If you're going to be taken for a ride - literally and figuratively - you might as well go with these guys.
I'd scoped out this moving option several times but had always been deterred by the quote form (http://collegeeducatedmovers.com/movingform.html).
But last December, as I faced yet another untimely move (prompted by a perpetrator jacking off on my fourth floor fire escape), I sucked it up and filled out the frigging form. It wasn't so bad, and it was useful to take an inventory of all the things I'd have to organize anyway.
It was well outside of business hours, but I got a written response right away from a real person with a cell phone number. I called the number to ask whether it was REALLY true that they NEVER moved pianos. Well, she said, it was pretty much true that their two-guy teams had never actually moved a piano, but if I thought my spinet was really small and light enough, they'd give it a shot for $100 extra. Phone still in hand, I moved towards my piano and gave the corner a tug. "Yeah," I said confidently, "It'll totally work."
While packing, I realized that, for someone who doesn't have a lot of shit, I sure have a lot of shit. I e-mailed the changes in my situation by replying to the original confirmation message and filling in the new quantities of the categories that had already been neatly broken out (small box, large box, bag, etc.). Again, I got a speedy reply that my changes had been noted, and that the estimate had risen to $380 - a marginal hike considering I was moving it all from Prospect Heights to Rockaway Park.
They gave me the 8-11 a.m. window, and so eager was I to leave that I begged them to arrive as early as possible. This they did, towards the tail end of seven.
Two young lads, let's call them K and T, arrived with cheerful dispositions. Immediately, we determined that the piano was definitely heavier than the couch (duh). I used one of their phones to magically coordinate piano movers (who are also AWESOME but don't even have a business name) to come whisk the instrument away and meet us later at the new spot.
When the guys were done clearing the apartment, one of them asked if I'd mind going along with them to another job that was on the way. I thought nothing of it, because it was a beautiful day for a ride. So the guys moved an eccentric lady from Crown Heights to Brighton Beach, where I ran off to a B of A to withdraw cash for the piano movers. All good.
After an hour and a half of this, we bid the lady farewell and drove at last out to the Rockaways, with both dudes shrieking "Oh MAN, this is SOOOOO DEEEEEP!" as the horizon give way to the Atlantic.
We parked in the new 'hood and got lunch. One of the dudes opted for a cafe, while the other guy and I had burgers next door. It was then that I figured out that the Brighton move was for his own business on the side and that he was lucky that I'd gone along with it instead of blowing the whistle. I had the right to feel indignant if I wanted to, but the fact was that I'd had fun.
Our companion returned as we were ringing out at the cashier's. As I stepped up to pay, he said, "Absolutely not; you've been so cool - the least we can do is pay for your meal." Funny that he - and not the work partner who'd been a bit of a shade - offered this courtesy to me.
We walked back to the truck, where we found the piano movers also parked and ready. All at once, I was moved in. The double booker started rifling through my shoes when I said I didn't like them, saying he could sell them. I told him to forget about it. So that was a little weird, but I invited the guys to come chill on the deck any day in the summer, and they laughed that they might just take me up on it. Then just like that, they were gone.
Damages? Minimal:
Couch slipcover was streaked with dirt, but it's washable and I was impressed that two slight males were able to transport it at all. The back panel of my bookshelf was torn, but what more could you expect from an IKEA product. A corner of my queen sized box spring was dusty, but I was going to put a bedskirt over it anyway.
The only thing that really bothered me was that a foot off of my turntable was lost. This really sucked because, in order to keep from scratching my vinyls, I had to shove an ugly rag under the corner to prop it up. I e-mailed the office. This time a dude replied that he'd as K & T about it...but that was the last I heard from anyone.
All in all though, they moved some heavy stuff (AC, portable washing machine, records, TV, sofa) for a tolerable amount of money. Plus, I got some adventure and conversation out of it.
Would I use this service next time? I don't want there to be a next time, period. But I'd not refrain from recommending them to others.
But if you're reading this, K 'n' T - I want my turntable foot back if you show up on the beach this summer. read more