I'm updating my original review from 3 to 4 stars in light of the company's responsiveness to the concerns I mentioned above. I think that overall, they handled the issues raised in my last move with a great deal of courtesy and professionalism. The company refunded me the extra money I paid due to the move taking much longer than projected. The unexpected time it took to move may have resulted from only having two men in the crew instead of three. I didn't fully agree with the company's rationale offered in our later communications that they'd only sent a smaller crew because "you thought that the two-man crew would be sufficient." I never suggested this solution, and initially asked if they would consider waiving the three hour minimum and allowing me to proceed with the three man crew, which I estimated could finish the move in well-under three hours and would save me money in the long run. I went with the smaller crew because after noting that the initial estimate they provided for a three-man crew was more than I'd budgeted for this move, they sent an updated estimate based upon using a two-man crew that retained the three hour minimum but was lower, and presumably still accurate and realistic. I acted in reliance upon the estimate they provided in terms of both projected price and timeframe and feel that it is the moving company's job, not mine, to make realistic determinations about whether a proposed solution will work within the time and budget needed, and to ensure that customers can rely on such determinations. On the day of the move, the company called to let me know that a third worker was free that morning and could come over and assist the other two crew members if I would like. I would have welcomed the additional help, and presumably the shorter moving time as well. However, they informed me that this extra worker wouldn't be included for free, but would instead be made available at a discounted rate of about half the usual hourly rate. I declined the offer as I didn't want to spend more money and trusted the company's estimate that the two-man crew could complete the job based upon the itemization I provided within the estimated timeframe. From my perspective, if they didn't think the two-man crew would be sufficient, they shouldn't have provided a lower estimate based upon a two-man crew. If they did later think that they would need more help, I should have been notified of this well before the morning of the move so that I could make an informed decision. If anything, any additional assistance offered last-minute on the morning of the move should have been offered free to remain consistent with the price/estimate I relied upon in booking the company weeks before. However, I will note that the company admitted that they could have communicated more thoroughly about the two-man vs. three-man crew system and apologized for the disappointment and confusion it caused. I will sum all of this up by saying that misunderstandings and differences of opinion aside, I appreciate this company's commitment to customer service, customer retention, and overall transparency in business dealings. While they aren't perfect, they really do try and make a much better effort than many companies I've dealt with in the past. I will also say that the company's decision to refund me the extra money I paid instead of merely offering credit off of my next move or issuing a standard apology really meant a lot. Many companies wouldn't have done the same, and I think that this decision reflected a great deal of kindness, professionalism, and integrity. All in all, I appreciate the way this issue was resolved and will definitely continue to include Bookstore Movers on my list of potential companies to use in future moves. read more

