# How much to tip bed delivery guys? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 12, 2003, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-to-tip-bed-delivery-guys/201103 "2003-09-12T01:30:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Blunt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Blunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blunt)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-to-tip-bed-delivery-guys/201103/1 "2003-09-12T01:30:13Z")
I’m having a bed delivered tommorow. The bed is pretty much bottom of the line full-size, cost $300 with frame and delivery included. According to the receipt I have, it is being delivered only, but not necessarily set-up. What should I tip the guy(s) who drop it off? I was thinking $5 a piece if there’s 2, or either $5 or $10 if there is only 1 guy. Maybe more if they were to actually set it up. Does that sound appropriate? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![smam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/46a35a/32.png) [@smam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smam)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-to-tip-bed-delivery-guys/201103/2 "2003-09-12T14:03:32Z")
Have sex with them on the bed and supply sandwiches. If you don’t it’s like saying to them that they can’t deliver beds worth a shit. Roast chicken + onion will be fine, go easy on the mayo. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-to-tip-bed-delivery-guys/201103/3 "2003-09-12T14:14:02Z")
Gee, I’ve never tipped a delivery person, ever. I mean, apart from the pizza guy. Is this a new tipping rule? ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-to-tip-bed-delivery-guys/201103/4 "2003-09-12T14:52:02Z")
Not only should they set it up but they should cart off your old bed. And **smam’s** suggestion is how I see it done in the movies all the time. ---
**Author:** ![troub](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troub/32/14802_2.png) [@troub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troub)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-to-tip-bed-delivery-guys/201103/5 "2003-09-12T15:40:41Z")
I never really thought about it, but it struck me when I had to move beds and TVs and stuff myself, and realized it’s quite difficult. Especially if you have stairs, etc. When my gf and I bought our house, we had a couch and loveseat delivered and placed in the basement. Narrow staircase, low clearance, etc. _After_ the guys left, I thought, “Damn, that was a pain in the ass. I should’ve tipped those guys.” I felt _awful_ about it. Then we bought a TV. A big TV. A 300-400+ pound TV. It had to be delivered to the same place as the couches. The guys set it up on the stand and everything. I think I gave them about 10 or 15 bucks each, I don’t remember exactly. I remember NOT feeling bad about it afterwards, though (the guys looked pretty surprised and appreciative). I guess most people might not tip for such deliveries (especially since you usually pay a $30 or so delivery charge in the first place). I don’t really know if one _should_ or not, but it makes me feel a lot better if I do. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-to-tip-bed-delivery-guys/201103/6 "2003-09-12T15:56:45Z")
I’ve never heard of tipping delivery people. It’s not one of the occupations which rely on tips to make a decent salary. In fact in most cases the drivers/delivery people are probably making union scale, so I certainly don’t feel bad about not tipping. ---
**Author:** ![yawndave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/43a26b/32.png) [@yawndave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yawndave)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-to-tip-bed-delivery-guys/201103/7 "2003-09-12T17:07:30Z")
I’d tip if they showed up at the promised day and time. Of course this has never happened, so tipping has never been an issue. ---
**Author:** ![troub](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troub/32/14802_2.png) [@troub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troub)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-to-tip-bed-delivery-guys/201103/8 "2003-09-12T17:51:30Z")
You guys are evil 😃 From the _other_ authorative source on the internet (besides Cecil): > **[How Tipping Works](https://people.howstuffworks.com/tipping.htm#pt3)** > > Did you know that servers, guides, drivers, concierges and others who help us dine and travel sometimes aren't paid even minimum wage by their employers? They depend on customer gratuities. Want to know what to tip and when? > [@](#): > > Deliveries - Pizza deliveries, flower deliveries, and large deliveries such as furniture have differing tipping standards. Depending on the distance, you might tip the pizza delivery person $2 to $5. Flower deliveries are usually tipped $1 to $10, with the higher amounts going to especially large or multiple arrangements. Large deliveries like furniture usually require $5 to $10 per person, with more for extra service. I do take exception to the word “require,” though. ---
**Author:** ![vivian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3e96dc/32.png) [@vivian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivian)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-to-tip-bed-delivery-guys/201103/9 "2003-09-12T18:02:16Z")
tipping the guys who bring your bed??? that’s a new one. i’d only do it if they did something extraordinary, like rearrange the room or something. even then, i’d probably offer food and/or drink or something… ---
**Author:** ![Toddly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@Toddly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toddly)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-to-tip-bed-delivery-guys/201103/10 "2003-09-12T18:49:08Z")
I would be kind of surprised if the delivery guys are making a union scale wage. I didn’t tip the guys that brought our refrigerator or washer/dryer but I would not go higher than 5.00 each at any rate. ---
**Author:** ![Severian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@Severian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Severian)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-to-tip-bed-delivery-guys/201103/11 "2003-09-13T02:52:23Z")
They may not even be allowed to accept a tip. The last two occasions I’ve offered a gratuity to furniture deliverymen they’ve refused it. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-to-tip-bed-delivery-guys/201103/12 "2003-09-13T15:10:11Z")
I wouldn’t tip, you already paid them. Some guys brought a used bed, bedframe, & hutch & other bedroom furniture to our thrift shop. The manager gave them the used matress as a tip 🙂 Whoever bought the set needed to buy a matress. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-to-tip-bed-delivery-guys/201103/13 "2003-09-13T15:51:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Severian \* > \*\*They may not even be allowed to accept a tip. The last two occasions I’ve offered a gratuity to furniture deliverymen they’ve refused it. \*\* We recently bought a new bed and mattress set from Sleep Train and not only did they set it up and take away the the wrappings and old mattresses, we were specificly instructed NOT to tip them and to “report” them if they didn’t offer us a “Sleep Train” promotional mug. (They didn’t, but I was impressed enough with the service to not report them, heh.) ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-to-tip-bed-delivery-guys/201103/14 "2003-09-13T16:02:16Z")
I had my new table and chairs delivered Thursday. I did not tip the delivery guys, partly because I’d paid $45 to have the thing delivered. The other aspect is that they pulled the truck up to the unloading dock, brought it into the building, took the elevatory to the 2nd floor, came about 25 feet down the hall and brought it inside about 6 feet. The chairs came on the same run up the elevator. It took them about 5 minutes, including having me sign the delivery slip. I really couldn’t convince myself to tip.