How Much to Tip Movers
Some moving companies will tell you they don't expect you to tip their movers, but it's up to you. Generally it's good etiquette to do so. Instead, use a basic rule of thumb based on the amount of time they put into your move. You can also offer some some other things, like food, to keep their morale up.
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Percentages Don't Work
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When tipping movers, don't go by percentages of the total cost of your move. As an example, 10 or 20 percent of $3,000 is more than a mover is going to expect and a lot more than you want to pay.
Tip Based on Time
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You should tip based on the amount of time your movers have put in on the job. If they put in half a typical workday, $10 each is appropriate. If they worked a full day, $20 is good. If you think your moving job was particularly hard, with lots of big, awkward furniture and several stories of stairs, $30 or $40 is fair. If the move takes a couple of days, you might want to tip a little more. A cross-country move that took four or five days might warrant a tip of $100 or $200.
You should adjust these amounts up or down depending on the quality of the move. For instance, if you feel the movers were careless with some of your property, you might want to tip $5 or $10 rather than $10 or $20. Hopefully, the movers will get the message and do a better job on the next move.
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Beyond Money
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A good lunch or dinner is a nice alternative to a cash tip. Make sure you ask your movers what they would like to eat. You should also offer them some bottled water and other cold drinks to make the work easier, especially on a hot day. Hot coffee on a cold day would be good, too. Some people will combine the offer of a meal with a cash tip, too.
Handing Out The Money
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Don't hand the entire tip to the foreman. The individual movers will appreciate your handing each of them their tip. Also, some dishonest foremen will keep all the money for themselves. At the end of a move, if the foreman tells the other movers to leave before you have a chance to hand out their tips, it's possible that he might be planning to cheat them out of their tips.
No Beer
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Don't tip your movers with alcohol. Most moving companies forbid it, and it's irresponsible anyway. The movers will be driving away in a large truck and you don't want them to be intoxicated.
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