Simple Moving Labor

SML provided a three-man crew for loading of my Penske Rental Truck in Pittsburgh. They showed up on time but with three children in tow because it was "National Take Your Kid to Work Day". Okay for some work situations, but not cool when the three kids are in my rental truck and sliding down the ramp! They were a distraction. But, who wants to offend the help when they are about to move YOUR furniture? Letting their kids be actually on the job site was NOT professional. So much for SML touting "professional" movers.
The team leader "Jason" took time to pack our furniture to the front of the truck, and it seemed like he did a good job at the time. However, upon arrival at our destination, we discovered that our furniture had shifted quite a bit, there was wood rubbing on wood, and one blanket chest had slid off of a table and was hanging precariously. Our furniture received a lot of dings, dents, and scrapes, so I have to get some stains to repair it. The unloading labor at my destination (a different company) remarked that the furniture was not properly packed on the truck. Again, SML claims to provide "professional" labor, but it doesn't seem quite so. The team leader Jason got upset and argumentative when I made comments on his review form about the children being present and about some minor dings to furniture. Is that professional? I give them only an average rating because even though they generally seemed to be careful with the furniture, the price was twice what I paid the labor at my destination.

Service cost: $499

SML is all lies: "You'll get two professional movers; they do this for a living." They claim "professional" often, but do not deliver. They are not a moving company. They find local movers, add a surcharge, and clearly do not vet their movers in any way. My movers arrived 2 hr 40 min late reeking of heavy liquor. By the time they got there I had done nearly all of the heavy lifting (47 of 56 boxes). I sent the drunks away after 30 minutes, but SML still charged me $240 (a $50 discount). Yet, SML continued to insist that I got "professional" movers. During my wait, SML told me four times that the movers were 20 minutes away. Then, after they finally arrived, the SML dispatcher challenged my frustration by saying that they had told me that the movers were held up on another job (untrue, they said no such thing; plus, they were held up drinking, not by another move). The SML folks in TX are awful liars. Do not believe their rehearsed claims. Shame on Penske for linking to these people on their truck rental website. Zero stars. Awful company.

Service cost: $240

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

Very disappointed with this company. I paid for professional movers and got idiots, but was in such a bind for movers that day I had to accept them. I had professional movers
set up for the day before but my closing date for the sale of my house was moved, so I went with this company. I had no choice I had to get my belongings out of my house. Two guys showed up to my house and looked at my furniture and started complaining right away. They just threw everything on top of everything since I paid for professionals I didn't think I had to babysit it was raining and didn't think I had to stand in the rain to watch everything but I see now I should have. I explained everything I had before I booked them. I have very expensive things my bedroom set costs 16,000.00 and I have a sleep number bed and expensive furniture from Lazyboy. When I arrived at my destination in another state and the movers there started unpacking, everything I had was damaged gauges of wood was missing from my bedroom set. My sleep number bed was ripped I had nowhere to sleep until I ordered another one and it took a week to come in. It was drizzling when they packed my truck I rented 50 clothes to cover my furniture they didn't want to use them they said it's harder to pick up the furniture with the clothes on it and I paid for 4 hrs. it took them 7hrs. every piece of furniture they moved they took a 20-minute break. I filed a claim with the company, there is a clause in the contract stating they are not responsible for things damaged in the transit. That's the way they get away with not paying for damages. I'm extremely angry over this and will be seeking an attorney. I just wanted people to know think twice before booking this company you may be sorry. Believe me, you can find better help than this.

From: very sorry for ever using this company!

Service cost: $780

We were referred by a friend who used this company a month ago and couldn't be more pleased. The guys that loaded us showed up at the end of the one hour window and started working right away, they seemed a little rushed and said they had another job after ours but they weren't careless and they finished in the 3 hr window the SML phone rep said they would. We didn't use SML for the unload but really wish we did. It was really harder than we thought and after the long drive we were really tired when we arrived. Thanks again.

Service cost: $285

This was the 1st time I have ever used any kind of moving service. My son had this service 2 years ago, when he moved from Ft. Lauderdale, FL. to Plano, Texas. He was very happy with how it went, and told me about it, so I thought I would give it a try. Very glad I did. They were prompt, polite and professional, and did it all in a reasonable amount of time. I also had another crew at the other end, to un-pack the truck, who did a great job as well. I would highly recommend this service to anyone.

Service cost: $625