I've used these guys twice and my business partner has used them once...All THREE times they were promptly on time, very little talking and a lot of hard work and moving...In and out, got the job done well every time, and were very reasonably priced. The last time I used them was because I needed to get furniture out of an apartment for a new tenant that we had moving in the following day. The Salvation Army was supposed come and take the furniture, but cancelled at the last minute, leaving me with an hour to figure something out...I called Brian from Fair Trade Moving, and he was able to fit us in within 2 hours, came by, got the job done in less time than expected, and were done...I would definitely recommend these guys and will be using them again. read more

I would highly recommend Fair trade moving! The owner Brian was very efficient and cautious with all of our belongings. Competitively priced as well. They wrapped everything in moving blankets before loading them onto the truck and they literally had the truck loaded up in less than an hour for our entire two bedroom apartment. These guys are rock stars and I highly recommend them for any move. Grateful for all their help, thank you again. read more

I called with a last minute rush job because the original company that was supposed to move my stuff Friday didn't show.. I quickly looked through yelp and found Fair Trade Moving and called Brian and he was able to fit me for a morning apartment on Sunday. They showed up right on time and the move was perfect even though it was raining. Amazingly professional and efficient. I highly recommend them. Thanks Brian - you guys rock!!!! read more

Great experience with these guys. They were by far the least expensive but their professionalism would not lead you to think that. They moved items from a 1 bdrm. apt on Sheridan/Montrose to Foster/Clark in 1.5 hours and even packed up my random shit that I was too lazy to do myself. Would recommend to anyone. read more

These guys are the best! I found an awesome set of furniture on craigslist that was too good of a price to pass up. At around 4pm I called Fair Trade to pick up the furniture at 7:30. The pickup location was a mile from the drop-off location. Most other moving companies would quote me a 2 hour minimum + ~$70 truck fee, coming in around $300, for a move that all-in would be an hour of work. The team at Fair trade offered me a very fair quote up front (nobody else came close) and was EXTREMELY professional. I met them at the pickup location where they efficiently wrapped the furniture very well in blankets and drove it over to my place. Not only did they transport the furniture without incurring a nick on any of the furniture, but they also insisted on rearranging my family room with the new furniture before leaving, which was icing on the cake! These guys are the real deal!! I'll be using them again for my next spontaneous craigslist pickup! read more

Have had more than one experience with these guys - always awesome. On the most recent, they moved me from a storage unit, to my previous residence, then to my new/current residence. It was a huge move that took a long time, and these guys were literally hustling...pretty much jogging around with my boxes and furniture...7 hours or so hours straight...multiple trips/truckloads! Worth. Every. Penny. They aren't just quick and efficient, mainly due to the crew's foreman, but they are also knowledgeable and considerate with their profession. They wrapped and cushioned furniture items that even I wouldn't have - that was awesome and showed a lot of respect. They bring tools and are able to remove doors, partially disassemble furniture items, etc...then put it all back together. They moved everything with no damage to any furniture, and virtually no damage to narrow hallways, tiny doors and/or combinations of both. Hopefully I won't need to move all too soon, but when I do, I will call these guys...again. PS) Stay out of their way. I kept trying to help, and all I did was hold up their flow. They were way too professional to tell me to 'get the hell out of the way', because they should have =) read more

I've never hired movers before. I don't have that much stuff, but my furniture is heavy as shit and I'm an extremely weak dude. I can't force my aging blue-collar father to help me again. So, I decided to hire movers. I called several places, but Fair Trade was super flexible with scheduling, told me a few options, and got me in on the last day of the month with basically no notice. That rocked. They quoted me at 150 to move all my stuff in 2 hours. In addition to moving all my stuff, I ran out of boxes while packing, and so they ended up packing my computer and boxing up some odds and ends for me. Not a single attempt to upsell. They moved incredibly fast, it ended up being slightly over two hours, and they still just charged me 150. There's no fucking way you'll find cheaper. The guys were nice, friendly, extremely competent, and I'd recommend them to anybody. ALSO: I had a guinea pig we were moving and they were super nice about it and wrapped her cage up in several blankets to make sure she would be warm in the back of the truck. Really top notch place. read more

