Jim
Anaheim,#2Consumer Comment
Tue, July 08, 2008
First of all, you contracted with a less than reputable moving company. Having said that, I wonder how much research you did? For instance, the San Fernando Valley is where many scam movers are located (not just Canoga Park, but Chatsworth as well); the only way a shipper can be assured their items will arrive safely without it costing you more than what you were quoted was to go with one of the major moving companies. If you had done any research on these movers, you would never had chosen them. Next, toss your claim of $7K and accept the $292.80 because that's all you're going to get. The problem you have is that in your contract, you signed up for $0.60/pound valuation. That means the moving company is only required to reimburse you for the claim at $0.60 per pound for each individual item broken. For example, a 6lb. dining room chair completely destroyed will net you $3.60. It might have cost you several hundred dollars. $3.60 is all you would get. Moreover, you can't take them to court for it because of legal protections the moving company has - specifically the Carmack Amendment. Your case would be dismissed and the mover knows this. A reputable mover would have at least offered you what in the industry is called Full Replacement Valuation, which might have netted you at least one-half to 2/3 of what your losses truly were. Going with the cheapest mover is NEVER a good idea. Let me illustrate. Using one of the major moving companies, I suspect you would have been quoted a price of $7,000 or so to do the move and that price (if you received a Guarantee Not-to-Exceed quote) would have been no more than $7000. You probably would have had little to no damage and little to nothing to claim. This move in the end cost you not only the $8600 for the move, but destruction and loss to your property of more than $7100, for a total cost to you of $15,700. In the end, this move cost you more than double what it would have had you gone with a reputable mover. Bottom line: Moving is not an inexpensive venture and you found out the hard way what happens when you choose a less than reputable mover. Moving will always cost more than you think it should and using a professional mover less so. Consumers need to be focused not on the cheapest price, but what will yield them the greatest value. I think you can see the more expensive and professional mover would have yielded you the better value.