There will be no formal post today on account of I spent from 7pm to 1am unpacking my life’s belongings after they finally arrived from New Jersey, 14 days and 9 hours after having left.
According to google maps, that 3K distance can be traversed in under three days. Over a year ago Geanna did it in 3 days with a similarly sized 18-wheeler (note: she was passenger on a courier trip of some antique art for the MET, because that happens). A few weeks ago my friend Brian did it in 5 days with significant stopping. So you could presumably go from NJ to LA and back THREE TIMES in the amount of time it took my movers to go once.
My contract with ALL INCLUSIVE MOVING AND STORAGE specifies that the move could take up to 14 days. “But it never takes that long,” they told me when I signed the contract. “And, if it’s over 14 days, you get a 50% refund.”
Hhmm, so what if it’s 14 days and 22 hours? As in, you receive your stuff on the 14th day at 10:00pm? Then what?
And what if over the course of those 14 days, this happens:
- Last Tuesday: “It’s in southern California. You should have it any day now!”
- Last Thursday: “Oh, when we spoke Tuesday I meant northern California. But now it’s in southern, so you should have it any day now, still.”
- Last Friday: “Oh, it seems your drivers are very religious Jews and needed to take off for Rosh Shanana. Also, they don’t work on Saturdays.”
- Last Sunday: “HHmm, I don’t know – that is strange. You should have it soon though.”
- This Monday: “Well, they’ll call you the day before, so if you haven’t heard yet today then you probably won’t get it tomorrow.”
- Yesterday, 8am: “Hi, Jennifer? This is John, your mover. We’ll be there in a little bit.”
- Me: It’s Jessie, and weren’t you supposed to call me the day prior to arrival?
- John: Oh, didn’t I call you?
- Me: No.
- John: Oh, well we’ll be there soon.
- Yesterday, 12pm, Me: Hi John, are you guys on your way because I had my roommate wait home when you said you’d be there soon.
- John: Oh, yeah, it’s going to be awhile.
- Me: How long?
- John: 2pm?
- Yesterday, 3pm, Me: John, Jessie. What’s the status because my roommate is still waiting.
- John: Oh, yeah, we got caught up.
- Me: Well I can’t have him wait any longer. You now need to come after 7:30, when I get home from work.
- John: Yeah, great, fine, we do that.
- Yesterday, 7:00pm, Me: Hi John, it’s me. I’m almost home, so I’ll see you guys shortly.
- John: Oh, Jessie, hm. We’re going to be awhile. Got caught up. Can we come tomorrow?
- Me: WHAT?! TOMORROW?! AbsoLUTELY not. It has been 14 days, and if you come tomorrow I expect a 50% refund.
- John: Fine. How late can we come.
- Me: “I don’t care if you come at 2:00 in the god-damed morning. I want my shit, and I want it tonight.
- Yesterday, 9:40pm, John: Jessie? We’re here at the corner of La Brea and Romaine.
- Me: It’s La Jolla and Romaine
- John: It says La Brea here on the papers.
- Me: Well it’s La Jolla
- John: I don’t understand
- Me: I don’t care. It’s La Jolla. I have the same papers, and they say La Jolla.
- John: Okay, well, see you soon I guess.
Seriously, how is this possible?! What goes on?! Do the movers drive around Los Angeles finding random people who need to move that minute throwing off their entire truck route and plan? Do they gravely underestimate the amount of time it takes to make each move? Do they break for 9 meals a day? And WHY, whywhy, WHY would you assign religious Jews to handle cross-country moves during the high holidays!??!!
And so, it is with the best reason I’ve ever had that I ask you to please never, ever use All Inclusive Moving and Storage. And tell your family and friends never to use them. And tell random passers by on the street whom you overhear discussing moving/movers/trucking/storage or the like to never, ever use them.
Thank you.
I’ll be back tomorrow as the calmer, more patient version of myself. Unless I find one more framed thing broken…
5 comments
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Wow – they’re worse than Time Warner Cable.
Use the pod moving system…way faster and I think it’s corporate. Meaning the drivers aren’t sub-contracted and working for several different moving companies. I had your experience when I moved to SF…never ever will I do an 18-wheeler again.
I hope you find your sanity soon!
Time to lodge a complaint with the BBB to solidify All Inclusive’s current “F” rating!
http://www.bbb.org/new-jersey/business-reviews/movers/all-inclusive-moving-and-storage-in-jersey-city-nj-30000141
Moovers Inc. is amazing – they were extremely punctual and gave me the drivers phone number as soon as they knew who my driver was and we chatted a lot prior to delivery. They arrived early – seriously – and unloaded everything despite some locational challenges. Highly recommend Moovers Inc.
And this is the best thing you could do… ruin their reputation! Companies are so ignorant of how easy it is for people to publicly bad-mouth them these days. Stupid!! I write for a retail mag and we tell people this allll the time.
Good job! Thanks for the warning!