My guys would never refuse a tip. Most restaurant help expects a 20% tip and most of them can't be bothered to keep a glass of water or soda topped off.

No customary amount, tip as you feel is appropriate

I usually tip per person. 2 people came to deliver my furniture. They did a good job getting it into my house without destroying anything. I gave them $20 each though I think $10 each may have worked. I ordered $5K worth of furniture.

I tipped the guys who delivered our bedstead and set it up. I can't remember the amount.

I also tipped the guys who delivered the sideboard. They had to haul it up a flight of stairs (it's solid wood, weighs a TON) on a very hot, humid day. I gave them lemonade and a snack and $20/each. They were very careful with the piece (it was a custom item), but most important of all they were very careful about my walls and woodwork and they were willing reposition it for me on the wall that it was intended for.

Man, am I in the wrong business. I do in-home repair work (4-7 calls a day), most of it paid by third party. I'm always on time, careful, courteous, and do a lot of extra work gratis. People offer a tip maybe once a year, maybe a cup of coffee or glass of water once a month.

Thanks for the feedback! The are taking the sofa and ottoman in the front door and to the right to an empty room. I think 15$ each and a snack and drink will be ok then? There is a fairly large opening and nothing in the way.
Kmealy
We always try to make anyone working in our home feel comfortable, we had a tile setter eat breakfast and lunch with us daily for about 3 months during a HUGE remodel here and we are having our back lot treed in and will feed the crew lunch daily Sorry you have bummer homes to work at!

In other news, this sofa was supposed to arrive weeks ago and it is finally coming weds, thurs or Fri! Yeah!
Summie

kmealy,
I'm so sorry people treat you you so "matteroffactly". I sure wouldn't! I work by the hour and I've worked a lot of hours to amass the skill I now possess. Because I get paid by the job, I have an appreciation of precisely how much labor goes into any job.

NO contractor who works in my home is ever without coffee if I'm home (if I'm not going to be there I always leave a "goodie"). NO one who works in my home is ever "invisible". NOT EVER.

I make sure the automobile mechanic is given "goodies", too. Some may call it bribery, but I don't think of it that way. I think of it as a gesture of appreciation for the effort put forthe by a professional.

Not really complaining, just stating a fact. I'd rather get nothing than one of the following two after slaving away at a great job:

* Oh, I've had repair people like you before, it's amazing what you can all do. (the merely average)

* Now, if you crouch down here, and have that lamp off, and lean a little bit toward the corner, here, wait, open the curtains halfway, see, right there, it looks a little different. (the inconspicuous vs. the imperceptible)

I think the worst was the lady that followed me around with a flashlight looking at the base of a table I was working on. "M'am, just how often do you or your guests get on all fours with a flashlight and look at the table apron????"

Oh, well, all in a day's work. ;-)

I work in everything from multi-million dollar estates to low-rent apartments. Money is not correlated to grace and respect.

Here is a link that might be useful: The waiter's rule.

Boy, is that article ever true! Good manners are good manners and it doesn't matter how wealthy you are or how modest your means may be.

One of my very dear friends is a career waitress. She has a kid, and OWNS outright 3 properties in a very toney local area. She's smart with her money and works hard. But a particular real estate broker STILL treats her poorly when he brings his clients to lunch or dinner. She laughs it off... her net worth is likely several times that of the jerk broker.

Always be kind, fair, and decent to everyone you encounter. Do unto others as you would have done unto you...

Golden Rule? :)