I’m going to make this long story very short.
The movers I spent $3,000 on packed everything wonderfully, arrived at my new apartment on time and unpacked the truck expeditiously.
The problem? They didn’t finish the job and one of them had too much lip.
The background: I needed to hire a moving company for my move for my new job. I looked in the phone book, had movers come in to do in-home estimates and ultimately chose a company with good reviews on Angie’s list and gave me a good flat rate after an in-home estimate.
Besides me checking their references and checking their information with the Department of Transportation, I wasn’t entirely pleased with the movers.
They didn’t finish putting together my bed and didn’t bother to tell me. One of the movers complained about how he couldn’t figure out how to do it and he didn’t have his tools. Um, how is that my problem? I gave him my toolbox and basically gave him the look that said “Figure it out.” I left him alone for a bit — which I suppose I shouldn’t have done now — and after they left (hastily) I discovered the headboard wasn’t attached. They also didn’t put my small dining table back together.
That pissed me off. Pissed me off a lot. But it wouldn’t have been that big a deal if the lead mover didn’t partially blame me for the whole thing! They arrived at my new apartment before I did, 30 minutes, and they knew I wouldn’t get there when they did. So, ole boy started bitching about how his workday was going to be 12 hours instead of 10 and then said “You had a little something to do with that.” WTF?! That wasn’t all, but like I said, I want to make this short.
After they left, I called their main number and complained, but was not taken seriously. Then I logged my dissatisfaction on Angie’s List. Again, the actual move was just fine. I didn’t have to pack or drive. Everything was intact. They arrived on time. But, seriously, button your lip and work. If you have a problem, tell me instead of scurrying off like teenagers who busted a window, then hit it behind a curtain hoping you’d never know.
So, would I do it again?
Right now, because I just spent the money and haven’t gotten a paycheck in over a month, I’d say I’d rather have the three grand. But, I also know how much I hate moving. So, the next time I have to move (and there will be a next time), I think I will do the following:
Pack most things myself. Yes, the part I hate was a little more than a third of the total cost of the trip. I saved a bunch of the boxes. I also get boxes for free from other places. I’ll do most of this myself in the future. Blech.
Hire people to load up a U-Haul. I will drive myself next time, which would also knock up to $1,000 off the cost of moving. I will not carry boxes and furniture back and forth. You can get a company to load a truck for a small amount of money. You can also hire day laborers if you want to go the quasi-legal route. I could and probably would enlist family and friends as well, but I need people to show up on my schedule, not theirs 
Drive the truck myself. Also not something I enjoy, but it’s not hard to do.
Hire people to unload the truck. Again, moving companies will do this for reasonable amounts of money, or, again, day laborers or friends and family.
That’s what I think I’ll do. Suck it up to save some of the cash and not have to deal with movers putting together my furniture. Those of you who know me and follow my blog also know that I change my mind a lot too. But right now, that’s where I am.
The good news is, I’m unpacked! And settled in.
DH
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I absolutely hate moving, so I feel your pain! I would have been furious as well! I hope that you showed your dissatisfaction in the tip that you gave. I would also consider filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau since they did not actually complete the job that you had paid them for and they seemed a bit combative. Perhaps that will help the next customer to make their moving decision.
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