Zip Moving and Storage

Given that this is not the first time I use Zip Moving and Storage, I can honestly say they continue to excel with their customer and overall amazing services.

When I gave them a call a little over two months ago, I instantly remembered why I had previously chosen Zip for my other moves.

David Novak, my Moving Coordinator, was very attentive to all my needs, and very understanding about the importance of my move (and my mental sanity). In less than 30 minutes, I had a quote, a confirmed date, and a full description of all the things I needed to know prior to my move. Their website was also extremely user-friendly, and it answered all of my questions prior to initially contacting Zip. I even decided to get for the full packing service… what a lifesaver and timesaver!! I was assured once again that everything will be handled for me without any stress — and they were definitely right!!

With just a few weeks before my move date, David answered all my emails and was very helpful providing with other options, in the case that my original move date could change.

Fast forward to a week and a half before my move, I received a call from Peter Bozic (my other Moving Coordinator). He wanted to confirm my move date, answer any questions I might have had, and provide me with more specific details about the movers and the move itself. Peter was extremely friendly, helpful, reassuring and understanding of my accommodations, regarding PPE. This was extremely important for me, as I am part of the vulnerable population that can’t be exposed.

The day before the move and the day of the move, Peter called me to assure me that he’s been in contact with the movers and that I’d be receiving a call from them with an estimate time of arrival. As promised, the movers called me 30 minutes before arrival to let me know they were on their way. When they arrived, they were already wearing masks and gloves.

Aside from the great customer service by both David and Peter, I have to rave about my movers, Jorge and Nemanja. They disassemble and assemble, pack, and move everything for me - I didn’t even have to lift a finger! It was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. They were so, so, so careful when handling all of my stuff (making me aware of the things that were already damaged), and packing the plates, glasses, artwork, amongst other valuables. Nothing was broken, nor scratched.

My new address has a very complicated entrance for moving trucks. I was convinced the truck wouldn’t fit in the back alley. Surprise, surprise… Jorge maneuvered that truck like a pro and was able to successfully park it. Another huge hurdle was the size of the elevator compared to the size of my 3-piece sectional sofa, let’s just say I was worried. I decided to wait upstairs, and in less than 20 minutes, my sofa was assembled. Jorge and Nemanja were fast, clean, and polite. Incredible!

Peter called me a few hours into the move to ask how things were going, and once again after the movers were done to ask how things went.

I honestly can’t emphasize how amazing Zip Moving and Storage is! I’m so grateful. From months before my move up until well after the last piece of furniture was assemble in my new place, Zip’s customer service and attention to detail truly exceeded all my expectations (once again!). NO damages, NO tears, NO anything. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone! Thank you for everything and thank you for making my move stress free and just great!

Move size: 1 Bedroom Home Service cost: $800

Avoid entrusting your furniture to this company at all costs. Our experience with them was nothing short of a nightmare. From the beginning, their lack of transparency in contracts made the entire process confusing and frustrating. They promised a smooth move, but the reality was far from it.

Their handling of our belongings was appalling. Boxes arrived crushed, and furniture was damaged beyond repair. To make matters worse, their compensation policy is a joke—they pay only $0.60 per pound for damaged items. This means you’re left shouldering the cost of their negligence.

The company also lacks accountability, outsourcing their services to third-party movers who don’t seem to care about the quality of their work. The result? Miscommunication, delays, and a complete disregard for your property.

If you value your time, money, and possessions, steer clear of this company. Our move was stressful enough without their incompetence adding to the chaos. Save yourself the headache and choose a company that respects its customers and their belongings.

Move size: 4+ Bedroom Home Service cost: $10000

Movers shoved my beautiful hanging wardrobe into boxes even though I ordered hanging wardrobe boxes. They ignored instructions and just shoved clothes into boxes and destroyed them- including formal dresses.

Lamps were bent,cordsforTVs were not packed Together so were lost, China was broken due to them packing China with barbecue equipment. Paintings were ripped… Original canvas art was not wrapped and packed with other frames which punctured holes in the canvas. Movers left their food garbage and empty bottles in the originating home. Food garbage was left outSide and found with rodent droppings.

They left half of the storage closet filled..

Do not use these movers… Especially if Alex is the supervisor- he was the worst packer.

Move size: 3 Bedroom Home Service cost: $7700

At first they seemed like a good company, but I should have noticed the red flags - the biggest one, their refusal to do an onsite estimate.

They "packed" and moved our 3/2 with 3 guys in one day. It took them 13 hours and half way through the day they were just throwing things around and shoving stuff in boxes. After 9 hours they had me sign a revised estimate for $900 more than the original, which I agreed to. Then at 10pm when I had left to put my kids to bed, they pulled up a second truck and packed up an entire shed full of things I told them not to pack. They also packed floor mats we wrote "do not pack" on and our fire alarms to name a few other things. Then, after they left they sent me an invoice for double the price.

