Simple Moving Labor

White upholstered dining room chairs were not shrink wrapped, and poorly loaded into the truck. A chaise was not shrinkwrapped and dented because of poor loading.
A black lacquer entertainment unit was damaged on 2 sides, as well as
a built in record player was not secured and damage occured.
Two side tables  not wrapped, and edges damaged.
Two bar stools not shrinkwrapped and upholstery dirtied.
Team for unloading on the other hand was very professional. Would give them
high marks.

Service cost: $900

I used Simple Moving Labor to load the Penske truck I rented. I was moving from Ohio to Georgia and I just needed help loading. I used the professional movers. The movers showed up about 30 minutes early and went right to work. I had to stop them and explain that the wood furniture pieces were expensive and that wrapping them was necessary, along with a leather Morris chair, couch and chair.  After that they pretty much wrapped all of the furniture (I provided the shrink wrap). I had the entire house packed up so they simply had to load the truck.  When I arrived in GA there was considerable shifiting of the contents but little damage/scratches.  Overall, a decent experience and I will probable use them again.

Service cost: $400

One Helper to assist loading household goods onto a Penske truck I rented for an interstate move. At the destination, 2 professional movers to assist in unloading the truck into an apartment.
 
The helper showed up on time, was very professional, and worked very hard. At the destination, the 2 professional movers showed up a bit early (which was OK) and did a very good job of unloading and taking the furniture and boxes into the apartment.  Our couch would not fit through the hallways, so they came up with an ingenious way to hoist the couch over the railing and into the apartment.  They worked very hard and were very professional. Would use SML again.

Service cost: $300

SML was a recommended partner by Penske when we rented our truck and the brief version of this story is that SML misrepresented themselves and the service they provide. We needed help packing a truck in Michigan and we were promised and paid for 2 PROFESSIONAL MOVERS and we got the service of 3/4 of ONE professional mover.  The two individuals who reported to work the morning we moved were polite and had strong backs but for one of them this was only the second truck he had ever loaded and the other was better / more experienced but still had a lot of trouble packing the truck to standards one would expect (tight and efficient).  By the middle of the time slot these packers were scheduled to work I was in the middle of the truck scrambling to help organize things and try salvage the situation.  I ended having to pay for an extra half hour just to get the heaviest things onto the truck--note I requested (demanded) a refund for that extra half hour and eventually SML refunded us for the extra time.  Later, my daughter and a small group of her friends showed up and we basically repacked the truck! In contrast to all this we hired Two Men and a Truck in St. Louis, MO for the unload and what a difference.  These individuals were PRO's and unpacked the truck and then effectively packed a huge storage room in less than half the time that they were scheduled. I only paid for the time they worked--what a difference. SML, never again. .

Service cost: $300

Our moving experience was an okay experience as I've had worse (movers never showed up) but still had some issues. The pluses- scheduling the movers was easy and they were available with less than a weeks notice. The movers actually showed up early that morning and of the two movers we booked one was very friendly and a hard worker. Which leads to the minuses- the other mover that showed up obviously had been out the night before or was coming down off something, he was useless and carried only light items. He had to take a break every 5 minutes and threw up a few times on the stairs we had to move up and down on. We called to complain while they were still here and they said they would send someone else in an hour but by that time we had already brought help with us and had finished everything before the time they were going to send someone else. They offered a 10% discount for the trouble but we basically did the move with one of the movers from SML and two people we knew to get the job done.

Service cost: $200

Movers arrived on time and ready to go!  26' Truck was packed tight floor to ceiling.   SML contacted us the week of move to confirm our appt, and also the day of to make sure our guys had arrived.   Truck was driven 2000 miles OH to AZ. No breakage of any furnishings packed by the movers. The unload crew was excellent, skillfully unloading most contents to a storage unit. The other items were placed on the ground until the truck was empty, and then they happily reloaded these items on the truck (which we took to our house).  Whole process was better than I expected.  I am sure glad I was not the one lifting all those heavy boxes my wife overstuffed, and pieces of furniture I wanted her to sell!! I don't plan to need these services any time soon but I would not hesitate to use SML again.  The whole process, packing supplies, truck rental, fuel, SML and other miscellaneous saved us 50% off the price of a moving co.

Service cost: $700

I was told the individuals would be "hired muscle". They weren't. They were unfit and overweight. They were unable to lift the furniture. They ended up heaving, shoving, sliding and dropping the 3 pieces of furniture I needed moved. Horrible scratches all over two of the pieces. I told them to load the dresser right side up. They ignored me and proceeded to load it in upside down. They were then unable to turn it over. After much heaving and shoving they finally got it turned over and let it crash down. At my destination my brother in law and nephew unloaded the furniture by lifting it off the truck and then carried it up two flights of stairs.

The guys then pressured me to give them a tip. I told them the booking office didn't say anything about tipping them (which it didn't). I would have tipped if they had done a decent job; but it was terrible. Finally the guy said, could I at least give them some money so they could get lunch. Against my better judgement I gave them some money. However I regret it.

Service cost: $225

Pickup in MI went fine. 2 nice fellows showed up close to starting time and did a excellent job loading my POD. Careful, no goofing off, friendly, professional.
Unload in Florida totally different. SML called and said guys were on the way at 8:10am and would call me for directions. DID NOT HAPPEN. When I called back I was told they should be there in 20-30 minutes. 3 hours later and at least 6 phone calls I was still being lied to and told they are on the way. Obviously, the excuse of my home was not on GPS was a BS story as I gave all the needed info to SML. We had multiple deliveries and tradesmen here all week that found our home, but NO, NOT SML. Poor excuse at best.
2 guys showed up at our main gate 3.5 hours later and tell us they were just call 30 minutes ago.
Very sad. All we got from SML was lies about the 'crew is on the way and will be there in 20-30minutes". FOR 3.5 hours!
SML in the end gave us a $70 discount to placate us for the huge mess they created. Nothing but lies and mis-direction.
I would rather they told me the truth, were above board with me, rather than screw me around for the whole morning.
I would recommend looking elsewhere.
I understand that moving labor the PODS people endorse are excellent as being rated by BBB and 1000's of happy customers.
Original quote of $275 for 2 men for 2 hours was discounted.
My wife and I, both Seniors, unloaded the POD ourselves to about 30% left for the SML guys to unload. LOOK ELSEWHERE!!

