Need Help ASAP re: Moving Co prices - is this a good deal? Also Q about tipping movers?

I have never used a moving co. b/f so i have no idea what the prices are. We are moving from NYC to LI (30 min to an hour away depending on traffic) and we only need the movers to move our heavy items (there are about 7-10 items). We got quoted $633 flat rate or $100/hr for three men. Not including tips. My questions:

Is this a good deal?

Would you go with flat rate or hourly?

With regard to tipping - do you have to tip each mover %20 of the overall bill - so if there were two movers we would have to tip them $120 each? Thanks so much!

Re: Need Help ASAP re: Moving Co prices - is this a good deal? Also Q about tipping movers?

When DH and I moved into a new apartment, i called a lot of movers...it was my experience that while many offered an hourly rate, there was a four hour minimum so it would up being comparable with the flat rates anyway. i tipped 20 percent on the total bill and split it between the three movers.

Re: Need Help ASAP re: Moving Co prices - is this a good deal? Also Q about tipping movers?

We just moved & used Men on the Move (great the 2x we used them). We had 3 men at $130 an hour & they worked. We moved TONS of stuff from our apt (probably 100+ boxes of stuff we had in storage) & then a br set, lr set, desk, baby's room stuff & a kitchen table & they did it in 5 hours.

When we moved from Queens to LI, we had 2 movers & not so many things & they did it in 3 hours including the 45 min drive.

I'd do it by the hour, but ask about the minimum (if there is one).

We tipped the movers $100 for the 3 of them.

Re: Need Help ASAP re: Moving Co prices - is this a good deal? Also Q about tipping movers?

i think that fee has more to do with the distance vs. the # of items you're moving. IMO though, i'd prefer (and had) a flat fee - gave me peace of mind. Re: tipping, DH overtipped big time b/c he couldn't stay there with me (had to work) and he knew I was nervous and wanted to make sure i was taken care of. I'd say $30-$50/guy is fine.

Re: Need Help ASAP re: Moving Co prices - is this a good deal? Also Q about tipping movers?

We just moved from Queens to Suffolk. We used Ken's Moving (great job). They charge $110 per hour for 4 men. We even received 3 free clothes boxes. They recommended $5-7 per hr per man. So we tipped them $120 total. HTH!

Re: Need Help ASAP re: Moving Co prices - is this a good deal? Also Q about tipping movers?

We just paid a $40 gas surcharge + $60 an hour for our movers. They worked their butts off and moved our entire place very quickly. We had used them once before and recommended them to friends, all of whom were very happy with them.

FM me if you'd like their contact info.

ETA - It would have to take them 10 hours or more to exceed your flat rate you were quoted. They moved our entire place in less than 5.

As far as tipping, NO you never give each mover 20% of the total bill. IF they did a good job and deserve a good tip, take 20% of the bill and divide it among all the movers.

Message edited 11/20/2007 10:01:28 AM.