Simple Moving Labor

We used both the packing service and the loading/unloading service for our recent move from Rhode Island to Virginia. 
First, the packing.  I was assured that the company was sending two "professional" packers to come pack my china, breakables, and artwork.  Of the two women who arrived, one clearly had experience, while the other (her sister) appeared to have no idea how to wrap/pack anything.  Regardless, I monitored them as they wrapped breakable items and placed them into boxes.  Everything looked like it was going fine.  They were incredibly slow however, and only did about half of what they should have been able to pack in 4 hours (probably because the experienced sister was coaching her inexperienced sister the whole time). 
The problem became clear that night when we went to move some of the boxes that they had packed.  Basic rule of packing breakables- when you shake a box, nothing should move.  The first box we moved rattled loudly, and we discovered that they had only half packed it.. leaving the top half empty!  No packing paper, nothing at all!  This then meant that I had to open EVERY SINGLE BOX that they had packed to check.  In many cases, I had to repack, or at least add sufficient packing paper/cushioning to ensure that my breakables wouldn't break.  In addition, despite my extensive selection of boxes, they chose to pack "extra large boxes", which were totally unsuitable for fine china and breakables, and they literally packed them too heavy for my husband and I to even move together. 
When I called SML to complain, despite initial apologies and sympathy, they told me that perhaps these women just had a different packing "style" than I do.  Um.. no, it's not a style issue, it's a basic rule for packing breakables.  When I explained that I had to spend 2 HOURS repacking the boxes, they told me that because I had repacked.. they wouldn't be liable for any damage that occured!!  I asked, "so you would prefer that I move these terribly packed boxes, wait for everything to break, and then file a claim?"  The manager said, "Yes."  SML only offered me 10% off (or about $50), despite the fact that I spent HOURS repacking the boxes.   What a huge waste and what terrible customer service.
The movers were okay on both ends.  Not super experienced, but did the job in a mostly reasonable amount of time.  At one point the Rhode Island movers told us that they had to leave midway through the job (??) to go to another job site, but a call to SML cleared that up and they stayed until they finished.  Not an amazing pack of our truck, but good enough. 
Overall, use them for moving labor if you're on a budget, but DO NOT LET SML PACKERS DO ANY PACKING FOR YOU. .

Service cost: $550

After much research and cost analysis, I determined that my budget would only allow for a DIY project, but I am not physically enabled to do such heavy weight jobs.  So, I rented a 16ft Penske truck from Home Depot and with Penske's network relationship and endorsement of SML I hired the labor to load the truck.  Also, since this move required either the 2 flights of steps or the elevator, I was in great need for help.  SML customer service was extremely helpful in accommodating my requests to secure helpers.  Two men arrived by the designated time and loaded the entire truck in 3.5 hours. They packed the truck quickly and perfectly so that everything was secure and that there would be no load shifts. They were friendly, positive, and never complained about the stairs or elevator when having to move the heavy couch. I am so grateful that SML provides professional service for ladies like me whom need much help, but need to be budget minded.  Also, I was very pleased that SML accommodated my 11th hour cancellation for the unload (with only losing the deposit), due to the change of circumstance when I arrived at my destination.  I will recommend SML and use their services again when the need arises.

Service cost: $421

Crew arrived on time, loaded truck nicely and realized they had failed to load weight machine as per work order. After unloading a third of load room was found for the weight machine however, two boxes of china were set upon the top of outdoor glass top table. You guessed it, the heavy china broke through the tempered glass (probably backing out of the driveway). Now SML's insurance company refuses to pay for any damages citing the contract that stipulates "not responsible for damages incurred during transport". Have to agree with what the contract states but, as the photos submitted to your company; who loads boxes marked china onto a tempered glass table and expects no damage to occur? In my honest opinion the guys got into a hurry loading the truck when they realized this extra step was on their dime and got careless reloading.. WOULD NOT USE SML again due to poor customer service on a problem outside the black and white lines of their contract.  .