I have used Brian as a mover three times now and he has been professional, fast, quiet and careful each time. You hardly know the movers are there. I have moved many times over the years, over twenty, and none, not one, of the movers I have used was even comparable to Brian and his men. He is affordable on top of it all, none of those ripoff "extras" other movers charge. And no slackers!! I was once actually charged several hundred dollars for tape! I cannot recommend Brian and his men enough for their very personal service. No corporate indifference I've experienced in the past, and I would definitely use him again! read more

For what they offer, the price cannot be beat, literally. Even with a 3 hour minimum price you will most likely not find better for less, especially for a Saturday Move. To give you some perspective, I called 2 Men and a Truck and they wanted $112/hr plus $112/hr for travel time. Now there wasn't a 3 hour minimum but that is substantially more than what Fair Trade Moving offers. I also checked with many other people and websites including Craigslist. I dealt with some people trying to pressure me into using their service via strict phone conversations and trying to lead me towards booking with them. When they would call back to follow-up and I said I found someone I was asked "with who", "where at", "well we......" and when declined I received more attitude. I didn't get that here so that was great, too. There was a hiccup in the beginning but Brian called immediately to inform me, and after that, they worked very quickly and professionally to empty my 2 bedroom place in just over an hour. Like other movers, they offer you blankets to wrap up all of your furniture for protection. And they will also build/organize and setup things who you like it if you want, which is another good service and its totally worth it. Overall I was pleased with the work they did.. They were very quick, cheap and professional. I also didn't feel pressured to use their services, Brian just provided me the quote and the option to buy. I've already recommended them to 2 others I know moving soon and I will continue to pass the word. read more

I called yesterday when I realized that I needed movers ASAP. I found Brian's ad on Craigslist. He answered immediately (I hate leaving voicemails) and was very friendly, laid out pricing and asked "when do you need us?". We scheduled 9 am this morning. His crew and himself wrapped every piece of furniture with blankets and tape, carted everything to their truck and was ready to go! Unfortunately my new place is a 3rd floor with no elevator, but they didn't skip a beat! I highly recommend these guys if you're moving and need help! Thanks again guys, now back to unboxing :( read more

Excellent experience. I called them last minute and they were available. They arrived 10 minutes early for our appointment. They worked extremely quickly, and were efficient as well as very capable. Their charges were low with no attempt to pad the bill, even though they provided some extra service I hadn't expected. Would definitely call again and will recommend to my friends. read more

I was recommended to use Brian and Fair Trade Moving by the company that was shipping my life cross-country from Chicago to California. I was hesitant, but I called anyway just to see how much it would cost. Brian was very professional, and quoted a price that was waaaay cheaper than I had expected. He only accepted cash, but his demeanor convinced me of his legitimacy. All I can say is that he and his crew showed up 2 minutes early to my house, and did an amazing job getting everything safely and quickly out the door and onto the truck, to the distribution center, and onto another moving truck for the cross country move. He kept in touch with me through every step via phone calls and text messages. For a (slightly) anxious person such as myself, the whole thing was like a dream. Cannot recommend this service enough. 5 stars. read more

I called Brian at Fair Trade Moving through a Craigslist ad late on a Friday afternoon to pick up and deliver a last minute furniture purchase I made. The catch was that I needed the items delivered that evening. They were available and said they'd arrive at the pickup location 90 minutes from when I called. This gave me ample time to notify the seller, reserve freight elevators in both buildings, and take a breather before walking over to the seller's place. Everything was on a tight schedule - if they arrived 30 minutes late, the elevators wouldn't have been available... even later and the seller wouldn't have been available! They arrived early! Never have I been more pleasantly surprised. Ryan and Mike moved the items efficiently out the seller's place and into mine. The total job took about an hour. All furniture was very carefully handled. The only downside is that they charged a two-hour minimum for this job - why I gave them 4-stars and not 5. Still, if I need to move something on short notice, I will call on Fair Trade Moving again because I know that they can deliver! read more

