Among Friends

[Goldengate8361]

I have "2 men and a truck" schudeuled tomorrow morning to help me move a few items to my house (not a full house move; just a fridge, washer and dryer, boxes of books and a few other items.) Should I tip them? How much? I thnk the move will end up costing me about $300 or so (without the tip). What do you think?

[Adamlambert]

Ive never heard of that. I buy them lunch and have drinks, but that's all.  

[Kachina624]

I moved across a state line and had a big van full.  I gave them a modest tip.  For what you're moving, I don't think a tip is necessary or expected.

[tbearski]

If the service is good and they do their job then ...tip em! Most of the rate goes to the boss so $20 (or more) to each and tell them to have lunch on you! You'll know if they deserve it!

[hckynut]

For me it would depend on a few things.

Were they on time

Did they listen closely and follow your instructions

Were they polite and friendly

Did they treat your items like they would their own

The more check marks you can put to the above?  The bigger the tip. I cannot give you a specific amount as moving a fridge/washer/dryer from some homes are much harder than others.

We bought a new washer when in our townhome and had to remove pieces of our furnace so it would fit through.

Those are just a few points that would help me decide. I am sure others can come up with more.

hckynut(john)

[bri20]

Proably $10 or $20 each - that's what I would do.

I always offer water too.

[Kalli]

I don't know how much to tip movers, having never used that kind of service.  However, I know that my brother has used professional movers 3 times so far as he's been relocated by his employer (from CO to PA and then to Illinois).   He told me every time they've moved, stuff has been stolen.  I would say please be careful.  

The moving company folks know you have to sign off when they are done and leaving. And there's no way you know if everything you've packed is still there.  You never know until you've unpacked all the boxes which can take days.  Stolen by movers was a box of 45s that my sil's mother had owned.  (Her mom died when she was 4 so these things were very sentimental to her. And they were worth $, too, although I'm sure sil wouldn't have parted with them.)

Just a warning for you....

[SeaMaiden]

Yes you should tip them....I would give them each $20.00 if you felt that the service was good.

[151949]

When we moved the man who came from the moving company to do the estimate told us to not feel we needed to tip the movers as they are very well paid, so we didn't.I did have ice water and bought a sandwich tray for lunches for us & them but that's all. They did not seem to expect a tip. We had Mayflower as the truck company.

[jpie]

I moved 15 years ago and tipped each of the two men $20.00 each. The move happened on a heat index of 100+ day and they "piggy-backed" my Waterbury grandfather clock up the stairs of a split level home. There was not a scratch on anything that they moved. Those men work so hard! Moving is very expensive to begin with, so $20.00 was a small token of my appreciation