Page 3 | Should we tip movers

Evaka · 2025-05-28T22:03:06+00:00

Partner and I are debating whether to tip our house movers. They're packing and moving a one bed flat for us this weekend. We're paying 1.5k for what I think is a fairly premo service. Should we tip the workers? DP was NYC based for years so possibly skews towards tipping in general.

Annoyingwhineycat · 31/05/2025 08:10

Surely people should do a good job regardless of whether they get a tip or not! I really hate the tipping culture. Do carers, nurses, bin workers etc get tipped? No.

Doris86 · 31/05/2025 08:12

Arran2024 · 30/05/2025 21:37

Our friend ran the removals company where my daughter's ex worked. He paid minimum wage and the lads all got tips. He made it clear when he was quoting for jobs that gratuities were on top, and gave people details of how much to pay. I just spoke to him - he said this was par for the course in this area. It might be different where you are.

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This ridiculous tipping culture comes from the the US. Pay workers the absolute minimum
and then expect customers to top up their pay to a decent level.

Just pay people a decent wage, and quote whatever price you need to to be able to cover that. Then no need for this tipping BS.

Sunnyday321 · 31/05/2025 08:16

When we moved ( 15 years ago ! ) it was distance enough for them to pack up one day , drive to new destination , sleep in their cab and get us in next morning .
On leaving the old house we gave them both £10 for breakfast the next day , and then £25 each once they unloaded and were done .

ConflictofInterest · 31/05/2025 08:18

£1.5k for a one bed flat! You're already tipping them, we paid £750 for a 3 bed house and garage contents this year. We provided drinks and biscuits and they didn't take them and took an hour long lunch break and went and bought their own. I don't tip anyone because I worked in care work for a long time and they need tipping far more. Our removals men weren't that great, they refused to move most things up the stairs despite telling me when I booked they'd put everything in the room we wanted it in so we had several weeks of wardrobes in the lounge until we managed to move them ourselves. The company asked for an online review which we gave, I guess that is modern tipping.

itbemay1 · 31/05/2025 08:52

We did. They were fantastic. We gave them £50 each.

jaundicedoutlook · 31/05/2025 15:19

Yes, tip.

I’m not from a tipping culture, but removal men are one of the trades that I would always tip, unless they has really **ed up on the job. When we last moved it was a team of 4 and we gave them £100 between them.

IsThisLifeNow · 31/05/2025 15:28

We tipped because they were efficient, friendly, careful with our stuff and were great with our son, i can't remember
How much mind

StanfreyPock · 31/05/2025 15:45

I gave my movers tips because they were absolute heroes, made a fuss of the cat in his basket and were very sweet when I cried on entry to the new place. I was on my own, it was a doer upper and in a terrible state 😢

surreygirl1987 · 31/05/2025 16:01

No. We don't want to turn into America. The more tipping that goes on, the less likely it is that wages increase. Tipping is not good for workers in the long run.

surreygirl1987 · 31/05/2025 16:02

But yes definitely offer them food and drink. Bacon sandwiches went down really well with my removal men!

zingally · 31/05/2025 16:13

Ah, this is a bit of a sore spot for me.

We moved in September last year, quite an expensive company, but we were in a rush, and didn't have time to shop around.
On the actual move day, my DH had to go and deal with a work-related emergency, it happens. So it was just me on my own.
The movers arrived, 3 big strapping blokes, and the first thing they said was something like "get the kettle on, you doing us bacon sarnies?" Umm... No? I'd long since packed the kettle away and the fridge was empty. It never occurred to me that they might want a hot drink before even starting. Just being cheeky fuckers tbh, but I wasn't confident I knew what the etiquette was. I'd last moved 14 years ago, and that was with a very small "man in a van" operation, who I paid in cash...

They were a bit off with me, but warmed back up as we bantered back and forth. But that was me putting on a front honestly. I was so rattled that by the time they'd done the unloading at the new place, I gave them £20 each as a "tip" because I felt like I'd made some massive unspoken "removal man" faux pas. I was really annoyed with myself once I'd calmed down.

susiedaisy1912 · 31/05/2025 16:14

Yes we did. Our movers were brilliant. Gave them £20 each.

surreygirl1987 · 31/05/2025 16:21

zingally · 31/05/2025 16:13

Ah, this is a bit of a sore spot for me.

