I have moved 4 times in 5 years (1 bedroom apartment), even using the same mover twice. The items moved were about the same, except less furniture (a couch, desk, curio cabinet, entertainment center, coffee table, 2 drawer filing cabinet, 4 small bookcases for this move) The main things moved were @126 boxes, @10 plastic containers, 4 suitcases and 7-8 garment bags. I had no complaints until my last move.
I made the mistake of choosing a local mover and making the move when I was physically not at my best. Flags went up and were ignored. (1) The estimate they provided over the phone, although I specifically said not to call, never arrived despite requests for it before and after the move. Others sent estimates by e-mail, they claimed that they were unable to get an e-mail to me. (2) I had them that there was little furniture and about 125 boxes, most of them small boxes weighing less than 20 lbs, when I asked for an estimate. I found out that labeling the boxes "Fragile" all over (@8 boxes) and buying special boxes marked "Electronics" was useless.
On the move-in it became obvious that only 1 of the 3 movers had a grasp of English which in itself is usually not a problem in moving a couch, refrigerator, etc. What happened was that the boxes were all treated the same. All of the fragile and electronics boxes for some reason ended up on the bottom of the stacks of boxes. I had them put all of the boxes in one room so that the crew chief could monitor what they were doing.
It did not happen. I could even hear a few boxes drop. I had them leave my mattress and box springs set (5 years old) at the trash section at the old apartment when it became apparent that they depended on 1 person for direction thinking that limiting the space to be supervised was cheaper than a new mattress set. (3) It took 2 hours to move out without a dolly but with a dolly it took almost 4 1/2 hours to move into the new apartment—4th floor using a reserved elevator and dollies.
Previously, movers without elevators in bad weather had moved the same items plus furniture down 4 flights of stairs in much less time. Out of curiosity, I timed the move of some of the small, light boxes from the truck (at a loading dock) by the elevator to the room: 18 minutes. Those boxes weighed less than 20 lbs. If that. (4) I was told that I had to pay for the moving supplies they used for my move&$103.
At most they used 5 rolls of tape around the file cabinet, 4 of the plastic containers, the shelves from the 4 bookcases, and to hold blankets and cardboard around a small curio cabinet and the glass section of the entertainment center. They even left one of the rolls. Their website said that they included quilted furniture blankets in their rates, which with 2 pieces of cardboard was all they used in addition to the tape (they wrapped a blanket, untaped, around a 19" tv and taped one around the curio cabinet and part of the entertainment center). They did not wrap the glass shelves taken out of the cabinet.
After they left, I noticed that they took the items. Since I was told that I had to pay for the supplies, I wrote to ask for the return of the blankets. I have received no response to that or any other e-mails.
If I had done my usual check I would have passed: no address on their website (found out from corporate records company is in MD/VA area) and the "bonded and licensed in state..." on the website is a deadend. It does not identify which state. They are careful in not providing a papertrail directly to them: no estimate with an address, a generic invoice with the name written in without an address or any other identifiers, and no e-mail or snail mail communications.
Carol
Alexandria, Virginia
U.S.A.
0 comments