Do you tip the removals guys who also do a whole day packing - and how much?

[beaglesaresweet]

I think I should do, lots of stuff to pack, and then they move but no unpacking next day, also some furniture assembly.
There's for of them on day one and fewer next day. I've read on here that people give 20 pounds to each guy - but when it's four, it does add up a bit! I'm paying very high cost for the 2 day move, long-ish distance, so I hope they aer getting a lot from that (not juts the boss).

We had a really full, cluttered house and the 4 guys came about 9am on the day before we moved and worked like Trojans packing everything that didn't move. We couldn't believe how quick they were... Before we knew it the lounge was done. But they left about 4 and I started to panic then about how much was left to do the next morning before we handed over keys. But they arrived about 9 the next morning and packed the rest up in time for a long lunch break until we did the keys handover at 2. They have no emotional attachment to any of the stuff so can pack it really fast. They were just wonderful. I'm sure they will be able to pack all your stuff in time.

Rainbow, yes but it's a VERY physically exhausting job, people do not work in removals until retirement usually, and I doubt it that it's good for their health if done long-term. I wonder though, how much the guys get from the total paid? Possibly people tip because they know that it isn't much!

janey, well I'm very happy to hear that - so a very full house was packed nearly in one short-ish day, amazing! Maybe these guys aer super-human. I have a lot of wrapping to be done . The issue with my move is, they can't work till 2pm next day and need to leave around 10.30am so that they get to destination by 1-2 depending on traffic. If they don't start by 3pm at very latest (to finish at 10pm as the guy said!) they would have to stay over and work next day. But assume if they priced it, they can't later demand more, IKnow, it's not just about tipping as the boss in the office decides.
This is mainly why I'm worried - they don't have half a day on day two. But it's not a house - a large flat, so I'm hoping for the best.

'packing everything that didn't move' - just picturing a cat narrowly escaping being packed up.

We did it over two days. They did 8.30am-4pm on day 1 and 8.30am-10am on day 2. That was to pack a 4 bed house. Lots of wardrobes and beds to be disassembled too. They were super quick, it was incredible. At times there were only 3 of them on the first day. By the end of day 1 it was pretty much all done, day 2 was just packing up the last few bits (what we had needed to stay overnight).
I think it helps that they have loads of experience but also they have good materials for the job.

beagle I can see your point but we don't tip other people in Lowe paid! demanding jobs - care assistants, teaching assistants, street cleaners etc etc.

Re: running out of time. When we moved they kept going on day one until they had finished packing everything. We lived in an apartment with very limited access. On day one they turned up and realised they had to park the truck a block away so they had to carry everything much further than anticipated. They kept going until everything was packed - around 8pm I think (possibly later).

I agree with packing tea/coffee/kettle/milk/sugar separately - in a clearly marked box. They will find it pretty quickly at the new place.

I have tipped in cash or beer in the past. Personally I prefer to give cash. Last move was done by a team of Polish students who were working for a large national firm. They were fab. One of them was taking a year out from medical school and I'm pretty sure they appreciated the cash more than alcohol.

We moved in April and the removal men were sufficiently chuffed with tips for me to think it's not something everyone does.

They worked on the day we actually moved until all was unpacked (well after 5). One of them was telling DH that if he got his HGV license his wage would go up dramatically... to £12 per hour. We could never not have tipped guys who worked so hard and cheerfully for very little money.

Tenner each 'for a drink.'

Yes they're doing their job but removal men are paid peanuts and it's hard work!

Also it is pretty common to tip for particularly good service, at a restaurant, hairdressers, even school if you consider end of term presents for teachers and TAs. We tipped our removal men cos they worked so hard, kept smiling on what were two stressful days for us, had such a great work ethic and saw nothing as too much trouble. As well as tipping cash we gave a couple of them who had young kids some garden stuff ours had grown out of like sand pit etc. Saved us having to get rid and they were over the moon.

Beaglesare sweet. I wish they had been cheap, I would have sucked up the problems then. They were the second cheapest quote (cheapest was only £20 cheaper) we got and we paid over £500, for a local move. A proper registered removal company. We chose them because they are local to us, from our town, whereas the others were from the next town along. They won't be getting any repeat business or recommendations of us and I do put people of using them, but as there is only one removal company in the town, they tend to get business because of this.