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?

@HildegardNightingale

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?

My point is you think I should provide a tip for the following reasons.... back breaking work, zero hours contract and minimum wage (At least that's what it sounded like to me so correct me if I'm wrong). So my point was as a carer I am also engaging in back breaking work, zero hours contract and receiving minimum wage so I don't think that's a good enough reason in itself to go round tipping.

But of-course if you want to tip them then that's absolutely fine and a very kind thing to do, but you shouldn't feel obligated.

@tenbananasaday it’s not a race to the bottom though, is it? Do what you feel is right. I felt it was right to give someone a tip for doing back breaking work. You don’t. End of.

I tipped ours because the guys who did the job don’t own the company - they worked very very hard for several hours on a very hot day. They turned up early, were super careful and very nice people who did a brilliant job, but as they don’t own the company and are only employees I imagine they aren’t on an amazing wage, probably not much more than NMW.
So yup, I think in this circumstance totally warranted - now if I had hired a one man band as it were or a small company where the owner is turning up to do the work, then perhaps I wouldn’t have, as they would have quoted the price they wanted paying and weren’t working on the “hour”.

I will usually tip when the person doing the job isn’t the person who owns the business - ie my hairdresser, beautician etc but I don’t tip my Botox lady because she works for herself and sets her own price.

We are moving soon, around 200 miles from where we live, so not a cheap move, I have the brought our movers sweets for the journey, I am going to give them cash for coffee & lunch on the way to our new home & yes of course a tip.

@tenbananasaday

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.

The advice at the moment is not to provide any refreshments to anybody working in your home. We had workmen here last week redoing our driveway and i felt terrible about it but I think they are used to it now as they all came with a couple of flasks each.

The reason you got that on the google search OP is because you used movers which is an American term. The more British version is removal men which brings up a different result.

I’ve always tipped removal men but really don’t think you have to. I’ve just been impressed with the teams that have moved us.

One of the PP asked why we don’t tip nurses, or teachers or TAs. The teachers and TAs get a Christmas gift. And I’ve always given chocolates or cakes for the nurses when I’ve had a stay in hospital (a nurse friend said sweet treats are always appreciated).

I think whether you tip or not is the least of your worries. The way you have come across in some of your posts is quite abrupt. I hope you don’t take the same snippy attitude with the removal people otherwise they might not be too keen to do a good job for you.

You keep mentioning the absolute fortune you are paying but how much of that fortune do you actually think reaches the people doing the hard graft?

Yes I think it's pretty common to tip the actual crew, especially if a big job or a lot of heavy furniture. It's really hard work! I'd say £10 per crew member minimum. And normally I'd say provide them with ample tea and biscuits but in Covid times not sure how that would work for hygiene reasons...maybe they should bring their own flasks if not drinks.

I tipped my removal men £20 each and bought them a drink and sandwich from the local shop. That is a lot more than I expected to tip but their rates were really reasonable and they provided a packing service. It was a 11 hour day all in and their backs were dripping with sweat. I don’t know how they do it.

@OhNoIHaveToExercise
I'm sorry you've read me wrong.

We tipped ours 30€ each because when we got to our new 3rd-floor apartment the lift had broken (the price agreed was based on there being a lift). They lugged everything, including fridge and washing machine, up 3 flights of stairs, in 35°C heat, without complaining or mentioning the price, and they deserved it.

@tenbananasaday don't apologise just because you've not posted in a feeble and simpering way. That attack on you was a very weird post. Ignore it

I havent. But then I find the 'rules' about who to tio ans not tips arbitrary and confusing

[quote JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows]@tenbananasaday don't apologise just because you've not posted in a feeble and simpering way. That attack on you was a very weird post. Ignore it[/quote]
@JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows
I’ve read your posts too and think much the same of your attitude as I do the OP.
You have your opinion and I’ll have mine. My post was by no means an ‘attack’ BTW just a viewpoint after reading OP’s posts.

We did £20 each

@OhNoIHaveToExercise
You may not have meant it as such but it did definitely feel like an attack. It's fine to say you disagree and explain why, but I don't think it's right to use unkind words when referring to other posters or to criticise their characters.

@OhNoIHaveToExercise there was absolutely no need to pull the OP up on her writing style and certainly no need to to assume she's "snippy" IRL

Oh and it's not the OP's responsibility if movers don't get paid much, and she has no reason to make up a shortfall

I really appreciated my removal men , they made a stressful occasion very easy , they couldn't do enough to help me .
I tipped them £20 each ( 4 of them ) autumn 2017

I did (£20 each) and bought them breakfast. The removal company gets most of the money. They worked really hard on a hot day. Plus it was a hard last minute job with only 2 men available due to our house move hassles meaning we lost our original moving company
They were v grateful, so extra nice afterwards.

@tenbananasaday & @JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows

I said nothing unkind just gave my impression, if you don’t like it fine. I think you both need to chill the fuck out. ☮️

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 I said in a previous post, I worked in the industry for years. Removal teams were permanent employees who were paid overtime. I accept that it depends on the removal company but it was certainly the case in the companies I worked for.

@Hopdathelf

Not sure why someone is aggrieved at a mover earning £35k. Seems well worth it for what is a skilled job if done properly and often with specialisms, e.g. artworks, instruments.

I think £35k pa is well worth it for someone to keep the entire contents of my home safe and intact.

I wasn't begrudging them 35k...i was begrudging giving them a tip when they weren't on minimum wage.

They easn considerably more than many nurses and police officers and teachers ... When did anyone last típ either of these professions?