How much to tip movers

[gassy]

How much should I tip the movers? 2 guys, 4 hrs moving out--tomorrow, who knows how long moving in. I've always moved myself in the past. I'm thinkin' $50 each--too much? Should I tip them at all? Me thinks I should.

[azasadny]

Yep, $50 each sounds right!

[porsche930dude]

tip is up to you but being a tipee myself i find i do better work if im tiped say in the middle of a job rather than at the end. your workers might actually start to care about your crap. Which is better for both parties

[on2wheels52]

I must be a hick, the thought wouldn't have occurred to me. Never hired any movers, if I did I assume I'd be in the trenches with them. Might offer a beer or two when finished.
Is there a book on stuff like that I should read?
Jim

[kqw]

It depends on the job itself. If you are asking to place items in a particular place/room in your new place and there is a lot of heavy furniture, bed set up, delicate pieces or boxes to be placed in predesignated areas such as bedrooms, kitchen, den, living room, garage, dining room etc, then tip accordingly.

The last move I made, I tipped $100.00 each only because we had a lotta $hit and it saved my a$$ from sorting boxes and lugging boxes all over the house.

I also made sure that lunch and "refreshments" was provided.

[FastCarFan]

I think $50 each is fine...assuming they actually do a good job. I also have always provided lunch & plenty of cold (non-alcoholic) beverages. They work very hard. And the good ones are very, very careful.

I don't think a tip should be given until the end, because it should reflect their work ethic.

[Shuie]

If they didn't break anything by the end of the job I would definitely tip them. Don't tip before then. Lunch is a very nice also. FWIW, I worked for Mayflower in the Summer of '96 when I was home from college and I never saw a tip greater than $50 for any size job.

[kang]

Little things count, too. Last couple times I moved, I provided coffee and donuts in the morning and pizza and soda at lunch. This brightens their day a bit, lets them know you you’re a good guy, and pumps them full of sugar and caffeine (which makes them work faster!).

And at the end, if they haven’t broken anything, worked reasonably hard, you could add another tip.

[notfarnow]

I gave them a tip:

"The piano is REALLY heavy; lift with your knees, not your back"

They really appreciated it

I actually did tip $75 between 3 guys. It was only a 2-3 hr job, but they were moving the heavy & awkward stuff.

[The Gaijin]

A good deli lunch and a cooler full of soda/drinks is always a good idea. If you are helpfull, but stay out of the way, they will appreciate that too.