keky's Profile

I had an awkward moment with a moving company here in Brooklyn. I paid $1250 to move out of a one bedroom apartment. I packed the majority and left a few things for them to box up, they also wrapped all my furniture. The packing materials cost an extra $350, bringing the total expense to $1600. I also helped them while they were packing up my stuff. I bought them lunch and provided them with drinks. It took them about 4 hours to complete the move. There were 3 movers and one driver outside. They were transporting my stuff to their storage facility nearby. When they were through I signed the receipt and handed them a $150 tip. The head mover turned to me counted out the tip and then typed out a new tip amount on his calculator. He then informed me that they are normally tipped 15% and that I owed him an additional $90. I was mortified, embarrassed and put on the spot so I handed over an additional $80, all I had left in my wallet. I was besides myself when they left, and so pissed off, especially when I calculated that he was also including the cost of the materials into his calculations.
My husband happened to be working when the move occurred so maybe they took advantage of me when they saw a woman alone. My husband called the moving company owner who he had been dealing with and explained what happened. He apologized and gave us money off of our storage fee.
I am a server in a restaurant so I know what it is like to work for tips. I usually consider myself an over tipper. I did not believe that I had under tipped these guys. I am still not sure how much to tip movers. I will be moving again next month and I guess I will be tipping 15% (but not on materials!)