Behavior

Tipping Adventures Double Header: Carpet Cleaner and Furniture Delivery

Does it seem to anyone else that tip jars are showing up in more and more places these days? While I generally have no problem giving a tip to someone working in the service industry for a job well done, it seems harder and harder to determine when you’re in a situation where a tip is acceptable or expected and how much of a tip is appropriate. In an effort to share information and help us all, I share with you my tipping adventures.

Today’s installment of tipping adventures is actually a double header. Check them out, then share in the comments whether you’ve encountered the same situation, and if you agree with my choice!

The Carpet Cleaner

I recently had my carpet professionally cleaned. The job was done by a single guy, and it took about 2.5 hours. Once he completed the first couple of rooms, I inspected the carpet as he moved to a different area of the home. I was very impressed with how nice the carpet looked. I wondered if carpet cleaners typically were tipped.

I harnessed the power of the internet to see what the online masses had to say about the matter. I found that tipping a carpet cleaner is neither customary or expected. As the cleaning concluded, I started looking for signs that maybe I should be tipping. The cleaning person took my debit card as payment using an attachment to his iPad. I signed using my finger, but there was no way to select an amount for a tip. Without hesitation, he picked up his gear and walked out the door.

Even though it felt like a tip might be appropriate, there were no signs that a tip was expected. Therefore, no tip was given to the carpet cleaner.

Furniture Delivery

The furniture company charged $60 for the delivery of a new couch and love seat. The moment I saw the two guys carrying the couch down my stairs I felt that familiar feeling setting in. I had conflicting feelings of whether this was one of those times I should be scrambling for cash to tip the two guys hauling the furniture into my home.

After a few moments, the feeling faded, however. Because that’s about how long it took them to carry in the two peaces of furniture. I paid a significant amount to have the furniture delivered, and they took all of 5 minutes to get them in my home. Reasoning further, a purist would argue that a tip is for a job well done. How do you do just an “ok” job of carrying in furniture? Either you successfully get it in the home, or you ram it through the door causing damage to the door frame and the walls. I convinced myself that it would be odd to tip someone for not damaging my home.

As the two young men left my home, I could sense a slight pause as they headed for the door. I think they were looking to see if I was going to hand them a tip. Admittedly, it felt a little awkward.

Two different situations, two slightly different outcomes. While the furniture delivery experience felt a bit awkward, I think I made the right choice in both situations.

How about you Clever Friends, do you agree with not tipping in each of these situations? What would you have done?

Brought to you courtesy of Brock

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Brock Kernin

Brock is a software engineer by day and personal finance blogger at night. He is a fitness junkie and enjoys grilling and smoking meat. Married with two children,  Brock strives to improve his skills as a husband and father, and is always on the lookout to stretch his family’s budget as far as he can.