I am a long-time fan of Bookstore Movers--I have used them twice before, and was very happy with their services. Because of those positive experiences, I recently contracted with them for two more moves: one to move some belongings I had in storage out of a basement, and the second to move all our household possessions from an apartment to a townhouse. They did not disappoint this time around! For the first move, I had Russ and Randy, who were consummate professionals. They arrived on time, were very polite and professional, and moved everything quickly and efficiently. That's the bare minimum of what's expected from a moving company, but they really went the extra mile. As Russ and Randy were removing things, I discovered that most of my belongings had significant water and mold damage from a leak in the basement a few months before. I had no idea about the extent of the damage when we started the move, but it became apparent that a lot of my things were ruined. I was devastated about some things that were destroyed because they were irreplaceable and had high sentimental value. Russ and Randy were very compassionate and respectful when I got a bit emotional about this loss, and helped me arrange each moldy, funky item to be photographed for my insurance claim. This was above and beyond their obligation, but they did it without complaint. I really, really appreciated their humanity and kindness while I was dealing with tough situation. For the second move, I had Mario, Rashim, Earl, Brandon S, Will L, and Joshua. Again, they arrived on time, were extremely polite and professional, and moved everything quickly and efficiently. Again, Bookstore Movers had the opportunity to exceed expectations, and they did that. I especially appreciated the whole crew's seemingly endless patience as my family decided how to arrange and rearrange the furniture as it came in, the leadership skills of our foreman Mario as he effectively coordinated the crew, the care and pride that Rashim took in disassembling and re-assembling my son's loft bed, the humor Earl showed while hefting giant pieces of furniture up and down stairs, the gigantic smile Brandon had for me whenever I asked him to do something, and the extra-positive attitude we got from Will. Last, but not least, Joshua especially impressed me because at the end of the night, after I had signed the check, I was lamenting aloud that I would need to get rid of a favorite armchair because it wouldn't fit in the guest bedroom. He pointed out that if the bed were rotated 90 degrees, there would be plenty of room for it. Then he volunteered to do it. He was right, and the armchair was saved! The fact that he made that suggestion off the clock, knowing that it would mean more work for him, conveyed that he really cared about the job and customer satisfaction. There are a few additional things I would want to point out about about Bookstore Movers in general. One thing I liked especially is the up-front communication. They were excellent about responding to a request for an initial quote quickly and accurately. They also got detailed information about my specific needs to ensure they had the appropriate truck, right size crew, and correct equipment on site. Secondly, out of thousands of items moved, we had minor issues with two. Bookstore Movers promptly and fairly resolved our concerns with no fuss or hassle. All of these professionals were terrific to work with, and guarantee that I'll be a returning customer. Book them for your next move! read more

We just had our second Bookstore Movers move yesterday (first Bookstore Movers move was two years ago). Given our experience last move with Bookstore, it isn't surprising how well this one went. Jason set the tone for the day with a polite call to tell us when to expect him and the crew, letting us plan our afternoon well. The fellows arrived looking fresh and happy, and did a walk through with us. When special items or concerns were pointed out, they offered thoughtful ideas on how we could address each of them. They then proceeded to clear out the house in amazing speed. I swear it was like watching the "World's Strongest Man" contest, because the guys were not only fast, but strong. Really strong. On top of their alacrity during the move out, they were always ready to pause and to answer one of our questions (Marco) or assuage a concern. They had high spirits and were quite congenial through out the entire process, James especially. As Jason wanted my partner to pop by the new place to ensure that no one was parked in our permitted spots, Will was even kind enough to bring me over with the crew to the new place. At the new house end of the move they were also incredibly efficient, and the guys were just as polite here (Antwann literally responded verbally to everything I said with a "thank you", "you're welcome", etc. I think I would have just been panting from exertion at that point.). We faced two hiccups that I want to specifically highlight how they were handled. Upon unpacking one of our pictures, the glass was broken. Jason pulled me aside to explain the situation immediately and show me the damage. He explained that they have a glass guy that can replace it, and then wouldn't even let me clean it up for fear I would cut myself. He tidied up the broken glass into the recycle bin himself. Absolutely professional in dealing with the issue, and gentlemanly at the same time. (I think that it is impressive that they moved all of our stuff and had only one tiny breakage that didn't even tear the photo.) Secondly, as in many Capitol Hill row homes, we were concerned that one of our boxsprings wouldn't make it up the staircase. When it was a tad shy of making it, Corey brought out great problem solving skills and led the (successful) effort of removing panes and screens, and bringing it in through a second story window. I can't tell you how excited we are to have that boxspring upstairs when it was looking like it wouldn't make it. As you can see, we were quite pleased with Bookstore Movers again. Considering efficiency, speed, strength, amiability, and professionalism, their crew receives the highest marks across the board. read more