We moved in September last year, quite an expensive company, but we were in a rush, and didn't have time to shop around.
On the actual move day, my DH had to go and deal with a work-related emergency, it happens. So it was just me on my own.
The movers arrived, 3 big strapping blokes, and the first thing they said was something like "get the kettle on, you doing us bacon sarnies?" Umm... No? I'd long since packed the kettle away and the fridge was empty. It never occurred to me that they might want a hot drink before even starting. Just being cheeky fuckers tbh, but I wasn't confident I knew what the etiquette was. I'd last moved 14 years ago, and that was with a very small "man in a van" operation, who I paid in cash...

They were a bit off with me, but warmed back up as we bantered back and forth. But that was me putting on a front honestly. I was so rattled that by the time they'd done the unloading at the new place, I gave them £20 each as a "tip" because I felt like I'd made some massive unspoken "removal man" faux pas. I was really annoyed with myself once I'd calmed down.

Gosh, to be fair that's mega rude of them.

Annoyingwhineycat · 31/05/2025 21:44

First time we moved the boss came up to tell me very nicely that next time I needed to make sure I left the kettle out and some biscuits. It’s just basic etiquette so they can make themselves tea . I didn’t know but I’ve always done it since.

nailslikeknives · 31/05/2025 22:16

If they’ve taken care of your stuff as they’ve loaded and unloaded it and put it where you asked for, then definitely tip. I tipped £10 per person.

pontivex · 01/06/2025 03:24

We gave the gaffer £80 to take the team of 4 out for drinks and food after they’d finished. They did a bloody amazing job, polite, careful and quick.

Stirabout · 01/06/2025 03:35

We’ve moved house so so many times and I’ve never tipped movers.
If I can find the kettle and enough cups and I’m making a cuppa anyway I’ll make them one too, but that’s it.
Tbh it’s never occurred to me to tip as I pay their bill on time so why would I pay more.
For those commenting if they’ve taken care of your stuff etc…,well…that is their job. No one employs a mover to break stuff and leave it in the hallway.

They aren’t volunteers so I don’t tip

Peaceandquietandacuppa · 01/06/2025 03:41

Kettlemetal · 29/05/2025 07:07

Tipping in the UK is quite random when you think about it and the weird conventions about who we feel obliged to feed and water all day is quite odd.

The movers are doing the job they are paid to do like most people who turn up to work.

Yet reading this thread somehow they get drinks and food (biscuits but some suggesting full on bacon sandwiches) provided all day and then walk away with an extra £10-20 tax free in their pocket at the end of the day so potentially an extra £50-100 each week. That could end up an extra £2-5k per year (I know that’s unlikely in reality but just looking at the theory).

Hairdressers also get tipped each cut so can end up with a fair extra bit of cash at the end of a busy day.

Postman gets nothing as a regular but could amass a fair bit of cash at Xmas.

Yet the shop worker gets nothing all year round.

We did tip our movers and made tea a few times with biscuits but I felt the pressure to do even that on a really busy day when half the time I didn’t know where the mugs were and was knee deep in cleaning and boxes - that was enough without sorting out flipping bacon sandwiches. They are surely capable of bringing a packed lunch like most people who go to work?

Edited

Agree it’s quite random - but anyone who does work in my home gets offered tea and biscuits. It’s manual work and not like they can bring a kettle with them is it! Or pop to the coffee shop.

I always tip removal men - £20 each ish, more if they were amazing. I also tip: hairdressers, taxi drivers, bin collectors and postie.

People saying “oh I don’t get tipped for my job” when it’s not allowed in their profession just sound bitter.

Peaceandquietandacuppa · 01/06/2025 03:44

zingally · 31/05/2025 16:13

Ah, this is a bit of a sore spot for me.

We moved in September last year, quite an expensive company, but we were in a rush, and didn't have time to shop around.
On the actual move day, my DH had to go and deal with a work-related emergency, it happens. So it was just me on my own.
The movers arrived, 3 big strapping blokes, and the first thing they said was something like "get the kettle on, you doing us bacon sarnies?" Umm... No? I'd long since packed the kettle away and the fridge was empty. It never occurred to me that they might want a hot drink before even starting. Just being cheeky fuckers tbh, but I wasn't confident I knew what the etiquette was. I'd last moved 14 years ago, and that was with a very small "man in a van" operation, who I paid in cash...

