We purchased a grand piano for $5,000 and needed to have it transported to our home. We were…read morereferred to a large piano moving company called Blue Dolly. Before hiring them, I specifically asked about their experience and whether they were professional, licensed piano movers. I was told that they were professionals, properly trained, and experienced in moving grand pianos.
I was quoted approximately $1,083 for the move. I was specifically told that they would disassemble the grand piano, including removing the legs and the lid, transport the pieces safely, and then reassemble the piano at our home. Their website also stated that they were professional movers and that grand pianos would be disassembled for transportation.
When the movers arrived to pick up the piano, they did NOT disassemble it. They transported the grand piano on its side with three legs still attached.
When they arrived at our home, I immediately questioned them and asked why the piano had not been disassembled as promised. They told me not to worry and said that it was fine.
When they attempted to turn the piano over, they broke one of the legs and caused significant damage to the piano. The leg was broken out, and the side/body of the piano was bent and severely damaged. The piano was essentially rendered unusable.
At the time, the movers told me not to worry because they had insurance and that everything would be taken care of. I told them that I expected them to take the damaged piano back and either repair it properly or replace it with another piano. They agreed and told me that they would return the next day, take the piano apart, remove it, and bring me another piano.
They never came back.
It has now been approximately one month. The moving company filed an insurance claim, but the insurance company has offered only $336 for the damage.
We have contacted several piano repair companies, and we have been told that repairing the piano would cost approximately $2,500-$5,000. In addition to the $5,000 purchase price of the piano, we paid approximately $1,083 to the moving company for the transportation service that they failed to perform properly.
The moving company is now claiming that the piano was damaged at our home and is refusing to accept responsibility. They are offering only $336.
This is completely inconsistent with what actually happened. The piano was not damaged before the move. The movers caused the damage while attempting to turn the piano over after transporting it improperly without disassembling it as they had promised.
What is especially concerning is that, before hiring them, I specifically relied on their representations that they were professional, licensed, and experienced piano movers. Their website represented that they were qualified to move grand pianos and that grand pianos would be disassembled for transportation. However, after the damage occurred, the movers who actually handled our piano told me that they were not professionals, had never done this before, and did not know how to properly move a grand piano.
I believe the company may have misrepresented its qualifications and failed to perform the services for which we paid. I also believe they are now attempting to shift responsibility for damage that their employees caused.