I bought a couch and it’s going to be delivered next Saturday. I have heard both that one tips the delivery people and that one doesn’t, so I throw it open to the Dope.
I lean toward no tip, because I’m already paying what amounts to a 15% surcharge on the purchase price for delivery. Had delivery been free, I would probably lean toward tipping but I’m not sure why because the delivery people are already getting paid and AFAIK they aren’t like wait staff who have the assumption of tipping built into their pay.
I have some recollection of a Seinfeld ep which suggests not tipping but offering the delivery people something to drink.
I tip 'em. Not an awful lot. For a couch, probably about $5 would be good. (Between them, not each.) Of course, if they’re rude, or extra helpful, that amount can always be changed.
When I had my table & chairs delivered back in August, I didn’t. Part of the reasoning was: there was nothing for them to set up, they basically put the items in the elevator, went up one floor and walked them 20 feet down the hall to my apartment. They didn’t remove the plastic on the seats or have to put anything together. Plus, I had already paid $50 for the delivery (and if the items would have fit in my car, I wouldn’t have done that).
For something like a sofa…it would depend. Do they have to come up a number of stairs or through tight fitting doors? If so, I’d probably tip something, but I’m not sure how much. It would depend on the item being delivered and any required assembly.
I use the same rule that I do with pizza delivery…if there’s no delivery charge I tip, if there’s a delivery charge I don’t tip (and with pizza, generally don’t use that store anymore).
a few years back while in college I worked for an electronics store delivering big-screens, setting up satellite systems, assembling entertainment centers, etc. None of us were ever tipped because we were paid to do just that. For most delivery guys, the wage they make would make $5 between 2 guys laughable.
I’ve been the only one home a few times when the delivery guys came to deliver stuff at my parents home. Maybe it was because I obviously wasn’t the person ordering it, but I’ve never gotten a funny look for not tipping. And before I worked at a pizza place, my parents were working on their trip to hell for not tipping pizza drivers, and we got funny looks and people coming back up to the door - “no tip?”. So my guess is it’s not necessary.
Well, y’know, if they don’t want it all they have to do is say so. I’ll be happy to stick it back in my pocket. They’ve always stuck in their pocket with a “thank you”, though. I figure it’s a free six-pack. I gladly accepted $5 when I was working for a moving company.