Do you have to tip movers?
This very question seems to worry millions of Americans who have hired professional movers to help them move to a new home. And there’s a good reason for the said anxiety simply because, in most cases, the answer is not as straightforward as it looks.
Or maybe the answer to whether you should tip your movers or not is simpler than you think… as long as you ask the right question.
Instead of looking for a firm YES or a firm NO, the right approach to resolving the notoriously delicate and often tricky matter of tipping professional movers is to ask yourself a series of questions that will help you decide whether you should tip your movers at all.
That’s right, why worry about how much you should tip movers when there’s a chance that you decide against the idea in the first place?
Do you have to tip your movers? Read on to find the RIGHT answer.
Are you supposed to tip movers?
While you’re expected to tip your movers, you’re in no way obliged to do it.
And here’s why.
Moving companies work in the service industry – that is, they provide moving services that people pay for when they need them. And since it’s customary to tip waiters and waitresses in restaurants, hotel valets and hotel bellhops, cab drivers, or electricians and plumbers who come to your home, the same is true for packers and movers who come to your home to pack and move your household items.
However, you’re supposed to tip people working in the service industry only on one condition: that they do a good job and you’re satisfied with their work.
In reality, tipping is a typical way of showing your gratitude for a job well done. When you’re happy with a service, why not show your appreciation by tipping whoever is “responsible” for the great service?
By rewarding a good service, you’re actually telling the service providers that they’re doing things right and should continue to do so – a win-win scenario for everyone, including all future users of that particular service.
All this simplifies greatly the answer to the question Do you need to tip movers? and eliminates any ungrounded anxiety you may be feeling about whether or not you should give extra money to your movers at the end of the move.
- YES. Tip your movers if you’re happy with their work, satisfied with the moving service they have provided, and content with their professional attitude.
- NO. Don’t tip your movers if you end up being dissatisfied with their work for some reason or another.
Simple, right? Not necessarily.
See also: 10 Steps to select a good mover
To tip movers or not to tip movers: How to know for sure
Sometimes it can be really tricky to know for sure what to do when the awkward tipping moment comes: do you tip your movers or not? Is it rude not to tip movers? How will your moving guys react provided that they expect to be tipped after the work is done? Will they say something?
To help you know for sure whether your movers deserve to be tipped or not, here are a few pointers to nudge you in the right direction:
- Have your movers arrived on time?
It can be really annoying to have to wait for your movers to make an appearance way past the scheduled time of arrival. It can be even more aggravating when they arrive hours late and act as if nothing has happened, without even offering a simple apology. - Have your movers been nice and friendly from the moment they stepped inside your home?
While it’s true that you’re not looking to become friends with any of your moving crew members, you also don’t want them to be rude, unfriendly, and disrespectful either. Remember that 1) you’re paying them for the service, and 2) they are inside your own home. Therefore, your “guests” should at least make an effort to be polite and respectful if they wish to get tipped in the end. - Have your movers acted professionally throughout the move?
Keep in mind that you’ve hired experienced professionals, not some amateurs who have no idea what they’re doing. Your movers must have completed hundreds and hundreds of residential moves, so there’s really no excuse when they clearly act in a non-professional way.Only moving professionals who act like true professionals will get tipping money from you. Period. - Have your packers and movers handled your belongings with care?
This aspect is crucial for determining whether you should tip your movers or not. Ultimately, as long as your hired men treat your valuables with caution and do whatever it takes to protect them for safe transportation, you can do without any superfluous display of friendliness and amiability from the pros. - Have your movers avoided property damage in the best possibly way?
In addition to using expert packing techniques, your movers should also use the proper moving equipment such as moving dollies and furniture sliders to prevent any property damage whatsoever – no scratched or dented floors and no chipped walls. - Have your movers worked hard throughout the move?
It’s easy to see whether your movers are working the way they are supposed to be working or whether they are taking every opportunity to shirk from completing their tasks – abnormally frequent breaks and a score of other tricks to waste time is a sure sign that those professional movers are not getting any tips from you and are asking to be reported to their main office, especially if they are local movers who are charging you by the hour.
In most cases, you will know perfectly well whether you should tip your movers or not just by being around the pros and observing them while they work. Just keep in mind that you are not obliged to reward your moving crew members by handing them extra money if you’re not satisfied with their attitude or work.
No, once you’ve made up your mind to tip your movers for a job well done, the next important question is how much to tip your movers, right? Follow the link below to learn the answer.
Read also: How much to tip movers
