Tipping Your Movers: The 2020 Guide

As a third generation family owned Westchester moving company, Al’s Moving has completed thousands of successful moves over the years. As times and the moving industry have changed over the years, some of the most commonly asked questions remain the same. Is it customary to tip your movers? How much do I tip the movers. When should I tip and to whom should I give the tip to? The moving is stressful and there are many things to consider. With so much going on at once, it’s easy to overlook something such as a gratuity for your movers.

Is Tipping My Movers Mandatory?

Absolutely not. Unlike other service industries such as restaurants, there are no predetermined percentages or gratuity charges added onto your moving bill. At Al’s Moving, our local movers, drivers and warehouse staff are some of the best in the business and are compensated accordingly. They take great pride in providing expert moving services and like most service industry workers, they deserve and appreciate a gratuity for a job well done. The process of packing up boxes and furniture, loading up the moving truck and delivering all of your possessions is no easy task! Our movers frequently have to work through unforeseen challenges to deliver safely and on time. As a moving company in Westchester NY, our staff are no strangers to moving in intense heat in the summer and chilling cold in the winter. Additionally, we often have to navigate long walks, stairs and very heavy items such as pianos. In short, our movers work hard to provide a positive moving experience!

How Much Should I Tip My Movers?

As mentioned there is no set guideline or “suggested gratuity” when it comes to tipping your movers, despite what you may find online. That said, tipping your movers is largely dependent on the scope of the move and your satisfaction with the moving services. For local moves in Westchester, smaller moves are usually handled by 2-3 person teams, while larger household moves are handled by up to 6-7 people. Ultimately, the amount of your gratuity depends on your and your level of satisfaction with the service provided. At Al’s Moving, we are confident that our local and long distance movers will provide you with a satisfactory moving experience. In recent years, we have found that customers who do tip generally tip 10-20% for local moves and 5-10% for long distance moves. Each Al’s Moving crew is led by an experienced foreman who handles all of your paperwork and conducts pre and post move home walk-thrus. Should you choose to tip your movers, it can be given directly to the foreman to split or individually to each mover.

Other Tipping Options

Providing your movers with cold beverages or a bite to eat is a appreciated gesture. Our crews generally go from the loading site to delivery site without stopping so there is little time throughout the day to get something to eat or drink. While this should not forego a tip and the end of the job, making sure your hard working movers are hydrated and fed will go a long way to help them provide a happy move!

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