How to Tip for Furniture Delivery

When you purchase new furniture and pay to have it delivered, it is difficult to think about shelling out more cash to the furniture delivery crew. However, remember that they're the ones who'll be hauling that sofa sleeper to the third floor, and giving them a tip is a polite way to thank them for such back-breaking work.

Instructions

1. Plan ahead by making sure you have some singles, $5 and $10 bills available for tipping when you're expecting delivery service providers. Designate an envelope that you keep in your drawer so you're always prepared to tip when you need to, or when someone exceeds your expectations.

2. Base your tip amount on the size of the order and the effort required. If your furniture delivery staff hauls a grand piano up three flights of stairs, show your appreciation appropriately. A general rule of thumb is $5 to $10 per mover for light to medium workloads, and $15 to $20 per mover for large furniture orders and more challenging logistics.

3. Give the delivery crew members cash tips when they finish placing the furniture in your home (after you've checked the accuracy of the delivery). Typically, the driver will ask you to inspect the delivery and sign off on it. Handing him cash at this point is perfectly acceptable.

4. Let the furniture crew know that you recognize how labor-intensive their job is, and how much you appreciate their hard work. We all need to hear verbalized appreciation regularly, and you might be the only person during their shift who remembered to thank them.

5. Contact the furniture store and let the manager know if you received particularly excellent service. Job security can be the best tip of all.