No to tipping. If they do a good job be sure to let the company know. I often have had a chance to comment on a form to be signed and will add the spontaneous words. Having the boss know you are doing your job helps you keep it. If it is an independent delivery service likewise letting the company know their choice was good is useful. Tipping should be for going well above and beyond the job expectations. Being timely, competent and efficient is to be expected. Having talked briefly with some delivery people I have been surprised at how much they can make doing the job.
I did tip the movers and still regret the amount we gave somewhat because they damaged some goods (and the reasoning, sigh- I did make the in charge man find the end piece to an old dinette table leg which we have since donated- tough luck that he had to search his truck and come back). But- that was an all day job, not a simple setup.
Rewards for doing one’s job? No. And do not let anyone intimidate you into giving a tip because they act as if you are supposed to (a reason I would not tip if the thought had crossed my mind). The professionals who set up furniture, electronics and appliances do not expect tips for doing their job. This is unlike waitstaff that is underpaid with the expectation of tips.
There is your answer. You paid for it. Would you tip a roofer? You pay to the roofing company that sends a bunch of guys to do the job. Fair and square.
Lookingforward, the vast majority of us here are not business owners. It does not mean we have to be tipped because we are paid by someone else.
I have always been perplexed by the advice that I should tip a mailman (or more accurately give an end of year gift). His job is to put stuff in my mailbox. He does. The end. I am not “tipping” or holiday gifting that.
Oh I’ve never heard of tipping the mailman/woman. I did give my old mailwoman a thank you card and little gift card when she retired. She was always wonderful and brought our old pup a treat every day… brought it up to the house when pup’s legs were giving out and she couldn’t walk out to the mailbox.
Our new mailman is a rude jerk and I’m pretty sure he just doesn’t come some days.
I’ve had mailman leave me holiday cards so I would tip him/her. I have never done it because I felt they were federal government employees with decent wages and benefits. More importantly, I don’t think they are allowed to take gifts from customers.
Slightly off topic, but since we’ve moved on from tipping the furniture delivery guy to tipping the mailman–here’s my question: do you tip the owner of a business that you frequent. I used to go to a day spa for hair cut/color and for nails/skin care. The people I saw have since gone out on their own and I followed them. I tip them the same as I did when they were at the day spa–20% of the cost of the services. A friend of mine, who also uses these people, told me that she doesn’t tip them now that they are on their own. What do others do in this circumstance?
I had the same situation happen with the woman who has cut my hair for 15 years. I still tip her as it would seem strange to suddenly give her less money when she is trying to make a go of it on her own. If I was a new customer, I might do differently.
I tip furniture delivery guys. They put in much much more effort than the guys who tag my luggage at the airport after I’ve lifted it onto the scale, or the waiter who uncorked an expensive bottle of wine (and expects 20% tip based on the price) or even my hairdresser who is the owner and sole proprietor of her salon. A masseuse makes well over minimum wage and yet I’ll bet most of us tip for that service. Why?
I find it odd that we tip those who ‘expect it’ and not those who don’t. Every service provided already paid for fair and square. Isn’t tipping done to show you appreciate a job well done?
My parents always tipped the mailman at Christmas, so I have always tipped the mailman. I agree that we are not supposed to tip federal employees but many do.
The Christmas tipping list includes the garbage men, the NYT & WSJ delivery people, and used to include the dry cleaning delivery man, when I had dry cleaning delivered, and the bus driver when the boys were younger. I feel bad that I can’t tip the UPS delivery man but I don’t know who he is.
