Tipping for Movers

[Raiders Army]

How much do you tip these guys? The govt. is paying for my move but I was wondering how much to tip the packers and movers. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[Honolulu_Blue]

$20 a person.

[Warhammer]

When did we start tipping movers? Aren't you paying them to move your stuff?

[rkmsuf]

beer and pizza

[Raiders Army]

$20 a person.
Thanks. From what I've heard it would probably run me about $3k to box up our stuff and about $15k to move it to TX. 10% is a lot.

[Raiders Army]

beer and pizza
Maybe soda since I don't want them drunk moving my stuff.

[Toddzilla]

Basically, these dudes have possession of everything you own. They could be dicks and not be careful with your stuff, or they can be nice guys and take care of everything.

If they do a good job, don't break anything, and get all of your stuff into your new place without any hassle, then $20 is just a start IMO.

Remember, the guys schlepping your stuff aren't getting the fat check, the moving company is. The movers just make an hourly wage to break their backs.

/we tipped our movers $100 for the 3 of them, plus a case of ice-cold beer when they were done.

[Ksyrup]

I was just thinking about this. I've got to tip twice since our move out and our move in will be about a month apart. I was planning to tip about $50 a person (that's what we've done with office moves I've been a part of), but I was going to do some internet searching to see what is reasonable. I also planned to provide drinks and perhaps lunch.

Anyone care to help us move? :D

[Honolulu_Blue]

Offering food and beverages is always a good idea. Like Todzilla said, these guys have possession of everything you own. There's no harm in making them happy.

[Honolulu_Blue]

As part of an SEC investigation, I had to review a lot of documents from a very large U.S. moving company. A lot of very interesting/scary stories. The best two were:

1. The company was hired to move medical equipment. During the move, one of the movers decided it would be fun to try out the defibulator. So he charged up the paddles and shocked himself. He ended up melting his shirt into his body and had two, large paddle-shaped burns on his chest. He claimed he didn't know it was plugged in.

2. The second has an employee who was fired for improper use of company equiment. Apparently during a move, some employee was offered some money to allow the moving van be used in a porno movie. So, either before or after the job, the guy drove the van down to the set and they filmed "Carrie In The Moving Van." Some how that company was informed that their moving van was in the movie and were able to figure out who did it.

[Ksyrup]

2. The second has an employee who was fired for improper use of company equiment. Apparently during a move, some employee was offered some money to allow the moving van be used in a porno movie. So, either before or after the job, the guy drove the van down to the set and they filmed "Carrie In The Moving Van." Some how that company was informed that their moving van was in the movie and were able to figure out who did it.

So your saying...bubble wrap EVERYTHING? :)

[Ksyrup]

I found this on a tipping etiquette site:


Tipping Movers

There are many things to consider in a move. A professional mover is going to be careful to protect your floors, walls, doorways, and belongings. That said, it is unlikely that your move will go perfectly, whether you are moving yourself or paying someone else to do it. Something will get broken. The question that matters is were they being careless, or was it a genuine accident? Every time I have moved furniture myself, I have caused more damage to my home than movers ever had. I take this into consideration when I look at accidents.
Tipping occurs at the completion of the job. Consider providing lunch if the move extends over lunch, and always provide beverages for the movers.

One mover - limited move - 1-10 items and nothing over 20 pounds - $10-20
One mover - difficult move - The degree of difficulty changes based upon stairs, narrow passages, small elevators, large or heavy items, appliances, etc. - $20-50.
Multiple movers - Basically tip each mover the same as above, but lower it by $5-10 for each mover. Feel free to pool the tip and give it to the supervisor for distribution, but don't lower the amount because you combined it. The problem with combining the tip is that you cannot reward people based upon their individual performances.
Car Shipping - There is not much information available about tipping the truck drivers. $20-25 is probably appropriate.

[Warhammer]

Remember, the guys schlepping your stuff aren't getting the fat check, the moving company is. The movers just make an hourly wage to break their backs.


I don't care what they are getting paid to move my stuff, I am paying them to move my stuff. To me, there is no need to tip. That said, if we're going out for food or something, we'll pick that up for them.

I understand tipping a barber, I am paying for the haircut, but if you give me a good conversation while I am getting a trim, I'll give you a good tip.

Waiters and waitresses I understand as well, making sure your drink is full and that the food is properly prepared, etc.

Moving guys I don't get, because I am paying them for the stuff to be moved undamaged. If my stuff gets damaged, that company is going to have a claim filed against them. I liken this to someone installing a pump in the field, they are paid to install the pump, I don't turn around and tip them for putting the thing in the ground.

[Swaggs]

The last time we moved, I tipped $20 to each (four) when they were done loading up and then $50 to each (two) when they were done unloading and bought them a pizza.

[gstelmack]

Offering food and beverages is always a good idea. Like Todzilla said, these guys have possession of everything you own. There's no harm in making them happy.

I've had two moves go very successfully (one a national move, one a local move) and this was my philosophy. Coffee/OJ/Gatorade/Donuts on hand for them whenever they wanted. Cheap for me, and keep them happy while they are working.

That, and stay out of their way while making yourself available for questions / directions.

[Eaglesfan27]

I tipped 50 dollars per person 2 moves ago when they did a very good job. This job the guys scratched our new hard wood floors twice, our walls once, and they were unable to put a few things where we wanted them (and gave up too soon in my opinion on getting those items where we wanted them.) Therefore, I didn't tip them anything except for some fast food that we bought for them.

