Having spent more than 30 years of my life in the household goods moving industry, I have a lifetime of experiences. Recently, one of my kids asked me: what was the funniest thing that ever happened to me during my years as a mover? Well, I did not even have to think about it . . . I remember it like it was yesterday.

Interesting things can happen to movers and they can meet some “special” people along their journey. Once, while I was at a storage facility in Los Angeles, California, I sat down beside the owner of the company to take a little break. This particular storage facility looked run down and in very poor shape. It was in a bad part of town and basically looked like it needed to be torn down. There was a reason it had this appearance.

From the outside, one would think that it was a meaningless, worthless building . . . but this storage company actually held the belongings of the rich and famous. Celebrities stored their items at this business because of the way it appeared. It was an ingenious concept by the owner of the company. While we sat together chatting, his warehouse guys were “digging” out a very nice automobile for its owner who was on her way down to pick it up. If my memory serves me correctly, it was a black Porsche. Shortly, a young lady came in and walked up to the owner and me. She politely looked at me and said, “hello,” and began visiting with the owner. Later, she hopped in the Porsche and drove away. Looking at the owner, I made the comment that she looked very familiar, but I couldn’t place her. He just laughed and said, “That was Christina Applegate!” Now, how cool is that? Little did I know that three years later I would be back at this same storage building and it would be the site for the funniest thing that ever happened to me as a mover.

Sometime around 1992-1993 I was given a “special” move from the North East to Los Angeles. My dispatcher told me that all the belongings would be going to a storage facility, but the building had no signs, letters, logo or anything on the building. Well, I knew precisely where this storage place was, and knew that the customer had to be someone “special.” When I arrived at the house, I was met by the lady I would be moving and she was so sweet and kind . . . a really nice person. She turned out to be a cousin of the Gabor sisters: Zsa Zsa and Eva. She had a ton of stuff including dozens of statues made out of granite and marble. It was a rough two days loading everything, but I finally got it done. The entire move took ten days to complete, and once again I found myself back at the L.A. storage facility. Everything came off great, no damages . . . a perfect move.

After everything was completed, I walked up to the lady and said my usual, “Well, I enjoyed moving you and good luck at your new home.” With that famous Hungarian accent she replied, “Oh dawling, you did such a fantastic job . . . wait just a minute . . . I want to give you something.” Now in all my years as a mover, I honestly never really cared about receiving a tip from my customers. It really did not matter to me. But, this time I thought, “Wow, Zsa Zsa Gabor’s cousin! This is going to be a great tip!” She walked out to her car and a few minutes later returned. Again she said, “It was a wonderful move, dawling and you are such a sweet man. You look so tired . . . I think you may be low on potassium.”

Then, without skipping a beat, she extended her arm and in her hand was my tip . . . a banana. Yes, that’s right . . . a banana. Caught in a moment of utter confusion, I was still able to reply with a soft spoken, “Thank you,” and with that . . . she was gone. I turned to the owner of the company as if to cry out for help and he did the only thing he could do . . . he just bursted out laughing!

I said my goodbyes and walked out to my Freightliner and made my way back onto Route 110, then Highway 101 to Interstate 210, and finally Interstate 15. As I settled in for my journey out of California toward my next pick up, I just could not stop laughing.

I reached over for my cooler and pulled out a nice, cold soda. I had to admit that I was feeling very tired and a little hungry. I glanced over to the passenger seat and saw my “tip” staring back at me . . . a bright, yellow banana.

About the Author:

Aubrey “Allen” Smith is the author of the first and original Truth About Trucking and How to Guarantee a “Perfect” Move.

© 2008, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

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Moving scams abound throughout the United States and each year thousands of consumers fall prey to this kind of operation. On the other hand, 40 million moves take place each year, and the large majority of these are performed satisfactorily. The key to having a good move by moving companies, is knowing what to look out for when making the decision.

There are simple, easy steps one can take to insure their move goes smoothly and without any hitches. The biggest concern for a consumer is the price of course, but more so, I believe, is the transportation of the items without any damages. It is possible to increase your chances of having a claim-free move if you follow certain “insider secrets” that I have seen work time and time again.

