desjardins@h-sc1.UUCP (marie desjardins) (07/24/85)
I'm going to be moving out to California from Cambridge shortly. I'd appreciate any information people have about moving companies, particularly which they have found to be good/bad, cheap/expensive, etc. Are there hidden charges I should watch out for? How much time do I need to give them (I'm leaving in only 3-4 weeks, is that enough time or will I need to have somebody else supervise the movers, which is another possibility)? Any and all advice, tips, and/or anecdotal experiences would be appreciated! If I get any requests to do so, I'll summarize... thanks marie desjardins park desjardins@h-sc1 ([...!harvard!h-sc4!h-sc1!desjardins])
ron@brl-tgr.ARPA (Ron Natalie <ron>) (07/25/85)
> I'm going to be moving out to California from Cambridge shortly. > I'd appreciate any information people have about moving companies, > particularly which they have found to be good/bad, cheap/expensive, > etc. Are there hidden charges I should watch out for? How much > time do I need to give them (I'm leaving in only 3-4 weeks, is > that enough time or will I need to have somebody else supervise > the movers, which is another possibility)? Any and all advice, > tips, and/or anecdotal experiences would be appreciated! For interstate moves the price will be the same. The price is regulated. The big difference is the quality of the movers. Personally, I'd recommend Wheaton Van Lines. They rate high in industry surveys and certainly were a lot better the one time I used them than Allied, which I used the other time. If you move during the summer months, there is something like 30% they tack on since that is the busy season. A month is plenty of time for most companies. They can usually fit you in especially if you have a full van load or only a small amount that can be combined with another shipment. -Ron
fjpls@mtuxn.UUCP (P.STEVENS) (07/26/85)
Twice in the last ten years I have been moved by Mayflower Companies. I had good experiences with both moves with no real complaints. The only problem I had with the last move was that we had to have a certified check ready when the driver got to the house to unload. On our last move Mayflower even moved my wife's collection of porcelin (sic) figurines with special care and no damage! After being a NAVY brat and moving frequently when I was a kid, these people seem to be heads above all those who moved my parents - much breakage & heartbreak. I would reccommend that you call several movers now and get them to give you firm quotes. Federal law requires that once movers give you a firm estimate they cannot raise the fee. This probably saved us money as the driver on the last move was really upset that Mayflower packed those figurines with so much paper, causing the load to be bigger than necessary and costing him money! Good luck on you move. Paul Stevens mtuxn!fjpls
jje@pedsgd.UUCP (Jeremy Epstein) (07/30/85)
> > For interstate moves the price will be the same. The price is regulated. > > -Ron Not true! I'm in the process of moving, and had five different companies in to make estimates. While the basic price is the same (because of regulation), the companies are allowed to give discounts or add surcharges as they see fit (with or without a reason). In our case, these discounts made a sizeable difference (North American Van Lines offerred us a 30% discount on the freight portion, which is by far the most expensive part). BTW, be sure that you take more than the standard insurance amount, as that's grossly inadequate! Cheers, Jeremy Epstein Perkin-Elmer {decvax,ucbvax}!vax135!petsd!pedsgd!jje
warack@aero.ARPA (Chris Warack ) (08/01/85)
[ouch] I'm not recommending any specific companies; I don't remember names... However, I have some good caveats and advice about moving from making many moves. The most important thing is to insure you don't do anything to lessen the company's liability. The manifest is the most important paper associated with the move. Make sure you don't lose it. That paper should describe exactly what the movers have packed and have in their possession. Make sure that everything on it is true [they use lots of abbreviations that are usually listed on the back.] If something is not clear, have them clarify it on the manifest. It's not a bad idea to watch over there shoulder, but don't get them upset either [if they are in a bad mood, good luck!] Take pictures of especially important pieces -- nice furniture, etc. This makes it easier to settle a claim if they are damaged or lost in the move. Even the best moving company can damage something by accident, but they'll pay you for it, if you handle it right. Along those lines, try to identify any damaged or missing items WHEN the movers unpack it. These items will be included in the report that they take back with them -- which helps settling claims. Have the carrier pack and unpack EVERYTHING. Many times, the carrier does not assume responsibility for damage to items PBO [packed by owner]. If things are boxed, take them out before hand. Upon arrival, let the carrier unpack the boxes and look for damages for the reason mentioned earlier. Besides, they'll do it, why do the work yourself. Finally, be hospitable... As I mentioned, you don't want them in a bad mood. Movers are especially prone to get thirsty and iced tea or soda makes them happy. If nothing else, they may just want a glass of water [paper cup, if the glasses are packed]. If you have questions, you probably want to talk to someone at the main office -- the movers might not know policy. Ask questions before the movers are at your door. Good luck, -- _______ |/-----\| Chris Warack (213) 648-6617 ||hello|| || || warack@aerospace.ARPA |-------| warack@aero.UUCP |@ ___ | seismo!harvard!talcott!panda!genrad!decvax!ittatc!dcdwest! |_______| sdcsvax!sdcrdcf!trwrb!trwrba!aero!warack || || \ Aerospace Corporation, M1-117, El Segundo, CA 90245 ^^^ ^^^ `---------(|=