Simple Moving Labor

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

  I used the ProMovers on the loading end and the helpers on the unloading end. This was a cross-country move, and the cities were very different. The ProMovers on the Houston (loading) end were awesome. Efficient. Knowledgeable. Strong. Hard working. Good at packing the truck. Great team work. I was highly impressed. The Helpers on the Baltimore (unloading) end, however, were lackluster by comparison. They got the job done and nothing was damaged, which I really appreciate. But, they were kind of lazy. They were almost 2 hrs late and didn't seem at all bothered by their tardiness. Not once did they even get into the truck. My mom moved all of the boxes and furniture to the end of the truck while I directed apt operations. The Helpers avoided all of large furniture until the very end, going out of their way to take all of the small boxes first. I hired them because I needed help with the big stuff, not the small stuff. They got everything done and within the two hr time window, but really, it could've been done in an hr if they were more efficient. I would use SML again, but would consider doing the ProMovers on both ends because the Helpers seem like luck of the draw. .

Service cost: $617

We hired SML to load our heavy items because im a disabled vet and am unable to carry anything.
1) my contract said pro movers with tools. What I got, per a supervisor on the phone when my wife called to complain, was two laborers with no tools.
2) they had to borrow my neighbor's tools because one guy left them at a previous job and they had no moving straps so they used my motorcycle tow straps and kept them so I had to buy more to get my bikes to GA!!
3) they didn't know how to move large items that I clearly spelled out on the sheet..my wife had to direct them on how to get the fridge and stove up the stairs..amoung other things!!
4) they improperly loaded truck and told us we should of had blankets, bubble wrap and tow straps. I was told the PRO MOVERS would have e erything. Items shifted and new my grill was destroyed my entertainment center was gouged and ruined and my son's dressers was scratched up because of the items THEY placed on top of them. And they threw my wheelchair on top of my flat screen.tv!! And then SML wanted multiple pics which is not possible because our stuff is in storage but we had pics of the damage but that wasn't good enough.
3) it took them 8 hrs to improperly load this ONE truck because they kept standing around asking my wife for instructions on what to do next and how to load the truck!!
4)I spent $1000 on two horrible (but polite) movers and all SML refunded me was $100!!

Service cost: $1000

I am a cheep [EDIT] and therefore I wa planning to do much of this move myself.  But I need a couple of guys to help with the big items.  I hired 2 helpers for 2 hours on each end so I'd have a team there to move most of the heavy stuff.  Retired father, wife and I would bring in boxes and smaller pieces and fill the gaps.  So the only real issue was that only one of my team got there on time.  A little early actually.  I had him sit and wait hoping the second would arrive soon and they could start together.  Unfortunately no one appeared and I had to start the loading.  We managed pretty well for the first hour and a half with one helper and our rag-tag crew.  Then the second helper called and was lost and stranded at a random bus stop.  I sent my wife to pick him up.  In the mean time a third un-ordered helper arrived.  This was a very nice gesture but I have no idea it was happening.  So I had him wait on the curb while I spend 20 minutes in the phone with customer service.  This was the most frustrating part of my experience.  I am still paying while I have only one helper working and I am sitting on the phone not working either.  I negotiated keeping the original helper for an additional 2 hours to work with the second helper for his 2 hours one he arrived and sent the third helper home without using him at all.  I paid for 1 additional hour of help which seemed far enough to me.  The rest of the load when well nenough and everyone worked hard.  The unload was a breeze.  The 2 helpers were there early together and we got the whole thing done in just under 2 hours.  Out of the truck well packed into a storage unit and the truck readied for drop off.  If the front end had been like with back end this would have been a great move.  As is it went pretty well and I got a little extra needed exercise.

Service cost: $544

We ordered a truck with a lift gate because we had expensive & heavy furniture. The night before the move we received a call & were told that the loaders preferred a truck with a ramp. Our move was from state to state & we left our state after the truck was loaded to get a head start since it was a 9 hour drive to the next state. During our drive we received a call from the driver saying that he would arrive in the morning of the next day, but we were told he would arrive the following day. We called the office & told someone what was happening & the person said they would call us back, but they never did. The driver called us to tell us that he was not allowed to drive until the morning. If the driver had not called us, we would not have known what was happening. On the day the truck was scheduled to arrive, we were present at our storage unit, the moving help (who drove in from another state) were present on time, but the truck did not show as scheduled. We called the driver & he said that there had been a road accident & he was delayed 1 hour & 30 minutes. He was surprised that the company did not call to inform us. The customer service communication from the office is poor. The company needs to improve their communication service. .