Service cost: $275

I hired SML for unloading labor in California. I hired two "Helpers" which were background checked, although not considered professional movers. My ONLY complaint was the cost with a 2-hour minimum. My loading-labor in Oregon was $100 and took nearly 2 hours. This team was very speedy and had the whole truck unloaded in under half an hour. I realize that unloading is quicker than loading, but was still a bit regretful to have to pay the full $236. One of the Helpers arrived early and went ahead and started unloading. They took direction well, were nice and worked fast/hard. I'd use SML again, but probably for the longer loading work due to cost. .

Service cost: $236

We hired the pro-movers in the Nashville area to move from one condo to another within the same building. They arrived on time, and we had no issues with them moving items. We only used them to move the furniture and heavier items. They had to move some very heavy items, and nothing was broken.  They were efficient with their time, and were very friendly. I would recommend and use them again. The one thing I did not like is that we were charged a $75 travel fee, and they did not actually use the truck..moved from one condo to another in the same building.

Service cost: $477

LOAD: The team was late; did not call ahead. Young men, appeared to have little or no "professional" moving experience.  Truck was poorly loaded, some damage to items during move because of this. UNLOAD: Completely unprofessional; younger of the two immediately (before unloading) began to hit me up for a $50 tip "to make sure everything goes OK". Later increased his pitch to $100.  Also said "don't tell my partner." Seriously damaged a piece of furniture while unloading.   Would never use this company again; both subcontractors were not worth the money.

Service cost: $650

We paid for two pro-movers to load our truck. Clearly one was experienced and the other was not.  One of the movers placed my portable BBQ unprotected on top of a patio chair seat cushion. What would that seat cushion looked like after 1,400 miles?  I had them re-pack, but should have been common sense.  Several furniture items were not wrapped correctly and were damaged. The leg of a dining room chair, night stand and dresser all have deep scratches and wood chipped away! Also a tear in our leather top coffee table!  These guys were not careful as they should have been. On the back-end with the helper movers who unloaded the truck. They came with NOTHING.  No gloves, no straps, nothing. Consequently, they worked way harder than they should have and took much longer carrying heavy items.  We recently had a dry delivered from Home Depot. The guys had the proper straps and harnesses. They easily maneuvered the dryer upstairs. where our help movers had to use all the brawn they could muster to push, heave, our washer upstairs.  Just not prepared. Again, taking more time and effort than they needed. Overall, we were not too pleased with the service we received for $700.

Service cost: $700

IN MY OPINION, The use of your helpers was a total disaster. You should not even use the word moving in the same context.  The two men that were dropped off at my door were found at the local mission or labor pool in my opinion and had never unloaded a moving truck before.  After I observed them for the first five minutes, (I am 67 and stronger than either one) I called SML and requested more experienced movers and did not want to use the two helpers sent.  I offered to pay whatever the cost might be.  But the truck had to be returned and you found me no one.  It got worse.  They could not move my two piece Armoire and I am waiting for the estimate from Furniture Repair, as I have pictures of the damage as does your on site supervisor.  They dropped my clothes washer and Sears Repaired for $143.00. A small lamp ($40.00) was found broken and seem hidden among the boxes.  I spoke with the supervisor several times and he took pictures of damage and said I would get an adjustment because the allotted time to unload should have been 3 hours.  It took these two 5 1/2 hours.  I color coded boxes red kitchen, blue bedroom, and plain for main room.  The boxes were just stacked.  I called the SML customer service line numerous times and got no help and it seems my notes have disappeared or lost. There was no adjustment. NO insurance and SML was of no help.  I have contacted Penske Truck Rental, since they have SML on their web site and I might be able to get some relief from Penske.  I have contacted My VISA Company and have protested any and all charges until I know my total damages.  I went to print out my contract from SML thinking the forms were safe and I was notified time had expired and I could not print anything.  Please forward copies of my contract, copies of my billing and copies of the forms I gave the onsite supervisor complaining of a horrible job performed by SML.   My contact information jahvoice9035@gmail.com   IN MY OPINION SML did not and does not inform the consumer but refers the customer to the fine print.  Horrible service, horrible attitude in my opinion.

Service cost: $415

SML provided an excellent working team to load my truck, and it took 2 men only 2 hours to load.  However, the team they provided to unload my truck into storage was a disaster.  Two young men, with no manual work experience, first day on the job, did not know what they were doing, my wife and I both 56 years old had to operate the dolly and move boxes because they mostly stood around, moving at the pace of snails.  I called SML and complained but they said "too bad" they are only helpers.  I released them at the 2 hour point and my wife and I worked another two hours unloading the truck because of incompetent help.  I requested a discount because of the poor service and haven't heard from them yet.  Also, these young men had NO TRAINING, and were only getting paid $8.50 and hour, while I paid SML $236.  I feel bad for these kids too.  SML should have matched them up with an experienced  worker.  Do not use this company - they are unethical.   Hire some young helpers from Church or families you know and pay them $25 an hour to work hard, not $8.50 so they can stand around and loaf.

Service cost: $472