They were a bit off with me, but warmed back up as we bantered back and forth. But that was me putting on a front honestly. I was so rattled that by the time they'd done the unloading at the new place, I gave them £20 each as a "tip" because I felt like I'd made some massive unspoken "removal man" faux pas. I was really annoyed with myself once I'd calmed down.

It’s not like they can bring a kettle with them though is it? So how else would they make a hot drink?

My office allows us to make hot drinks and have water.

I really thought this was basic common sense.

Although asking for bacon sandwiches would have got a “the caff is that way lads” from me. But not providing a kettle, tea bag and a few cups is very mean spirited.

Stirabout · 01/06/2025 03:44

surreygirl1987 · 31/05/2025 16:21

Gosh, to be fair that's mega rude of them.

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Especially asking for bacon butties, not least because I’m a veggie. So it really wouldn’t have gone down well

Stirabout · 01/06/2025 03:55

Peaceandquietandacuppa · 01/06/2025 03:41

Agree it’s quite random - but anyone who does work in my home gets offered tea and biscuits. It’s manual work and not like they can bring a kettle with them is it! Or pop to the coffee shop.

I always tip removal men - £20 each ish, more if they were amazing. I also tip: hairdressers, taxi drivers, bin collectors and postie.

People saying “oh I don’t get tipped for my job” when it’s not allowed in their profession just sound bitter.

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Only in some jobs would a tip be considered a bribe. Doctors and the police for example
The majority of the population work in jobs that people could easily tip it’s just not normal to do so.
So why continue to make it normal when people should just get a decent salary. Employers relying essentially on the odd customer tipping are keeping wages down.

Wheech · 01/06/2025 03:59

I would. I am not a fan of tipping in general and rarely tip except in restaurants where it's clearly expected. But when moved to my current home in 2011 my parents told me that it would be normal to tip £20pp. They last moved in the 1990s so it must be quite well ingrained. I remember being a bit taken aback but then the guys had been in both of my homes and handling all my things and they did it with such care. They made a very stressful day a bit less stressful.

This was an expensive removal with a national company but I don't expect the movers themselves got so much of the price we paid.

Stirabout · 01/06/2025 04:03

SusanSometimes · 29/05/2025 17:04

My parents' family business was a removals firm. The movers don't expect tips, but are always delighted to receive them. Tea, coffee, biscuits are very much appreciated, and a cash tip at the end of the move is nice if you can stretch to it. But as I say, it isn't expected at all.

Thankyou for that Susan
I was starting to feel like a pariah on the thread

zingally · 01/06/2025 13:17

Peaceandquietandacuppa · 01/06/2025 03:44

It’s not like they can bring a kettle with them though is it? So how else would they make a hot drink?

My office allows us to make hot drinks and have water.

I really thought this was basic common sense.

Although asking for bacon sandwiches would have got a “the caff is that way lads” from me. But not providing a kettle, tea bag and a few cups is very mean spirited.

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Calling me "very mean spirited" is pretty harsh! I honestly didn't know! As I said, the last time I'd moved was 14 years previously, and that was a cash-in-hand man in a van job.
And did you not see the bit where I said I gave them £20 EACH at the end?! That was £60 on top of a £1200+ bill.

Gosh, if you think that's mean, I'd hate to see what you'd say about someone genuinely heartless! What a nasty little person you are.

Stirabout · 01/06/2025 13:29

zingally · 01/06/2025 13:17

Calling me "very mean spirited" is pretty harsh! I honestly didn't know! As I said, the last time I'd moved was 14 years previously, and that was a cash-in-hand man in a van job.
And did you not see the bit where I said I gave them £20 EACH at the end?! That was £60 on top of a £1200+ bill.

Gosh, if you think that's mean, I'd hate to see what you'd say about someone genuinely heartless! What a nasty little person you are.

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Tbh I’m surprised movers don’t bring drinks, flasks and lunch with them. If I’m on site ( and it’s in the early stages ) I always have my own and I’m sure many workers who are on the road a lot do the same.

In my experience moving day is manic for everyone but more so for the home owners. Whilst the last thing I pack is always the kettle so everyone can have a cuppa I’m surprised removal companies aren’t more aware to tell their stuff to be prepared. …just in case.