The tough economic times have taken quite a toll on the moving industry. The Chicago Tribune recently published this article about the effect of the economy on movers in Illinois. The effect appears to be doubled for moving companies since not only have home sales and thus the overall need for moving services declined but the decline of needs for other services has lead to a poaching of sorts of household moving jobs. This is evidenced here by the case of the carpenter posting his availability for moving services.
Opportunities abound for the extremely price conscious looking to save a buck and willing risk their belongings. “What’s a matter with saving money?” you may ask. There’s always a cost and in this case it’s the gamble that your move will go well. Here are the top three reasons to be concerned about hiring unlicensed movers for your next move.
No insurance – Even if you don’t pay for additional insurance, in most states and for all interstate moves, licensed moving companies must insure your belongings for some minimal value, typically $.60 per pound. It’s not much but at least it’s something. Furthermore, a licensed mover will inform you about this and supplemental coverage that provides more adequate reimbursement.
No experience – Hey, if I had a truck and maybe a trailer I could move your stuff too, but it might not arrive at your new home looking like it did when you left your old home. At least some of the staff at a licensed moving company will have many years of experience and most larger van lines require fairly substantial training regarding proper packing and loading to ensure protection of your valuables.
No reputation and no concern about reputation – Fly by night operators won’t have a reputation to fall back on and they aren’t looking to build one. They’re main concern is getting the next job and they’ll entice new customers with prices substantially lower than those of licensed movers. They may change names as necessary to escape a reputation that has gotten so bad as to garner publicity.
The main point to all this should come as no surprise…buyer beware.
Categories: Consumer Protection · Hiring a Moving Company · Rogue Movers / Moving Scams
Tagged: Consumer Protection, How to Hire a Mover, Moving Scams
When moving, one of the biggest tasks is getting rid of stuff. By eliminating the amount you’re moving you can save quite a bit of money and time. In my article about how to save money on your move using a cube sheet you can see how much money you can save by reducing the total weight of things to be moved. Unfortunately some of the time savings are lost when you realize how hard it can be to get dispose of certain items appropriately and even more difficult when you’re trying to be green about it.
Along these lines some of the more difficult items to dispose of can be home electronics, computers and related equipment including monitors and printers. I feel like printers deserve special recognition because if your experience has been anything like mine printers just don’t seem to last. Or you may get a new printer or computer and just hold on to your old one until you can determine what to do with it.
If you do have a television or printer that still works, you might consider selling it depending on how outdated the technology is. Old computers are different for two reasons. First, technology advances so quickly that old computers become outdated quickly. Second, selling a computer requires complete erasure of hard drive contents to protect the security of your old data and personal information. You’ll need to be somewhat technically savvy to be able to do this properly or you’ll have to pay someone to do it. Note that deleting files does NOT erase your data and old data can be recovered fairly easily from someone with the right skills. Donating computers to a school or other program is a another worthy consideration but also necessitates proper deletion of hard drive data.
My recommendation for the simplest solution to dispose of computers and other electronics is using an electronic recycling business for all of your old electronics. Due to the sheer quantity and rapid growth of electronic goods requiring disposal this industry is booming and the number of electronic recyclers is growing. Although there is no single electronic recycler that I’m aware of that operates across the US, I have outlined below several electronic recycling businesses or websites where you can search for the nearest e-recycler.
- Earth911.com: www.Earth911.com – Probably one of the easiest to use and one of the most comprehensive of all recycling center search sites. Just type in what you’re looking to recycle and where and you get a list of centers and businesses near you.
- myGreenElectronics: www.mygreenelectronics.org – Another very simple and fairly comprehensive search site.
- E-cycling Central: www.ecyclingcentral.com – A state by state clickable map brought to you by the Telecommunications Industry Association is easy to use but relatively limited in number of e-cycling locations.
- ASL Recycling: www.aslrecycling.com – They work with moving companies and other businesses throughout California and organizations and coordinate e-cycling programs and events and do all of the recycling in house utilizing green and efficient methods.
- Best Buy: www.bestbuy.com – Although the scope of what they collect is somewhat limited and they require you remove your computer’s hard drive before donating, they do have many locations across the US and will give you a $10 gift card for donating. Best Buy recycling program information
- Staples: www.staples.com – Although they have many locations, TV’s are not accepted and a $10 fee applies to all computers and related equipment. Staples recycling program information
Categories: Moving Tips & Resources
Tagged: green moving, Home Organizing, Moving Tips
The housing bust, mortgage crisis and financial meltdown have affected everyone. In this newstimes.com article about the International Association of Movers Conference in Florida moving companies discuss their battle through the slow times yet are optimistic about the future. The big stat that’s is the 30% decline in year-over-year decline in non-corporate relocation. That’s a pretty big hit. Their are few positive signs beginning to appear for the housing market and a turn around would greatly improve their outlook even further.
What this means for individuals and families moving is that not only is there a greater likelihood that movers will be available on your preferred moving dates and you may also have an advantage to negotiate bigger discounts or included services.
