Quote Originally Posted by indysteel View Post
I've always tipped my movers, but all my jobs have been local and, quite honestly, I can't remember how much I've given them. I did a google search and read that the industry standard is 5%. If you use that as a guide, then you'be be talking in the neighborhood of $225. It seems to me that if you have them each $100 bill, they'd be happy with that, but if you want to split the difference, give them $120 each. I tend to think that's pretty generous.
I agree that $100 each seems very generous. I think sometimes we lose sight of the fact that a tip is just that - a tip. It's a little extra "thank you" for the personal touch. The service industry in the US definitely underpays many of it's workers, and that's not right, but it's also not right that the customer is looked to to make up for the difference. So, yes, a 5% tip on an expensive service seems adequate and very kind.