Service cost: $4800

One laborer was half an hour late then quibbled about making up the time at the end. The other laborer showed-up pretty obviously hopped up on Meth, eyes dialated and overly excited. They did'nt listen to directions very well, mostly they just kinda did what they thought was expected. I wanted to supervise the actual placement within the truck because I knew space would be tight. They both thought they knew the best way to pack a truck; one guy was putting heavy boxes on top of fragile boxes and the other guy was trying to put a delicate, top-heavy antique bench on it's side without tying it down then rectifying it's prcariousness by wedging fragile items underneath it's legs. I spent more time undoing and repacking their "loading" than they actually worked. They spent an inordinate amount of time BSing with eachother as well. Terrible! I would have been much better off on my own.

Service cost: $275

Steve and Omar were great!  Unfortunately, we were paying for four movers and felt like we really only received three.  The fourth guy was not very capable.  And repeatedly let everyone know.  He pulled our furniture around in the truck and scuffed corners and bent metal balancing pieces underneath.  More than one piece was dropped in the driveway damaging yet more corners.  Overall, I was grateful for the help with the very heavy items but feel like for the price I was charged should have been provided with four capable movers.  Not sure if I would use this service again or not.

Service cost: $853

This company claims to have "Pro Movers". They have nothing of the sort, most of our items were damaged from abusive handling, the unloaders were not pros at all, just unemployed ex over the road drivers.
 
They threw our boxes around that were clearly marked as fragile, they destroyed our irreplaceable tiffany lamps, scratched and marred our furniture by bumping into door jambs and walls, and trying to force things in through smaller doorways.
 
They scratched our wood floors to the point that they have to be refinished and the only response from SML "from our investigation we are not responsible for the damages". 
 
They are crooked and irresponsible and totally inexperienced as well. 
Run like hell away from these clowns!!

Service cost: $1000

WHAT A NIGHTMARE!!They called 3 times while we were picking up the Penske truck trying to bully us into 3 workers instead of 2. One of the 2 Pro movers arrived with alcohol on his breathe! He kept going out behind the house & smoking crack. Turned out he wasn't a "pro" he had never worked for them before & they didn't have his SSI #. Yes we were charged for "pro" service! He took our Blu Ray player. They pulled the wires out of our 50 " Sony TV.. Not repairable! Oak furniture gouged & scratched. Antique ( well rapped ) lamps broken. The company keeps charging Moore money on our debit card 2 weeks after the move!! DO NOT HIRE THIS COMPANY!! Penske shame on you for recommending this business !! Sorry in Tucson.

Service cost: $1000

SML is the way to move!  We received several reminder calls to secure the date and time for our packers to arrive.  The team leader called ahead to be sure we were home.  Two young men arrived on time and ready to load.  Items were secured appropriately and we were consulted any time there was an item which needed special attention - a grandfather clock!  All items arrived to our Texas home, intact without scratches or chips.  Thank you SML!  We will definitely refer this company to our family and friends!

Service cost: $799

The Pro Movers didn't fill the truck to capacity and we didn't receive one complete room of furniture - had to get a storage unit and another moving company to complete their work.  The Pro Movers weren't local people which we were not aware of and if did - would have canceled SML and got local people to do the job.  These Pro Movers were more interested in loading boxes versus the furniture which we needed more and kept informing them to get it on the truck.  After this experience we will not recommend SML to anyone.

Service cost: $300

Hired two pro movers for the minimum three hours to pack the truck,  I drove the truck myself. Pleasant, friendly guys arrived well within the estimated time window. On the plus side, they worked hard on a hot day for the full three hours + one hour more - actually a little MORE than an additional hour, but they didn't charge me for the overrun. With the voucher credit, the price was pretty reasonable. We found some minor damage to an item or two at the other end, but nothing outrageous. Work did seem to slow down a bit during the latter stages, but it WAS a hot day and they'd been at it for 3+ hours, so I couldn't be too upset. I had to finish packing the truck myself, but that wasn't really their fault, as I had some final pieces to pick up at another garage. All in all, a satisfactory, if not mind-blowingly stellar, experience.

Service cost: $350

Hired the helpers for the minimum two hours to unpack the truck. The guys arrived at the start of the estimated time window. They were pleasant and friendly and worked at a good speed. The unloading took a fraction of the time expected. SML contacted me to verify the time and date a few days before the move and then contacted me the day of the move to ensure that their team were on site and everything was going well. They took the care on moving in the fragile and larger items. One of the larger cabinets received a minor scratch, but other than that, everything was perfect. I could not have asked for a better crew to help unload. I would use SML again.