Brian was upfront about everything I was paying for on the phone, and he stuck to that price and his crew did an amazing fast move out of my elevator building into a 3rd floor walk up. All the guys were polite, careful, quick, and worked really hard. They even managed to stay in the 2hr minimum window. They wrapped the furniture and mattress in moving pads, put loose stuff in wardrobe boxes, and offered to assemble and move anything we needed into place at the new apartment. They were also super flexible and understanding when we had to reschedule last minute due to a power outage. These guys are top notch, I definitely recommend them. All the professionalism and hard work for 1/2 the price! FYI they are cash only! read more

Brian and his team were outstanding. Others have mentioned their "hustle and bustle." I am another testament to how fast they work. They will not waste your time or money, and they will take very good care of your items. I respect the way they communicated with us over our estimate and actual price. They were direct and never left me guessing. And honestly, they are just pleasant people to be around. They get bonus points from me for helping me put together my husband's crappy TV stand from college which is held together by a bunch of random dowels. Shittiest TV stand ever and they were like, "We got this!" Respect. read more

These guys did a great job with my move! They worked quickly and everything arrived safe and sound. Would definitely recommend them.

Brain and Jessy from Fair Trade handled my in-town move very well. The reason I am writing this review is because these guys impressed me as honest, hard workers. For my money, that's all I really need in a local moving company. From the initial phone call and quote, to showing up on time, to working quickly and efficiently, these guys were solid. What put me over the top though, was their response to my pointing out a broken item. They did not put up a fight or get defensive. Instead, they surveyed the damage and were actually able to repair it. Once something as expensive as a sofa is damaged, getting it fixed on the spot is probably the best scenario one could possibly expect. When I move again, I'm likely to call these guys. Good job. read more

These guys are awesome!!! I had to find movers last minute...like TWO days before the move and Brian was able to fit me in. I was really nervous because I have a lot of furniture and I lived on a busy street so parking is really unpredictable. On the day of the move, Brian came with two other guys and they moved everything super fast. They were also really careful to not damage any of the furniture or the property. One or two things got banged up a bit but considering that they are Ikea quality I'm amazed that they survived the move in tact. Most importantly, everyone was really courteous to me throughout the move, even though not everything went according to plan. I expected them to be irritated with how long the move ended up dragging on (6 hours) but they weren't at all. I will definitely use them again on my next move and will be telling my friends / coworkers about them as well. read more

AMAZING! Brian and his crew were courteous and helpful. This was my first time hiring movers and I will never do it alone again! They showed up about 15 minutes late and I was sure that the day was going to be ruined (I am a pessimist at heart). Once they arrived they took a look at how to best get the items out and looked at what we had to move (lots of boxes and minimal large furniture. Once Brian looked it over he said about three hours. He then told me he was sorry for being late and exactly when the clock started. They got to work immediately afterward. Every time I tried to help, I was totally in the way. They work fast and professionally. Only word of advice, make sure you pack extra well. The guys weren't messing around. Fast pace means rough handling (totally understandable). Just use extra padding and tape. Nothing was damaged but a couple things got jumbled up. I was quoted at $250 for the first 2 hours for three guys and then $100 an hour after that. Again, super cheap compared to what to was quoted elsewhere. I asked Brian on our drive to the new place how he did his pricing. He said depends on time of the month and how busy they are (because they are a very small company, they can only do so much) And that is exactly what we paid. Besides feeling helpless as they three of them moved all of my possessions, best move of my life! Did I mention that they gave us a lift to the new place and that they got my things into my 4th floor apt under an hour. I'll just say that they got a generous tip and a loyal customer. Don't be put off by the cash only thing. I think it worked best! No waiting for checks or money to clear. Hard working, honest men doing a hard job! Thanks again Brian! read more