I would generally not feel compelled to write a review for a moving company, or if I did it would not be for positive reasons. But in this case I simply must spread the word. I have moved an abnormally high amount of times in my life and used various companies who all registered somewhere in the moderate to severe range of disappointment. Bookstore Movers was a COMPLETELY different experience. I almost had to pinch myself because every step of the way I thought it was too good to be true. The online quote request and booking was fast, flexible and friendly from the start - and the quote came in comparable or cheaper than similarly rated competitors. A service rep, Matt, reached out to me and stayed in communication right up until the move. A few days in advance, I received the names and contact info for the crew that would be coming, along with an exact arrival time (unheard of!!) that they actually met on the dot. Every member of the team was polite and courteous when they introduced themselves and put us at ease about the very fragile items we were most concerned about. Mario was the crew captain and several times through the move I observed him helpfully coaching other the team members on how to wrap things effectively or carry them securely - he directed everyone and as a result they moved so quickly and efficiently; as a manager myself, I was genuinely impressed by their teamwork, communication and chemistry. Ryan, Chris, and Renaldo took great care to wrap and handle every piece of furniture carefully, and Rashim really stood out to us with his helpful demeanor and expertise in disassembling and reassembling some tricky furniture. When we got to the new house every box and piece of furniture ended up in the right place (not an easy feat in a 5br home!) and arrived in perfect condition. When we changed our mind about the placement of a large bookshelf, they graciously moved it for us (again) without complaint. I was astounded, start to finish. These guys were true professionals and after 30+ years of moving I now can say it can actually be a great experience. I don't write many reviews, and usually when I do it is to try to save others from pain and disappointment. I suppose, this review is no different - save yourselves the disappointment of hiring anyone else. Bookstore is absolutely the best. read more

I have searched and searched for a way to give these guys more than 5 stars, but no luck. They were awesome. I found them here, didn't know anyone who had used them but decided to try them out. I've moved a lot and I hate moving, and find that movers tend to make it more stressful, but am past the point of offering my friends beer and pizza to move all my crap. I emailed them, Matt responded, told me their policies and price, and an estimate of how much time it would take to move me. We found a time/date that would work and that was that. No deposit. Good advice and response to some questions I emailed. They emailed me a week ahead to make sure the move was still a go. They showed up exactly when they said they would introduced themselves (Matt and Craig) and we went through the house so I could show them what was staying and what was moving. I had always been leery of movers who charged by the hour, but with Bookstore movers, that should not be a concern. These guys worked their asses off. No standing around,/hanging out/goofing off. I was amazed, they got everything packed up and we headed to the new place, which of course, thought I was moving the next day, so that took a bit to get straightened out. Matt was cool when I told him what was going on, and soon they were able to unload the truck and get everything moved in. Before everything went in, we figured out (roughly) where everything was going to go. After everything was in, they moved a few things for me when I changed my mind. All of my boxes arrived, nothing was broken, and I even had some bookcases with removable shelves that had brackets in there, and although I forgot to take them out, they did, and handed them all to me once we got to the new place. The estimated time was RIGHT ON, and the price was exactly what they quoted. No extras. No surprise charge for this or that. I hate moving, and hope I stay at my new place for several years, but if I don't I will absolutely positively use them again. I am still somewhat in awe that it all went as smoothly as it did. I will recommend them to everyone I know. And I'm going to check out their bookstore. Feel free to email me if you any questions, but honestly, I can't recommend them highly enough. read more

