Not packing the kettle, will be one of the last things we need here and the first things we will need on the other side so will buy a new one when we get there.

Hope it it is all going well.

James

I didn't tip the packers (because we'd already left the country ) but I tipped the two guys who unpacked for us here. I did the same when we moved interstate.

Not a huge amount - $50 between them to 'get a drink in on us'.

It was 2 Kiwis who did our unpacking in NSW. We have a giant solid oak table top (well, there's legs as well, obviously, but the top comes off ) and one of them just casually slung it on his shoulder and carried it in himself! They deserved the money just for the entertainment value lol

Turned up in absolute perfect condition as it should. I paid for a service and got what I paid for. I only tip if people go above and beyond their job.

And It's all well and good saying removal men don't get paid enough but that's not my problem. Nurses don't get paid enough, do you tip them? Or what about checkout assistants?

is a 20' container really big eneough?

we have 4 bed house to pack into one plus lots of work tools.

In storage in UK in various locations at mo so hard to see it all together and consider if it would fit but we seem to have alot of stuff and see 20' containers on the road all the time and they look tiny!

I kept my gang well-fed, and gave a big tip too. As someone else mentioned, these guys don't get paid very well. And the job is a tough one You got to be in the 20 to 40 year range to work that fast and that hard.
btw, did you get your fingerprints through the second time?

Depends how much stuff you have. We just filled a 20ft container from our 4 bedroom house but we sold off lots of stuff.

The shippers told us that it would be tight and it was.

Charlie

We filled a 20ft container with a half-full 3 bedroomed house, so I'd be careful...

I feel mean now about not tipping but then I remember that I had $2800 worth of damage so I don't feel that bad!

mmm worrying! Anyone know price difference if go to 40'???

Not much, IIRC. If the packers are good, they can stuff a whole lot into a 20 ft. I ordered the 40 ft, but ended up using only half the space. The rest went empty. They even boarded the packed part.
I had a whole lot of stuff, including furniture, books, china, toys...

uk end £20 each they were there for two days and worked bloody hard

ive found that tipping isnt really expected here in au and some times unwanted ( the amart guys delivering the beds gave us back the tip as "we get paid to do this"
so when grace ( container guys at this end ) had finished i passed a case of carlton colds around and we all sat down and had a few cold ones which seemed to go down very well on a hot afternoon

Thanks everyone

DoubleCabbage I am still waiting for my fingerprints
So yes we feel quite insane now that the movers have come to get our stuff and we are not even close to our visa yet!!
The furniture will go into storage until the visa comes through and we will be living with the inlaws. Hubby still working until the end of May as he managed to extend his contract. We are hoping for a small miracle, and some kind soul in the FBI, and hopefully a quick turnaround on the fingerprints and then our visa. Still hoping for a June departure but who knows

Exactly! They get paid to do their job. If it's not enough they can always get another job.

I didnt tip the UK packers - just made them lots of tea
The Aus packers from PER to BNE I bought them some stubbies of Jacks and Coke and that made them ecstatic.