Moving

[Thirteen]

We still haven't moved our remaining items in CA to TX -- I set up an estimate quote with a moving company, rated well on movingscam.com.
Their quote? Amost $7k. For... a bed, a desk, a chair, 2 bookshelves, and kitchen items. Well, and med textbooks (oh, the textbooks!) I know I'm new to this interstate moving rodeo, but come on. Really?
Also, it bothered me that I saw NO itemized list on the paperwork, despite having a CA agent come out to take inventory. When I asked about this, the TX agent said "Well, it usually causes more problems to send this out." What the heck does that even mean?
I informed her that I wanted to see, in writing, the breakdown of items/packing charges, so I could understand the amount. She said that they don't do it by weight, and it's based on a total flat rate. This sounds fishy to me. Additionally, she really pushed the total amount and what we would be paying without the discount through DH's company. Dude, it's still almost $7k, with that discount. I can't believe the original quote, without the discount -- it's like 5 digits.
Again, checked with MS.com, and both the company and the relocation agency they are using have good word of mouth, but... I feel uneasy.
DH said that the guy came in, was cold and rude, tallied everything in about 5 minutes, and didn't say much else. That kinda grinds my gears.

Anyway, I went with another company to give me a quote (rave reviews on MS.com) and I'm liking them better already. Less than HALF of what the other company said it would take to move us.

Am I just being weird? How much was your move??

[ides]

No, you are not weird. Finding a moving company even among "recommended" ones is hard. You have to go with your gut and get the correct info. We moved from nyc to new mexico at the end of June. We went with Moovers inc. They are located in nyc and San Fran. They do local and long distance moves and are full service - handle everything from start to finish. Full service movers have to give you a weight quote and it should be a "not to exceed"quote. If they don't give you one you should ask for one. As well, quotes are generally good for 60days. They should also give you an inventory sheet of everything that is going. If they avoid giving you one then they did a bad job estimating and I would cross them off the list as potential movers. The inventory would contain large items and a number of boxes they think it will take to fit all the stuff. If you pack yourself the cost will be lower since the movers will just load boxes & wrap furniture. We paid $3900 for 3700lbs cross country and I packed us. This covered additional liability insurance, loading, a shuttle to move our stuff from manhattan to the big ass truck, transporting and unloading. Your first quote near 7k sounds really really high. Definitely check out at least three movers and choose who you get a good vibe from and a reasonable price. Also make sure everything in the contract and quote is spelled out. If you want I can pm you my contract so you can see what one should look like.

You can also safe some money, theoretically, if you use a freight service like Broadway Express or ABF. I originally was going to go with ABF since I figured it would be the cheapest but it turned out I would do a lot more work and the quote was over 4k and I wouldn't get the assurances of a full service mover who is bound by certain laws for moving household goods that freight companies are not. I was shocked at the cost for ABF & some shady sales tactics they used so investigated using a full service mover. I too used Moving Scam to vet companies and ask questions and it helped a lot

Good luck!.

[Auspicious]

If you're being paranoid, pass the tinfoil hats, because that would weird me out too.

So comparing out-of-pocket to out-of-pocket #2 is less? Are you just going to go with them and call it a day?

ETA: Ides is right--a third quote is in order if you're at all up to it.

[Thirteen]

CA agent #2 is coming to do an estimate at noon.
DH will oversee, and is going to ask for a Guaranteed or Binding, Not to Exceed.
We'll see what they have to say...

Got itemized list from agent #1. Still thinking that their quote is ridiculous.

[SoonerTexan]

If you're willing to unload, what about PODS?

[SuzySunshine]

When we moved from northern CA to MN using a full service company and a discount through our Alumni association it was between $6-7k and that was for a furnished cottage 1br/1 bath with an office. I got quotes from all 3 major moving companies and I didn't tell the discount one that we had a discount until after we got the quote. They did it based on weight and mileage. Good luck, moving companies are really a pain, even the good ones.

[Thirteen]

So, company number one sends me an e-mail, requesting a credit card so that we can pay.
Uhhhhh... I signed NO paperwork, and we just got an itemized list estimate on Friday, which was not turned over to me until after business hours (via e-mail) yesterday evening, despite the fact that I called.
So I call the agent, and she says "Well, I've booked the move and the driver." WHAT?! We signed nothing. We agreed to nothing. I tell her as much, then she starts to use (IMO) predatory language like: "You said you wanted to move this week, can anyone else move you this week?"
"Can you find a better price than ours?"
"Well, I billed X company, like you said to."

No dice. None of those things happened, and for the record, I'm no fool. Here comes a scathing Yelp review and maybe a complaint with the BBB. Unbelievable.

And, in addition to this, agency #2 is 45 minutes late for their itemized checklist, even though they are right down the street from our house *AND* I told them that DH would have to leave by 1 to commute to moonlighting. They said this would not be a problem. I'm beginning to lose faith in people... *sigh*

[ladymoreta]

What a pain! For that, you can replace the big stuff and have the small stuff shipped. (Unless you want to keep the furniture for sentimental reasons...) Would that be an option?

[diggitydot]

"Well, I billed X company, like you said to."

Bullshit. They wouldn't still be in business if they utilized sub-contractors prior to a signed contract or payment. 100% pressure tactic. Poor business planning on their part should not constitute an urgency on your part.

[Thirteen]

Agent #2: if we pack? $2,300. Yep, totally worth it.
Got the Guaranteed Not to Exceed itemized list.

[ladymoreta]

Wow, nice! Much better!

[GreyhoundsRUs]

Wow, nice! Much better!

Agreed!

[Meenah]

It would seem that shipping the books at book rate, and buying a new bed/bookcases/kitchen items would be much cheaper.

[Momo]

It would seem that shipping the books at book rate, and buying a new bed/bookcases/kitchen items would be much cheaper.

good point!

[Thirteen]

L, I actually thought of that myself. The problem is, we got the bed at a really good price, and the kitchen items probably tally up to more than that, all by themselves. (We both were collecting All-Clad pieces before we even met, etc.)
Plus... and this is the part that sucks the most... we just seem to be bloodletting when it comes to money right now. Everything is very expensive and loans are due and everybody wants a piece.
It sucks. However, having a good quote sucks much less.