Rooms to Go is one of the most popular furniture stores in the US with a massive selection of furnishings, mattresses, and decor goods.
If you’ve ordered goods from Rooms to Go furniture then you might be wondering whether you need to pull your wallet out when the driver gets to your address.
Getting your tipping gaming on point can make a huge difference to your budget. If you’re too keen on dishing out tips then you’ll create a massive dent in your finances.
Too stingy and you may fall outside common tipping etiquette.
To assist you, we’ve looked at what the customary practice is for tipping Rooms to Go, what their drivers earn, and other important factors such as delivery costs.
We’ve looked at tipping etiquette in many different industries and will bring you our insights for Rooms to Go.
Let’s take a look…
Do You Need to Tip a Rooms to Go Delivery Driver? The Short Answer
There is no requirement to tip their delivery drivers but given the bulk and weight of the items they deliver, many people do decide to tip. Rooms to Go drivers also earn below average salaries. If you want to tip, $5 – $25 should do the trick.
What Do Rooms to Go Drivers Earn?
One of the first things most people consider when deciding to tip is how much the person in that industry earns.
Within some industries tipping is second nature because the workers within that area simply need tips to make up their poor salaries.
Within the driving industry, tipping etiquette is mixed – some require tips and some don’t according to our research and experience.
We’ve taken a look at the earnings data and according to Career Bliss, Rooms to Go pays their truck drivers an average salary of $30,000 per year.
According to Career Bliss this is 18% lower than then national average for all truck drivers in the US which stands at $36,000.
$30,000 is one of the lowest salaries we have seen for this type of driver.
For example, Nebraska Furniture Mart drivers earn $59,184 per year and Pottery Barns drivers $50,140.
However, you should note that some goods are shipped from Rooms to Go by UPS and their drivers earn much more (around $68,000 pa according to Comparably).
How Much is Rooms to Go Delivery?
Rooms to Go delivery costs depend on your location and also the type of goods you’re purchasing.
For example, if you buy decor accessories (smaller items) the delivery is free with UPS.
Larger items like couches will set you back much more.
For example, for a 5 piece sofa we were quoted $279.99:
Given the high cost of delivery for bigger items, you might feel you just can’t stretch to a tip.
We’ll leave that to your good judgment.
How Much to Tip a Rooms to Go Delivery Guy?
How much you tip the driver will depend on how you wish to work out the amount.
10-20% is the general rule of thumb in the US but this is applied to the total costs of the service or goods.
If you apply that figure to our quoted delivery costs then you’ll be lookat at $28 – $56 for a tip. Most people will find this too much.
We’d suggest $5-$25 as a fixed amount is sufficient depending the size of the goods.
If it’s a huge chest of drawers or couch then pitch your tip to the top end of the bracket.
If it’s a bedside cabinet, the bottom end.
If you don’t want to tip in cash then you could do the following:
- Offer the driver drink or food;
- Leave a Google review with the company;
- Provide gift vouchers.
Good old verbal praise is often enough to brighten up a driver’s day.
Are Rooms to Go Drivers Allowed to Take Tips?
Some companies debar their employees from accepting tips or gifts or anything else they deem to present a conflict of interest.
We have done some searching and cannot find anything that suggests Rooms to Go drivers are banned from taking tips.
However, if you offer a tip and it isn’t accepted, don’t be offended.
Some people turn down tips just to be courteous and it doesn’t mean anything against you.
When to Increase or Hold Back Your Tip?
Sometimes it’s definitely worth paying a tip if you wouldn’t usually do so or increasing that tip if you would usually do so.
We encourage tipping for exceptional service and the same applies when it comes to delivery drivers.
We’d suggest paying a tip or increasing it if:
- The driver comes out in bad weather like in the snow;
- The load is particularly heavy or cumbersome;
- During the holidays;
- The driver is professional or goes beyond the call of duty by delivering to somewhere remote in your property.
You might decide to hold back a tip if:
- There’s a problem with the delivery. For example, if it’s late or the delivery is to the wrong address;
- If the items are mishandled and damaged;
- The driver is rude or unprofessional.
Final Thoughts
There is nothing set in stone when it comes to tipping delivery drivers but many people tend to do so especially when the goods are heavy and hard work.
Rooms to Go drivers earn fairly modest salaries on the basis of our research so you might find that offering up a tip is in good conscience, especially if the delivery has gone smoothly.
Rooms to Go delivery is quite expensive for larger items so you may decide that a tip isn’t justified for that reason. The good news is that the driver is unlikely to think any less of you – tips aren’t customary in this industry.
If you do tip then $5 – $25 should be fine but we wouldn’t recommend below this amount out of fear of looking a bit, well, tight!
Non-monetary tips should also be considered if you don’t want to part with your dollars.
A delivery driver isn’t going to turn his/her nose up at any display of gratitude, no matter how small.
