Spend 5 minutes behind the wheel in Los Angeles, and you get a taste of what traffic’s like. What should only take a few minutes can turn into an hour if you hit LA’s infamous traffic.
Unfortunately, the traffic isn’t limited to the city’s freeway system. Neighborhood streets can be just as congested, and the traffic alone can turn a small move into a nightmare. Navigating small moves in Los Angeles doesn’t mean only planning on hitting traffic.
There’s packing up your stuff and finding a reputable moving service. Once you get everything to your new address, another question pops up. Should you tip the movers even though it’s only a small move?
Are Tips Expected in the Moving Industry?
Nowadays, it can seem like everyone expects a tip. Almost every time you swipe your credit or debit card the option to leave a tip pops up on the screen.
Some people even flat-out you expect to tip. Servers at bars and restaurants are examples of people you expect to tip, along with the person who cuts your hair. Delivery drivers also expect a tip, and you usually don’t have an issue adding it to your total when making your purchase.
In a sense, your movers are providing a delivery service. They’re getting your belongings from your old address to your new one. Hopefully, everything goes without any hiccups and your belongings arrive undamaged. So, should you tip your movers? The answer is yes. You should tip each mover, in fact, they expect to receive something extra for their efforts.
Even though the tipping culture has gotten a little out of hand in recent years, tipping your movers is something you should plan on doing.
How Much Should You Tip Movers in LA?
Figuring out how much to tip at a restaurant is fairly easy. Most people tip between 15% and 20%. Why this amount? This is simply the standard percentage for individuals in the service and hospitality industry. Having a screen automatically bringing up the various tip percentages also makes it easy to know how much to tip.
Since your movers aren’t holding up a POS (point of sale) device, knowing how much to tip can be tricky. You don’t want to offend your movers, they’ve been working hard all day. Unless you have an unlimited budget, you also don’t want to over-tip. This can quickly become expensive. Before long, you’re shelling out more in tips than you paid for the move.
Most LA movers are happy with tips ranging from $20 to $50. If your small move only takes an hour or so, twenty dollars is perfectly acceptable. If the move ends up taking all day, plan on tipping anywhere from $40 to $50.
What if your small move takes more than a day? You should plan on tipping for each day. In other words, add up the tip for each day the movers are working. So, if your move takes two entire days, your tip should be around $80.
Remember, these are only examples, so don’t feel pressured. You can tip as much or as little as you want to. Tipping isn’t a legal requirement, it’s not in your moving contract. Instead, it’s a nice gesture and a way of showing your movers your appreciation for their hard work.
How to Tip Your Movers
Believe it or not, there’s a right and wrong way to tip your movers. Don’t pull out a debit card, your movers aren’t carrying a POS device—cash is almost always the way to go here.
Another option is using a banking app like Venmo or Zello. You may even be able to use PayPal, just ask your movers which method they prefer.
Something you may not consider is tipping each mover individually. Don’t hand off everyone’s tip to one person.
While most movers are honest, it’s always best to tip everyone individually. This way, you know no one is left out. You also want to tip everyone the same amount. Even if it seems like one individual is working harder than the others, you really don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes.
Not everyone has the extra funds to tip their movers, and this is okay. Remember, tipping isn’t a legal requirement. You can show your appreciation by ensuring your movers have snacks and cold drinks as they’re working. Simply showing your appreciation for their hard work goes a long way.
Tipping Is Nice, But Remember: It’s Not a Requirement
Tipping your movers is often expected and is a great way to show your appreciation for a job well-done, but it’s ultimately not a requirement. If you can’t afford to tip, think of other ways you can thank your movers for their hard work.
Providing refreshments, writing a positive review, or offering a small token of appreciation can go a long way in showing your gratitude. Your acknowledgment of their effort and professionalism will be appreciated just as much as a monetary tip.