Categories: In the News
Tagged: Moving Statistics, news
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, the more you know as a consumer the more you can protect yourself from having a tragic move or getting scammed by a moving company. If you’re in a rush and don’t think you have the time to review all of our previously written advice about how to help choose your moving company take a look at these great moving tips written by Rachelle Chong of the PUC and published at Asian Weekly.
Most of these tips we’ve included in past blog articles but it’s good to see our recommendations reinforced by someone in the industry. She also adds one crucial step that we might not have mentioned before about visiting the moving companies place of business which will help protect against fly by night operations and allows you to get a feel for the type of company you’ll be working with. And there are a few essential reminders that are worth repeating like not accepting over the phone estimates and making sure you get a “not to exceed” price.
For more helpful information on how to find quality movers in your area open an account at onesimplemove.com.
Categories: Consumer Protection · Hiring a Moving Company
Tagged: Consumer Protection, How to Hire a Mover
Recently I was trying to get rid of an old vacuum and I wasn’t sure what to do with it. In the green spirit of reuse and recycle I just couldn’t get myself to put it in the trash (which may even be illegal). The vacuum cleaner was aging and although the motor still worked it needed a new filter, brush and belt. The price of the parts was about what the vacuum cost when it was new so it made more sense to get a new one. This led to my consideration of the options regarding how to get ride of a vacuum, working or not and which methods of disposal work best for certain situations. So whether your moving, or just getting rid of old items, consider the options below to determine what’s best for you.
1. Sell it. If your vacuum works and is still new enough and in good enough shape then selling it using online or print classifieds makes the most sense. If it’s old or if it needs a little repair this may still be an option but it might be better to try and find a vacuum sale and repair shop that is interested.
2. Donate it. This is probably the best option if the vacuum still works but really isn’t worth the trouble to sell it and if you just don’t need the extra money. Remember there is usually a tax benefit for donated items (check tax code for details).
3. Leave it curbside. This should only be tried in urban areas if the vacuum works and with a sign indicating that it’s free and does indeed work. This is usually most effective on the weekend. A note here that this may be seriously frowned upon and possibly against city code in certain areas but I know that it’s done frequently in our community and it benefits both the disposer and the receiver. Another note, please remove the item and find another way to dispose of it if it’s not picked up by someone within a couple of days, otherwise it will be sure to agitate neighbors and make the neighborhood look trashy.
4. Give it to a vacuum repair and sale shop. This is what we decided to do and it made the most sense. That way they could decide if it was worth it for them to repair and resell or to use to dismantle and use for parts.
5. Recycle it. In many areas your vacuum is recyclable by your local recycle center. If you don’t know the name or location of your local recycle center, call or visit the website of your waste removal service to find their information. In some cases the recycle center can provide free pickup of your vacuum and many other recyclable items and appliances. If not a drop may be required but this is still fairly easy to do and much better for the environment than simply throwing your vacuum in the garbage or dropping it at your local dump or transfer station.
6. Trash it. Truly a last resort. Besides the fact that a vacuum in a dump just doesn’t seem right, it might not even be allowed in certain areas.
Categories: Moving Tips & Resources
Tagged: green moving, Home Organizing, Moving Tips
We’ve written before about how trying to cut costs on moving by hiring the cheapest moving company can turn out to be a bad idea and unfortunately it’s happened again. In this article from KTVK Channel 3 News posted on azfamily.com we here about a bad move in Arizona where a Phoenix / Mesa area family thought they were getting the most for their money but ended up getting even less than they bargained for.
It’s disheartening but it seems to be even more true now than ever during these tight economic times that poor quality, low balling movers can succeed in drumming up business while leaving families with even more to worry about. Just another reminder that although it may seem like a good idea to bargain shop when looking for a moving company you may get what you pay for. So do your research, search the web for reviews, check the BBB and ask for references. Or just go to onesimplemove.com where we’ve done the work for you and you can find some of the best movers in your area.
Categories: Consumer Protection · Hiring a Moving Company · In the News · Rogue Movers / Moving Scams
Tagged: Consumer Protection, How to Hire a Mover, Moving Scams
You’ve probably heard that hiring a moving broker is not a good idea and can lead to very rough if not tragic move. As we’ve written about before in our article about avoiding moving brokers we recommend that you do not use moving brokers. It’s not just us, you can also read this article by the Washington Post and this article on White Fence. Or just Google “moving broker” and see the wonderful list of articles that appears.
The real question is how can you tell a moving broker from a moving company. Unfortunately it’s not that easy but I do have a couple of things that can help you if you’re looking online at websites and trying to find out if the company is just a broker.
1. Does the company appear faceless? In other words, are there any pictures of employees, the office, their trucks or anything else that “personalizes” the company? And I don’t mean stock photos of moving trucks or employees. Seeing real pictures makes it very likely it is not a broker.
2. Is the company an agent of a major van line? If you see any signs on the site that the company is an agent of United, Atlas, Allied, National, Global, Mayflower, North American, Paul Arpin, Bekins, Stevens, Joyce or any of the other major lines that I happen to be leaving out here it’s likely that it is not just a broker.
