When you receive excellent service, you wouldn’t hesitate to pay your hairdresser, bartender, or restaurant server, right? The same is true for your movers; they put in a lot of effort to look after you and your priceless possessions, and just like other service sector workers, they rely on tips to supplement their income.
Sadly, there are no established guidelines or accepted standards of behavior when it comes to tipping movers, which might make you feel uncomfortable when it’s time to show your appreciation to your moving team. Everything about tipping movers is up for debate, including when to tip, who to tip, and what variables to take into account when figuring out how much to tip overall.
Think About the Whole Expense of Your Relocation
If you’re moving your household, several industry professionals advise tipping a portion of the overall cost of your moving bill (which tends to be a labour-intensive process for the movers). Typically, a tip of 5 to 10 per cent is advised, and the foreman should be the one to provide it to the entire moving team. For instance, if you spent $2,000 for moving services, you could want to tip between $100 and $200.
Although this isn’t a firm guideline, it might be a useful approach to making the decision of how much to tip your movers. In the event of long-distance transfers, keep in mind that you can be working with two separate crews: one that loads up your goods and another that unpacks. You should make individual bets for each team.
Consider the Consequences of Your Choice
Moving jobs vary in difficulty, particularly when it comes to residential removals.
You can show your moving company that you value their professionalism and hard ethic by tipping generously if your move requires climbing a lot of stairs, moving a lot of fragile goods, taking place in a snowstorm, or during a heat wave.
Keep in mind the things your movers can and cannot control
Every move involves a complex set of variables, and while working with a top-notch moving company can help reduce stress on a moving day, there is always a potential that unanticipated events could cause delays that are beyond your moving team’s control.
If your movers are late due to traffic, bad weather, or equipment failures, resist the urge to withhold your tip. After all, if your favorite dessert isn’t available at the restaurant, you wouldn’t consider not tipping your waiter. This also applies to your movers.
Tip in Cash
Even while electronic payment methods are now common, cash is still preferred when it comes to tips. Plan ahead and make sure you have enough cash on hand to tip your movers in cash. It can also be a good idea to have a couple of envelopes available to stow the tip in.
When to Tip Whom
In general, the tip should be offered at the conclusion of the move and should not be announced beforehand.
It is totally up to you whether you tip each crew member separately or tip the entire team at once through the foreman. If you decide to tip each member of the crew separately, make sure to keep things equitable by giving them all the same amount (unless there is a valid reason to reward one mover more than the others).
Beyond The Tip
There are, of course, more things you may do to express your gratitude to your movers. Easy things like supplying your diligent mover plenty of cool water and sports drinks, providing snacks, and even suggesting that you’ll pay for the moving crew’s lunch once they’re through. Although most moving firms have stringent policies prohibiting drinking while working, keep in mind that movers shouldn’t be handed a beer.