When I requested the estimate I signed, they gave me one where they changed all the number after I signed - then told me I had signed that. Aside from breaking a bunch of stuff, throwing around our belonging like they were junk and extorting us for $10,000 (not delivering until we agreed to pay twice the original price) - it was unpleasant to be yelled at by the "owner" about it being normal business practice to alter signed documents and not inform their customers.

There were a multitude of other issues, but there is a limit to the amount I can add here. Bottom line, AVOID THIS COMPANY!

Move size: 3 Bedroom Home Service cost: $10000

Do not use this company! They broke my belongings as they moved my belongings from my storage and then pretended that the items never existed. I submitted a claim and they gave me nothing! The physical items that came back broken were also not reimbursed properly. How do you offer 3 dollars for things that were worth over 40? They may charge you less to move the stuff but it comes with a price. Do yourself a favor and pick a company that will properly take care of your belongings. I will never use them again and wouldn't recommend them to my worst enemy.

They even blocked my number so I couldn't call to ask them about my claim. I had to use a new number. You have been warned!

Move size: 1 Bedroom Home Service cost: $4146

(June, 2022 move)

Significantly adverse experience/would not recommend: cost over-run, several damaged items (only by sheer luck were several more expensive and irreplaceable items not damaged) and many items not moved as contracted.

1. Cost Over-Run: The initial quote was based not only on the detailed list of key items I provided as requested but was also backed up by a “video tour,” where Zip Movers examined all of the rooms in my apartment and their content. The estimator promised me that his figure was highly conservative, and he expected a lower final price. On moving day, as soon as the team entered, they called the home office, who “authorized” a price $1,000 higher than original estimate; they were not able to explain why. Adding to the time-based pricing concerns, the movers themselves were not terribly efficient. The team leader disappeared for a period of time and couldn’t be found. One of the workers was found chatting up a staff member in the apartment building. In the end, the final bill was only a few hundred dollars more than the initial estimate—but that takes into account my labor and that of a friend who greatly supplemented the Zip Movers team’s effort. A friend jumped in carrying furniture/boxes at the same rate as the movers at the new home (destination), and I also worked as hard as the mover, packing and carrying, throughout the day (origin and destination). So I expect the bill would have been even higher if my friend and I hadn’t supplemented the team’s effort significantly. I also declined most of the unpacking service.

2. Damaged Items: And it is unfortunate that I spent so much time packing myself, because I should have spent more time supervising the care of the movers’ work. Several items were damaged, and more were placed at risk of damage. A several-hundred-dollar Panama hat from Italy was crushed inside a box of heavy items. New Ethan Allen chairs were packed in the truck without any wrapping or protection, and the wooden legs from one chair stained the upholstered seat of others (see photo of chairs in truck without any wrapping). A large Serena and Lily arm chair was left without wrapping, resting its weight directly on top of a sharp metal corner of a bed-frame (lucky that it did not destroy the upholstery; see photo—I had already moved the chair off of the sharp corner before taking the photo). In the packing process, several pictures were stacked flat, directly on top of a nice oil painting—with the metal hooks of one picture sitting directly on the painted surface, without any protection. The base of an Aeron chair was cracked. The level of care was far less than that of the movers I used a year ago for a different move. When I reported the damage and the cost of repair from the original manufacturers, the corporate office only offered $50, which was well less than the actual cost of repair.

3. Unmoved Items: I left my apartment (origin) before the team was finished packing so I could buy them no lunch and meet them to unpack (no good deed goes unpunished…). At the end of the day, after delivery at my new home, I returned to apartment and found all sorts of items that were not packed and moved as they should have been. See attached photo. (Bottles with liquids were, by company policy, properly my responsibility to move, but the other remaining items in the photos should have been moved.) It took me a day of subsequent work to move the items that the movers simply left in the apartment.

Zip Movers was made aware of all of these issues either during the move or immediately afterward, and, beyond platitudes, they offered either $50 or the opportunity to use an independent claims service. I would not that all of the movers involved claimed that had been working with Zip Movers for several years, so I do not believe these issues are due to new staff.

Move size: 2 Bedroom Home Service cost: $2722

Buyer beware! I was told it would take 2 26-ft trucks (but not fully loaded on the second truck). On pick up day, 1 truck arrived with 5 remaining feet available as another family was loaded first. A 2nd truck (empty) also arrived. After filling both trucks, my garage was nearly full with what would not fit. I asked when another truck was coming and was advised 0900 the next day..it showed at 1245. Because it was so late, I incurred an extra night in a hotel. So, my households were now on 3 trucks..oh, and none of the boxes were tagged by those loading the trucks..so how do I even know that I am getting everything on delivery??

