Starving Students

This was by far the worst experience I have ever had using paid movers. When the movers arrived, the foreman immediately started complaining that I had too much stuff and that it was a 3 man job. Eventually he told me to call “his boss” and ask for a third person. I spoke to her and authorized it, and she spoke to the foreman, but then nothing actually happened with it. He did continually complain throughout the day that it should have been a 3 man job, and seemed to blame me for there only being 2 people, as if I was supposed to estimate how many people were needed. Once they started working, we noticed that the foreman was limping, and wearing one sandal. He mentioned to us that 2 weeks ago, his lift gate dropped on his toe. I think it’s incredibly unprofessional to be doing such a demanding physical job when you’re not in good medical condition, and it’s very unsafe to not be wearing closed-toe shoes. Early in the loading process, the foreman asked me if I had boxes for the two televisions (which I indicated as part of the move both in the initial contact and showed to him when he arrived). I said I did not, and he said we should’ve had boxes for them, but nothing more. I was unaware I needed boxes for the TVs, as I have hired movers multiple times in the past and they never had any problem wrapping TVs in blankets and loading them into the truck. About midway through the loading process, the foreman again asked me if I had boxes for the TVs. I again said I didn’t, and he said he would not move them without boxes. I ended up speaking this boss about this, and she said if I signed a waiver stating that I accepted all risk of damage to the TVs, the movers could wrap them in blankets and load them. The foreman refused to do that, then changed course, and said he would, if I threw in an additional $25 for him. I told him no, and spoke to hisboss about this, because I do not appreciate being shaken down like that. She agreed that he shouldn’t have done that, and told me her boss would be giving me a call in a few minutes. While waiting for that call, the foreman began yelling at me that I should not have talked to her about it, because she can’t tell him what to do. He said he wouldn’t wrap and load the TVs because he would not “do something for free.” That doesn’t make sense to me because I’m paying by the hour, so he’s already being compensated. Eventually, I was sick of being yelled at and told him to drop it – the TVs would not be moved, and please get on with the loading. This conflict clearly upset him a great deal, as he would barely make eye contact with me or say another word the rest of the move. I did receive a call from his boss’s boss, wherein I discussed some of these issues. He agreed that the foreman shouldn’t have asked me for more money to move the TVs, and said he’d talk to him and then get back to me. I never heard back. Close to the end of the move, the foreman said something along the lines of, “just the couch and we’re done.” At that point, there were still about 10-15 boxes in the garage, my workbench, and a few other items, such as a ladder and some lamps. I pointed those out and he took the workbench and boxes, but refused to take the ladder. He said something along the lines of, “can’t you put it in your car?” I have a Honda Accord, and this is a large ladder. No, I can’t put it in the car – that’s why I hired movers in the first place. The lamps never made it in the truck, nor did a variety of other small things such as a shovel, brooms, a stand mixer, and very small air compressor. Finally, they finished loading everything, and left without even telling us they were leaving. The unloading went mostly smoothly, although I am not happy that my workbench was left on it’s side instead of upright as it should be. Also, my (small) filing cabinet was broken – I saw it drop off the lift gate of the truck, smashing into the road (see attached). I don’t know if this was an accident or some petty revenge for the conflict we’d had. I understand I signed a waiver about damage to my stuff, so this is the risk I take. My mattress now has filthy handprints in multiple spots, and there is what looks like wood shavings and dirt on the side of it, as well as my couch. I assume this is from the floor of the truck. I don’t think it’s acceptable – there should be pads underneath the furniture or it should be completely wrapped or something. There was enough stuff that the foreman either refused to move, or simply ignored and left behind that I had to rent a U-Haul today, go back to the old house, and move it all myself. All in all, this experience was an absolute nightmare, and far and away the worst “professional” movers I’ve ever hired. I intend to warn off all friends and family from Starving Students.