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August 24, 2009

Closing Bell: Woman Vs. Truck

We were walking around the streets of Williamsburg last Thursday evening, admiring the typical Brooklyn scenery: the sunset over Manhattan, cafes spilling over into the streets, couples walking their dogs, and a woman facing off with a truck. Just a typical day in Williamsburg, right? It was the corner of Driggs and South Third, where the woman pictured above was facing off with a moving truck. She was yelling at the driver in Spanish, but neighbors who had crowded around the scene explained that she had hired the movers, but they asked for an extra fee for moving her belongings. It was unclear whether the movers were asking a fee to move her belongings out of her apartment or into it. If the latter, that means her stuff was still in the truck, and we can see why she was upset. GMAP

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Comments

:-/

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at August 24, 2009 4:10 PM

Same thing happened to my friend - she got a verbal 'estimate' from some movers which were basically just guys with a van. They moved her and when it came time to unload and settle up, they wanted 2x as much. they held her stuff hostage and threatened to drive off with it.

Posted by: dirty_hipster at August 24, 2009 4:12 PM

but i forgot ... this is in williasmburg so she is a self entitled hipster who's parents are paying for the movers anyway - so she should just shut up and pay the man trying to rip her off and steal her shit.

Posted by: dirty_hipster at August 24, 2009 4:14 PM

Hmmmmm......she doesn't look like a "hipster."

Posted by: East New York at August 24, 2009 4:22 PM

no, but those are def. child birfing hips

okay, im being mean today sorry

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at August 24, 2009 4:23 PM

This is why you don't "contract" with some sleazy no name operators for $700 when you can get real professionals like Allied van Lines to do it for a real "contract" of $1,200.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at August 24, 2009 4:29 PM

i got shafted using movers i found on craigslist a few years ago. all my stuff was in the LOBBY and the guy kept saying he would be late because of a family thingie. well hours and many calls go by, my stuff in the lobby, the super pissed at me, the guy stopped picking up his phone. i had to find someone to go find somne other random person on craigslist with a van last minute. oh yeah, and the van reeked like the scooby doo van if you know what i mean hahah

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at August 24, 2009 4:33 PM

DIBS, surprised you didn't use chinese movers. not only are they inexpensive but when you see any eye candy, you can make a move on him

Posted by: more4less at August 24, 2009 4:38 PM

where's gemini for this thread!?

Posted by: bodhi_brooklyn at August 24, 2009 4:44 PM

Oh Well!
If you choose to hire someone that is cheap cheap cheap -than buyer beware!
movers can do almost anything, and only reputable ones will try to keep within 10% of what they verbally estimated to you. Movers will hold your stuff hostage especially if they gave you an estimate over the phone. Do you know how many times movers have to deal with the person moving calling up claiming they just have a couch, a bed and some boxes - then the movers show up to your roach infested apartment where it's packed to the rafters with your crap -you bet they will charge you double!
Dibs is correct above!

Posted by: gemini10 at August 24, 2009 4:46 PM

Bodhi!!!
here I am!
sorry - I don't feel sorry for this lady at all!

Posted by: gemini10 at August 24, 2009 5:01 PM

Flat Rate is pretty good. Not cheap, but they get the job done quickly with no surprise rate changes at the end.

Posted by: DitmasSnark at August 24, 2009 5:04 PM

I used Man with a Van last time I moved. They were a little late, scuffed my cinder-block sleeper sofa a bit carrying it up to my fourth-floor walkup, but otherwise they were pros. Cost me $360.

Posted by: infinitejester at August 24, 2009 5:11 PM

"sorry - I don't feel sorry for this lady at all!"

Seriously Gem? I typically use the reputable movers as well, but they are expensive!! Each time I have moved my plethora of ikea furniture it ran at least $600 bucks. Some people don't have the means to hire these reputable guys.

Posted by: dirty_hipster at August 24, 2009 5:14 PM

I should add I moved form a block away and on my off days took a lot of stuff over myself.

Posted by: infinitejester at August 24, 2009 5:16 PM

There should be a Brownstoner Seal of Approval, like an approved list of companies and realtors who have passed our "rigorous" tests.

By that I mean, bought us all tasty shots at some get-together.

Posted by: infinitejester at August 24, 2009 5:17 PM

also ALWAYS wrap your stuff in plastic (boxes too) before using moving vans. some people get bedbugs from moving vans, especially if someone just moved who had a bedbug infestation and had their stuff moved in that van prior.

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at August 24, 2009 5:22 PM

DH:
yes! we have a saying - you pay peanuts, you get monkees.

yes I understand people don't have a lot of money to move and am hoping there are some new companies out there who are reputable that are inexpensive, but sometimes you take the risk with these fly by night moving companies.

Posted by: gemini10 at August 24, 2009 5:25 PM

Rob has a good point
ALWAYS wrap your mattresses up in the plastic mattress covers! - so worth the $5!!!!

