I've always tipped removal men, but when I asked around to see what the "going rate" is these days, most people said they never tipped them, in fact some people were quite surprised.
Am I in the minority then? (And if not, what is the going rate these days - last time I think I gave them £15 each but that was 8 years ago)
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Tipping Removal Men?
(77 Posts)I would tip. I tend to tip everyone eg the builder who repaired our garden steps and the guys who painted our bedroom.
Never used removal men but I think you are right to tip them if they’ve done a decent job. £15/20 sounds about right to me but who know’s what others would give.
Definitely tip them (£25-20) along with copious amounts of tea and biscuits.
I would tip if they did a good job, 15 or 20 each, I always tip for good service, not if they don’t and resisting the urge to say do better next time if not.
We gave them £50 a few years back to buy a round or two. The previous time to that we didn't give them anything, because they told us a lie that we would need to pay them privately in cash if the time overran.
I would always tip. In fact in April I tipped the British removal men who moved furniture from our French house back to Britain.
I also fed them pizza and allowed them to have a shower - but I knew they were having a very difficult time at the previous move, as they were keeping me updated on the delays all day.
We always tip them. £100 when we moved in 8 months ago. It's flipping hard work moving a huge van load twice.
If you're moving a long distance with a stop off, like we were, just remember you get a different crew to unload, so would need to tip twice.
My husband tipped them when we moved here, I can't remember how much, but I know he went to a cash point the day before for that reason. They deserved it, our team went the extra mile, difficulties arose in disconnecting the washing machine on leaving, connected it on arriving, so grateful for that, put all the beds together, dining table, heavy bookcases. I know it's their job but they often face the unexpected. They laughingly packed our kettle and coffee making machine to be brought in first so they were up and running once we were able to enter our new home. The thought of moving ourselves gives me the vapours 
Good grief you all live in a different world to me bigbertha that’s two weeks food and more for me
Yes it is hard work but so are many jobs and that’s why people get a wage
I would always give workers tea and biscuits or cakes but otherwise I think it’s such an unfair system
So ferry I m in your friends camp
My grand boys work in very heavy physical jobs one out in the North Sea and without them and all the other men you wouldn’t be getting some of the fuel you need No one tips them so why some and not others
Do you all tip the doctors, paramedics and nurses that save your lives
Tipping should be abolished it’s a very unfair system… you tip your taxi driver but not your bus or train driver who got you from a to b safely Tip your waitress but not the cleaner who keeps the kitchen clean so the waitress still has a job. Tip your hairdresser but not the dental nurse who held your hand
In my opinion it’s a very unfair way of saying thank you and people who rely on tips are the reason some employers can keep their wages down
Now going for a cup of coffee rant over
I have always given them money for some beers..
Across the road from where I live now is a popular bakery where people queue the pies are so good. When I moved here I bought them pies, for which they were very grateful!
I do this for most of the tradesmen who come, they often mention the pie shop when they arrive!
I do not agree with tipping someone who has been paid to do a job. I give them tea and biscuits and cold drinks.
I was always taught that you should tip removal men’”folding money”. ie notes, not coins. That was way back, when a £10 was a week’s wage almost. Of course there were £1 and 10 shilling notes back then.
I think when we last moved over ten years ago the three men got £10 each, but it was a two day job and they were excellent.
Generally though I don’t tip. As said earlier, the system is unfair.
I was also taught that you don’t tip the proprietor, so as my hairdresser owns the salon I don’t tip her, nor her juniors who only make tea and sweep up. I do round up when I pay a taxi driver, which is a rarity. I might leave £1 or £2 and any change in a restaurant, or I might not, it depends how personal the service has been.
I never tip any tradesmen who do work in my home.
I completely accept your pov Bluebelle. All I can say is, if I were ever to move again, I'd still tip. Whilst as you say they receive a wage and others would also be employed doing onerous tasks as part of their remit. I think it's simply the fact that the removal team are with you right from early morning until they leave with a break in the middle of the day once the lorry is loaded to relocate outside the new house awaiting the vendors' departure before gaining entry. That was pretty standard for us something like 3 pm, but our guys told me us that isn't always the case sometimes they've had to wait until evening time and beyond before they can unload the lorry and move the purchasers belongings in, so they never know quite when their day will end. For us it was very much them doing their very best for us, if they hadn't well I probably wouldn't have wanted to offer a tip. In this instance, a thanks on their departure because they went the extra mile didn't seem enough.
Although I do agree about other scenarios, when I recently broke my arm and being in considerable pain, all the medical staff at the hospital were so understanding in how they gentle manoeuvred the arm to do the necessary, I was dreading being manhandled beforehand, all the umpteen thanks didn't seem to be enough.
Yes, always tip but I'm quite tippy anyway now that I'm older. I suppose that having 'moved ourselves' in the past (10 or so moves) I'm so happy not to be doing the heavy lifting! Just had a young guy to clear my front garden - tipped him 80% as he was amazing and the previous quote had been OVER 6 TIMES the amount he charged 
I think it's simply the fact that the removal team are with you right from early morning until they leave so can your nurse or paramedic be Terribull !!!
I believe it’s folding money for removal men too. Cabbie.
When I tip - it’s for the chap/lady at the ‘coal face’ not the Boss upstairs, so to speak.
In a small hair salon, I’d give a tip to the hairdresser not the owner. I’d give cash to the removers, but not to Mr Pickford, if you get my drift.
Anyone self employed, like my gardener or nail lady has already added in their ‘tip’ so no tips there, just chocolates at Xmas.
Whenever I helped DD move I tipped each time, but only £20 each. They did a great job.
I know! I don't disagree Bluebelle,
When we last moved, nearly 20 years ago, DH and a burly cousin did the job using a horse box. It involved several trips but was only from one end of our small town to the other, about a 5 minute drive.
I didn’t tip either of them! I was not able to get the day off work. Think we reimbursed the cousin in kind when they needed help from us.
I tip them for the quality of service I get. if we got grumpy difficult removal men, then they would get very little,
When we have had really helpful cheerful rmoval men, then i think it quite reasonable to show my gratitude and thankfulness in monetary terms.
My personal philosophy is always to be generous to other people, in any circumstances, which is why, generally I find most people so nice.
M0nica
I tip them for the quality of service I get. if we got grumpy difficult removal men, then they would get very little,
When we have had really helpful cheerful rmoval men, then i think it quite reasonable to show my gratitude and thankfulness in monetary terms.
My personal philosophy is always to be generous to other people, in any circumstances, which is why, generally I find most people so nice.
Wholeheartedly agree MOnica, doesn't always involve money either- I've often ice lollyed a hot delivery driver in a heatwave! 
Well said M0nica. Once, when Pickfords moved us in London, we were filmed by ITV as part of a documentary about the housing market. The Pickfords Marketing boss came with gifts for us ..... toys for the children, a bouquet of flowers for me, and a Harrods hamper. When the bigwigs had gone, I gave the flowers to one of the young men for his wife and distributed the hamper between the others to show my gratitude.
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