Every Tuesday at 1PM Central Time, Portage Cartage moderates a Twitter-based "movechat" for movers and consumers looking for information on moving. For today's chat, the topic was an article in The Street called 8 Things Your Movers Don't Want You To Know. Below is the abridged transcript of the questions and the responses.
Before we put Q1 forward, any other comments on the article in general?
jkmoving @holmanmoving Most of the advice was pretty commonplace, tho I didn't agree with some of it. We'll get into that in a moment!
HolmanMoving @PortageCartage Well, I'm sure you saw mine on the article itself. I was annoyed at the title :-)
GoodStuffMoving Overall it was a great article, but the title is clearly shock value and SEO baiting...
HolmanMoving @GoodStuffMoving It's just unfortunate because it's pushing a stereotype that only perpetuates fear and distrust. Annoying.
PortageCartage I hadn't yet read the comments - this piece definitely touched a lot of raw nerves.
PortageCartage Sad if true: "adjuster said that because most homeowners buy insurance, drivers and packers just don't worry about how they pack"
HolmanMoving @PortageCartage It's got a thread on MovingScam.com too.
Q1 - The article started by offering a few pointers on how to save money on your move. What are some other ways?
PortageCartage Specifically, the article mentioned reporting lollygagging to the office, and dis/re-assembling your own furniture.
HolmanMoving Good suggestions. Also, donating canned goods and any used items that you don't need at destination. They just add to weight.
GoodStuffMoving Transport high end items by yourself, such as jewelry, some tvs, etc...anything that needs to be doubly insured.
jkmoving A1: You can save $$ by purging/donating unwanted household goods before you move, so there's less to pack & move.
PortageCartage @HolmanMoving Good point. I saw somebody ask on Twitter what she could do with her open bags of flour.
RELORoundtable Best way to pack is to purge! Unfortunately, that's not not a good mantra for movers.
jkmoving I thought the tip re: dis/re-assembling furniture wasn't a good idea. It's frequently more complicated than you think.
HolmanMoving @PortageCartage Open bags of flour?! Can't donate that! Bake a cake and give it to the movers! :-)
PortageCartage @RELORoundtable Thanks for chiming in today!
PortageCartage @HolmanMoving I was thinking give to friends/neighbours. It'd be hard to find a soup kitchen that would accept opened dry goods.
RELORoundtable Avoid peak periods, move mid-month. Negotiate pricing parameters around different service options and available dates.
HolmanMoving @PortageCartage Hahah yeah, that's probably wise. You can't donate anything opened. I was just making a funny about the cake :-)
GoodStuffMoving Personally, the last time my family moved, we ended up leaving lots of stuff for the next family. Garage tools, can openers, etc.
PortageCartage @jkmoving It all depends on the ability of the person moving. Some can handle it, some can't. Moral: Know thyself.
HolmanMoving @GoodStuffMoving I think that's nice. I just moved and the old owners left me a ladder and some gardening tools. It was helpful!
jkmoving Ha, good one! RT @holmanmoving: @PortageCartage Open bags of flour?! Can't donate that! Bake a cake and give it to the movers! :-)
GoodStuffMoving @HolmanMoving and when we arrived at our new home, we found a lot of garden tools there as well. But still miss that pizza cutter.
HolmanMoving @GoodStuffMoving Hey, pizza cutters are important!
PortageCartage @GoodStuffMoving You'll have to replace it with this one: http://bit.ly/j9MjP1
HolmanMoving @jkmoving ;-)
xpressmovers How do you liked that article we are discussing today? How would you rate it?
GoodStuffMoving @PortageCartage oh that's awesome! We used to have a Pampered Chef one, now it's just some promo from a local joint...
RELORoundtable @jkmoving My neighbors disassembled their own HHG the last time they moved. It was still disassembled when they moved last week.
HolmanMoving @xpressmovers I give it an 7.5 for content, but downgrade to a 3 for title infraction!
PortageCartage That's a fair mark, IMO. RT @HolmanMoving: @xpressmovers I give it an 7.5 for content, but downgrade to a 3 for title infraction!
xpressmovers @HolmanMoving It's a catchy title to get more visitors. Old newspaper trick :) Content I'd rate at 5. It doesn't say much details.
PortageCartage The article also talked about what to look for on a quote, e.g. an in-home survey, written quote, and comparing to other quotes.
PortageCartage So for Q2 - What other detail should customers look for on movers' quotes?
HolmanMoving They should read through the inventory list carefully to make sure that nothing major is missing - that's critical!
GoodStuffMoving Q2 - Not sure how feasible, but a "route traveled" if the destination is distant?
RELORoundtable Forget discount level. Compare services and type of estimate. Ask for salesperson's estimate accuracy record.
PortageCartage We always stress that the terms dictating the final cost have to be clear: guaranteed within 10%, firm bid, actual w8 to apply?
PortageCartage Ooh, the salesperson's estimate accuracy record - that's a good one.
jkmoving Make sure youre comparing apples-to-apples among your quotes.
ezmovers How about this? ->"Every company should go and get a look at the move." our sales ppl are great at getting all info by phone!
HolmanMoving @xpressmovers True. I can go on forever bout media tricks-it's aggravating. I've always had a love/hate relationship with press.
xpressmovers Hi ezmovers :) Welcome to the chat. Q2: Compare the fine print in the estimates and everything you guys mentioned :)
jkmoving @reloroundtable That's funny! My point exactly re: dis/re-assembly of furniture. Sometimes it pays to have a professional do it.
ezmovers & one more offensive statement! "Any mover who gives a price quote without seeing what needs to be moved is likely up to no good"
xpressmovers @HolmanMoving I used to work for one 8 years ago :)
HolmanMoving Well, I sit firmly in the "must see the move camp," myself. You may be doing good things, but that's a lot of scams start.
