XP: Question about movers

[ElizabethBennet]

I'm usually on ML but have a military specific question so I hope you don't mind me asking.

The movers are coming on Wednesday to pack us up then again on Friday to take everything away. We've never done a real PCS before so I'm not sure how this works. Do we tip them? Provide lunch?

[mangomama]

On our last PCS, TMO told us not to tip, not sure if that's across the board now or just for our specific location. When they came to pack and again to load I told the workers what I expected of them. I asked them for their full names and explained to them that I was not allowed to tip, but if they did a great job, I would be writing to their supervisors telling them of the great job they did. I told them that I'd be present if they had any questions but expected them to take care of my belongings the best they could.
It was by far the best experience I could have hoped for. I was true to my word and wrote and called their supervisors and told them how awesome they did and they promised me they would get a small bonus.
I did provide lunch both days. Just something simple, Subway and Chick Fil A.

Set aside a closet or room of stuff that you don't want them touching and leave a note on the door. Make sure you have all of pictures of all of your valuable items that you aren't bringing with you. Take all of your expensive jewelery with you.

Go over the list before they leave VERY carefully, noting the condition of your items. If they mark that your dresser is damaged, discolored, etc when its in perfect condition, keep them honest and don't be afraid to call them out.

They can and will unpack your items once they are delivered to your new location, you just have to ask. I'm not a huge fan of people unpacking my belongings, but I did have them unpack the kitchen and just went behind them putting stuff away, it only took about 35 minutes to get my kitchen together and they took the mass amounts of packing paper and boxes with them. Bonus, I had my kitchen all up and ready to go so I didn't have to spend another day eating out.

[JakJak]

We didn't tip for out last one, but we had doughnuts for them in the morning and we ordered pizza for them at lunch!

[audette]

Generally, we have had it recommended or implied to not tip, but we do provide lunch and drinks (coffee/soda runs 2-3 times/day).

All in all, the only packing experience we had that was less than good was when I was doped up on painkillers due to having had emergency surgery just prior to the pack - in fact we had them postpone packing by a day to accomodate my hospital recovery time, so they were rushed. Otherwise, the packers have always been great.

[meltoine]

I tried to provide lunch this time, they declined.

If you don't have them unpack, make sure you open the boxes listed on your high value inventory before they leave. If you don't, you can't claim something is missing later. That's the fight we're having now - one of our high value boxes was missing a laptop and an iPad when we opened it, even though the seal had not been broken. We may end up not getting reimbursed for them because we didn't open the boxes before the movers left.

[G22]

I provided breakfast/lunch both times. First time they ate. Second time they didn't. We didn't tip either.

[Deleted]

You aren't allowed to tip, but providing drinks is customary (soda, juice, water), and I always offer to pick up lunch, though I ask what they want (Subway, pizza, whatever) because they get sick of the same thing all the time. Sometimes they take me up on my offer for food, and sometimes they don't. I'm usually getting food for myself at the same time, so I frame it like "I'm going to run out to get some food, I can bring back whatever you would like....Subway? McDonalds? Pizza?" so they don't feel weird about me making a special trip for them.

[ElizabethBennet]

Thanks guys