Highly recommended. We're moving temporarily and needed to store some things while we were gone, and we wanted a moving company that had its own storage facility to make life easier. Enter Bookstore Movers. Our movers, Nick and Donnell, were great. They called to let us know that they were finished with another job early, and that they'd be able to start early if we were ready and willing to do so but were happy to wait if we weren't. We ended up being able to start 45 minutes ahead of schedule, which worked out really well for us. They were polite and extremely efficient -- they had everything that we wanted moved to their storage facility out of our apartment and ready to take down to the loading dock within 25 minutes or so, and everything was completed in well under an hour with no hassle at all. They brought all the dollies and furniture pads needed to make it a fast move. It also turned out that they thought we'd have room to put a few more things into the storage vault than we originally asked for, so we were unexpectedly (and happily) able to decide on several more items that we hadn't thought we'd be able to store and they took those items as well. We got an inventory with everything going to storage and their condition, so we can make sure everything is still there when we get our things back from them. Nick apologized for the fact that we'd have to pay the minimum three-hour fee, given how quickly things went, which was nice of him. We knew about the minimum from the first estimate (everything was transparent), and it was reasonable considering that a lot of other moving companies told us they'd charge us for a minimum of at least three hours plus an hour of "travel time" to go to their facilities, whereas Bookstore Movers just uses a flat $50 warehouse fee to cover travel and loading up our stuff in their warehouse. (For those interested in Bookstore Movers' storage, it's $100/mo. for a 5x7' storage vault, but it seems like the vaults have a lot of height, so a good amount can be packed in there.) Overall, we were extremely pleased with Bookstore Movers and will be happy to use them in the future. read more

This is the second time that I've used Bookstore Movers and once again they blew me away with how efficient and carefully they were able to move my stuff and I. When you hire a mover you aren't just hiring people to move your stuff, you are buying peace-of-mind and tranquility during a process that is anything but. Moving is stressful on everyone, but the guys at Bookstore are calm and organized and they're all about business (but they're always super friendly!). I've found it's just as important to be super organized and have as much squared away as possible to keep the move on track. Each time I've used them they have come in either exactly at the quote or 30 minutes early. When using their quote form, be sure to be as detailed as possible. Their rates are right there with the most competitive in the area and they are well worth it! Specifically for this move (9/23/12) we had a tight window to make the 5pm moving cutoff at my new place, but Matt and the folks at Bookstore said they felt it was doable. The guys arrived promptly and got started immediately (Adam, Connor, Jason). For this move Matt suggested adding a third mover (I got the third guy for basically an extra $20/hr). By doing so, we probably shaved 45 minutes to an hour off of the move time. They emptied my place in DC very quickly and had the truck packed up in a little less than 2 hours. They unloaded the truck in about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Nothing was broken and they even helped me move some furniture around before they left. Adam, Connor and Jason are rock stars! It was definitely a bit stressful on everyone, but they worked hard and fast (but safe). They are my first call every time I move in this area (which hopefully won't be for a while though) and I easily recommend them on a weekly basis to someone that I know who is either moving or thinking about it. As soon as you know when you are trying to move call them and try to find a time that will work for you. As others have said they book up fast, but if you can be flexible they'll work with you to find a good time! I cannot recommend these guys enough, they're just that good. read more

I recommend the Bookstore Movers to everyone. Seriously, I won't let any of my friends move WITHOUT using them. I have always been a fan of the actual Bookstore, so figured I would try the moving company out. At this point I have used them twice and am planning to move soon & will aboslutely use them again. The movers were super smart, strong, friendly, nice guys - the company is reliable and affordable - and you are supporting great people involved in a truly local business. The Bookstore Movers were awesome movers - efficient and flexible - even though that day I was a disorganized mess. I was moving out of a house on a super busy street and the movers showed up in the morning right on time - at rush hour - and called to ask me if I had gotten "no parking" signs from the police station to allow them to park the van on the side of the road (like they had asked me to!) I had forgotten, but even though the street was super busy and there wasn't a parking spot to be found, they worked it out in no time. I had certain things which I forgot to pack, and they helped me get everything together - always with a genuine, great attitude. The second time I moved, the move started in the afternoon and they worked into the evening with no problem until the job was 110% finished. They movers hauled my stuff all over town, even to my Grandma's house in the 'burbs and the guys were charming and polite to her (note: my Grandma suggested I marry, or at least, date, either or both of the two movers (ideally, not at once)). Again, head in the clouds, I forgot to calculate the tip right, and totally undertipped. Afterwards I called the owner, explained, and sent him a check for the extra - he was happy to accomodate and super laid-back. The Bookstore Movers were right on time, efficient, careful, reliable, and friendly. The movers helped with little things I had forgotten, as well as moved the big stuff quickly & safely. I trust them 100% - they did a great job and were so affordable compared with other companies. Definitely a 110% recommend. read more