Service cost: $241

I sort of found SML by accident, but what a great accident it was.  At both ends of the move their folks showed up on time in my opinion.  At the GA end they analogized for being late when they arrived 10 minutes past the 1 PM start, but explained that their instructions were a bit off.  I said no problem, I sort of allowed for 1pm +/- 15 minutes or so.  At the VA end they were 45 minutes early but said they got there early because they were not sure how long it would take them.  They also said if we were not ready they would be glad to come back closer to the 9 am start time.  I said no, if they were  ready we were ready, besides if we start now, we can beat some of the heat.  So we did.  In both cases they were pleasant, professional and carrying.  They treated our things as if they were theirs.  They completed the loading and unloading in just a little over an hour on each end.
I would highly recommend SML to any one that needs what they provide.

Service cost: $500

There was only one broken item, the glass on a a large picture, and it is easily repairable. However, The helpers filled in the work form for an additional 4 hours that they did not work and told my son to sign it while I was dropping my husband at work. Specifically, they told him they had to drive to our house to unload the truck and they always get 4 hours pay for driving.  They worked exactly 2 hours, 9 minutes, not 6 hours! The company was only willing to credit me 1 hour at $72.00 and as such I had an additional 3 hours at $72.00 per hour (total of $216.00) stolen from me. I suggest hiring professionals after you personally check their references. Oh, and do not give out your credit/debit/checking information in advance. This is how they take advantage of you.

Service cost: $216

The California crew did a good job of packing with two exceptions -- didn't use the wrap I got them to wrap the furniture or seat cushions (I should have insisted rather than just point out it was available); seat cushions were dirty at the end of the moved; placement of a lampshade and dining room chair (next to outdoor furniture) damaged the lampshade and scratched a chair.  Neither item is a big deal.
The Ohio crew showed up 1/2 hour early and did a stellar unload and delivery job.
No one is perfect; I would use SML again if/when the need arises.

Service cost: $900

These guys are crooks. They damaged some of my furniture so badly that it is no longer usable. They use the apparent "industry standard" policy of only awarding damages at .60 per pound. I received $269.40 for $2000 worth of damage. Additionally, their "helpers" are not insured, nor does the company cover anything in transit. Apparently, today's moving companies can treat your stuff any way they want with no accountability, and at outrageous prices.

Service cost: $700

We were going to use Simple Movers, as suggested by Penske. We paid our deposit as requested, but ended up not needing them. We booked this on a Thursday for assistance on Friday, but no one was available to assist until Saturday -- only 36 hours in advance. We packed all of our own belongings on Friday so we notified them via a phone call and again by an email that we would not need them. Apparently their website ad is a hoax as it states:

"What if I have to cancel or postpone my move? If you need to cancel your move, we need at least 72 hours notice in order to be able to fully refund your deposit. If you need to postpone or change the date or time of your move, we ask that you let us know as soon as possible - at a minimum three (3) hours before your move is set to begin, and we'll work hard to accommodate any changes free of charge."

They charged us the entire fee, the deposit plus the labor of the movers who were never there -- over $500 and we never used a single service from them. Their answer is that we did not supply them with a 72-hour notice and can't seem to figure out that when a booking is only 36 hours prior to the move, it is impossible to give a 72-hour cancellation notice.

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY!! You will most likely be disappointed.

Service cost: $653

Unpacking at destination was done in an efficient and professional manner; thus was completely satisfied with the unloading.
The loading was a completely different experience. Had contracted to have loading work done by experienced, professional movers. Clearly only laborers with limited moving experience were provided instead. They were very reluctant to use moving blankets to wrap and pad items, although a large number were supplied and they were specifically asked to do so on several occasions. (In fact they used less than 1/2 of blankets provided.) The result was during transit some of the items rubbed, thus damaging some of the finishes. As they completed the loading they stacked a number of un-wrapped items on top of the load and did not secure same. The result was that I had to spend about an hour wrapping and securing them. Unfortunately, I was unable to get to the furniture items (loaded first) to add additional blankets.
I used this same service 5 years ago and the loaders--who were clearly experienced professionals--were excellent. Based upon that prior experience I expected the same quality this time; thus, was clearly disappointed in the recent service.

Service cost: $698