Posted by: gemini10 at August 24, 2009 5:27 PM

rob, you nomad! always movin' on. Ain't no one can own rob, we all just take care of him for a little while before he gets itchy feet again.

Posted by: infinitejester at August 24, 2009 5:30 PM

How nice that some of us can afford to hire a first rate mover and others of us have to use who we can afford. Doesn't mean we should be getting ripped off and there happen to be quite a few small moving companies that are honest and above board. I don't get this attitude toward the poor woman getting ripped off. That's like saying your hard earned money isn't worth being honest for.

Posted by: bxgrl at August 24, 2009 6:23 PM

Exactly, bxgrl. These comments are just obnoxious. Do they know this woman, do they know what she paid? I know somebody this happened to and it wasn't because she hired somebody cheap it's because she unknowingly hired criminals. Big diff. They also never try it with men. Just women. Charming huh? If this ever happens tell the movers you're calling the police. It's extortion.

Posted by: traditionalmod at August 24, 2009 9:51 PM

I used chinese movers -- on time, 3 hours door to door for a 2 bedroom apartment. Fantastic. I tipped them 100% and still came out under $725.

The vitriol on this story is kinda backwards...from what I have heard FLATRATE is the real scam artist.

And one final point -- is there any article that the brownstoner regulars refrain from commenting???? I guess people like to hear themselves talk.

Posted by: davide5 at August 24, 2009 11:08 PM

I used chinese movers -- on time, 3 hours door to door for a 2 bedroom apartment. Fantastic. I tipped them 100% and still came out under $725.

The vitriol on this story is kinda backwards...from what I have heard FLATRATE is the real scam artist.

And one final point -- is there any article that the brownstoner regulars refrain from commenting???? I guess people like to hear themselves talk.

Posted by: davide5 at August 24, 2009 11:08 PM

same thing happened to someone moving in to the building next door to me. they demand a tip and hold your stuff hostage. Seems like its a common practice and part of the business for many moving people.

Posted by: 11211 at August 25, 2009 12:59 AM

While I don't know this woman or her exact story, I do know moving! I worked for a reputable company for 7 years and we based all of our business on repeat and referral based cutomers. There are some good companies out there who charge a lot less than the majors - but as a customer you DO have to do your own research and not just hire anybody willing to give you a cheap quote over the phone.
Sure there are scumbag movers who will do outlandish things and I feel for people who have been victimized by those types - but many many times I have heard the stories of the person refusing to pay the movers because the estimate has now gone up due to unforseen circumstances. You simply can't do that!

I wouldn't be surprised if this woman wwas refusing to pay them as the price whent up so the movers are holding her stuff on the truck until they get paid.

Posted by: gemini10 at August 25, 2009 8:33 AM

Has anyone ever used All American movers? How are they? Anyone have any moving companies that they do recommend?

I used Athletic Movers a couple of years ago and they were TERRIBLE. They showed up 3 hours late, were really rude, opened the bedroom door after I told them not to because my dog was in there, and they stacked all our boxes to the ceiling. Bleh.

Posted by: brooklynfamily at August 25, 2009 9:28 AM

Excellent resource for finding movers:

http://www.movingscam.com/

Posted by: zgori at August 25, 2009 9:54 AM

> from what I have heard FLATRATE is the real scam artist.

How is that? Because they tell you *exactly* upfront what the move is going to cost you? Shameful!

> I guess people like to hear themselves talk.

You broke my Ironymeter, thanks.

Posted by: DitmasSnark at August 25, 2009 10:05 AM

Ditmas:
I think sometimes getting a flatrate works well for the client, but mostly it always works better for the moving company. Here's why:

If someone called me up and said ok I have 2 couches, 20 boxes and 3 tables moving from 3rd WU to an elevator Bldg in Park Slope - I might just say ok $800 flat. But really if I charged you 2 men with a van for for a 4 hour move at $75 an hour that really would have cost the client $300 plus maybe a bit more for travel time etc -so say $400. The company now has pockted an extra $400 on your dime. Yes, you got piece of mind, but for some moves it's not worth it

Posted by: gemini10 at August 25, 2009 10:58 AM

DS-

As gemini10 points out, Flatrate does come through at the quoted price, but they seem to have a way of stacking up the costs.

As to your obvious irony point, I post on this site approx once a month when something really moves me...I just find the 9-5 posting by the same posters a bit crazy.

And as for Alanis Morrisette type irony, one could only expect snarky comments from the Ditmasnark...

Posted by: davide5 at August 25, 2009 11:06 AM

I used these guys when I ditched Brooklyn for the second time in my life.

http://www.rabbitmovers.com/

Not too cheap, but they were fast and did the work as agreed. Cool kids too.

Posted by: Polemicist at August 25, 2009 3:26 PM

I'd pay a big premium to hire a moving company called Hot Chicks Movers. . . the Hooters of Movers . . . hmmmmmm. . . a business plan in the works?

Posted by: IronBalls at August 25, 2009 9:04 PM