[Poli]

The govt. is paying for my move...Bastads. :(

[Raiders Army]

They got here at 8:15 AM and were done a little before 1 PM. My wife and I packed a lot of things already and made it very easy for them. Everything that was to be moved was in one area and everything we were taking with us was in another. I just took down our DirecTV dish.

Anyhow, I got them pizza and sodas. The problem with tipping tomorrow is that the guys who are grabbing our stuff aren't going to be the same guys in El Paso a month (or so) from now. I'll probably get them food. Interestingly enough, I talked to some of our neighbors who are moving this Summer and they weren't going to tip them. Our office secretary who's been married to an E-8 for over 20 years said that they never tipped their movers. It's a dilemma because I don't want to "raise the bar" for everyone else...in other words, I don't want to tip these guys and then that would become the norm. I also don't want to be a cheap bastard. I'll call transportation and see what they suggest.

[Raiders Army]

Transportation said that there was no need to tip them. They said they are well compensated for the move. I'll probably go with $20 per person regardless...then again, it depends on how many dudes show up and how fast they are. They might get more if I'm out of here by 2 PM.

[Warhammer]

I found this on a tipping etiquette site:


Tipping Movers

There are many things to consider in a move. A professional mover is going to be careful to protect your floors, walls, doorways, and belongings. That said, it is unlikely that your move will go perfectly, whether you are moving yourself or paying someone else to do it. Something will get broken. The question that matters is were they being careless, or was it a genuine accident? Every time I have moved furniture myself, I have caused more damage to my home than movers ever had. I take this into consideration when I look at accidents.
Tipping occurs at the completion of the job. Consider providing lunch if the move extends over lunch, and always provide beverages for the movers.

One mover - limited move - 1-10 items and nothing over 20 pounds - $10-20
One mover - difficult move - The degree of difficulty changes based upon stairs, narrow passages, small elevators, large or heavy items, appliances, etc. - $20-50.
Multiple movers - Basically tip each mover the same as above, but lower it by $5-10 for each mover. Feel free to pool the tip and give it to the supervisor for distribution, but don't lower the amount because you combined it. The problem with combining the tip is that you cannot reward people based upon their individual performances.
Car Shipping - There is not much information available about tipping the truck drivers. $20-25 is probably appropriate.

I'm not sure how much to trust this site you got it from, they also suggest tipping: maids, garbage collectors, your day care service :eek: , your mail carrier, the UPS guy, and your FedEx guy during Christmas as well.

[wade moore]

I'm not sure how much to trust this site you got it from, they also suggest tipping: maids, garbage collectors, your day care service :eek: , your mail carrier, the UPS guy, and your FedEx guy during Christmas as well.

These are all pretty standard.

[stevew]

They got here at 8:15 AM and were done a little before 1 PM. My wife and I packed a lot of things already and made it very easy for them. Everything that was to be moved was in one area and everything we were taking with us was in another. I just took down our DirecTV dish.

Anyhow, I got them pizza and sodas. The problem with tipping tomorrow is that the guys who are grabbing our stuff aren't going to be the same guys in El Paso a month (or so) from now. I'll probably get them food. Interestingly enough, I talked to some of our neighbors who are moving this Summer and they weren't going to tip them. Our office secretary who's been married to an E-8 for over 20 years said that they never tipped their movers. It's a dilemma because I don't want to "raise the bar" for everyone else...in other words, I don't want to tip these guys and then that would become the norm. I also don't want to be a cheap bastard. I'll call transportation and see what they suggest.

"Raising the Bar" for everyone else is as good of a reason as any to do so. 20 bucks a guy isn't all that much, they have all your stuff. The other people who don't are cheap bastards.

[Raiders Army]

The problem with raising the bar is that I don't agree with mandatory tipping. I tip when the service calls for it, but I don't think there should be automatic tipping. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this is how tipping for waitressing came about. It's "mandatory" that you tip waitresses. While I can see tipping someone for superior service, I don't want to have to tip movers who do a poor job next time. If I do it this time, do I create an atomosphere that wasn't already present? We'll probably move in another 2-3 years, so I could end up having to tip them for a poor performance. Thus the quandry in my mind.

[Joe]

These are all pretty standard.

I'm agree. I'll tip those guys since they do jobs I can't do myself.

[Raiders Army]

I'm agree. I'll tip those guys since they do jobs I can't do myself.
What about your proctologist? Do you tip him?

[Joe]

What about your proctologist? Do you tip him?

No. I'm very flexible.

[Raiders Army]

No. I'm very flexible.
I can't remember the Office episode where Dwight said something like that. It was the one where he paid for the pizza.

Edit--It was the one with Michael's birthday.

He doesn't tip food delivery guys (he can deliver food) or taxi drivers (he can drive). He can and does cut his own hair. He tips his urologist because he cannot pulverize his own kidney stones.

That was it.

[Joe]

I can't remember the Office episode where Dwight said something like that. It was the one where he paid for the pizza.

Hmm the only office quote I could find about a proctologist was this one:

Michael Scott: The first guy says, "Well I’m an astronaut, so I drive a Saturn." And the second guy says, "Well I am a pimp so I drive a cheap Escort." And the third guy says, "I got you both beat. I’m a proctologist, so I drive a brown Probe."