OT - tipping movers???

[myAAbatteries&aTD]

Anyone know how much to tip movers? Do we tip each mover individually or just give the tip to the one in charge???? Sorry for the OT, but they're coming on Thursday and I don't know how much to tip.... Thanks so much for any advice!

 

[wowsmom]

Hmmmmm...we moved last year and I really do not remember tipping the movers at all...although the day they unloaded, we provided them with cold drinks and brownies (which our realtor had brought by!).

 

[aynt79]

You will get different thoughts on it, but I have never tipped our movers.

We just did a corporate move a month ago across country. We had one long pack day, which I had donuts and water available when they came. The next day was load day, and I had pizza and soda delivered for lunch (as well as having water available all day). For load day they were there all day and they only had the moving truck with them, so they wouldn't have been able to go get their own lunch. For unloading, we only offered water, they only took a few hours to drop everything off.

I paid attention when they were finishing up and leaving, and they never acted like they were expecting anything.

 

[alicenwonder99]

When we moved a couple of years ago, dh tipped the movers around $40 a person. There were 6 movers, so dh just gave the money to the one who looked in charge and told him to split it up. We also made sure we told the other workers that there was a tip coming (so the one guy wouldn't walk off with all the money).

HTH

 

[DisneyDazed]

I would NEVER tip movers again. We moved and they made it known they wanted a tip and my husband gave them I think 40 each. After they left and we really looked over everything we found just how much they ruined. ALmost every peice of furniture was messed up. When we filed a claim, the fact we tipped the movers worked againts us.

Good luck with your move!

 

[malibuconlee]

I don't think a tip in necessary. I do however provide lunch at least one day. Depending on the mover and where the "office" is the driver may be the only one who drove and they may not have a way to go pick up lunch.

The driver did ask once fr us to go get lunch and tried to give us money. We wouldn't take it.

I have tipped movers, usually about $20 a person, but the last time we moved a lot of stuff got damaged, so we may not be tipping again because until it's delivered (and when it's cross country the driver usually has different laborers) you don't know the condition of your stuff.

 

[rbork]

Movers were tipped 20$ per person at the end. Lunch was provided each day they moved stuff (last move was 2 days long) Also provided plenty of drinks. I did not hover over them and I cleaned the rooms after they were emptied while they moved on to another room.
The movers were great and our stuff was moved with care. DH even let them touch/move the plasma! THey were recommended by lots of friends.

p.s. most movers charge on an hourly basis and estimate the time needed to move. I packed everthing and had most boxes already in the garage. This cut down on time and they essentially had to move the furniture and moved the boxes from the garage. It was a great way to save $$$.

 

[Lisa_M]

I didn't tip our movers. Granted we were only moving a 2 bedroom apartment with bedroom furniture for 1 apartment, but it cost $400 for an hour and a half worth of work. It was a small family owned company and the three guys (one was the owner) made plenty of money off of the transaction IMO. They did a really nice job too.

 

[Siouxstone]

My brother in law is a mover. When I was younger, I would work for him over the summer. Sometimes I was tipped, sometimes I was not. It really depends on the situation and the job quality. Usually I was tipped on an unload, rarely on a packing/load day. If you have something very tricky (gun safe or piano upstairs) to move or pack (very expensive dolls or figurines) and they make the journey fine, then I would tip. Do not feel like you have to tip. If they go above and beyond, then tip. It's not like a restaurant, where the wait staff only gets so much an hour and is expected to make up the difference. Most packers and lumpers are hired by the driver and get paid cash daily. Sometimes your driver has worked with these people before, sometimes not. The driver may have one helper that travels with him and then hires help locally. This means you get a mixed bag. If you do tip, give it to the driver and he can distribute it. If you get a great crew, by all means tip, but more than that GET THE NAME OF THE DRIVER! My brother in law has people who request him all around the country. It doesn't matter where they are, he'll find a load going close to them so he can move them again.

 

[malibuconlee]

ONe thing to think about is what kind of a move is it? Are you having a couple of guys load, haul and unload boxes you've already packed just across town? Or is it like our moves. One day of packing where the movers pack up our entire house, one day of loading, then a day or two of driving across the country with a third day of unloading boxes?