DO NOT USE!! First off, they were an hour and half late to a move where I needed to be in on a certain time. Brian is very unwilling to work with you for damages he creates during your move. When you physically see them damage the property you're leaving or moving into, you stop and make them pay for it. If it's a day after, he'll claim it was someone else. There's probably a reason he's always available and that's b/c the professional movers are taken. His crew were nice, no complaints there, but for the person who runs the show, and is the face of that establishment, you would expect him to own up to his damages. Your move may be cheap at first, but if they damage something, his answer will be, "do what you have to do legally...click" then that's not someone you would want to work with and could double your costs depending on the damage. Service doesn't end after the last box is unpacked. read more

Brian was efficient, no bullsh*t guy on the phone. Movers showed up on time (he subcontracted to another company), they were efficient, quick (note I was upsold plastic wrap for my bed, it was not cheap & I suppose could've been mentioned beforehand). The movers were extra-careful about not hitting walls, etc with the furniture, did a great job and finished the move in about 3 hours. Could not be happier with how it went. The movers started at 12:50pm but started the clock at 1pm. Really started the move with a show of trust. read more

This was my first time hiring movers and I was very impressed! The three men that came to move me were very polite and worked fast. I was completely moved out of my apartment and into my new one in an hour and fifteen minutes! I will definitely use Fair Trade Moving again and highly recommend them! read more

I was very cautious about hiring movers off Craigslist but we had such a small move it was hard to find professional movers that didn't charge an arm. We had to move a two piece sectional, a small table and 4 chairs. I had forgotten how large the couches were! He had quoted us for 2 hours but the move ended up taking 3 hours because it was a struggle to get the couches in and out of the buildings. And we were late! But at the end of the day, Brian apologized for taking so long and he only charged us for 2 hours! We paid him for 3 anyway + tip because they were so courteous and they did a great job. read more

I found Brian and his team last minute after our original moving help fell through. He was responsive and delivered a quote immediately and we booked them for the following afternoon. He was right on time and did the entire job, including some unbelievable couch pivoting wizardry, in 90 minutes. They even put together all of the furniture without us asking. I was seriously impressed and grateful for their hard work. I will use this company going forward - best movers I've had among many. read more

Brian and his crew are top notch movers. Brian does a wonderful job of training his co-workers to be professional, friendly and helpful. We had a time set for our move and when he was running late he called well in advance to notify us and apologize for the delay. A new time was set, and he called before he came to start the move. All the items moved arrived safely. When the move took less time than anticipated, he lowered his price without having to be asked for a reduction. We will definitely use Brian for our next move and recommend him to our friends. Thanks Brian for making our move an enjoyable experience. read more

It wasn't a last minute move, but it was a last minute phone call to book movers. We got them for August 1 at 8am which is exactly what we were looking for. So fast! We did have a small apartment, but they had the truck loaded in an hour and then unloaded with the bed set up in the new place in another hour. He quoted us a range, and then when he saw what we had, charged us the low-end. Overall, a great experience! Cash only. read more

Yet again, I was need of moving services and at the last minute. Brian and crew came through in the clutch. (Insert Michael Jordan fist pump) Efficient, detailed and thorough is how these guys operate. Plenty of fragile items and not one broken. If you need to move, leave the big name movers alone and give these guys your business. You won't regret it. read more