Service cost: $672

Despite charging a premium for moving labor, the company sent two people straight from labor ready.  They advertised professional moving help.  While they claim that I didn't get their premium service so I should just expect labor, I still expected professional moving help as they advertised.  They were going to charge me $275 for the first two hours for two people and $75 for each additional hour.  That is almost $70 per hour per person for the first two hours and $37.50 per hour for every additional hour.  For those prices, I expect professional moving help.  If I wanted to hire two guys from labor ready, I could have done that myself for a lot less money.  The guys who came to help move meant well and generally worked the whole time, but they had no moving experience at all.  They slid and dragged my furniture down stairs and across floors scratching numerous pieces in the process.  They tipped over a dresser with a marble top inlay and broke the marble.  Even after I asked them several times to pick pieces of furniture up instead of dragging it, they still dragged and scratched furniture.  I would have told them to go home but I had to be out of the house that day and had no other options.  After complaining to two people and putting my credit card on a temporary hold so they could not charge me the balance, the company agreed to charge me only the minimum $275 instead of charging me for the 8 hours of moving that it took.  (It probably only took 8 hours because they were so inefficient and slow.)  Nevertheless, $275 was still too much for movers who didn't know what they were doing and damaged several pieces of my furniture.  I will never hire this company again and I suggest you don't either.  .

Service cost: $275

Simple Moving Labor was recommended to me by Penske. They were very simple to hire despite some complexities to my love. The professional movers who packed my truck were prompt, friendly, and very good. None of my stuff shifted or was broken. The moving help guys who unloaded the truck lacked something to be desired. One guy never showed up with no notification. The other guy did show up but obviously could not move everything upstairs into my apartment so my friend and I moved everything and he unloaded the truck. I contacted SML and was given a refund for half of the unloading and they were very apologetic. Overall I would recommend SML but if I were to do it all again I'd get professional movers both ways.

Service cost: $800

First of all, let me say they were on time..very professional and very pleasant fellows.  That being said, the one item I worried the most about and asked them to be particularly careful with sustained significant damage when things shifted and fell on it.  "It" happens to be a $33,000 Lowrey organ.  Also a bookcase was broken, but that was easily fixed with some Elmer's glue.  The organ will be forever scarred, and I did my best to fill in the gouges with furniture crayons, but I am not pleased.  Other than those two items, everything went flawlessly..

Service cost: $400

The employees showed up early and completed the job before the allotted time.  Nothing was dropped or damaged.  They did an excellent job!  The gentlemen helping me offered advise on making the job easier and showed great respect to my situation.  They were willing to accept my suggestions and did as requested without agruement.  I was really suprised at the level of professionalism.  I would recommend SML to my friends and co-workers as they showed up early to the designated time and completed all task including folding of moving pads.

Service cost: $339

The driver to the actual movers were very prompt and on time.  Being a long distance move, I do have to say, the 2 gentlemen that loaded the truck did a horrible job.  They did not wrap a thing.  Most of my furniture has a nick somewhere on it.  When they were finished loading to head to PA, They forgot my microwave oven.  They told me I had to take it myself to PA they had no more room in truck.  The driver having a son that works for this company just looked at me weird, not knowing what to say.  I told her I was so disappointed and she just did not know what to say again.  There was at least 8 feet or more space left from my belongings to the top of the truck.  Everything was just put in there where ever they could put it, and could not find room for a small microwave.  When they delivered my belongings 2 days later, the movers were extremely upset, when the could not open the back door of the truck, because my bed frame was the last thing in the truck and they jammed the door shut on the frame and the door would not open.  It was two different movers, since it was a different state.  They were wonderful, taking pictures to show their boss how my things were handled when loaded.  They were really upset, nothing wrapped, everything thrown in the truck..  They just handed me screw, nuts etc, to things that needed put back together. I was very confused what went to what.  I do not know if these pictures ever made it to your company, but I was so upset.  They were courteous and polite at loading, but did not know what they were doing.  The two guys unloading were apologetic and I felt like I knew them forever.  Not a great experience for me, but all is fine. I never heard a word from the company and would like to, since the 2 people unloading were even upset how it was loaded.  I would recommend your company, but would advise people to ask if these are concientious loading people who know how to load a truck. Hope you saw the pictures.  I cannot remember their names, but thank you to the crew who delivered my things to PA.

Service cost: $3800

Hired basic labor for load and unload.  I needed people to help with the heavy lifting of objects.  On Oklahoma(Loading) side, 3 hours late, and 1 of the 2 guys was a bit worthless.  He wasn't able to lift more than about 40 lbs.  Other guy was great, he and I loaded everything. Colorado side, both workers were ready and able and worked hard for all 3 hours and we got the job done.  They were both hard workign and professional. Pricing for the work was exactly what was discussed and workers followed any instructions or requests I had for them.

Service cost: $350