Benny's Moving & Storage

Benny's Moving destroyed our $900 TV, and offered $30 for it, even though our contract entitled us to $1.25 per pound of the entire shipment (easily covering this amount). They raised their offer to $300 only after legal threats. The long version: We asked the movers to be careful with our TV, since it was the most fragile and expensive item that they were moving. When they were done, noticed that the TV had been left behind several boxes and was the only item still wrapped in their moving blankets when they left. This didn't seem suspicious at first, but in retrospect should have been a red flag.After several days of unpacking, we finally got to the TV, to discover that the screen was smashed, and the corner dented in. It seems extremely unlikely that the movers didn't notice the fall or hit that would have caused this much damage, yet they didn't say anything, and still happily accepted our cold drinks all day, as well as my tip at the end of the day. I looked over the contract, and noticed that, due to their negligence, the contract was filled out in such a way to make them liable for $1.25 per pound of the entire shipment, rather than the $0.60 per pound of the item that they'd later claim. They also never had us sign the section acknowledging that the job had been completed. I contacted them on Friday, and was asked to contact their person in charge of claims, with pictures, and that she'd be contacting me the next morning. This email address continuously bounced, and I wasn't contacted. When I called them the following afternoon, I was asked to fill out a claim form, and told that they pay $0.60 per pound of the broken item. I quickly filled out the form and then emailed and faxed it to the number supplied, along with pictures and links to the TV and its current price. They claimed several times not to have received the fax, so I kept sending it. They said that they had gotten it, and would contact me on Monday.On Monday, I was unable to reach anyone willing to talk to me after repeated calls. On Tuesday, I reached an employee who was willing to talk. At first, he offered me $0.60 cents per pound of the item (about $30) and we went over the signed contract. He agreed that:1. I had not filled out the section selecting a liability coverage, and was thus entitled to $1.25 per pound.2. This applied to the weight of the entire shipment, not to the individual item.I pointed out that, assuming that the contents of my entire apartment exceeded  720lbs (they do), they were liable for at least $900. He spoke to someone while I waited, and came back, offering $120. It took a week and legal threats to get them to raise the offer to $450.Don't use this company.

Service cost: $600

Benny's was wonderful:  easy to book and pay online.  Called to let me know on the day to say they were on the way.  Attitude was:  "There are no problems".  Movers were kind, efficient and helpful.   They had only a tiny elevator to use and I was on fourth floor; they also made a second pickup at a storage unit I held and though I had been worried about it, they knew all about it and it was easy. This was a long distance, NH to FL move, and they made sure everything was tagged and wrapped carefully. Felt very comfortable having them in my home.  They were unfazed by unusual items (giant rabbit cage, disassembled porch swing that was heavy and oddly shaped, books in bags).  Patient with my requests and had a POSITIVE ATTITUDE.  Made no assumptions; asked good questions and handled things carefully.  And FAST.  Definitely highly recommend to anyone!

Service cost: $2200

Every single minute of my experience with Benny's Moving and Storage was a NIGHTMARE. I moved from Boston to New York and literally watched the movers DROP my boxes onto the sidewalk and THROW them onto the truck. They clearly had no idea I was watching from my apartment window.

My items arrived a day later than they were promised. I had to sleep on a hardwood floor with a blanket and no pillow.

Upon arrival, many of my items were broken or scratched. My custom-made black dresser had several scratches, including one nearly 7" in length. And it was quite deep. In addition, a box was missing and was never found.

My 2 month old mattress looked as if it had been dragged by a rope from the back of the truck. Black, torn and disgusting. I threw it away and had to replace it.

I had taken out the extra insurance and when I asked how to file a claim, I was told by the owner, David Abotbool that I "had no claim" because "nothing was broken or missing" and that he "didn't believe me". He was smug and RUDE to me on the phone.

Mistakes happen. THings get lost. But the arrogance of the owner and the way I was treated is NOT OK.

When I filed a lawsuit with Small Claims Court in Watertown, the man who helped me at the court said, "That guy, David is here all the time. People sue him constantly."

A judge believed my story and my photos and awarded me my money paid for my missing and damaged items.

BOTTOM LINE: THIS UNREPUTABLE COMPANY IS TO BE AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS!

ZERO STARS.

Service cost: $2000

I've never used movers before for myself, though my entire family has when we moved houses. But finding that a U-Haul is impossible to get on the 31st of August, thanks to the massive amounts of college students like me, I had to hire a moving company to transfer my apartment in crappy-ass Cambridge to bonny Brookline. I hired Benny's Moving because their quote was the lowest (Gentle Giant, Precision, and most others were 1.5 times to twice as expensive.) I was worried that perhaps this would mean Benny's wasn't as good, or that they would send two six-year-olds to drag my 300-lb sleeper sofa down the stairs, but nevertheless, I'm cheap and Benny's was, too.My window time was 12 to 3 PM for the movers to arrive; they came at 11:35. They took exactly 30 minutes to load my furniture (not all of which is light, or easily maneuverable) into the truck. They wrapped my monster TV and glass furniture quickly, found parking in the middle of Central Square in less than a minute, and didn't break a single item. Not a one. Who are these people, magicians? I can't take a shower without breaking some piece of furniture .. how dare they move my entire apartment without smashing or otherwise maiming a single thing of mine?The movers looked young (high school age? Sorry, guys) and I was really nervous when they showed up. "Ah, [EDIT]. The sleeper sofa is going to stay." But they managed better than me and my father had upon moving in.

Service cost: $500