How much to tip movers
There are some questions we hear over and again. One of those is “should I tip my movers?” And the next question inevitably follows: “How much should I tip a moving company?” As Canadians, we want to do the right thing. But what is that? What’s the norm in Calgary? Here are some guidelines to keep etiquette anxiety at bay!
In Calgary, do you have to tip movers?
A tip is a sign of appreciation for a job well done. You don’t have to give a gratuity. Respectable moving companies will do their very best regardless of the lure of a tip. But if you receive exceptional service, it is common in Calgary and across Canada to tip your movers.
There are moving companies out there that specify a tip percentage and automatically add it to your bill. If you feel it’s reasonable and reflects your own appreciation of the work, that’s great. But the law says you’re not obliged to pay this.
How much should I tip my movers?
A typical tip for movers is about 10% of your moving cost, split between the crew members. For example, if your fee is $500 and there are two movers, you might want to tip $25 each (for a total of $50, which is 10% of $500).
But remember: the fee you pay is for a professional mover, so you should receive professional service as standard. Anything above and beyond may warrant a tip. The more excellent the service is, the more you may want to tip. But stick to what feels good to you.
How do I tip my movers?
The best way to tip movers is to hand cash to each crew member at the end of your move. If you’re uncomfortable waving bills around, slip them into envelopes in advance. You can then assess the experience and decide if you want to hand them out, and if you want to adjust the amount.
What if there’s a problem?
Managing potential problems starts long before you exchange keys; choose your moving company wisely. Look for movers that have been vetted by a third party for high service levels (like the movers Virtuo partners with). Reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau and Homestars are great resources.
We’ve also found issues are less likely if you get help. You’ll be busy, so assign someone else to confirm details with the movers and follow-up. This step prevents so many problems that we’ve included it as standard in our free personal move assistant service.
If you have concerns about gratuities or service added to your bill, talk directly with the moving company’s office.
If you have any other questions about moving companies and mover tipping, get in touch with a Virtuo personal move assistant. We’re here for you!
Image by Nicolas Huk [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