I had a great experience with Bookstore movers! The precision and thoroughness in gathering the quote made me feel that there would be no surprises or unexpected costs on moving day. The correspondence over email was quick and seamless. My movers were Abdul, Milly, Riley and Marquese. Two of them arrived in the moving truck earlier than my 9am start, and before the other two and they got to work early free-of-charge, which they definitely didn't need to! I packed everything ahead of time. They were incredibly efficient wrapping all of my furniture and taking in down to the truck. They even ended up taking a more packed items than I was originally quoted for. I have a large one-piece couch that doesn't fit in the elevator at my old or new building and they took it down 3 flights to get it on the truck and up 8 flights to get in in my new place which such ease!! I know it is their job but I was so wowed, thankful, and relieved that this wasn't a problem for them. Other companies were quoting me several hundred extra to go up that many flights of stairs -- and my guys did it with no extra charge! And they even bragged about not having to set it down I was impressed!! There were multiple errors by the building management of my destination building regarding the parking and elevators, and my movers handled it with grace and efficiency - and it didn't really even slow us down. They were efficient in unwrapping the items in my new place and placing them in the appropriate location in the apartment. They also helped me adjust a few items after I changed my mind where it should go. The whole process took exactly two hours, which was the minimum hours anyways, so it worked out perfectly! (I was moving between two buildings in a two block distance of each other). I definitely think the pricing was fair and cheaper than others' were quoting for my move. They made my move so easy and stress free. I will definitely be recommending Bookstore to people and definitely use them for any future moves! :) read more

My husband and I were moving from one apartment to another in the same building and needed help with some of the larger items (desks, bookcase, couch, bed, etc) so we looked for movers on Yelp and found Bookstore Movers. They had great reviews, and now we know why -- they were fantastic! From the moment we made contact with them to arrange the move to a few days after the move (follow up email) they were engaged, helpful and very professional. We have moved many times in the past and this was by FAR the best experience we had with movers. They had given us a time frame for arrival of 1-2 p.m. and they called around 12:15p.m to let us know it would be closer to 2 p.m. because they were still at their first location of the day. We were totally fine with that and grateful they called to let us know. They then arrived right around 2 p.m. and got going right away. We had four guys come and they all introduced themselves, shook our hands and were smiling and polite the entire time. Even though we were just moving upstairs a couple of floors, they WRAPPED our large items in a felt-type cover so there would be no scratches and they took their time and didn't make us feel like they were in a rush to get out of there (even though we were their last appointment before the weekend started). While two guys finished dissembling our bed and one guy was upstairs unloading the items, one asked if he could take a few smaller items to help us out since he was there anyway.... totally unnecessary, but greatly appreciated. The whole thing only took about two hours, but it seriously couldn't not have gone smoother. We will (and already have!) recommend Bookstore Movers to anyone we know who needs assistance with a move and we will definitely be using them again for our next move. Unfortunately, I can't remember all their names, but Craig seemed to be the guy in charge and he was great -- so thank you to Craig and the rest of the team who helped us out! See you again! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! read more

