This is one of those questions that everyone asks and no one has a clear answer to. Moving companies will give you an estimate for the job. This covers the crew’s fair wages, operational costs, and profit for the company. But you may be wondering if it is appropriate to tip the crew for the move. Tipping allows the actual crew members to earn more pay above and beyond what they are entitled to for the move.
At Mulder’s Moving and Storage, our crew never expects to receive a tip. We are committed to providing excellence to every client in every situation. If you feel that the crew has done an exceptional job and earned a tip, you are certainly welcome to extend that gratuity to them if you choose. You will never be asked to provide a tip and it will not be suggested by any one of our staff that you do.
Is there a policy regarding tipping?
Policies on this differ by company, but for the most you will find that companies neither expect nor deter tips.
Do clients typically tip?
Some people like to tip, others don’t. It is simply a matter of preference. Approximately half of our clients tip.
How do I tip?
If you choose to tip, the best way to settle is by finding the crew leader, or by handing the tip to each crew member individually. Our crew members are honest and fair and will distribute the tip between all crew members, but not all companies have employees like ours. If you are comfortable, you can hand the tip individually to each member. This will also allow you to choose how much of a tip each member gets – so if someone really went above and beyond you can show your gratitude specifically to them. If you want to tip, cash is the easiest way.
How much is an appropriate tip?
There is no clear cut rule of thumb like in the dining industry. In the moving industry, it is all over the board. Our crew members have been tipped from $5 to $500 depending on the move and client. Some companies will give you guidelines based on overall cost of the move or total hours worked. Our rule of thumb is, if you are at peace with a certain amount, we are too! The crew will be grateful and appreciative of any amount.
Is there anything that the crew needs?
We often times have customers ask if there is anything that they can provide to the crew for a full-day service. We never expect our clients to provide accommodations for our crew. Some insist, so we let them know that a cooler full of ice and waters or sports drinks in the garage goes a long way on a hot day. Or, a dozen donuts gives the crew a sugar rush and a jump start. Some clients provide these accommodations in lieu of a tip, while others planned on tipping and still want to extend these items.
I can’t tip, but I still want to show my appreciation…
Great! If possible, please leave us a review on our social media pages or by emailing your Move Coordinator. Reviews that specifically name the crew members that went above and beyond are helpful if you would like your crew to be recognized internally. Also, word of mouth is extremely important to us. We want to be the first recommendation to a friend moving, so if we proved worthy of this we hope that you will extend our information! As a local company, we are closely tied to our community. With the increasing pressure of corporate companies moving into the area, we hope to remain Kalamazoo’s number one choice for moving and storage needs.