HolmanMoving @xpressmovers Wow, which one?!
PortageCartage @ezmovers Yep. Sometimes people just live too far away to make an in-home visit possible, though it's always preferable.
xpressmovers @HolmanMoving On the other side of the world, some 6k miles away. Sometimes In-Home is impossible to be done.
PortageCartage I'm still waiting for a customer to upload a private YouTube video tour of the home for movers to use in lieu of a site visit.
jkmoving @ezmovers Agreed. We always prefer to send a salesperson to the customer's home, but we *can* provide a good estimate via phone.
HolmanMoving @xpressmovers We only take COD moves in our survey area. If we had one farther out, we'd call a United agent to do the survey.
HolmanMoving @PortageCartage Now, that's an interesting concept. I could get behind that.
PortageCartage @HolmanMoving @xpressmovers We do a lot of corporate relocations for industry up in the northern wilds where there are no agents.
HolmanMoving @PortageCartage @xpressmovers So I imagine YouTube would be useful!
xpressmovers @PortageCartage That's great idea having customers to upload private videos of their properties for better job handling.
HolmanMoving @PortageCartage I also think that corporate relocations are a different game entirely.
xpressmovers @PortageCartage I want a chunk from the Corporate Biz pie :)
The article also talked about the BBB, trade associations, gov't registration, liability insurance, and online reviews. So for Q3 - What other qualifications should customers look at when discerning which mover to use?
xpressmovers Q3: Qualifications doesn't matter if you aren't responsible. If Responsibility acts as qualification, then that's N1 on my list.
jkmoving A3: Visiting your mover's facilities/offices. If a locally-based mover, that's a good way to see if they are legit/professional.
PortageCartage @jkmoving Agreed! I especially like Google Streetview to check out a mover's physical address to make sure it's not an empty lot.
RELORoundtable Here's a chart for inexperienced shoppers http://reloroundtable.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Comparison-Worksheet.pdf
jkmoving Then there's the ultimate in qualifications: ask your friends, family & coworkers for their experiences with movers.
PortageCartage @RELORoundtable That's a great tool!
RELORoundtable Thanks, it takes the pressure off of price and forces the customer to think about the quality of service they're buying.
xpressmovers @jkmoving Agreed. Ask your friends, co-workers for tips from their moves in the past.
PortageCartage @xpressmovers @jkmoving The power of aggregated feedback by strangers on Yelp / Google Maps can't be underestimated either.
HolmanMoving @PortageCartage @xpressmovers @jkmoving Although I think review sites should be taken with a grain of salt.
PortageCartage @HolmanMoving @xpressmovers @jkmoving Yes, but the more reviews there are, the less salt you need.
RELORoundtable @PortageCartage. Do you think movers really understand the power of social media tools like user-generated feedback sites.
PortageCartage @RELORoundtable They are starting to, but the demographics of social media users and people who hire movers don't quite match yet.
ezmovers Again,clients have to ask the right questions and ask for references, we give them happy clients contact info!
xpressmovers @RELORoundtable @PortageCartage Movers understand them very well, especially the new startup companies. They abuse it of course :)
HolmanMoving @PortageCartage @RELORoundtable Search engine work aside, I agree. I think they are going to match soon though.
jkmoving @portagecartage We have (like most businesses!) a love/hate relationship with Yelp ;-)
jkmoving Review sites tend 2 attract those with a beef, rather than a compliment. We watch them carefully; the key is to reply to posts.
PortageCartage Another key to review sites is to encourage all customers to use them after the move.
RELORoundtable @PortageCartage. Click here http://bit.ly/lc7EA6 and start listening to Chris Brogan at about 27 minutes in.
xpressmovers Review sites have their good and bad sides. A lot of rogue movers abuse them.
RELORoundtable @PortageCartage Agreed, but, 'cept for the angry ones, most folks want to forget their moving experience once they're unpacked.
servicealley The service provider response to a bad review almost more important than the review itself. The worst thing to do is not respond.
Finally, the article recommended taking photos of your goods before the move and making sure the movers protect floors/walls. So for Q4 - How else can customers ensure their goods and property are protected during their move?
xpressmovers @PortageCartage Taking pictures is a good thing, but they there is a doubt when those pictures were taken.
xpressmovers A4: Get insurance for your move, make sure your valuables are protected. RELORoundtable If a customer can see the exterior of a piece of furniture stacked in the truck, it's probably not properly protected.
GoodStuffMoving RT @xpressmovers: A4: Get insurance for your move, make sure your valuables are protected.
jkmoving A4: Buying valuation is simply a must. Like buying insurance for a long-planned, expensive vacation. Customers are leery, tho.
PortageCartage @xpressmovers The video tour mentioned earlier would be helpful in this case - could capture the date on a newspaper.
HolmanMoving @PortageCartage @HolmanMoving @xpressmovers @jkmoving Agreed.
xpressmovers @PortageCartage Pictures are great only if time stamp could be recorded and confirmed.
PortageCartage @xpressmovers That'd be nice, yes, but in my experience people are (mostly) honest and can (usually) be trusted.
xpressmovers @PortageCartage Only in 95% of the cases :) There is that 5% where people will be trying to get advantage of you.
ezmovers Movers taking photos and/or video is a great idea! it can take only a few min to do that and the things can go much smoother!
GoodStuffMoving @jkmoving Yeah, that's been our experience as well...
PortageCartage Well, it's not often that we're still going strong at the end of the hour, but our time is up. Thanks, everyone ,for a great chat!
Next week's topic: How to get positive chatter online from happy customers (topic suggested by ezmovers). Here's an interesting study about the impartiality (?) of review sites. http://ow.ly/576cO (via jkmoving)
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