Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

Should I provide breakfast for the removals people?

84 replies

CarolineTheChemist · 06/06/2019 15:39

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. Blush

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?!? Sad

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??

OP posts:
clubchair · 07/06/2019 06:40

Agreed - they'd prefer a tip than a sandwich. They'll have eaten or have food with them. They would never know which clients were going to feed them so wouldn't risk going to work hungry.

Cold drinks sound nice and keep the kettle handy and have tea coffee and milk.

Stiffasaboard · 07/06/2019 06:42

One of the weirdest things I’ve read on here

They are doing a job
They get paid
You can be kind and make a cuppa and even kinder and offer a biscuit but cooking bacon or making tuna sandwiches ffs?-No!

As for going to Mac Donald’s goodness me.

Do you take a shepherds pie to your hairdresser and bake a weekly cake for the postie?

Don’t be ridiculous.
You are in the middle of one of the most stressful days yourself. Don’t add to the drama by driving to buy burgers for people who are quite prepared and capable to bring a packed lunch

Agree this is patriarchy- must feed the hard working men folk hey in case their wives didn’t make them a big enough breakfast before they came to do heavy manual labour etc etc

Rootytoothy · 07/06/2019 06:44

Agree with BillyWilliam-we got ours some bacon rolls from the cafe and they went over and above-even rebuilt a load of flat pack furniture for us which wasn’t in their job description.
But if you don’t have access to anything like that then a decent supply of biscuits will probably go down well.
I always offer anyone working in my house drinks and if they are there over meal times I’ll offer them food. It’s just polite.

AJPTaylor · 07/06/2019 06:46

No brekkie as we did move in 2 days so they arrived at 11. If you are doing this then they may not be there for breakfast. I got a selection of sarnies, crisps, drinks from Sainsbury for them. We tipped 60 quid. There were 5 or 6 of them.

MaverickSnoopy · 07/06/2019 06:48

Well if this is standard etiquette then I made a major faux pas when we moved! I provided tea, coffee, squash and biscuits when they packed and moved us out - which took about 6 hours. I don't think I provided anything when we moved in as everything was packed. We did tip them when they left though.

You could, if you wanted and felt that you needed to, provide pan au chocolates or the like. I don't think I'd bother though - 1) because like most people they've probably eaten before starting work and 2) because otherwise you're just adding fuel to fire and the more people who do this, the more it will become expected. It's the last thing you need when moving!

AJPTaylor · 07/06/2019 06:49

And I didn't think I was feeding the patriarchy idea. Keeping them fed and watered via the local shop is just a nice thing to do on a big day. They were away from home and, let's face it, hardly earn a fortune.

ChipsAreLife · 07/06/2019 06:50

We didn't provide food. Everything was packed up as they did it the day before (best money I've spent)

We offered drinks as soon as kettle was up and running but they didn't really accept, they just wanted to get the job done. They were brilliant built all the beds and nothing else needed building as they moved it as it was.

We gave them a tip though. Cold drinks and biscuits is more than enough!

Silvercatowner · 07/06/2019 06:50

Do you take a shepherds pie to your hairdresser and bake a weekly cake for the postie?

I've been fortunate - I've only moved 4 times in my life, but each time the experience was incredibly stressful. If a bacon butty or a MacDonalds eases my stress by creating happy removal men then I'd see that as money well spent.

Villanellesproudmum · 07/06/2019 06:52

Whey parents moved recently they provided food. I didn’t when I moved, mainly as I didn’t have anything to hand and no shop nearby.

stucknoue · 07/06/2019 06:55

Drinks and biscuits are all that's needed, they are used to awkward moves and this would have been factored into the price

OKBobble · 07/06/2019 06:57

Just no!

Erismorn · 07/06/2019 07:01

I did bacon croissants, coffee then lots of cold drinks and ice creams for ours when we moved. We had the full packing service as DH was out of action due to a broken foot and previous overseas moves meant we were used to a packing service . They were a lovely team who worked incredibly hard over three of the hottest days of the year, running up and down our three storey house. They went out of their way to help us too, arranging for bits of furniture we didn't want to be sold at their auction house and then staying at the other end to make sure we were happy with where everything was, reassembling various bits and rearranging furniture for us. They got a tip!