Now, for the delivery..Zip told me 5 guys will arrive to offload..2 showed up, so you guessed it, I ended up helping. And..I didn't get all of my items. The pickup was 7/15 in MI. They delivered 7/19 in Fl. Now, I am told the remaining items will be delivered 7/30 because that is when the next truck will head to FL. So, they are holding my remaining household goods so they can consolidate shipments. In the meantime, they also have my "parts" box which includes all screws, bolts, cables, etc. So, we have no complete beds, TV's, furniture without legs, etc. And again I stress, how can I ever make certain that I can account for all missing items since no boxes were tagged?

I paid $12,000 for this "service". Zip Moving is making no effort to expedite my missing items. They are making no effort to refund some portion of this payment for the sad service. And they can only tell me that they are certain they have all my items. How can they be certain since parts of my household goods have been mixed with 2 other families (1 at pickup, 1 at delivery). In the meantime, with delivery scheduled 7/30, that is 15 days from the pick up date. It seems that "I" am the one inconveniencing Zip Moving; "we'll send a truck next week when it is more convenient for us," seems to be Zip's approach to customer service.

Do yourself a favor and shop elsewhere. A move is stressful enough. A retirement move as this is should bring some joy. Zip has made this an unbelievably aggravating and stressful experience..and it isn't over yet as I wait for what I hope is the entirety of my household goods.

Move size: 4 Bedroom Home Service cost: $12000

Our experience with Zip Moving and Storage made an already stressful life event of moving 1,000 miles away 100 x’s worse. I write this review only to warn others of our experience as we based our decision to use Zip solely on the outstanding reviews we read. A mistake on our part we later found out. When my husband called to schedule the move, he specifically asked if our belongings would be there on the requested date. He was told that they would be and there is a 7-day window in case of an emergency situation. In fact, the individual he spoke with even asked if they could deliver a day earlier than we requested but we could not accommodate this as we weren’t closing on our new home until the following day.

Moving day comes (Sat, 8/3). Three individuals show up to load the truck. They come into our home to take a look. Instantly, there is a look of disdain on their faces and one gentleman even stated, “This is too much stuff.” Not the way to begin the process, in my opinion. The head mover stated the price would be increasing from the original quote due to the large number of items but it would not be more than this new quote. The movers took it upon themselves to pack up items without asking if we were taking them. Towards the end of the day, the head mover again approached up with a higher quote and stated it was again due to the amount of items we had. I don’t have an issue with paying for the weight of our belongings but it would have been appreciated if we weren’t given 3 different amounts, each time being told, “it won’t go higher than this.”

Two days later, (Mon, 8/5), my husband called our Moving Coordinator to confirm we would be receiving our belongings on the promised day. We were told there was no one to drive the truck from NC to FL and it may be additional 9 days (Aug 15th) from the day we were promised that we would receive our things. My husband asked to speak to a manager, explaining this was not acceptable. The manager, Igor, told him they have a 7-day window to deliver items. When we explained that was not what we were told, Igor said he would try to work something out and get back to us.

Two days later, (Wed, 8/7), my husband received a call from Igor stating we would receive our items on Sunday, Aug 11th between 4-7p. We expressed our displeasure at this because it was 5 days after the date we were promised and our children were starting school the next day on Monday, August 12th. Igor stated this was the best we could do.

On Sunday, August 11th, my husband called Igor in the morning to arrange payment and confirm our delivery. Igor stated we would be receiving our items before 5pm and that a wire transfer from our bank was acceptable payment. The three contracted helpers Zip Moving and Storage had recruited arrived at our home at 6p, as they were told the truck would be arriving at 6p. At 6:30p, Zip Moving and Storage arrived. The driver told my husband the payment had not been processed. We figured out it was because the bank would need to call us to confirm it was okay to proceed with the transfer the next day as the bank is not open on Sunday. My husband called Igor who refused to allow the movers to take anything off of the truck and move it into our home until payment was received in full. Igor was not willing to work with us whatsoever. He said he had not encountered a situation where a wire transfer was delayed due to a bank needing to confirm the transfer. Fortunately, we were able to have a family member assist us with the payment. I totally understand getting paid for a service rendered but Igor was not willing to work with us at all.

This experience was a big disappointment. We did not feel like our need to receive our belongings was taken into consideration nor how stressful a 1,000 mile move is on a family. To me, that is just as important as ensuring furniture and household items are packed and unpacked into a truck.

Move size: 4+ Bedroom Home Service cost: $8000