My husband and I recently moved from a one-bedroom apartment to a two-bedroom place and I did a lot of research to find the best value moving company. After lots of backwards and forwards emailing with a number of companies, Bookstore Movers offered the best (and easiest to understand) price but also the most flexibility in terms of timing the move. I was also really happy to work with a smaller, local company, so it was perfect. The day before the move, I received an email from the company, checking in about the next day. They suggested adding a third mover to our booking, which turned out to be the best idea! On the day, our movers were John, Charles and Michael. They arrived exactly on time and were incredibly polite. We gave them a quick tour of the apartment and explained what was where. In the space of about 10 minutes, they had already moved a stack of boxes that we were expecting to take an hour to move....they were so fast! Our biggest concern during our move was the disassembly/reassembly of our king size Ikea bed. It was a nightmare to put together in the first place and we were worried it wouldn't survive being taken apart and put back together again. The movers patiently (and QUICKLY!) took it apart, kept hold of all the small hardware, and had put it back together again in the new place before we even realized it. Despite some poor packing/preparation on our part, the movers managed to get everything into the new place without any damage or problems. They were incredibly careful when bringing things in and didn't make a single mark on our new walls. They also made sure they fixed felt pads to the feet of all pieces of furniture to protect our new floors. In the end, the move took the minimum 3 hours, which was perfect. We are incredibly grateful to the guys for doing a wonderful job. We would recommend them to ANYONE moving in the area. It's so refreshing to pay for such a great service and to have no complaints at all. read more

Bookstore Movers is awesome and worth the price! The reassurance, communication and respect I received was wonderful! -They were on time! -They were hard working and efficient! Marcco, Rashim and Andrew were great! They are definitely not of the lolly-gagging set. -They were courteous and polite. I am a single woman and I felt comfortable and did not feel like I was disrespected or like I was being taken advantage of with reference to time, communication or in any other way. Which happens all too often when people tell you (in so many words) "not to worry your pretty little head about it". There was no inclination of this from anyone at Bookstore Movers throughout the entire process, from initial request for a quote to signing off after everything was moved in. They even called me ma'am the whole time (not sure if that's good or bad, because I'm not THAT old. -There was great communication throughout the move. They told me what they could do, why they couldn't do something, and asked where I wanted items and where they were in the move process. -They were very careful with my things and asked that I move some items that seemed more delicate or valuable. -In a nutshell: Marcco, Rashim and Andrew were great and very polite and respectful. They communicated with me the entire time, were knowledgeable about furnishings and logistics, and finished the move so quickly that I couldn't believe it. I had an 8am time slot on a Friday, and they finished around 10:45am (moved a little over 10 miles away). I would definitely recommend Bookstore Movers to everyone, and if/when I move again I hope I can utilize their services. Be sure and have tip money for these guys, they deserve it! Also, you can pay by using the Square app with a credit card with the crew leaders phone. Everything is pretty seamless, which is great reassurance and very refreshing for anyone on moving day, no matter how much you try and plan. read more

After living in the DC area for nearly 10 years and working our way from terrible apartment, to ok apartment, to great apartment, to house in the burbs, my husband and I have used Bookstore Movers at least 3 times now. They came highly recommended from two different friends who had also had great experiences. They have always handled our things with care (and several of our pieces are both very large and unwieldy as well as fragile), and have never damaged anything. On the most recent move, the lead mover saw our leather couch and asked that more pads be brought up, so that none of the saran wrap they wrap the big pieces in would actually make contact with the leather - he said he didn't want to risk any damage to the material when taking off the wrap. They quickly but carefully took apart our massive bed and perfectly reassembled it in the new bedroom. They've always left our homes exactly as they left it - no mess, and they always do a walkthrough at the end to make sure that everything is placed exactly as you want it. I'm OCD and wanted to adjust the heavy dining table a couple times, and they were very patient with me. We've had a few different crews now, and they've all been incredibly nice and professional, with good teamwork - they're just fun people to spend several hours with, which certainly doesn't hurt with the stress of moving. They always arrive on time, move incredibly fast, and have always come in at or under their total estimated move time. They're very detailed about the estimate and transparent in their costs (no "gotcha" hidden fees), making sure they understand any potential pitfalls so that they can accurately charge you without incurring overages. Their customer service is very responsive with any questions - truly, they make moving as painless as it is possible to be. I hope we don't move again for many years, but if ever we do, we'll definitely call Bookstore Movers! read more