They didn't expect to be looked after though, and were quite touched. I did it because I wanted to and not because I felt it was necessary. It distracted me from getting too anxious!

Giraffeinabox · 07/06/2019 07:05

DH has worked in the removals business for years. They arnt expecting it but it really perks them up if something is offered. They're usually overworked and underpaid. If youre in a flat they will likely be using the stairs and as you said, the lengthy walk down the drive to the lorry. Maybe just tip them 20quid and mention you dont have a cooker but pop to the butty wagon on their way home for example. DH always used to say "this job is shit today, up and down stairs with expensive and heavy bits but they've done us some bacon sarnies bless them". They really dont expect it, so it just depends how much you want to improve their day

sackrifice · 07/06/2019 07:06

I've moved at least 32 times in my life and have never ever fed or watered removals people.

Doriana · 07/06/2019 07:06

I'd also be a bit wary of providing anything other than vegetarian food. Not all blokes eat bacon or even meat! Drinks and biscuits are fine. A tip at the end if you can afford it.

LynetteScavo · 07/06/2019 07:07

If they are packing fur you they will pack EVERYTHING you don't specifically make clear they shouldn't l. And they will pack FAST.

Just let them get on with it, and keep a kettle, mugs etc separate as well as your personal stuff. I can't think of anything worse than frying bacon in the middle of moving house. I took the kids out as much as possible and let them get on with it.

And no, I've never tipped.

madcatladyforever · 07/06/2019 07:10

No you are paying them for a service. Just provide drinks and snacks.

ArfArfBarf · 07/06/2019 07:18

We’ve used moving services (usually full packing) plenty of times and the men have always been very professional and brought their own food and drinks. I think it’s a bit condescending to provide food tbh unless they are volunteers helping you out.

Lauren83 · 07/06/2019 07:26

I would do but I can see in your situation it's not really an option so I wouldn't worry

origamiunicorn · 07/06/2019 07:30

We had some workmen in to do the garden, turf grass, lay patio, move a shed, that kind of thing. I'd bought an array of biscuits, tea, coffee and cans but all of them just wanted water as they were "watching their weight" 🤭

aprilshowers12 · 07/06/2019 07:32

Ive had house movers four times. I provide hot and cold drinks and maybe a packet of biscuits if I remember. The last move was the most difficult with access problems to the house from the van. It was snowing and the men were sliding all over. They gave up at 7pm totally exhausted and came back to finish in the morning. I paid only what I’d been quoted and gave the men a £20 tip between them. I think people need to remember that it’s bloody hard work for the people being moved too. We will probably have had weeks or months packing everything up, getting rid of stuff plus all the emotional stress of the purchase and sale. I packed a five bedroom house on my own while working full time, I didn’t stop on the day of moving and no one made me cups of tea and bacon sarnies!

Dafspunk · 07/06/2019 07:35

I know someone who moved Russell Crowe and his parents provided breakfast on the patio but I think we all agree these are exceptional circumstances.

Sidge · 07/06/2019 07:35

I have moved many many times and never fed the removal men.

However they do tend to like a cuppa, so if you haven’t got a kettle I’d pick one up somewhere (you can get them for a tenner) and offer tea, coffee and maybe biscuits.

You wrote you don’t even have mugs - how come? What are they actually packing and moving?!

OneTownsVeryLikeAnother · 07/06/2019 07:35

We've always provided drinks and biscuits, and given a tip at the end. Sometimes people in physical jobs don't actually like eating anything substantial on the job, especially if they're doing a lot of bending.

IHeartArya · 07/06/2019 07:36

I’ve always provided drinks & biscuits all day & pre ordered sandwiches at lunch time.

Why wouldn’t you? It’s basic manners I think.

I’ve had builders, kitchen fitters & have always done the same for them. They may not expect it but it’s polite. In return I’ve had to have kitchen & builders back for odd jobs & am very often not charged.