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Out-and-out!
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No one likes to move. It's exhausting, time consuming, expensive: you only hope your stuff gets where it needs to go and that no one loses an eye in the process.
Apparently after deregulation of interstate moving companies, many con artist/fly-by-night companies emerged to take advantage of unwitting consumers. The horror stories range from the movers refusing to give a hard estimate, then holding your stuff hostage for an exorbitant amount of money, to outright stealing, to just bad form and breaking your stuff to bits. You will find many of these companies on the net. I requested a quote from movers.com, and got about 5 responses, all hard sell salespeople who refused to actually send someone out to give a written estimate. Because I had received what I thought was a low estimate from one of these companies, I booked a move with them. After reading epionions, I realized I needed to book with a more reputable company.
The trouble with reviewing a national frachise type company is that the office of"Put YOur Name Here" Moving company in Idaho, more than likely is very different from one in Wisconsin.
I was leery of AmeriCarrier, because initially, I read some less than favorable reviews of the franchise in other locations around the country. I canceled with the original moving company, and called AmeriCarrier VAn Lines very last minute. They were so accommodating right from the beginning and sent an estimator named Alex over within 24 hours (they really squeezed me in-don't try this at home!).
Alex gave me a written estimate that read "not to exceed". For an interstate move from California to New Jersey, a two bedroom townhouse crammed full of stuff, some packing/materials the quote came to 3500.00 I was so shocked that the amount was around what all the other "never heard of you" moving companies.
Today two packers (one who has packing experience for 20 years) arrived right on time at 8 a.m. with the driver and two movers arriving in a HUGE truck shortly thereafter. I asked the packers to pack some additional things, which they didn't mind to do, as long as I acknowledged that I would pay them for doing so.
They three movers (including 1 driver) went to work clearing out my place and by 2 p.m. they were basically finished, and just adjusting things on the truck. I bought them all breakfast, made sure they had plenty of bottled water on hand, and tipped each of the movers 40/ a piece,(they were very very appreciative). I plan to tip the driver more when my things finally arrive and of course if no one loses an eye, which so far, no one has.
So my stuff is off to New Jersey. The movers were very professional and the process was as decent as a move can be, considering the process is not fun in general. So far I recommend AmeriCarrier Movers whole heartily. I will write part 2 when my stuff finally arrives in a week or so.
I was able to pay with a credit card over the phone, which is wonderful because of course you can earn travel rewards!
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