The Secret Of Packing

People who are moving are often surprised at how much is involved in packing.  Packing, in fact, is the central and most difficult part of moving. From a mover’s point of view while it is easy to move a couch, but more concentration and care must be taken with packing.

Why is this?  Of course, crystal is more expensive and delicate, pound for pound. But, further, to pack a box full of crystal involves maybe’ a hundred separate steps.  Moving a couch requires less than a dozen. The layperson's idea of packing, if not thought out, is simply to cover the item with paper.  But in fact, the main concept in packing for a professional is to PAD things. Items such as crystal, plates, and serving platters must be padded to protect them from their neighbors and padded against the sides of the box in which they are ensconced. As a rule of thumb, crystal and other fine dishware should be padded to the extent that the box in which contains them could be dropped say 6” without anything inside being disturbed.  

For this to be possible, much more paper, usually rolled or twisted, needs to be involved than anyone might first guess.  For example, a professional might use a 25-lb bundle of unprinted newspaper to pack three or four big cartons (say, 20” high each).  At first glance, this seems a terrible waste of energy and materials. Not so for a professional packer whose aim, from the layman’s point of view, is to overpack.  Only by overpacking are delicate items made safe, so if you pack yourself, try to overpack.  If you hire movers to pack, you should make sure they are not “saving” on paper and boxes.  The time, energy and materials required are always more than you might expect. 

Need more advice on packing? Get in touch!

Phone: (718) 665-5000

Email: info@brownstonebros.com

Should You Tip Movers in New York City?

The practice of tipping has a dark origin:  During Reconstruction, tipping was used as a means of control and underpayment.  Today, 150 years later, it has evolved into something essentially different, i.e. a branch of the underground economy.  If you are planning to move your house in Manhattan, you might wonder if tipping is expected for the moving services drivers and helpers.

Service jobs in Manhattan and other parts of NYC, like moving jobs, taxis, Uber, etc. generally provide a minimal living wage.   In order for the employee to bridge the gap between payroll and reality, he or she must rely on tips.  For cab drivers, for example, tips are expected, as you can see from the screen that indicates the trip charges.  Some restaurants charge tips automatically. Many people pay these tips in cash. It must be known to the IRS that cash tips are rarely included in  tax returns. In the case of cash, both customer and worker assume spontaneously and subconsciously that they are dealing with a different form of the economy; to be blunt, they are dealing with an “accepted” form of the underground economy. 

In almost all local moving companies in Manhattan, the employees expect tips.  This is a harsh truth for the customer, for, to take an arbitrary but not totally unreasonable number, 15% of a moving bill can be hundreds of dollars. To not give a tip, indicates that the customer is dissatisfied or comes from Europe or some other place where the tipping is low or non-existent.   Brownstone Brothers pays among the highest wages in the city, but its employees have the same expectations as other moving workers throughout the state. The recommended range of tipping is $5 to $10 per mover per hour. 

If you are using movers in Manhattan or Brooklyn in New York City, we suggest that you tip the mover if they have made your move easy and less stressful. 

Still have questions about tipping? Call us!

Phone: (718) 665-5000

Email: info@brownstonebros.com