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Review 5/23/2011
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WARNING! DO NOT HIRE THIS COMPANY UNLESS YOU KNOW EVERYTHING THEY MAY CHARGE YOU FOR - AND BE SPECIFIC WHEN YOU ASK QUESTIONS.
I hired this company to make a 12 mile move of my daughter's 2 bedroom apartment, from Irvine to Anaheim. Everything was already packed except for a 30" x 30" glass coffee table top and a 46" flat screen tv. The truck and crew arrived an hour early and wanted to get to work. A good sign. This truck and crew was to cost $75 per hour, with a 3 hour minimum. It is a 20 minute drive by truck from Irvine to Anaheim on a Saturday, so the move should have cost between $500 and $600. The apartment in Irvine was on the 3d floor, with no elevator, so that was going to take some time. The lead guy went over the process and the alleged cost of everything - and I emphasize everything. We were told all packing materials were included in the move. Now, when someone tells you all packing materials are included, you naturally assume that they mean ALL packing materials. I explained that everything was packed except the table top and the tv. The crew leader said it would cost $50 each for those to be packed, but that if we tipped them well we could negotiate that cost. He showed us a price list and pointed to the cost of the table top and the tv. NO OTHER COSTS WERE MENTIONED. Again, we were told ALL PACKING MATERIALS WERE INCLUDED, INCLUDING TAPE. We were also told that driving time was charged at double the time. Great, I knew that. Let's get started. It took an inordinate amount of time to load the truck, but again the apartment was on the 3d floor and there were a lot of boxes. At the time it didn't really register, but the guys were shrink-wrapping almost all the furniture, and taping like madmen. Ok, they are being safe. Another good thing, right? There was one 15 minute stop on the way to unload a bedroom suite at another place, but that was of no consequence. The truck arrived at the new apartment in Anaheim 4 hours after they started. OK. We are still on budget. Wrong! This is where the real fun starts. We wasted about 30 minutes deciding where to park the truck, and then the stuff hit the fan. You must pay them before they will unload the truck. OK. No problem, right? Wrong again. I figured 3 hours to load, 1/2 hour driving time - 4 hours. Another two hours to unload, 3 tops, and the final bill is $500 plus the negotiated price for the table top and tv. Great! We came in under $600.00 and saved me breaking my back to do the move myself. WRONG, Wrong, WRONG!!!!!! The lead person presented my daughter a bill for $1250.00 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What !! I said no way, what was the extra cost for?????????????????????????
PACKING MATERIALS !! Remember those packing materials that were included in the cost of the move. Well, they weren't. Over $500 for packing materials, including @ $134.00 for bubble wrap, and $12 each for boxes that you can buy at Walmart for @78 cents and at any storage place for $1.50 each. No way this is happening. I asked to speak to the supervisor. They got someone on the phone - who as anticipated was an arrogant, pompous jerk. This person talked to me like I was trying to date his daughter or something, and refused to even hear what I had to say. I told him over $500 for packing material, that was supposed to be included, was crazy. He asked what I thought was a good price. Wanting to get the truck unloaded, and knowing that I had agreed to $100 for the table top and tv, I said $200. He let out a belly-laugh and said that was never gonna happen. I started to say something, and he very ungraciously reminded me that I was paying $75 an hour for the truck and crew (who were standing idly by doing nothing) while we were having this conversation. I finally agreed on $350.00 for bubble wrap, 10 boxes, and some shrink-wrap because I had no choice, I wanted the truck unloaded. They finally got the truck unloaded and I bid them adeiu.
With all that written, I have to add that the crew was actually very good. They were hard working, didn't stop for long periods of time, and all-in-all were very considerate. Management of this place, as represented by the "supervisor" I talked to, are a complete joke.
SO, buyer beware. According to the BBB these people have a very well deserved bad reputation for gouging you on "packing materials", and they have you over a barrel because your stuff is on their truck. If you want it back, you have to pay them!!!!
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