Should I tip the movers?

[tenbananasaday]

I had no intention of doing so. I didn't know people even did this until recently but this is my first time using movers. I am moving on Monday and have hired movers. They aren't cheap at £1100 to move us from a two bed terrace. Do I have tip them on top of this? I only usually tip at a restaurant, or I'll let the delivery person or taxi driver keep the change but I wouldn't go out of my way to tip. What do you think?

Ours packed all our belongings speedily and carefully and worked non stop for 10 hours to move us. They took care to protect our carpets etc on a very muddy day. We kept them supplied with coffee and biscuits and tipped them as they did an excellent job.

And this is a small family company who did everything from packing, driving, unpacking and setting out, so didn’t use contract labour. We appreciated the care and attention they took

I tipped my movers who were brilliant and couldn't get my sofa out of a very tight corner in my hall without possible damage to wallpaper. They got it out the back door, lifted it over a high wall and carried it quite some way down a back lane and back up my road to the van. And I bought them breakfast.

I think i tipped one lot of movers - they did a great job on a move more complicated than expected (involved a ferry, though that wasn't the complication as obviously knew that). Forget 15-20% though! A tenner each is good.
Also I have moved in America and did the same - certainly not a percentage.

Ours packed all our belongings speedily and carefully and worked non stop for 10 hours to move us. They took care to protect our carpets etc on a very muddy day.

This is their job. It's the service you have paid for and they are being paid to do it. As a matter of course, I think refreshments should always be offered to people working in your home but a tip for doing their job, no.

I personally wouldn't tip. You are paying enough for the service and they are being paid to do their job.

The movers we used had the process down to a fine art. DH job had given him a very generous relocation allowance, It paid our stamp duty solicitors fees and moving costs. It was the week before Christmas so he did give them a very generous tip but to be honest as we hadn’t had to pay a bean it was an easy decision. We are tippers by nature for good service when very young we both worked in hospitality to help pay our way through University. We ended up with very well paid jobs but remember those days and the difference getting a tip meant. I also do stuff like give a box of biscuits to the local library staff. We gave the midwife who delivered DS a very decent bottle of wine.

@Bluntness100

As a guideline, youshould tipyourmoversbetween 15% to 20% of the total cost of the move for large or long-distance moves and 5% to 10% for smaller, cross-town moves

You must have needed to google really hard to find that, because that’s not what comes up when I google.

No, it's literally the first thing that came up.

I suppose it depends, I tipped my removal team but that was because I felt they'd gone above and beyond what was expected.

They removed an old washing machine that had been left in the house I moved into and plumbed mine in.

They helped me reassemble some furniture.

They left me a couple of packing blankets to use as furniture covers when decorating.

They reminded me to take meter readings.

I'm sure there's lots more that I've forgotten and whilst they were all small things, they made moving day much easier and I was happy to hand them £20 each as a thank you.

I do tip, but I have never paid anywhere near that much to move a two bed!! More like £300

@tenbananasaday that's an American site, 15-20% is standard everywhere there

Dont tip by default but if they have gone to the effort of being very careful with your possessions then yes a tenner each.

If? Perhaps I am naive but I kind of expected with to be careful with my possessions. There's no ifs about it. I could probably stretch to a tenner each though, and it does appear to be the done thing.

As someone suggested, that is an American site. Tipping culture is different in different countries.

I moved recently 3 bedroom house but not much furniture - 2.5 hours @ 55 an hour so £135 all in (no packing service). We gave £25 tip to the two lads as they were friendly, quick, careful, and one of them was only about 20 so didn’t think he was probably getting paid a whole lot. But if I was paying 1100 might be a bit different!

As in if it was full service move and costed differently.

We moved across country, the movers slept in a lay-by overnight, we made sure we had lots of cold drinks as it was roasting hot, tea, coffee and we provided ham rolls for lunch, we also tipped them £60, there had been 3 at the pick up but only 2 when they delivered the stuff.

We weren't going to but ended up not getting the keys till about 4pm and after the speed they got our stuff in (very fast but still made sure it all went to the right rooms etc) we gave them £20 each which was all we had to hand.

Dp bought his movers fish and chips each for lunch on the day of his house move....that went down quite well.

I gave mine cake whenever I made a brew. Lots of cake.

We provided endless cups of tea/coffee.
We provided a subway platter for lunch.
We gave each mover a £20 tip.
They do back breaking work every day. They are often bank staff on 0 hours per week. Regardless of what you pay they are often on minimal wage. Why wouldn’t you tip them if you can?

@HildegardNightingale

We provided endless cups of tea/coffee. We provided a subway platter for lunch. We gave each mover a £20 tip. They do back breaking work every day. They are often bank staff on 0 hours per week. Regardless of what you pay they are often on minimal wage. Why wouldn’t you tip them if you can?

As a carer I am also on zero hours and do back breaking work however I would never expect or even accept a 'tip' from a client. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Sorry, don't mean to appear obtuse. I know I asked the question, and I have read every response. I have came to the conclusion that I should not feel obliged, and I don't think the reasoning used by some for tipping is very logical hence my point about being a carer. I will be providing unlimited hot drinks and biscuits, and I may get some beer in at the end to say thank you but I shall not be giving additional money. I am already paying an absolute fortune.

Ha ha,am a nurse and also don’t accept or except a tip from a client. Also do back breaking work. Your point is?

I moved a couple of months ago and didn't tip my movers. Why would I? They're probably paid more than I am.

I don't like the idea of giving beer. It seems sexist and encouraging bad habits. Also they may not be drinkers. We wouldn't tip women with beer so why assume the men want beer?

I'd give £20 each instead to buy what they want.