BEWARE!!! HE WANTED TO RENEGOTIATE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE JOB!!!
I had been in contact with Richard (owner) about moving a large safe that was built into a cabinet, located just inside the front door of a house, from Los Banos to Merced. We chatted and texted many times over several weeks and I told him it weighs 1900lbs. I sent numerous photos including placement, steps outside door, specs from the safe company themselves which included weight, etc. He assured me it wasn't anything he had not done before. He told me he had a liftgate, piano dolly, etc. to get the job done. I was quoted $500 and moved forward. The day he came he had 2 other jobs in Los Banos and wanted to load it prior to his other 2 jobs that day. Upon arrival we (mainly me) started removing trim, cabinets, cutting nails, making wooden dowels from broom sticks, rakes etc. ALL WITH MY OWN TOOLS and supplies that I brought as he and his crew mostly stood around watching. The front door of the house was removed and the safe was rolled out of the cabinet area on wooden sticks right in front of the front door. With my front door to the house off and a safe sitting right inside of it, he pulls me aside and tells me "Sir, We need to talk." He tells me this is a bigger job than he thought and that his liftgate will be at its max and that he's not sure it would lift it. He tells me he's going to need more money. I asked how much? He said $1500 and he would not be responsible for scratches, dents and/or dropping it. THREE TIMES his quote, now with a disclaimer! I said that wasn't happening and if he said that prior to moving it, it would have stayed. I asked how much I owed for what they had already done? He wanted $500. Mind you, I had done 80% of the work and they had used 0% of their tools etc. at this time. Also the safe would have to go back where it came from or out the door in order to put the door back on and secure the house. Against my better judgement I paid him $300. The safe was then proposed to go to a local person and he had a chance to continue the job. The potential new owner was quoted $1000 with the same disclaimer, to take it 4 blocks down the road and he said that he had never moved one that big. Contrary to what he reassured me with his original quote. After back and forth they agreed on $500. I told the new owner and Richard that I had twin mattresses, sheets, comforters and whatever he needed to protect from scratches, dents etc. I never did see any supplies other than a truck with a liftgate for my job. I still ended up supplying physical help along with bedspreads, sheets, boards, furniture dolly and rope for him to do HIS job. I was bitter about how he did me dirty so I was reluctant to help at this point, but new owner and I did it to help protect the new owners' investment. I strongly suggest using caution. It seemed intentional to put me in a pickle before changing his terms on the spot. read more
