Remember that tipping carriers is not required. It may be customary and polite, but if you have a bad experience, there is nothing wrong with not leaving a tip. To summarize, there is a gray area around tipping your movers, but yes, if you think they've done a good job and they deserve it, do it. It's always decent to be thankful (and to prove it) for a job well done.
After all, we all appreciate a pat on the back. Is it rude not to tip movers? No, it's not. Things have a fun way of balancing: Moving professionals should automatically know how well they did their job, so they can often sense if a generous tip, a standard tip, or no tip is coming even before you. The question isn't always: “How much do you tip those who move? but rather: “Do we tip the movers? Before moving day, call the company to verify that they accept tips.
If your policy prevents tipping, consider showing gratitude by providing non-alcoholic food or snacks to your moving team; this is especially welcome when a move falls on a hot day or overlaps mealtimes. You can also skip tips if the tip was included in your moving cost, a practice adopted by some moving companies for long-distance moving. Finally, tipping is not necessary if the process was excessively delayed, if your property or belongings were damaged, or if you received poor service. Sometimes a relocation can be successful, but the owner is displeased with certain aspects of the service (poor communication, late arrival without explanation, aggressive handling of sensitive items, etc.) In this case, dissatisfied customers may offer a tip below the established guideline.
Once the relocation is complete, place the cash tip for each move in a separate envelope and distribute it individually. Avoid paying a lump sum to the foreman (supervisor of the moving crew) to be divided. Tipping each moving company individually will ensure that your money reaches its intended recipient immediately after completing the job. In addition, although it is customary to give the same tip to each moving company, you can give a higher tip to anyone who performs a higher service.
As a rule, you are not obliged to tip the moving company. People who move should arrive on time, treat their things as if they were their own, and get organized. They should be courteous, follow your requests and answer any questions that arise about the move. The truth of the matter is, unless you've received absolutely horrendous service, it's always polite to tip those who move you.
While it is true that they are paid to help you move, a small sum to express your gratitude for your hard work will make their day. You are not required to tip moving companies. As in any industry, tipping is never mandatory and you should never feel obligated.
