I normally wouldn't go out of my way to write a bad review, but I wouldn't wish a bad moving experience upon others. I'd appreciate if someone helped me avoid that, so I'm doing my part with this review.
I like to support small local businesses. From that, I gave Browns Moving & Storage a chance, despite some initial concerns. Looking back on it, that was a mistake.
- Owner of the "business" cannot provide an official business license.
Perhaps his business license is expired. Perhaps he wants the customer to have no course of action if their belongings end up damaged or missing. He simply said "providing business information puts me at risk
- Business owner unwilling to show his drivers license.
Owner stated he would provide his drivers licese the day of the move. On the day of the move he refused to provide this. Said he is worried of his identify being stolen. Doesn't acknowlege that this is a reasonable request to know who his handling customers valuable possessions. Surprised that he refuses to provide any form of identifications on the day of the move, I simply have him proceed, as we had to be out of the house on that very day.
The moving process:
The day before the move, Mr. Brown tells me that he will show up at 8-8:30am. At 8:30am, he texted me saying that his truck wont start. Upon speaking to the independent contractor he sent to do the job, it was revealed that he called his contractor THE DAY BEFORE, said he needed him to fix his truck, then do this move for him. The owner's truck not working was known about the day before, but he informs me on moving day...
At 10:45am (2.5 hours late) Browns Movers have 2 idependent contractors show up (one of them was his truck mechanic). These two workers did a fine job. I have no issues with how the independent contractors handled the moving process.
However, before driving the truck from our previous house to our new house, the mechanic says he needs to work on the transmission before making the drive.
*From this, 50 minutes were spent fixing the owner's broken down truck.*
When the movers were getting everything in, a couple pieces of furniture were damaged, and some damage was done to the walls. I acknowlege things like this happen, and was accepting of the small credit provided for these accidents.
For payment, the owner of the "business" only accepts cash. So I cash app him 8 hours of labor/commuting (rounded up from 7.5 hours) + an extra $120 for travel. Shortly after leaving, the owner has his contractors turn around and come back to my house. The owner is on the phone demanding I pay him more.
- He wanted we to pay for time his mechanic spent fixing his transmission.
- He wanted me to pay him for the credits I was given for the damages caused to the furniture/house. Said to pay him right then, and we would later have everything fixed LATER. I had little reason to believe him at this point, so I declined that arrangement.
In the end, I paid exactly what was written on our contract. I don't appreciate the "business" owner hiding his identity, showing up 2.5 hours late, then forcing his contractors to remain at my house while he attmpted to bully me to pay money that was different than our signed contract.
I support local businesses, but I will take this as a lesson. My next move will go with a more trusted service, over a man with a truck and a cash app account. I encourage the owner to take this as a lesson for better practices. read more