and if warranted, I give a tip of four or five dollars.

But, this expectation of a tip automatically, no. It's not called a gratuity for nothing.

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:
If somebody goes above and beyond it may be worth considering, otherwise the work quoted has the value of everything factored in.

Well said.

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:
If somebody goes above and beyond it may be worth considering, otherwise the work quoted has the value of everything factored in.

That is my feeling as well.

This tipping craze has gotten completely out of hand.

All deliveries are not created equal,
When I was delivering and installing appliances.
I
Made it a priority to assure the customer that they made a great choice in merchandise and retailer.

I had product knowledge, was on time and professional in appearance.

I cleaned up my mess, was courteous and thanked them.

I bright home between $45.00 and $90.00 a week.

I know a gravel truck driver that will get a $60.00 tip for pulling a lever.

He saves the homeowner about three hours of spreading.

At the very least look at it as an opportunity to enhance someone's work day.
At the very least $12.00 for a lunch.

We've got a new franchise pizza outfit in town, Jett's, and they are cashless - must give them credit/debit card when you order and they ask for a tip for making the pizza.

I wonder if the pizza maker will give their best efforts if tip box is left blank? The pizza is very good - they call it Detroit style square cut deep dish.

I really think it depends on what you ordered.

Order a safe to be delivered from California to Texas, like I did, and they only drop off at curb, then no tip as that is what the delivery fee was. If he would have offered to move it into house, then yeah he would have got a good tip.

Order food to be delivered, then yes I tip as that is how driver makes money.

Order an appliance and I pay a $150 delivery and install fee, then no as I paid for delivery and install. I just did this with a top of the line Speed Queen so install was guaranteed. They screwed up the install and washer got damaged and company had to pay to get me a new one free of charge.

At restaurants, I ONLY tip if I eat in and they give good service with drink refills etc. I am NOT going to tip when I place an order for pickup, drive there, get it, and leave. What the heck am I tipping for in that situation so no way.

Food deliveries yes, other deliveries probably not. Exception being furniture delivery, where probably and Andrew Jackson per helper is warranted.

Here's the way I look at it:

If you're paying $1000 to have something delivered, typically the Joe Schmoe doing the delivery is not making that $1K. He's probably bringing home some hourly rate to come into my home packing something heavy/fragile that I don't want to carry.

If that guy does a good job, is clean, on-time, and considerate, then I slip them some cash. That $50 makes a difference to that delivery guy.

When I had a car transported from out of state I paid to have it hauled from Texas to Colorado. I tipped the guy after asking him to drop the car in the exact spot on the driveway. He could have rolled it off on the street and been gone.


I don't tip the 15 Amazon delivery people coming to my house every week.

Ok thanks guys.

If he drops it in the street I’ll do a no tip. If I can get it into the driveway or preferably into my garage then I’ll throw him a $50. It’s in a crate that I won’t be able to move with the item in it so putting it in my driveway or garage would be beneficial.

Food deliveries, yes. I worked part-time as a pizza delivery driver in the late 1980s. The "poor" neighborhoods would only occasionally tip, but that was understandable. "Middle class" neighborhoods generally tipped well. However, the "rich" neighborhoods often wouldn't tip, or would try to shortchange me on the bill. That job was a good life lesson.

quote:

It’s in a crate that I won’t be able to move with the item in it so putting it in my driveway or garage would be beneficial.

I get regular deliveries of very heavy things, usually from the same freight company. One day a guy shows up who usually runs a residential delivery route and he had a fancy electric pallet jack on the truck. I commented that I had never seen them on any other trucks and I was shocked that the company would buy something that nice for one of their drivers.

He told me that it was his personal machine that he purchased himself. He uses it to make tips in scenarios just like your as it allows him to drive pallets/skids up driveways and into a garage by himself. He said his tip income was quickly approaching what he got paid as a driver.

Deliveries - depends, but if it's a bunch of furniture or some such probably yes if they do a good job.

Heck, I tipped 6 guys enough to buy a nice lunch this weekend who were picking up a truckload of stuff for donation from our cabin. They were friendly, fast, polite and working for a charity. They can use that more than me and was happy to be able to make a nice gesture to fellows who certainly didn't expect it.

Isn't the concept of a tip to be an optional gift of gratitude?

I had a company move nearly my entire house full of furniture and belongings to my new house, 21 miles. They were clean cut, hard working college students. They didn't complain about carrying heavy items upstairs, and deferred dinner to finish. They did the job in 4 hours. I gave them each a 50. I rarely get deliveries, although a driver brought me a sandwich once I didn't order and took off before I could protest. For the rest, it's pretty much Amazon or a 150 dollar paid delivery, who get no tips.

When I was a little kid my grandmother would give me a list of grocery items. Usually I dropped it off at the corner grocery. Several hours later a delivery boy would be ringing the bell. She always gave me several dollars to give to the delivery guy. She explained that he also carefully bagged the groceries and that he deserved a tip for walking a half mile. She explained you got top of the line service with a tip.

Interesting discussion. We live well outside of town, so we don’t get pizza or food deliveries. Like anyone, we get regular deliveries from UPS, FedEx, and Amazon. There are 3 or 4 drivers that we are on a first name basis with; we give them, and the trash pickup guys something at Christmas.