Do You Tip On White Glove Delivery?
White glove delivery is known as luxury delivery, where you can point and have them deliver and open the package you want in the room you need it in. It’s top-tier service, and one would assume that it should be paid with top-tier pricing. Tipping, though, is still a thing. Should you tip on white glove delivery?
Most people tip on white glove delivery, though it is not required. The best way to determine the most appropriate route is to check the website offering delivery. If the website says no tips are required, you do not need to tip your driver.
American tipping culture is something that tends to be a bit difficult to navigate. There are a lot of unspoken words to discuss. So, let’s take a closer look at when and how you should tip your delivery guys.
What Is White Glove Delivery?
“White glove” is a phrase that denotes a type of furniture or mattress delivery that comes with superior service. It’s delivery that goes above the typical standard of dropping something off at your door. This means that they will bring the item into your home, drop it off where you want it, and possibly remove old items for you.
What Does White Glove Delivery Include?
It can offer a lot of service perks. That’s why it’s a must-have if you have delicate equipment. White glove typically comes with:
- In-Room Delivery. They will bring the item into your room, at the spot you want it dropped in. Most companies also unpack items to ensure that you have everything ready to go.
- Scheduled Delivery. Want to have it come before Aunt Irma arrives? They’ll do that for you.
- Removal Of Old Item. This is often a freebie they do with white glove mattress delivery, but it also can be done for furniture.
- Removal Of Packaging. Once they unwrap your item, you will have packaging scraps. White glove means they clean this up and remove it for you. This is only sometimes included, by the way.
- Inspections. Your white glove delivery guy (or girl) will inspect the item before they leave to ensure it’s in working condition.
- Additional Protective Packaging. Protective bubble wrap and cloths come standard, and many companies offer additional insurance too.
Author’s Note: Oddly enough, “white glove delivery” does not actually come with people who deliver items while wearing white gloves.
Does White Glove Delivery Include Assembly?
It can, but this is a service that often is sold separately from white glove delivery. Many companies include this as a freebie when you buy white glove delivery, but it’s best to double-check. Since times are hard, companies are starting to split these into two different services.
Which Companies Offer White Glove Delivery?
Almost all upscale furniture and medical equipment companies offer white glove delivery. This includes Ashley Home Furniture, Pottery Barn, Costco, as well as companies like Wayfair. Some moving companies also do, too.
Should You Tip Your White Glove Delivery Guys?
In America, tipping culture is just part of service work in general. Though most companies do not expect you to tip and pay their delivery staff a living wage, it’s still commonplace. It’s up to you to decide if they need the money, though you can always call their company for their tipping policy if you’re worried.
With that said, most people do tip white glove delivery guys. This is especially true if the white glove service was truly excellent or if they put together furniture.
How Much Should You Tip White Glove Delivery Staff?
It’s great that you want to tip, but trying to figure out tradition can be hard. You have a bit of freedom here. There are two schools of thought on this:
- The first option is to pay a percentage of the delivery fee. Most people settle on 10 to 15 percent of the price of the delivery fee. This is done if you have to order the delivery separately and pay for it. If the weather is particularly bad, tip 20 percent.
- The other option is to tip them a flat fee per person. It’s usually $5 for a small item, per person. $10 would be acceptable for a person who helped deliver a larger item like a fridge. $20 is a good tip for an exceptional worker.
Why Should You Tip White Glove Delivery Staff?
In America, most service jobs are paid at a very low wage. This includes delivery staff. Many companies do not pay the best wage for what the delivery men do and expect buyers to tip them as a way to even out the books. White glove delivery men do hard labor, and they do it well. Unless they botched something, they deserve a little extra.
When Should You Not Tip White Glove Delivery Men?
While it is tradition to offer a tip for any person working a service job in the United States, there are some moments where it doesn’t always warrant a tip. These issues below are reason to say no to a tip:
- Your service was objectively poor. If the driver was very late, had a foul attitude, didn’t do his job, or harmed the items in your home, no tip was required. After all, you might need that money to pay for repairs or replacements.
- The company has a ban on tips. Though it’s not quite normal, there are some companies that ban people from accepting tips. If this is the case, your worker could get written up for accepting a tip. Don’t do that to your worker.
- The driver’s work is part of a larger company order. Most of the time, commercial orders have specific amounts of money added in as an instant gratuity. It’s best to discuss this with the company to determine the best course of action.
- There is a delivery fee that is designed to cover the wages and tips. This is increasingly common these days.
- You simply can’t afford to. While I’m all for giving tips, if you are literally choosing between getting food and getting a tip into peoples’ hands, then you may want to forgo the tip. With that said, this is probably not the case.
- Something the driver did made you very uncomfortable. White glove delivery is still something run by humans. Sometimes, humans do something that make you worry for your safety, even if they did the job correctly. If you found their behavior alarming, skip the tip and call the company.
Is White Glove Delivery Worth It?
For the most part, white glove delivery is an amazing thing to have at your hands. This is especially true if the service comes with a free installation or assembly. White glove offers a lot of time-saving service that helps take the burden off you and makes it easier to live your life.
If you are on the fence about white glove delivery, we made a quick list of situations where it makes sense:
- It’s always worth it if you have a disability that impedes your ability to carry things into your home. Old age, physical handicaps, and being unable to accurately read installation directions makes it worth it.
- You are on a serious time constraint. If you work from home like I do, you already know the deal. It’s a bit too much to handle at times and outsourcing the work is a smart idea.
- The item in question is particularly bulky. Let’s face it, none of us want to carry a piano up the stairs.
- You don’t want to have to take a trip to the dump. This is particularly common for mattress deliveries. You have to toss out the old mattress.
- You are buying industrial or scientific equipment. Delicate equipment requires dedicated deliveries. If you have something that could shatter with normal delivery, white glove is the way to go.
Related Questions
Does white glove delivery include assembly at Costco?
Currently, Costco’s white glove delivery includes all the standard parts of white glove service along with the added perk of free assembly. The assembly offer is most commonly requested for furniture parts, but the truth is that it can end up being a part of other deliveries as well.
How much does white glove delivery cost?
It depends on the store. Some stores offer free white glove delivery service after you spend a certain amount of money. Others may require you to pay as much as $150 or more. It’s best to ask the actual store before you assume that you know how much you should set aside. Moreover, it’s best to learn about their tipping policy before you book it.
What is FedEx White Glove Service?
FedEx offers a specialized delivery service that is meant to be given extra care. This is the preferred service for fragile or otherwise high-ticket items that should never be damaged in the mail. If you have expensive glassware, high-end scientific equipment, high-security goods, or something that is temperature-sensitive, this is the right service for you.
Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.
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