Do You Tip Piano Delivery Guys?
If you have a piano in your home, then you already know the joy music can bring you. Owning a piano is not just a must-have for people who are serious about their music careers. It’s a way to show your wealth and acts as a way to show your status to the world. Pianos rule, but getting them in your home can be a hassle. Do you tip piano delivery guys?
Piano companies stress that tipping is not necessary, but that doesn’t mean it’s not customary. Most people hiring piano delivery crews will pay between $20 to $40 per person for a tip. The large tip is paid because moving a piano is skilled and difficult work.
It’s clear that getting a piano delivered is going to be a lot of work for all people involved. Maybe it’s time to talk about what you should expect when you get that new music maker in your home.
How Much Does It Cost To Get A Piano Moved Or Delivered?
One thing that many people don’t realize is how difficult it can be to get a piano moved from place to place. That’s why there are specific businesses for it. A typical piano move can cost $100 to $2,000 for a single unit depending on the type of the piano as well as the company’s pricing as well as the distance the piano has to move.
If you are buying a piano from a major store, they typically will have you pay an additional fee for the delivery. A typical piano delivery fee from the store you bought the piano can range from $100 to $700. Additional insurance or higher fees can be required for antique or rare pianos.
Should You Get Piano Delivery Insurance?
Most music stores have their own insurance that covers any delivery damage that could occur. If you have a particularly expensive piano, you might still want to ask for additional insurance just in case.
What Does Piano Delivery Include?
In most cases, piano delivery will include wrapping the instrument in protective wrap, bringing it to the room of your choosing, and taking the wrapping back to the company. Most home delivery companies will not remove an older piano for free. This tends to be a better job for a junk hauling company.
Why Should You Give Piano Delivery Crews A Tip?
Pianos are not exactly easy to move, but it goes way more into depth than just that. There are several reasons why tips are expected in this delivery zone, even if you pay a hefty delivery fee. These include these issues below:
- Pianos are notoriously hard to deliver. This basically involves carrying and hauling a 200-plus-pound table upstairs, around corners, and more. It’s a delicate maneuver that can easily backfire if you don’t know what you’re doing. Since planning may be required, it makes sense to tip them for all their work.
- It is also a fairly noted part of the tradition of buying a luxury item. Pianos are not a discount item. They have to be handmade and they often come with special amenities. Since it is a luxury item, the delivery is a luxury service. This denotes a need for a tip.
- They also happen to be particularly delicate. It only takes one bump to scuff an $80,000 Steinway into a $20,000 used item. Tipping people who take that extra care shows that you appreciate the fact that they do what they can to avoid it.
- It’s the polite thing to do. Piano delivery is not like IKEA delivery. It takes a lot of tiptoeing around things. The least you can do is make sure that people know you’re thankful for this.
How Long Does Piano Delivery Take?
This depends on where you bought your piano and the delivery timeframes they have. Most major companies will be able to deliver a piano that you bought within a week. If you have a move that you need to do, your moving company will schedule the piano delivery along with the rest of your belongings.
The best possible way to find out the timeframe that you should expect is to contact the company that is doing the move. Usually, upscale delivery crews will allow you to schedule things out as needed.
Are There Any Moments Where A Tip Is Not Warranted?
If the piano gets damaged en route to its destination or the delivery crew does damage to your home, you shouldn’t tip them. On the rare occasion that you have a delivery crew that was rude or demanding to you, you also do not need to tip.
Generally speaking, both of these kinds of issues (damage and rudeness) warrant a call to the delivery company. They need to be aware of what their crew is doing.
How Much Are You Supposed To Tip A Piano Delivery Crew?
Now that we went over why you should tip, let’s get to the real meat of the article. How much do you need to tip them? Here’s the scoop:
- Very basic piano delivery deserves at least $20 per person. This is a basic one-floor move that has local work.
- Piano delivery with difficult maneuvers or problematic stairs deserves $30 per person. Let’s face it. Hoisting a piano up three flights of stairs deserves a good tip, at the very least.
- Piano delivery that involves a disposal deserves $40 per person. This also happens to be the best choice for deliveries that have extremely difficult problems linked to the delivery. Things like inclement weather, heavy baby grand pianos, and more could fit this bill, too.
- If you are just getting the piano dropped off at the curb, then $10 suffices. Also, you should wonder why you are doing this to yourself. Moving a piano is hard!
Do Piano Delivery Crews Make Good Money?
For the most part, piano delivery crews do make better money than a typical mover will. Piano delivery crews make around $26,462 or more on average. This is above average for movers, but it’s still not much. Since this is delicate work, the tip definitely makes sense.
What Should You Do If A Piano Delivery Crew Botches The Delivery?
This is basically every piano buyer’s worst nightmare, especially if the piano in question is a very expensive model. However, it happens. If this happens to you, we suggest you do the following:
- Call the company that you bought the piano from immediately. The sooner you address the issue, the better. They need to know as soon as possible so that they can get paperwork started on a refund, repair, or serviceman coming to fix the issue.
- Take photos of the piano (or any other items damaged). You can use your phone for this. This will allow you to show your insurance company what happened. Homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, and piano delivery insurance can all step in here.
- Get a statement from the delivery guys if possible. For example, if you find out that the piano got destroyed due to a car accident en route, get information from the crews. The store will also get this info.
- Talk to your insurance companies and the store to find out the best course of action for all parties included. More often than not, piano companies will bend over backwards to try to make things better for the people that don’t have a good experience. Use this to your advantage. This is a very competitive industry, so reputation is everything.
Related Questions
How much does a professional mover make and why is tipping so important?
Professional piano movers make around $30,123 per year on average, though independent contractors often make more. Regardless of how much they make, it’s important to realize that this is still not a living wage in most parts of the country. Tipping your professional movers is a smart idea.
How much insurance do professional piano movers offer on a single move?
Generally speaking, a professional piano moving company will offer at least $5,000 in insurance. However, the specifics can vary greatly from company to company. If you are moving a particularly expensive piano (like a coveted Steinway) you should ask for additional insurance equal to the estimated price of your piano.If you are buying your piano from a store that offers moving and storage service, then you should expect at least $10,000 or more. Even though they offer more insurance on average, it still makes sense to ask how much coverage comes basic. Additional coverage is always available.
Can regular movers move a piano?
Though it is not exactly the best course of action, most regular moving companies are totally fine with getting a piano from Point A to Point B. It tends to come at a cheaper price, too. The big drawback here is that they may not have as good a command of getting a piano upstairs and that they may not have as much insurance dedicated to the piano.If you want to play things on the safe side, always ask if they have experience.
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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