3. Does the company provide you with a history of the business? For example: when it was founded, if it’s a family business, how it started etc. If there’s any type of history provided it’s most likely not a broker.
4. Do they have a physical address listed on their website? This is not a for sure but most moving companies will list a physical address and most brokers will not.
Determining whether the company is a broker or not by reviewing the website is not an exact science but by looking at these elements you can usually get a good idea. And in most cases you can determine if it definitely is a moving company.
One last thing to remember is that many moving will still have to broker some moves but it does not mean that they are strictly brokers. They still have trucks, workers and moving experience with their own moving company and have more knowledge about the industry than a simple broker will. And if a moving company has to broker your move they are still a better bet than a broker but the ideal situation is using a company that will perform the entire move by themselves, with their workers and their trucks.
Categories: Consumer Protection · Hiring a Moving Company · In the News · Rogue Movers / Moving Scams
Tagged: Consumer Protection, How to Hire a Mover, Moving Scams
Kim Komando – America’s Digital Goddess – recently gave us a thumbs up!
Check us out on her website:
Categories: In the News
Tagged: news
A big concern to everyone when hiring a moving company is “What happens if the movers break something or lose it all together?” and the answer is that it depends. It depends on what state you’re in or if it’s an interstate move and whether you decide to pay for extra insurance or not. This may seem complicated but it is actually fairly straightforward.
For all interstate moves the movers are required to provide you with what is called “Released Value Protection” at no extra cost to you. This is very minimal coverage and the moving company is only liable for $.60 per pound for every item. So for example if they break a 25 pound TV they pay you $15. Not very reassuring but it’s free and it’s better than nothing, but just barely.
For intrastate moves it varies state to state with many states also offering some sort of minimal protection similar to the $.60 per pound coverage offered for interstate moves. If the moving company has not said anything about this coverage you should definitely inquire about it and review the contract closely. It should mention this minimal coverage somewhere in the contract. Again, not that this coverage offers a tremendous amount of protection but gives the movers some incentive not to thrash your stuff.
In many cases the moving company will offer you additional insurance for additional cost. They usually want to offer this because they can make a little extra money on it even though the insurance may be provided by a third party insurance company. The amount you’ll pay for this will depend on a deductible amount (typically either $0, $250 or $500) and the total value assigned to your belongings. It can cost a few hundred extra bucks for this coverage but does provide you with some assurance. With this insurance coverage the mover must either: repair the item; replace with a similar item or make a cash settlement for the cost of the repair or the current market replacement value of the item.
One more thing to consider is that if you pack your own boxes, it may be more difficult to make a claim against the moving company for any breakage that occurs in those boxes, regardless of how well you feel you packed them. In fact many movers will flat out say, we will not cover any boxes you packed. Some, however, will say if the outside of the box is damaged they’ll cover it, if the box is still in tact, they won’t.
Even though you’d like to think that your belongings are safe, accidents do happen and it’s good to know what happens when they do. This is just one more reason to pick a moving company with a big name, they have more incentive to be careful with your belongings because they want to keep their name clean. If you picked your moving company blindly and because they were the cheapest they just might not care as much.
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Written by the One Simple Move Team
Categories: Consumer Protection · Hiring a Moving Company · Moving Tips & Resources
Tagged: Consumer Protection, How to Hire a Mover, Moving Tips
Remember, you have rights!
Unfortunately, only ethical movers follow the rules and allow you your rights. There are many, many good movers out there. Most movers are good people and want to help. They do not need laws to enforce ethical business practices. The only effective way to avoid trouble with your move is to detect a criminal mover before they are allowed to touch your items.
What to do and who to call
Check up on a mover’s license:
http://www.safersys.org/
You can type in the company name or the license # and find out if they have a valid license and if they have insurance coverage:
Dept. of Transportation Hot Line:
(888) 368-7238
Call this number to file a complaint with Department of Transportation. The DOT needs to know about the unethical practices of movers.
Watch Dog Committee for Moving Companies:
(202) 366-4553
This is part of the Division of Office of Enforcement & Compliance under the Federal Motor Carrier & Safety Administration. These folks have the authority to do something about it.
Division of Office of Enforcement & Compliance:
FMSA
400 7th St. S.W.
Washington, DC 20590
Ph: 202 366-4553
Fax: 202 366-3462
Special thanks to Jay Clithero of Sterling Van Lines for all the helpful information on scam and rogue movers.
Happy and safe moving this summer!
Sterling Van Lines, Inc. is a Los Angeles-based moving and storage company specializing in small moves. With over 50 years of combined moving experience, over 10,000 moves, and a reputation for quality in our industry, our goal is to customize our services to the needs of each customer — whether you’re moving your home or office, or just a few pieces, we’ll make your move worry free! Visit us at
www.sterlingvanlines.com
Categories: Consumer Protection · Rogue Movers / Moving Scams
Tagged: Consumer Protection, Moving Scams
