If the job is what I think it is, it'll take him longer to walk to the piano than to actually do what he has to do. The bulk of the time will probably be talking to you.

If he's really in town anyway and you don't occupy a large block of his time, slipping him a $20 bill seems appropriate. If it really does occupy 20 to 30 minutes, I'd consider at least doubling that. Perhaps be flexible and observant.

He sounds a little like me, willing to just do something small like that more as a gesture of good will, especially to someone who is already a customer that you'll likely see again and again. Plus, sometimes on little stuff like that, it takes longer to write up a bill than to actually do the job at which point you'd rather not be bothered with the paperwork.

Just my thoughts. $20 minimum. Beyond that, your call.

My first impression is @ShiroKuro's tuner basically means he'd do this simple job for next to nothing, and "gas money" is just a metaphor of any small amount. No need to really factor in the actual mileage he'd drive. 'Cause if the tuner really come to do this as a single job trip, he'd ask for a real amount to cover cost.

As for the tipping culture, I had to really learn it as an immigrant. Part of it is I don't want to be seen as the odd one out. But the other reason, as I gradually understand, is that not tipping sometimes stiffs the wrong people - the good ones. Encourage the tip is a sneaky way of business owners shifting their obligation of paying their employee sufficiently to the customer. But unless such practice is abolished, the employee is the one who gets hurt when customer don't tip. This is especially true for restaurant waiters, but in other service industries, too. This also means there is no need to tip anyone who is the business owner, including those who works for themselves.

But I also feel in recent years the tipping culture is getting out of hand. When I first arrived in America, I learned that you tip 15% at full service restaurant (20% if service is exceptional, and 10% if not satisfactory). Nowadays I frequently hear that 20% is the minimum! Some try to justify it with inflation. But inflation is on meal price too, which should make no change in tip percentage necessary. Also non-full-service eateries are showing a mandatory tipping screen at checkout counter, and some even hide or obscure the "no tip" option. Another thing that make tipping a real nuisance is you often need to have cash in small change.

    iternabe My first impression is @ShiroKuro's tuner basically means he'd do this simple job for next to nothing, and "gas money" is just a metaphor of any small amount. No need to really factor in the actual mileage he'd drive. 'Cause if the tuner really come to do this as a single job trip, he'd ask for a real amount to cover cost.

    This makes a lot of sense!

      ShiroKuro Anyway, for this move, the moving company specializes in pianos and they are also a regular moving company, so the same company is doing our whole move (piano and furniture etc.). I was assuming I would tip them each $20 again, but maybe that’s not enough? There will be three of them.

      That's how much I would plan to tip as well.

      I tipped each of the 2 piano movers $40 but they came all the way from California and did a really great job getting my big piano into my house. The guy had incredible spatial awareness and at one point the end of my piano was just an inch off the ground as they maneuvered it up the step (cue heart attack).

      Actually a good reason to keep my piano and house for the rest of my life, because I don't think I can handle that again 😂

          Wow that’s a long way! We will have three guys, and it’s a local move. And my piano is smaller (lighter) than yours.

          So you can see that I’m grasping at straws here to justify the tip.. 🤣

          I guess I’ll prep extra bills and will see how the whole thing goes…

            twocats I tipped each of the 2 piano movers $40

            I think I did about the same. It was a total guess in end whether that was appropriate. They seemed appreciative!

                ShiroKuro Wow that’s a long way!

                It was an inexpensive move from a highly recommended guy (I think he was also a rebuilder) but I also had to wait a while for them to fill the truck before they made the trip!

                Gombessa I think I did about the same. It was a total guess in end whether that was appropriate. They seemed appreciative!

                I would probably tip a little more (maybe $50 each) now, post-pandemic. But it's so stressful to have to decide how much and what's appropriate!! I'm sure that some people don't tip at all and some are incredibly generous and we're probably somewhere in the middle and it's all ok!

                @ShiroKuro I still think $20/each for local movers is appropriate 🙂

                    ShiroKuro I think $20 seems appropriate in this case, more as a token of appreciation than tipping.

                    My tech always tells me that there is no need of tipping for his tuning service. So I find other ways to thank him such as wines and opera tickets. We are like friends now 😄

                    Here is what I found from googling—

                    The Tipping Dilemma: To Tip or Not to Tip

                    When it comes to tipping your piano tuner, the general consensus is no, it is not customary. Unlike some service industries where tipping is a standard practice, piano tuning operates on a different etiquette. Piano tuners typically charge a fee for their services, reflecting the expertise and time invested in ensuring your piano sounds its best.

                    Why Tipping Your Piano Tuner Isn’t Customary:

                    Piano tuning is a professional service that is compensated through a predetermined fee. Unlike waitstaff or delivery drivers who rely on tips as a significant part of their income, piano tuners set their rates to encompass the full value of their service. Tipping is not expected, and most piano tuners do not factor it into their pricing structure.

                      I generally follow the idea of not tipping someone who’s in business for themselves or the business owner, and piano tuners fit that description. (Not counting this visit since it’s not a standard tuning)

                        I agree wholeheartedly, @ShiroKuro. If someone is an employee, you can assume that they are either on a salary, or receive a certain percentage of income earned. But if they're in business for themselves, I assume they are pricing their services accordingly. The one exception I make is if, for instance, an appliance mover arrives, and it's the boss and two employees. I can't exactly tip the employees and not the boss, so everybody gets something.

                        7 months later

                        ShiroKuro
                        I have known my piano tuner for many years. Whenever he comes to tune my piano before the holidays I always give him a good old vintage bottle of wine before he leaves, knowing that he does not belong to the temperance movement.

                          ShiroKuro
                          I would ask the tuner to quote a fee when done. If s/he refuses, hand him or her the $20 you have planned. If more is expected, you will have given him or her ample opportunity to state an amount.

                              sweelinck thanks! This was over in June though, and now I have a new tuner.

                              No more shimmery tunings! 😁