I started my search of movers getting quotes from several companies.
From experience, I didn't want to go with the cheapest but also didn't
want to pay top dollar. Northern Vanlines was my 3rd call for a quote.
In talking with Chris, everything seemed professional. i had told him
that I was getting quotes and he had asked me what companies I was
considering. I told him of one company and he advised me I shouldn't use
them because they sublet the work and are brokers, not a moving
company. He informed me that in using Northern Vanlines, I would be
working with them, their trucks and employees which would all be clearly
marked with Northern Vanlines name. This did make me feel more
comfortable that I can put my trust in one company. He gave me a quote,
which was a little higher then the rest but figuring I would be working
with a moving company and not a broker, I felt I would be handled on a
more professional level.
We were on a timeline and he reassured me that
my belongings would be the last on the truck headed for Arizona and it
would only take 6 days to get there. We were driving down ourselves and
were planning a 5 day trip. Perfect! I gave the required amount for a
deposit and the deal was made. The day of my move, the truck did not
show up. I recieved a call from the mover stating the air brakes on the
truck were out and they could not make it that day but he assured me
they would be by the very next morning. The next day, two hours later
then expected, I get a knock at the door. Three guys are standing
outside the door with a clipboard, I look past them and also see a
rented Uhaul truck. They explained they were with Northern Vanlines and
were there to get my stuff. The only thing that had any evidence they
were indeed with Northern was the paperwork with my quote. After
assencing what all was being moved, they added extra packing charges to
the sum of $275 for the packing and wrapping of some furniture and the
TVs, which Chris had informed me they would pack and it was already part
of the charges. All the furniture was new which I purchased 2 years
prior when I bought the home.
While taking apart my bedroom set, the
mover had informed me that he didn't have the right tools to disasemble
my bed but after 2 hours, he somehow managed. He also told me that
whoever put my bed together had used the wrong tools (which was the
delivery guys from the furniture store). The move seemed fairly smooth
from there, except when they got to my dining room table (my expensive
dining room table). They had wrapped the table, legs and all, as one
piece. Which was too wide to get out any door in the house. I mentioned
it to the one that seemed to be the team leader and he measured and
found this to be true. They unwrapped the table so that they could take
the legs off. I had some things I was taking with me in my vehicle to
still pack so I headed up stairs to handle that as they took care of my
table.
Later, I go outside as the are loading the UHAUL and see my
table, wrapped up again, with the legs still on it. They said they
managed to fit my 42" table out the 36" door. That's when I noticed that
two of the legs were bent. I asked about it and they told me they
loosened the legs to get it out and when they got to the distribution
center they would get the tools needed to fully remove the legs. All is
loaded and off they go with another $850. We arrived in Arizona on time
(March 31st) and was eager to recieve our furinture in the new house
which would be arriving the next day (April 1st)! Nothing, I call Chris
and no one answers or returns my calls. Next day, more disregarded phone
calls. Finally after three days I get through to someone (john). I get a
story about the truck having air brake issues and the wouldn't be able
to go through the mountains safely but that it was resolved and my items
were on the way. He apologized for the inconvience but my stuff would
be here by the 7th. The 7th, nothing! 8th, nothing and again can't get a
returned call. Then the 9th I get in touch with another person who
tells me my belongings havent left Oregon! I'm in a rant! The manager,
Amy calls me and tells me how sorry she is but that whoever told me I
would get the things by the 7th was misinformed. Also, Chris would have
NEVER told me my stuff would be there by the 1st! He's a team manager
and wouldn't make a promise like that. I was then told that my stuff was
either still in Oregon or in the Tennesse distribution center?
Tennesse? From Washington State to Oregon to Tennesse to Arizona??
After
multiple calls and tracking, and more calls I talked with everyone in
the office at least 3 times each. I even found out that John isn't
really John, it's a name he uses some times, an alis if you will. My
belongings arrive on the 19th of April, 18 days after I was promised. In
a moving truck labeled ZEFFY Trucking. Yeah, Not a Northern Vanlines
truck! They removed all my items to the driveway, all the battered boxes
to the garage (of 42 boxes, 9 were undamaged). When everything was laid
out, I noticed some things were missing and I was assured by the driver
that everything was there and I would see this when he unwrapped
everything. I walked to the back of his truck just to look and he
blocked me and told me that he has everything unloaded and to "just
wait". That's when I saw more boxes and other items still in the back! I
started pointed and they unloaded the rest. They too had NO tools to
reassemble my furniture, I had to borrow from the neighbor I didn't
know. The bed they was "put together wrong" was broken and the side
boards which hold the matress up could not be put back together,
firewood now. The dining room table glass top was chipped in 2 corners
and when they went to put the legs back on, it seems the legs were just
snapped off and could not be put together. I called Amy right away,
nothing! I still had to pay for the rest of the delivery but I really
wanted to talk with her first. Nothing, so the driver suggested we write
everything down on the reciept and he would sign that all was damaged.
After all this, the driver (in front of his guys) says to me...."so, are
you going to tip us?" After days of calling, I decided to try my wife's
phone since I never called from it before and it was answered the 2nd
ring! They seemed to be screening the calls since not 1 minute ealier I
had called from my phone 3 times with no answer. I was told by Amy that
she believes I am intitled to some form of reembursment to which I never
saw, and she and the company was never heard from again. I filed a
claim with the insurance company from the movers and after $3200 worth
of damage was offered $96! You value what you have,
DO NOT use Northern
Vanlines for your move. I KNOW I can't be the only one! In fact, during
one of my coversations with one of the sales guys John, or whatever he
calls himself, and Amy the manager, they both told me that over the past
couple months they seem to be getting a lot of complaints and are
working on it. Honestly, the only thing I feel they are working on is
perfecting the LIES, and collecting YOUR money! At Northern Vanlines:
You know who I am! You know what you've done and you know what you
promised. This will NEVER die until I feel everyone is informed.