 

[dizagain]

Yes. We have had two cross-country corporate moves and we always tip. We provided lunch on packing day and drinks throughout. We had 4 guys pack/load - two of them actually made the trip. Those two had to unload all alone as the local guys did not show up and it was a Sunday. We tipped $40 for all with an extra bit to the driver. On the unloading day we tipped the two guys as if they were four. One move we had one damaged piece of furniture and the driver asked us to let him pay for it so it would not get claimed - we didn't mind that at all. The second move we had two slightly damaged items that were claimed. We were pleased with the service both times and the tips were well-deserved.

 

[Schachteles]

I work for a moving company...so I know that some people tip and others don't.

One thing to keep in mind is that many of the loaders and unloaders are being paid not much over minimum wage and are doing very hard work. Would you leave a resturant without tipping?? You should look at this the same way.

Obviously if there are problems, damage, etc then tip accordingly. And people have mentioned damage, remember that could have happened at several points: because of the packers (and if you didn't have them pack you it very well could be your fault because of how you packed things) or because of the loaders or because of the unloaders.

We moved locally about three years ago, it took about 10 hours to complete, I had a four man crew and I gave them each an $80 tip. After seeing them carry my giant dresser upstairs FULL of clothes I now have a new respect for what these guys do each day!

 

[Lisa_M]

I work for a moving company...so I know that some people tip and others don't.

One thing to keep in mind is that many of the loaders and unloaders are being paid not much over minimum wage and are doing very hard work. Would you leave a resturant without tipping?? You should look at this the same way.

Obviously if there are problems, damage, etc then tip accordingly. And people have mentioned damage, remember that could have happened at several points: because of the packers (and if you didn't have them pack you it very well could be your fault because of how you packed things) or because of the loaders or because of the unloaders.

We moved locally about three years ago, it took about 10 hours to complete, I had a four man crew and I gave them each an $80 tip. After seeing them carry my giant dresser upstairs FULL of clothes I now have a new respect for what these guys do each day!

Why are movers not paid much over minimum wage? That is terrible, but I am sorry, I wouldn't fork out an extra $320 to cover what the company isn't paying them. Moving is expensive enough and if the company is that greedy to undercut their workers, then appropriate compensation is a problem between the workers and the company and not the customer's responsibility to take care of. Walmart pays crappy wages ($6.50/hr when I worked there 3 yrs ago), even to the guys that unload the trucks. Should they get tips too?

Tipping is getting out of hand, especially when prices aren't reduced to compensate for the expectation of a tip.

 

[dumboiu]

I have to agree with Lisa. I can't afford to do much of anything these days because of all the tipping involved and the prices are so high.......which increases the tips involved.

 

[rbork]

Schachteles- I even feel sorry for your movers moving that giant dresser full of clothes. Did you leave your clothes IN the drawyers?

 

[cats mom]

I think this is one of the few remaining services where tipping really is still discretionary. When I tried to find a general guide suggestions were all over the place.

On our recent move we provided food and bottled water for the packing/loading crew as well tips ranging from $20 - $50 per person. Some of the guys really deserved more, others $20 was being generous.
A couple of the guys also took some stuff that never made it to the donation center that we didn't want to move.

For unloading we were scheduled for a Friday delivery. We waited all day but had no contact from the driver at all, niether did the moving company... no one had any idea where he was or why he didn't show up. We were our own load, so it's not like he had to coordinate pick-ups/drop offs. The truck finally rolled up, with about 30 minutes notice, on Sunday. We didn't much care for our driver from the start and he was awful to work with on unload day! He even tried to stiff the 2 local guys he hired. We tipped them $100 and gave the drivers assistant a few bucks, but absolutely nothing for the driver.

Good Luck OP - I hope it's a smooth, easy move!

 

[Schachteles]

Why are movers not paid much over minimum wage? That is terrible, but I am sorry, I wouldn't fork out an extra $320 to cover what the company isn't paying them. Moving is expensive enough and if the company is that greedy to undercut their workers, then appropriate compensation is a problem between the workers and the company and not the customer's responsibility to take care of. Walmart pays crappy wages ($6.50/hr when I worked there 3 yrs ago), even to the guys that unload the trucks. Should they get tips too?