A perfect rating for a perfect job! I spoke with Brian the previous Wednesday (kind of last minute) and hired two men for two hours. I moved Saturday - 12/7/13 at 9:15a.m.(originally scheduled at 8:00a.m.). Brian was very straight forward and detail orientated. I spoke with Brian Friday night and informed him I would need to push the movers back to 9:00a.m. because I was mistaken about UHaul's opening hour. He was accommodating and said it wouldn't be a problem. Saturday began when I went to UHaul at 8:00a.m. to pick up my truck. The gentleman that opened the store was 30 minutes late. After 20 minutes I called Brian to let him know that the movers coming at 9:00a.m. may be cutting it close because the UHaul opener had not arrived yet. He thanked me for calling and said he would be in touch with the men about the delay. Brian agreed with me that it was unacceptable to wait around for my rental truck. I really appreciated his flexibility and understanding. Brian and I agreed that it would be best for the movers to arrive at 9:30am. I picked up the truck and drove it back to my condo. I arrived at 9:05am and was pleasantly greeted upon my return by Alex and Mike (they were early). They came in, assessed my place and my belongings. Mike and Alex began to move items at 9:15a.m. and did not start the 2 hour charge until they began moving things downstairs. Mike cleared my boxes and clothes out of my place and down the first two flights. Alex took care of my belongings from the bottom two flights and onto the truck. Both men were great and very accommodating when I needed certain fragile items loaded into a separate van. They wrapped all my furniture very carefully and did not damage a thing! The job was finished by 10:30am! I was very impressed by their strength and outstanding customer service. I would suggest Fair Trade Moving to everyone! Brian was great to work with as well as the movers-Mike and Alex. All around professional, kind and efficient. Thank you Fair Trade Moving!!! read more

TL;DR Efficient, careful, and fast! Worth every single penny. These guys are pros. They were early to my 8am appointment. After a quick assessment, they got straight to work (note they didn't start the clock until the assessment was complete). Boxes were out in a jiffy, all furniture was safely wrapped in blankets before moving, drawers were taped down, and they were very clear communicators. All while maintaining a very positive attitude. I expected to lend a hand moving some of the furniture, but I never had to lift a single box. Moving in to the new place was the same story. Very efficient, very careful, very fast. Furniture was placed according to my preference. Bed was set up for me where I wanted it. They even offered to rearrange everything after the job was done. All for a very reasonable price. My advice: Be packed and prepared, then just sit back and let Brian and his team do what they do best. I was a little concerned when I heard they were cash only as sometimes this indicates a sketchy business, but that was not the case. It really just sped up the process because I could hand them the cash and they could be on their way. I'm calling them first for my next move. read more

Hire them! Hire them! Hire them! Called Fair Trade after reading glorious reviews and after my Groupon purchased movers never showed (go figure). Brian & team were punctual and extremely professional. I recommended them to my punctilious co-worker and he raved about their service as well. Thanks Brian for moving me quickly and cheaply! read more

Loved this company! Have already referred two girlfriends of mine and they both had great experiences. Literally took them less than two hours to move me all the way across town with 9 pieces of furniture and 15+ boxes! Soooo much cheaper than everyone else. So quick and painless - definitely took away the stress that usually comes with moving. Will continue to recommend them! read more

Houston, we have a problem. I would like to give a review of Trade Movers, Fair Trade Movers (whoever they are) and their moving skills but all I can review is the fact that they showed up and said they couldn't move me because of the cars in my parking garage and the elevator not holding as long as they would like and a bunch of other crap that had me livid at 8AM on a Saturday morning and left me scrambling to find another mover in less than 12H . I called Trade Movers almost 2.5 weeks before my move and reserved so this wasn't a last minute thing. Also, the cars and elevators are the same as they were when I moved into the building 18 months ago and the same as every other tenant who moves in and out of my condo and NO ONE else has ever had a problem. Like really, then what really grinds my gears is the fact that Brian Thompson was rude as heck like it was my fault they came ill-prepared for a move moved my things downstairs, said it wouldn't work and then moved my stuff back upstairs and left it in the hallway (not where you initially moved it from). The fact that he was whining about the cars in the garage made me feel that he has inadequate liability for his business, which was a blessing in disguise because I don't want him breaking my stuff and not being able to pay for it. He came to my building with whatever "supplies" he advertised wrapped in what looked like a potato sack so maybe him not being prepared was for the best cause I sue people for a living and by the looks of things he doesn't have much on hand anyways to cover near what my items are worth... Word to the wise: Please do not waste your time and money dealing with this company. The only reason they are getting one star is because the other guy with Brian was trying to be respectful in lieu of his empty-headed and incompetent boss's (Brian Thompson) rude words and actions. Find BBB reputable movers cause dealing with this company is a step down from picking up some illegal immigrants in front of Home Depot or something. #EPICFAIL!!!!! ETA: OH WAIT... I forgot something. Brian also made the comment that he couldnt park his van in the alley behind my home cause and I quote "wait I'm getting for this move wouldnt even cover the cost of a parking ticket!.... WHAT?!?! Well since you gave me that quote Brian, that would make that a personal problem. Not to mention the fact that when I had ABF move my stuff, they parked in that same alley for 4 hrs with not a single issue at 12 noon on a Friday. Forget about it!!!!! read more

