How much do you tip the removal guys?

Kynthia

This thread has been done a few times before. You obviously don't have to tip and you really shouldn't if the service was bad. Plenty of drinks and a few snacks if possible are appreciated. If they go the extra mile in some way and you can afford it then £10 each seems to be reasonable but a bit more or less isn't unusual.

Pixie5740

I moved last Monday and I tipped them removal guys £20 each as well as making sure there were plenty of tea, coffee and biscuits.

I was moving from a ground floor flat to a top floor flat. They lugged heavy wooden furniture and a large fridge freezer up two flights of stairs on a hot July day so I felt they deserved it.

jfdi

I helped a mate move Thursday, about 85 miles. 2 bed house to 2 bed house.
The guys were brilliant, and on the first bit of the move we all stopped half way for bacon and egg rolls and a cuppa.
Unfortunately couldn't do the same at the other end as they were rushing off to another job and didn't have time to stop.

PasturesNew

I'd love to know who these people are that have the time to make cups of tea on moving day .... don't they have "proper work" to be doing? Like checking, packing, directing, advising, answering questions (what about his love?), watching the paintwork, checking the best china's being treated carefully, cleaning/wiping/vacuuming each room as it's cleared, waiting for the phone call to say "collect the keys" (even collecting them).

Not to mention the fact you've then got to get ahead of the removals people to let them into the new place, then start the job of directing where stuff goes, checking what's left to come, making decisions and answering questions, quickly cleaning areas at random before the removals people plonk something down ....

Tea??? You're joking!

Kynthia

PasturesNew wrote: »

I'd love to know who these people are that have the time to make cups of tea on moving day .... don't they have "proper work" to be doing? Like checking, packing, directing, advising, answering questions (what about his love?), watching the paintwork, checking the best china's being treated carefully, cleaning/wiping/vacuuming each room as it's cleared, waiting for the phone call to say "collect the keys" (even collecting them).

Not to mention the fact you've then got to get ahead of the removals people to let them into the new place, then start the job of directing where stuff goes, checking what's left to come, making decisions and answering questions, quickly cleaning areas at random before the removals people plonk something down ....

Tea??? You're joking!

When there's more than one of you there's time for tea, and opening a pre-bought pack of sausage rolls and biscuits doesn't take long. Then my removal took the van and went to lunch before meeting us at the new house, so we had plenty of time to finish up at the old house and give the new one a wipe-down.

PasturesNew

Kynthia wrote: »

When there's more than one of you there's time for tea

Ah, that old chestnut of "we". I've never had a "we" move. It's a "me" move.

borkid

PasturesNew wrote: »

I'd love to know who these people are that have the time to make cups of tea on moving day .... don't they have "proper work" to be doing? Like checking, packing, directing, advising, answering questions (what about his love?), watching the paintwork, checking the best china's being treated carefully, cleaning/wiping/vacuuming each room as it's cleared, waiting for the phone call to say "collect the keys" (even collecting them).

Not to mention the fact you've then got to get ahead of the removals people to let them into the new place, then start the job of directing where stuff goes, checking what's left to come, making decisions and answering questions, quickly cleaning areas at random before the removals people plonk something down ....

Tea??? You're joking!

Tea is easy enough to do. Two people, one goes ahead to greet the other stays and locks up ( my daughter helped with an extra car and the cats), well labelled boxes ( room it's to go in as well as contents.and sometimes colour coded) , rooms labelled, one person on the door directing and the other 'milling around/ keeping out the way/ making tea.

You just need to be very well organised. You could always make a couple of flasks up in advance though if you thought it would be too much to do.

Kynthia

PasturesNew wrote: »

Ah, that old chestnut of "we". I've never had a "we" move. It's a "me" move.

That's why I said 'if there's two of you' as I know that isn't always the case and then it's harder. In that case I'd still have the pre-bought biscuits and sausage rolls but also some cans of coke/diet coke for people to help themselves to, including myself.

AliceBanned

I tipped £20 for two removal guys moving contents of a one bed flat 15 miles. They were easy to work with and pleasant. Removal guys are not always self-employed, and I don't think these ones were so may have been on a low wage. They seemed to appreciate the £20 anyway, I couldn't afford more and I think the gesture is appreciated if you feel they are doing their best to help you. I think I paid the company £230 for the move so I don't imagine these guys earn a lot.


I get the feeling a tip is kind of expected but it doesn't have to be a lot. I never tip mini-cabs as they are usually extortionate. But if people make something like a home move as easy for me as possible I want to reward them a little bit for their help and hard work.


They also took apart my wooden bed frame and wardrobe and put them back together at the other end, as well as moving washing machine etc lots of heavy stuff.

DRP

Yep - we totally underestimated the amount of physical work required (at one point i was thinking of doing it with some mates/family!), and our movers did it quickly and without fuss, even when there were several unexpected problems...

We appreciated their efforts and professionalism, and the tip reflected this.