Foo - moving crew! tips?

I've hiried a crew to come friday and move my stuff- just a small apartment moving company. I've decided I'm too lazy, and am hoping to get a hot, young crew of studs ;) ok, kidding (kinda).

The real point of this thread... do you tip a moving crew? If so, what's appropriate? I've got three movers coming, and really don't have that much stuff (I'm guessing on a 2 hour move). Thoughts?

depends on how you much you hold them up...:innocent:

read the fine print on the contract, check references, etc. Never experienced it, but I have seen the news reports of the moving people that get your stuff, then add on packing charges, hidden charges, whatever, and then hold you hostage.

On the tip issue, are you dealing with the owner, or hired guns? I am not sure I would tip either way, but I would be more inclined to tip the hired guns, not the owner. I do not tip my landscape crew, etc.

Maybe buy their lunch or have some cold drinks.

Hide all your sexy panties or they will end up in their pockets.

Seriously, I have moved across country, across the world, at least a dozen times as a Marine. You are only moving across town so it shouldn’t be too bad, but if you have anything that you absolutely couldn’t replace if it was broken, lost, or stolen then keep it separate and take it over in your car. Also, they will probably mark an inventory sheet with discrepancies on your stuff.. i.e. Scratched, chipped, and broken. Keep an eye on that or everything you own will be marked as a POS just in case they screw it up on the way over.

tip.... Bend from the knees when you lift my dresser ;)

Hide all your sexy panties or they will end up in their pockets.

Seriously, I have moved across country, across the world, at least a dozen times as a Marine. You are only moving across town so it shouldn’t be too bad, but if you have anything that you absolutely couldn’t replace if it was broken, lost, or stolen then keep it separate and take it over in your car. Also, they will probably mark an inventory sheet with discrepancies on your stuff.. i.e. Scratched, chipped, and broken. Keep an eye on that or everything you own will be marked as a POS just in case they screw it up on the way over.

What he said. I'm in the same boat, having been in the Navy now for 21 years.

In addition, take all your personal papers, financial stuff - including checks (don't ask how I know this one) - with you. Watch them pack like a hawk. Make sure you do not let them mark scratches, rubs, mars etc that are not there. They will. And when you try to claim something, they'll haul out the inventory sheet and say, nope, it says here it was already damaged.

Take pictures of anything valuable. Close up, detailed pictures. If you have previous damage like scratches or dings, take pictures of those so you can compare.

On the unload, make sure you account for every item on the inventory sheet. If your contract calls for them to unpack, make sure they do. You can keep the boxes and packaging paper (you'll be paying for them) or, typically, have them haul it away. I usually keep some of both. Check your stuff over closely, probably the next day after you get some rest.

Watch them on the unload and unpack, too. If you have a contact at the company, keep the number handy and if they do something really bad, make them stop while you call their boss to resolve whatever the issue is.

I've had some great moves with literally no damage and some bad ones with boxes - including a Navy issue metal box - crushed. I think it's the luck of the draw.

I hired a crew when I moved last year. They were LAZY. It took a crew of four guys all day to move a two bed apt into our new house nine miles away. Ofcourse they charged hourly. They gouged the hell out of our new guest bed room wall too.
Just keep an eye on them, make sure they are carefull with your stuff and don't be afraid to crack the whip a little.

I'm assuming you own a whip.

Done a bunch of moves in the military. A few things got scratched or broke along the way but most stuff survived just fine. The weirdest things I've heard of was garbage and a potted plant getting packed. We would keep the movers supplied with ice tea and usually buy lunch.

If you do decide to leave a tip, don't be tempted to use change...no matter how tempting the coin slot may look.

http://www.joeclipart.com/blog/images/2007/06/20070628crack.jpg

this can be confusing - when we last moved I googled some tipping sites to get an idea.

http://www.shift2bikes.org/wiki/_media/bikefun:shawng_mxb01.jpg?cache=cache

:D

I, for one, think it entirely depends on the volume being moved, and the circumstances of it's movement. Sure, the difference between 5 miles and 500 miles is just time riding in a truck, but when you get there, what do you have? If you have levels and levels of stairs, and all of that stuff... take it into consideration. I would say that by default, tipping is not in order. But if you're seriously moving from the 5th floor of a building with no elevator to the 3rd floor of a building with no elevator, I think you should at least consider doing something. And, luckily for you, wearing a sports bra and some short shorts should suffice. They won't need money, and they won't expect that you had thought anything about it at all, anyway.

I worked for a moving company for awhile and never received any tips. But there were more times than I could count that the people we were moving gave us plenty of food and drink throughout the day if it was a big move or maybe just a sandwich and water if it was something short. One family even took each of our subway orders and went and got us subs (on them).

I would say food and drink is always nice and it'll keep your movers working faster too!

When I was 18 and my parents moved, I remember my dad giving them all beer and Cousin's subs... I just figured that was what you do when you have a 5000+ sqft move, not a small single person's apartment. I'd say at least offer them cold, purified water. Maybe a redbull or two. It's probably 2 or 3 guys... be serious.

Wordbiker, I sent you my exotic photos in confidence. I do not appreaciate you sharing them with all of foo kind.

i moved a house of stuff across town, maybe 15 miles, and tipped the three guys $60 as i thought they worked their arse off. i figured i could at least buy them dinner and some beers. later.

I've never understood tipping. You are already paying for their work. Why should you pay for it again? They are supposed to do a good job, so to me that is not deserving of extra compensation.

I would never ever hire a moving company to pack my things. If I use one to do the physical move, I always do all of my own packing and I use tamper-evident tape (http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/982344/3M-Scotch-Pre-Printed-Message-Sealing/) to seal everything as well as a g-force indicator (http://www.telatemp.com/tagsLabels2/tl_telaDropTransitRecorder.asp) to tell if boxes containing valuables have been dropped (I use the 5g non-resettable models).

Wordbiker, I sent you my exotic photos in confidence. I do not appreaciate you sharing them with all of foo kind.

better get used to it with a bod like yours

haha too much useful advice in this thread to comment back on all... will keep special mind to hide the panties and resist the crack.

i'll get some ice cold, caffeinated water to keep em moving. I don't anticipate it will take much over 2 hours start-finish, though. Pretty ez move. :)

wear a bikini and hang around while they are moving your stuff. that should be enough tip.

wear a bikini and hang around while they all run into walls and drop your stuff while staring. that should be enough tip.


fixed and not sure that would be the best idea.

and post all pics on BF I suppose?

yes

and post all pics on BF I suppose?

PM will do just fine.:innocent:

ok, i'll add that to my critical moving to-do list:

-when moving by bike fails:
-hire a moving crew, feed and water them
-padlock pantie box and wrap with tamper evident tape
-strut in bikini and post pics to bf
-hold moving crew hostage (should be easier utilizing the method suggested in previous bullet)
-when that fails, hire wordbiker to strut around with his crack hanging out-

ok, i'll add that to my critical moving to-do list:

-when moving by bike fails:
-hire a moving crew, feed and water them
-padlock pantie box and wrap with tamper evident tape
-strut in bikini and post pics to bf
-hold moving crew hostage (should be easier utilizing the method suggested in previous bullet)
-when that fails, hire wordbiker to strut around with his crack hanging out-

By george, I do believe she got it.:D

-when that fails, hire wordbiker to strut around with his crack hanging out-

I do have to warn you...due to the weaker US dollar, my rates have gone up. ;)

I do have to warn you...due to the weaker US dollar, my rates have gone up. ;)supply and demand, my friend... :innocent: