Should I provide breakfast for the removals people?

[CarolineTheChemist]

Help! I'm panicking and need some advice/a reality check!

On Monday we have a removals firm arriving to pack our top floor flat into their lorry and move it to our new house about 80 miles away.

They're planning to do the unload on Tuesday evening and I'm already worrying cos our drive is too narrow for their lorry, so they will have to carry everything up the 20 metre drive too.

When I mentioned this to one of my close friends, she casually remarked that I'd better be ready with the bacon sarnies for them on Tuesday morning. I asked her if this was expected by them and she said she thought it was normal practice. I pointed out that we don't have a cooker yet so I can't make bacon sarnies... nor a fridge or a kettle, or microwave, or mugs, plates, knives etc - you get the picture.

I've prepared by borrowing a cool box and I bought cans of coke and bottles of water. I intend to put them in with some ice in case anyone wants a cold drink, but I don't know what to do about food?!?

I mentioned it to some colleagues today and they unhelpfully agreed that providing breakfast was the done thing... one also suggested we "pop to Greggs for some bacon sarnies" until I reminded him it's a rural location and the nearest town is a 40 minute drive away.

I've moved many times, but this is the first time we've used an actual removals firm. What does mumsnet think is appropriate/expected??

On MN, unless it's a wedding in which not providing a crumb to evening guests but expecting them to travel and bring you a cash gift is perfectly acceptable, you have to provide full meals to those you are paying to provide services.

You don't have a cooker. The drinks are fine.

Drinks and some biscuits. Don't forget sugar for tea!

Eh? Feed them? Not a chance.

of course not. People eat before they start work. You offer tea and coffee and biscuits when/if they take a break.

You definitely don't need to supply breakfast! Perhaps buy a packet of biscuits to offer. The cool drinks is a nice touch, but they do this everyday - they'll have breakfast sorted and will probably bring their own flasks.

No, this is not normal. They won't be expecting breakfast.

when I recently moved we provided plenty of drinks.
and I paid up 50£ at the local cafe for them to get lunch (long distance move)

PS - no-one offers me breakfast when I arrive at work!!

Drinks and biscuits - lots of biscuits😀

I bought bacon sarnies at the local cafe for my last move, but if you're rural with no where to do that and no cooking facilities then stock up on biscuits.

I also tipped all the guys last time.

I'm sure they'll have had breakfast before they leave for work. You could maybe provide lunch of sandwiches - ham/tuna/salad/beef or similar?

I'd rather get a tip than a sandwich

I've never heard of providing meals for removal men. You don't provide meals for builders and this would be similar.
I moved recently and provided hot drinks and biscuits. I left the biscuits with them for the journey. They had a long break after loading then waiting for the money to go through so plenty of time to get food themselves. I did give a tip.

Mine even refused drinks! They were all body building types and they’d brought their own protein shakes.

No. That would be ridiculous and time wasting. They are arriving to do a job, not socialise. In any case if they are packing up someone's household belongings they are hardly likely to even expect a mug of coffee, seeing as the mugs, kettle etc will be packed. I'm sure they'll have had beakfast before they arrive and can grab a take away coffee if needed during the packing.

when we move i will be providing fish and chips for the two lads who are moving our big stuff but then again they are my two sons so will expect mom to feed them , but in your case there is no obligation to provide anything other than drinks and biscuits

They bring their food and take their breaks. Tea and coffee and a packet of biscuits is all you need!

Never heard of such a thing!

So no!

Why do removal men need this service and yet care assistants are on minimum wage - no breakfast included!

Hot drinks is enough. But don't forget to have sugar in

When we moved 10 years ago, the people moving out of the house we were buying had cooked a huge pot of home made soup for the removal men. I was astounded. In the midst of chaos, home made soup???

If I was moving next door to a MacDonalds or a chippie (heaven forbid) then I'd probably buy the removal men a big mac each or something. Otherwise drinks and nice biscuits.

"Why do removal men need this service and yet care assistants are on minimum wage - no breakfast included!"

Removal men are - well - men. Care assistants tend to be women. Another example of endemic patriarchy.

I got both of ours a Maccy's breakfast and tipped them
£20 each for a drink after work. They worked bloody hard, bless them!

Definitely provide tea, coffee and biscuits. We last moved on a really hot day so I provided loads of frozen ice pops and lollies too (they took the freezer last). Usually when people ask for tips about moving the top suggestion is keep your kettle and tea making stuff out til last, packing in a box yourself and keep it with you so it's the last thing you have at the old house and the first thing at the new house. And definitely lots of sugar.

I have always found that a small amount of money can buy an awful lot of goodwill if spent judiciously! I would offer to do a MacD run or similar.