# do you tip appliance delivery guys? Need answer quick! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 13, 2014, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-appliance-delivery-guys-need-answer-quick/707136 "2014-12-13T16:41:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Labtrash](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/labtrash/32/528_2.png) [@Labtrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labtrash)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-appliance-delivery-guys-need-answer-quick/707136/1 "2014-12-13T16:41:13Z")
They’ll be dropping off and setting up a washer & dryer, and taking away the old ones. Second floor. No idea what would be appropriate here. Suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-appliance-delivery-guys-need-answer-quick/707136/2 "2014-12-13T17:03:41Z")
I tip nearly everybody, but I’ve never tipped appliance delivery people. Then again, they’ve only dropped off the boxed appliance, never anything else. Interested to see what others say. ---
**Author:** ![diggerwam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/919ad9/32.png) [@diggerwam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggerwam)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-appliance-delivery-guys-need-answer-quick/707136/3 "2014-12-13T17:03:42Z")
I don’t usually. Lots of stairs I might consider a 20. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-appliance-delivery-guys-need-answer-quick/707136/4 "2014-12-13T17:26:18Z")
Yes, $20. They took out the old appliances, took care of the new plug on the new stove, unpacked all shipping junk, wiped everything down, and made sure all the oven burners were working (and the refrigerator was running). It helped it was from the HD and installation and delivery was free. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-appliance-delivery-guys-need-answer-quick/707136/5 "2014-12-13T17:35:36Z")
I tipped the guys who delivered and installed my new fridge $20, same for the guys who delivered and installed my new W&D. They were polite, clean, and knew their shit. Both groups of guys did excellent jobs and I KNOW they are underpaid; I was happy to buy their lunch that day (or some smokes or a couple of beers or whatever). ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-appliance-delivery-guys-need-answer-quick/707136/6 "2014-12-13T17:47:48Z")
You don’t have to, but I’m sure they’d appreciate it. Even just five bucks a man would be very appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-appliance-delivery-guys-need-answer-quick/707136/7 "2014-12-13T18:13:29Z")
Last time I had a fridge delivered, I tipped the two guys $10 each. They had to take my door off the hinges to get it into the kitchen. I figured they weren’t being paid much by the company and they probably worked a little harder on this delivery than usual. ---
**Author:** ![Labtrash](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/labtrash/32/528_2.png) [@Labtrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labtrash)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-appliance-delivery-guys-need-answer-quick/707136/8 "2014-12-14T00:52:39Z")
Thanks all. I gave the two of them $20. They were quick, professional, and courteous. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-appliance-delivery-guys-need-answer-quick/707136/9 "2014-12-14T01:00:09Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > Yes, $20. They took out the old appliances, took care of the new plug on the new stove, unpacked all shipping junk, wiped everything down, and made sure all the oven burners were working (and the refrigerator was running). It helped it was from the HD and installation and delivery was free. That would certainly trigger my, “Time for a tip” detector. Doing something above and beyond just dropping it off. I also tip my UPS man right now, because he is truly above and beyond good. If we are not home, he will sign for it, will carry it around to the back porch and drop a note through the mailbox saying he did that. But just one nice tip a year seems right. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-appliance-delivery-guys-need-answer-quick/707136/10 "2014-12-14T01:03:06Z")
> [@Labtrash](#): > > Thanks all. > > I gave the two of them $20. > > They were quick, professional, and courteous. Good for you! ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-appliance-delivery-guys-need-answer-quick/707136/11 "2014-12-14T06:50:27Z")
Why tip them? Aren’t they getting paid? Sure, it’s hard work, but, that’s factored into their pay. My brother tipped each of the movers when he moved. Then he found out that the bill was $200 dollars more than he thought it would be. Don’t think he learned his lesson, tho. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-appliance-delivery-guys-need-answer-quick/707136/12 "2014-12-14T14:46:05Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > Why tip them? Aren’t they getting paid? > Sure, it’s hard work, but, that’s factored into their pay. My brother tipped each of the movers when he moved. Then he found out that the bill was $200 dollars more than he thought it would be. Don’t think he learned his lesson, tho. That depends. In my instance, I bought the fridge at a small locally-owned appliance store and they charged $25 for delivery since I was so close to the store. The two guys who delivered it were paid the $25, using their own truck and gas. They probably had two hours into the operation - split between two guys, that’s not much. They were obviously poor and doing this and other odd jobs with their old truck. The $20 didn’t mean much to me, but I figured it would be a nice bonus/gesture to them. Now - FedEx or UPS - I wouldn’t tip. Those drivers make damn good money. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-appliance-delivery-guys-need-answer-quick/707136/13 "2014-12-14T14:52:14Z")
Yes. $5 a guy usually. More if you ask for anything above and beyond normal delivery. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-appliance-delivery-guys-need-answer-quick/707136/14 "2014-12-14T14:58:19Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > Why tip them? Aren’t they getting paid? > Sure, it’s hard work, but, that’s factored into their pay. It is? How do you know that? Being a hotel maid is damned hard work, too. Do they get some sort of special pay “factored in”? What nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-appliance-delivery-guys-need-answer-quick/707136/15 "2014-12-14T15:35:29Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > Why tip them? Aren’t they getting paid? > Sure, it’s hard work, but, that’s factored into their pay. This is a ridiculous statement. Pay is almost never calculated on the basis of how physically hard it is. In fact, physically demanding work is probably some of the lowest paid (having worked some day labor, including moving, during my student days). > [@](#): > > My brother tipped each of the movers when he moved. Then he found out that the bill was $200 dollars more than he thought it would be. Did the $200 go to the guys who actually did the moving, or to the company? If it didn’t go to the movers themselves, this is irrelevant. > [@](#): > > Don’t think he learned his lesson, tho. The lesson should be to get a quote on a job in writing, not to stiff the deliverymen. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-appliance-delivery-guys-need-answer-quick/707136/16 "2014-12-14T15:52:27Z")
If it wasn’t for the Dope it would never, ever occur to me to tip appliance delivery guys. It never occurred to me to tip hotel maids until I read it here, and when I attempted it in Florida a few years back I did it wrong and she never took the money. I grew up tipping wait staff at restaurants and taxi drivers; that was it. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-appliance-delivery-guys-need-answer-quick/707136/17 "2014-12-14T17:55:49Z")
I tipped the mattress delivery guys pretty heavily because they arrived in the middle of a power outage and therefore the building’s elevator wasn’t working, so they had to carry the mattresses up four flights of stairs in the dark. I probably would have also tipped without that, but not as much. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-appliance-delivery-guys-need-answer-quick/707136/18 "2014-12-14T18:21:38Z")
For the second floor, definitely. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-appliance-delivery-guys-need-answer-quick/707136/19 "2014-12-14T19:20:50Z")
Two guys delivered my wife’s new baby grand. I think I tipped them each 20 bucks. I know it’s their job, and they didn’t have any stairs to go up, and the piano now sits about ten feet from the front door, but… These guys were lugging a baby grand. I probably should have given each one fifty bucks. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2014, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-appliance-delivery-guys-need-answer-quick/707136/20 "2014-12-14T20:18:49Z")
I always tip people who move heavy stuff for me. €/$ 10/person seems fine. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tip-appliance-delivery-guys-need-answer-quick/707136.md?page=2)