Do you tip your movers?

[VillainV]

I remember years ago we were specifically told not to tip movers. Food and non-alcoholic drinks only.

One of our movers made an offhand comment about how he can tell military members rank because the higher ranking officers always tip, and junior officers and enlisted don't. I've never tipped movers (I thought we couldn't!) but always have drinks and offer food. Have I been doing it wrong all these years???

[pennylane]

For our past moves, I've just had food and drinks. This time, we had food/drinks and also tipped them because it was freezing cold and snowing all day. Plus on delivery we had them moving some really heavy stuff down into the basement, which I know was a pain in the ass.

[amaristella]

Only if I hire them myself. I'm fairly certain it's against their contract to take tips. I do feed them, though, if they're around for longer than a couple hours.

[audette]

We've been specifically told not to tip, too... So, we do food/meal and soda/Gatorade/coffee run/etc.


My brain boggles at how much the tips could add up to, if I followed the advice of the folks on the MM board. Our last CONUS move, we had a 3-4 man packing crew in our house for 3 days (and it was not the same people everyday), and a 3 or 4 man loading crew for just over half a day. Even just giving each person $20/day, that would add up to several hundred dollars on tips. And some folks on MM were suggesting $50/person! I think many of the folks making those recommendations are not used to the full service, multiple days involved, moves.

[kpol]

I've never tipped either. We always have drinks available and they've always brought their own lunch. We PCS'ed from one post in Korea to another and those guys could load and unload in a half day. They did love the "American" drinks we offered but would most certainly refuse a tip.

[killercupcake]

I always heard the same thing about tipping commissary baggers.

I'd probably try to tip anyway, because I'm used to tipping for everything, but it was kind of douchey for the movers to say that to you.

[brandienee]

I don't even remember.

We were told absolutely not to tip. But I did have snacks and lunch for them. Coffee and Dunkin Doughnuts in the morning then gatorade and pizza for lunch.

[dcn]

We have never tipped. I also thought it wasn't allowed. We buy them lunch each day and provide drinks - that adds up by itself!

[G22]

I don't think we have ever tipped either. I always get breakfast/lunch for them though.

[ilovecandy]

WE have also never tipped. We provide food and drinks. I am not sure if H has been told anything specifically abou tipping or not tipping movers.

[amaristella]

May 6, 2015 1:30:00 GMT -5 killercupcake said:

I always heard the same thing about tipping commissary baggers.

I'd probably try to tip anyway, because I'm used to tipping for everything, but it was kind of douchey for the movers to say that to you.

Seems like there would be less confusion about that since DECA sometimes actually posts signs that say the baggers only work for tips.

[killercupcake]

May 9, 2015 14:45:34 GMT -5 amaristella said:

May 6, 2015 1:30:00 GMT -5 killercupcake said:

I always heard the same thing about tipping commissary baggers.

I'd probably try to tip anyway, because I'm used to tipping for everything, but it was kind of douchey for the movers to say that to you.

Seems like there would be less confusion about that since DECA sometimes actually posts signs that say the baggers only work for tips.

You'd think. Lol

[VillainV]

So we ended up tipping. We were hoping to do a door-to-door move, so we figured it might be good to tip the driver and his wife at least (because if we see them on the other side, they might figure they'll get more tip if they do a good job). We did $20/person (driver and his wife, then the 3-man load crew). To be fair they did a really really good job. But yeah, doing it every day for every crew member would really add up....

[meltoine]

Our first PCS we had three separate 4-person crews, just at pick up not counting the people who delivered our stuff at our gaining location. It would have been madness to tip them all.

[VillainV]

May 9, 2015 18:48:10 GMT -5 meltoine said:

Our first PCS we had three separate 4-person crews, just at pick up not counting the people who delivered our stuff at our gaining location. It would have been madness to tip them all.

Yeah, this is where I am.  It's just not sustainable to tip every person $20 (or even $10!) a day.  I think I'll just stick with offering food and drinks.

[meltoine]

May 10, 2015 7:20:21 GMT -5 VillainV said:

May 9, 2015 18:48:10 GMT -5 meltoine said:

Our first PCS we had three separate 4-person crews, just at pick up not counting the people who delivered our stuff at our gaining location. It would have been madness to tip them all.

Yeah, this is where I am.  It's just not sustainable to tip every person $20 (or even $10!) a day.  I think I'll just stick with offering food and drinks.

It's not, especially if that becomes the expectation for everyone including junior enlisted. They'd blow through their entire months' base pay on tips.