🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Feb26.204001.6750@nlm.nih.gov> harris@ironic.nlm.nih.gov (Nomi Harris) writes:
>I am trying to select a moving company to move my stuff (under
>1000 lbs) to California.
>
>When I moved to DC, two different moving companies promised to pick
>up my belongings from Boston, but never showed up.  The second
>company, Presidential Van Lines, wouldn't give back my deposit
>check until I hounded them daily for over two months.  I wouldn't
>recommend Presidential Van Lines to my worst enemy.
>
>Needless to say, I want to avoid the nightmare I experienced the
>last time I moved, so I am seeking recommendations and/or warnings
>about moving companies.  Someone told me to avoid Bekins.  I am
>currently considering Baltimore Storage Co. (an agent for
>Mayflower), Eagle Van Lines, and Kloke Transfer (an agent for North
>American).  


My opinion:  DON'T USE KLOKE TRANSFER!!!!!!!!!
                       --------------

My boyfriend moved last August from DC to Chicago, and we used 
Kloke Transfer.  They came in with the lowest quote and were very
good about being on time to pick up the furniture.  BUT they also 
underquoted the weight by 800 pounds.  They said (out loud) 
"it's definitely well under 1000 pounds", and made out an estimate
based on their 1000 pound minimum charge.  

When the delivery person arrived (1 week late), he was in a big 
hurry and insisted on unloading pronto.  After he unloaded, he 
pulled out the paper work, and the actual charges were for just
over 1600 pounds.  The difference in cost was about $400.

Well, I was highly peeved and didn't believe that the stuff 
could possibly  weigh 1600 pounds.  I told the delivery person
that and he said that I should have asked questions before he 
unloaded.  I said that he unloaded before I could ask questions...

Anyway, my boyfriend and I went out to K-Mart, bought a scale and 
proceeded to weigh each individual box.  Even with a 5% margin of 
error, the total weight was just under 900 pounds.  

So I called North American Van Lines, and they said that they would
do an "internal estimate" based on the manifest.  Their estimate 
came up saying that the load might have weighed 1600 pounds.  They 
instructed me to take up the matter with Kloke.  I tried and got
nowhere.  

So, my suggestion is, go for the unknown headaches.  Stay away
from Kloke.

And the lesson is:  check the final charges BEFORE they unload.
If you don't know to do this, you might get swamped by the 
hurriedness of the delivery person as we did.  If you question
the weight, they'll take it to a weigh station before and after
unloading.  Unfortunately we found out too late.

Good luck.  And if you find a satisfactory mover, post it to the 
net!

  -- Terry