Competitive pricing for the Chicago area! Please note they do use a different booking company (Best Movers of America) which can be tad confusing when you receive your quote. Ultimately we went with another company but David (owner) and Ashley (quoting agent) were very responsive! read more

On time, reasonable with price (beating three other quotes by about $100). Brian is so compassionate he offered to move a new sofa for free since I had to throw mine out. Looking for efficient and respectful movers- "not a problem" read more

Had a great experience with these guys. Brian quoted me a fair price for picking up a piece of furniture at a furniture store and bringing to my house and getting it up 3 flights of stairs. It was a little pricey, but seems right for an hour of work (they usually have a 2 hour minimum), and I was DONE with waiting for the store to try to arrange delivery, a month had already gone by. It was an antique, and heavy so I was not prepared to put this in the hands of friends. We scheduled for a day later, and I was given an exact time of when they would be at the store. They called me an hour before to reconfirm, and then showed up promptly at the store, and came directly to my house. The team wrapped the piece with furniture blankets and taped it thoroughly before taking it out of the store (thank goodness, since it is fragile and it was raining). They were courteous, didn't complain about the stairs (we just furnished our place and everyone who has ever delivered something has), and were gracious about the tip. Super happy with this stress-free encounter, and would certainly call them when I have a real move. read more

Such a great experience with Brian and his crew. It was easy to book, they gave a follow up call, and showed up early. As far as loading up the truck holy cow do these guys rock. They are strong, quick, and very respectful of my things. They wrapped the furniture with blankets and broke down shelves and such. They even brought a new plastic mattress cover which I thought was awesome. These guys are fast, efficient, super nice and respectful-and all at a great price. Definitely worth it! read more

Here goes another glowing review for Brian, and this one is WAY overdue! I first used his services back in May 2013 when I was moving back to Chicago from Atlanta. I had my belongings shipped up to Chicago in one of those do-it-yourself moving crates, so I just needed him pick up all my stuff from the crate warehouse and unload everything into my condo. He was so easy to work with and incredibly prompt - a true professional! He arrived exactly on time and was meticulous about putting everything where it belonged (based on my box labeling), in record time! (without scuffing up or dinging my walls :) I recall that there was some issue with one of the guys in his crew bailing on him last minute but he found someone else to replace him, and to make up for any inconvenience (of which I had none:) he built my futon for me AND offered me a break on his quoted price (which was already beyond reasonable!). Needless to say, I was incredibly happy with his service. But today, Brian came through for me yet AGAIN (which reminded me that I never gave him the glowing review I owed him!). He came out last minute on this ridiculously cold and snowy night, to transport a lingerie dresser I fell in love with at Costco :) He arrived exactly at the time we agreed, he made sure to wrap it tightly with blankets in order to protect it (it was the floor model, so no box :), and then he literally carried it on his back, all the way up to my second floor condo (in the snow!), for a price no one else even came close to! I honestly wish there was another star I could give him, because yes, he's THAT awesome! read more

Great and easy moving job. I was quotes at 3 guys and they sent 4. Unloaded my truck on short notice and did it in an hour. Would definitely recommend these guys and use them again! read more

No games. They cost exactly what they quoted me (very fairly priced). They were on time, respectful, and worked hard. Definitely recommend.

Great guys! Showed up right on time, and were fast, careful, & efficient movers! Would definitely recommend!