I chose this company based on the many positive reviews. Don’t let the reviews fool you. I was quoted $125/hour from point A to point B, which was another reason for choosing this company. I was also told the workers would begin at 7 a.m., would work quickly, and would adhere to COVID-19 protocols. All of this information originally given by John was untrue.
The workers arrived at 7 a.m. but did not get out of the truck and walk to my door until 7:30. A third worker arrived at 8:15 am. I was never informed of or agreed to a 3rd worker. Absolutely nothing went on the truck until 8:40 am. even though everything was packed and labeled. Everything was ready for the truck except for a bed that needed to be taken apart and a mirror removed from a dresser. At 8:45 am I was informed that one of the workers had sprained an ankle and was therefore unable to carry items to the truck. He spent 3 and a half hours wrapping copious amounts of plastic wrap and tape around the one bedroom furniture. With my help and my brother’s help the truck was finally loaded at 1:00 pm. 6 hours to load. And most of that time was spent arguing where items should be placed on the truck as there were “no straps to tie anything down.” Once loaded, the workers informed me that they had to go to Popeyes for lunch and that they could not take the highway to Barrie due to a weigh station, where the truck and my belongings would be confiscated.
When they FINALLY arrived at location B they placed 12 very heavy bins labelled “garage” on the second floor, did not give me the hardware to reattach the mirror to the dresser and broke the leg off the bed frame. I was then informed that I was never quoted $125 hour but $150 when 3 workers were used and it was not point A to point B but dock to dock. Total-one thousand five hundred cash. If I wanted a receipt I would have to pay taxes. (Which I believe is illegal).
Once calmed down, I informed John first thing the following morning of what had transpired. He later text me to let me know that he and Scott would personally come to my new location and move the heavy bins and fix the bed. I called many times for the following 2 weeks and each time received the answering machine. I finally received a follow up text informing me that the hardware was left and the leg was loose and just needed a bit of glue.
I did not ask for money to be returned even though,
1. I started paying at 7 and they did not begin at 7 (one started after 8)
2. I payed for 3 workers but did not agree to or was informed of
3. I payed for 3 workers when one could not move anything due to a sprained ankle.
4. I payed for them to go sit at Popeyes and have a nice leisurely lunch
5. I payed for them to take the backroads from Brampton to Barrie as they could not go on the highway.
6. I payed for bottles of water for them to drink as they came unprepared.
7. I had to hire someone to come and move the heavy bins back down to the garage.
8. I payed from dock to dock even though this was not the original quote.
9. I payed for a worker to spend 3 and a half hours wrapping bedroom furniture.
10. I had to have my brother and myself carry things to and from the truck.
All I asked for, was the bed to be fixed.
This bedroom furniture is new and very heavy. It’s not the kind of bed you can just push to move it. It takes one strong person to lift a corner up even a few centimetres. Nothing can be “just loose” because of it’s weight. When my brother lifted the corner and I took out the leg, it had a large broken dowel In the middle and 4 screws broken off. Not the kind of thing that just needs a “little glue”.
As an aside, the workers did not wear masks or wash / disinfect their hands. On the trip to Barrie my brother went and bought masks and handed each worker a mask upon their arrival.
My lesson learned: Get EVERYTHING in writing before hiring a moving company.
Your takeaway: Don’t hire a company based on by-the-hour.
I spoke with at least 30 companies before making my choice. Each one offered something different. Many gave me quotes for the entire move ($600-$700). At the time I thought this was a ridiculous amount. If only I had known that companies who quote by the hour, WASTE TIME!!