Tipping is getting out of hand, especially when prices aren't reduced to compensate for the expectation of a tip.

Why is anyone paid minimum wage? I don't chose it and certainly wouldn't run my company like that (nor have a job like that), but that is how big business works (other companys like this: Disney, any fast food restaurant, retail establishments). With all that said, they do make over minimum wage, but not a lot over it.

I am just surprised that this is such a huge thing...I am amazed that people leave tips for Mousekeeping at Disney, those people are being paid close minimum wage too I am sure, but again I will leave tips because I want them to know that they are appreciated.

I would not have given that much of a tip had my situation been different, but I did because I received a discount from my work on the move. And because I like people to know that they are appreciated...I certainly would like to have the $$ in my pocket, but I felt that it was necessary to say thanks!

Schachteles- I even feel sorry for your movers moving that giant dresser full of clothes. Did you leave your clothes IN the drawyers?

If you have ever moved with a professional mover you would be TOLD that is what you do!! Only thing that needs to be removed from the drawers are breakable items. They could have...and I offered to...remove the drawers and they didn't, had no issues getting up the stairs.

 

[Schachteles]

I think this is one of the few remaining services where tipping really is still discretionary. When I tried to find a general guide suggestions were all over the place.

On our recent move we provided food and bottled water for the packing/loading crew as well tips ranging from $20 - $50 per person. Some of the guys really deserved more, others $20 was being generous.
A couple of the guys also took some stuff that never made it to the donation center that we didn't want to move.

For unloading we were scheduled for a Friday delivery. We waited all day but had no contact from the driver at all, niether did the moving company... no one had any idea where he was or why he didn't show up. We were our own load, so it's not like he had to coordinate pick-ups/drop offs. The truck finally rolled up, with about 30 minutes notice, on Sunday. We didn't much care for our driver from the start and he was awful to work with on unload day! He even tried to stiff the 2 local guys he hired. We tipped them $100 and gave the drivers assistant a few bucks, but absolutely nothing for the driver.

Good Luck OP - I hope it's a smooth, easy move!

And I totally agree, if you don't get good service then don't tip. If you want to decide how much each person gets then hand out the tips yourself, so if you feel one worker didn't pull their weight you can tip accordingly. Or if you think that everyone did a great job, then give the $$ to the head guy and let the others know that he will be handing it out. I can say the workers are happy to get whatever, do you have $20 each worker? they will be happy...if you have $80 to get each they will be even happier. They KNOW that sometimes they will get lucky and get a good one and then the next they will get nothing, it all balances out.

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR MOVE!!

 

[Tarheel Tink]

I was totally thrown by a mover's request for refreshments- our family always moved ourselves so I had no clue that I was expected to offer food/drinks; I'm moving!
I guess I just assumed they knew they would be hungry/thirsty and would bring a cooler/thermos if they wanted it. My refrigerator was empty and cleaned out- I had a small cooler with a drink in for myself.
Oh well, live and learn. Can you guess that they didn't get a tip either? I had no idea (it was a military move).

 

[ladysoleil]

I was totally thrown by a mover's request for refreshments- our family always moved ourselves so I had no clue that I was expected to offer food/drinks; I'm moving!
I guess I just assumed they knew they would be hungry/thirsty and would bring a cooler/thermos if they wanted it. My refrigerator was empty and cleaned out- I had a small cooler with a drink in for myself.

I figure they probably do have something in the truck, but I always thought it was polite to offer anyway, especially when it's really hot out- what you have might be colder and fresher than what they've got outside.

I think I went above and beyond on my last move. One of the poor guys tripped and fell down the stairs while carrying a box of glassware. Needless to say, neither the mover nor the box were in great shape when they landed. He got first aid, a bottle of water and a tip. My friends thought I was insane to tip him anyway, but it was truly an accident, and the company took a fair amount of the cost off the bill for the damage. It was obvious that he felt bad about it and I didn't feel right about stiffing the guy after watching him struggle with the rest of the move and how bad he felt it. I'm a sucker and a softy, I guess.