Every military spouse has heard about offering a PCS bribe to their movers.
“Order pizza. Tip in cash. Be nice.”
This is the holy trinity of PCS moving day advice, passed down like sacred wisdom in every base Facebook group and whispered over wine at every farewell dinner. And while this method kind of works, let’s be honest—it’s also the bare minimum.
Because here’s the truth: If your movers don’t care, a stack of pepperoni pizza and a $20 bill isn’t going to magically turn them into professional white-glove handlers. And if they do care? You don’t even need the pizza.
So what actually works? How do you influence the outcome of your move before your grandmother’s antique hutch ends up in someone else’s shipment? It’s all about strategic bribes, prep work, and understanding how these moving crews actually operate.
Know the game before you play it
Movers do not operate on the same emotional wavelength as you. They do not care about your sentimental items. They do not feel personally responsible for getting your IKEA bookcase to Germany intact. They care about speed, efficiency and getting out of your house as quickly as possible.
They are underpaid. They are overworked. And they are often balancing multiple moves in a day. So before you get too attached to the idea of a “perfect” pack-out, understand that your job is to make them want to care, either because they like you, because they respect you, or because they believe it’s in their best interest.
Prep work sets the tone
You do not want to be the spouse running around in a panic when the moving truck pulls up because then how will you appropriately bribe your movers? Instead, you want to be calm, prepared and in control. This is how you do that:
Stage your house like a home sale. Your movers are walking into a battlefield. Make it an easy one. Declutter like your life depends on it. If you don’t want it, don’t make them touch it. Put things in logical places. If your kitchen gadgets are already together, they’ll get packed together. If your kid’s Legos are scattered across the house, they’re getting packed exactly like that.
Separate your “Do Not Pack” zone. This includes passports, orders, sentimental items, and anything you might need before your stuff arrives in three months.
Make sure the movers don’t hate being inside your house. Temperature matters. If it’s summer, crank the AC. If it’s freezing, turn up the heat.
Bathroom access matters. Have toilet paper. Have soap. Have a towel.
Recognize they’re humans
Movers are human. They respond to positive attention (and bribes for jobs well done). Learn their names. Use them. “Hey Tony, can I help you with anything?” goes a long way. Comment on their effort. If you see someone being careful with your furniture, say, “I really appreciate how you’re handling that.” A simple, “We’ve had some bad moves before, and I can already tell you guys are doing a great job,” makes them want to prove you right.
Feed them the right way
Now let’s talk about what really makes an impression. Spoiler: It is not just pizza. Feed them, yes. But feed them right. Pizza is the default because it’s easy, but no one working a 10-hour shift in the heat actually wants pizza. If you’ve got a morning packout, think breakfast sandwiches, donuts, and coffee. Movers are human. If you are the only house that thought about them before noon, they will notice.
If you’ve got an afternoon packout scheduled, think anything with protein. If you hand them a meal that actually sustains them, they’ll remember.
Always have cold drinks on hand. Have a giant cooler with bottled Gatorades, iced tea, and sodas. A cold drink while working means more than a warm pizza after. These aren’t even bribes. This is just common courtesy for a really touch job.
Tip, but be strategic about it
Most people tip after the move. Amateurs. You want to stagger it. A small cash tip at the beginning ($20 per person) subtly signals, “We take care of our movers.”
Halfway through, hand out another round of drinks and snacks. This is when you casually say something like, “I know this job is rough, and I really appreciate you guys taking care of our stuff.”
At the end, offer another cash tip at the end if they did a good job. If they didn’t? You tipped upfront, so no guilt.
The reality check
Movers are still movers. Even with the snacks and a meal and a tip, some moves are less wonderful than others. If you sense your crew doesn’t care, document everything. That means take pictures of high-value items before they pack them. Get their names and write down everything.
But if you’ve followed this guide, your odds of a smooth move are already better than 90% of spouses out there. PCS success isn’t about pizza. It’s about creating an environment where movers want to do a good job.
Feed them well. Tip strategically. Make their lives easier. And above all, don’t rely on luck. Set the tone before the first box is even packed.