Undoubtedly, one of the greatest mistakes by consumers is believing that moving companies offer insurance at an affordable price. Even moving representatives will refer to these options as “insurance.” This is an illegal act by moving companies. Whether they call it “insurance” by mistake or simply by misunderstanding, no moving companies in the United States have or can offer “insurance.”

Having started in the moving industry in 1969 at the age of ten, I have heard these options called “insurance” by the drivers, salespeople and even owners of the company. Moving companies have no “insurance” . . . legally, it is a “valuation coverage.” Only an insurance company can sell insurance. A moving company is a moving company . . . not an insurance company. Legally, when a moving representative refers to “valuation coverage” as “insurance,” they are breaking the law, due to “false pretense.” Again, many moving reps do this out of misunderstanding or mistakenly.

However, legally speaking, it is against the law to refer to “valuation coverage” as “insurance.” Valuation coverage is a “contractual limit of liability.” It is a liability to cover the items shipped, in which you purchase through a contract with the mover. Should damages occur during transit, you file a “claim” with the moving company, and they in return, forward your “claim” to their insurance company. The number one complaint by consumers against moving companies concerns claims for damages. Understanding the mechanics behind the moving industry, and knowing simple but effective steps you can take, will greatly increase your chances of having a damage-free move.

 Aubrey Allen Smith began in the moving industry in 1969 at the age of ten. An expert in motor carrier transportation, he is the author of the popular eBooks: Truth About Trucking and How to Guarantee a “Perfect” Move. His “insider secrets” have helped many consumers experience a worry-free move. Please visit http://www.guaranteemove.com to learn more.

© 2007 – 2008, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

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We have all heard of moving “horror” stories or perhaps you are someone who had the misfortune of experiencing it first-hand. Although there are many excellent movers across the country, the fact remains that moving scams do exist. If there is going to be a problem, the starting point for the consumer will always begin with the moving estimate. Many times, the only item the customer will see is the price at the bottom of the page and totally miss the “fine print.” The first step in preventing a major “surprise” at the final destination of your move, is to fully understand what each “estimate” means for you, the consumer. The three types of estimates are:

• NON – BINDING ESTIMATE:

In this “estimate” you are given an estimated figure of your total weight based on a set price per pound. Depending on the “actual” weight, your final bill could be higher OR lower than the original estimate. The odd of this estimate working in your favor is next to none. Many times the salesperson will tell you that they purposely figured your weight higher for this estimate, so there is “no way” your final bill will cost more! This normally backfires for the consumer, even if the salesperson was being totally honest. Remember, this is an “estimate.” Even seasoned estimators can and do “miss” the weight. Furthermore, if the estimated weight does “go over,” the moving company can ONLY collect 110% of the original amount shown on the estimate. So, if the price shown is $5405.95, then the maximum you could end up paying at destination could ONLY be $5946.54 (110% of $5405.95). This type of “estimate,” in my opinion, does not provide the “peace of mind” you would want during a relocation process. Never accept a non-binding moving estimate.

• BINDING ESTIMATE:

This “estimate” can actually be very misleading to the customer. Sometimes referred to as a “fixed price” estimate, it gives the impression that you will only be charged for the amount shown on the estimate, and not a penny more. This sounds like a “guaranteed price,” doesn’t it? This is perhaps the main estimate that customers fall for, believing that the “binding” price is “guaranteed.” However, when providing this estimate, the mover will nearly always fail to mention that the driver who will be loading your shipment HAS THE RIGHT to “challenge” the estimate, if he feels that the weight has gone over! Thus, this is where the “binding estimate” can come back and bite you! The driver must “challenge” the moving estimate BEFORE he begins loading. Most often, drivers will not “challenge” several hundred pounds or even a few thousand pounds. However, if the driver feels that the weight shown on the “binding estimate” is much lower than the actual weight he will be loading, he can legally “challenge” the estimate, and the salesperson will have to come back out to your residence and renegotiate the price with you. Therefore, your original “binding” price meant absolutely nothing! Never accept a binding estimate.

• BINDING – NOT TO EXCEED ESTIMATE

This estimate is exactly what it proposes to be: a “not to exceed” price. The price shown on the estimate is exactly what you will be charged unless your weight is lower than what is shown on the estimate. If it is lower, then you will pay LESS! This moving estimate guarantees that your ending cost can only go DOWN and not UP! The only way of knowing what your TRUE weight is, is to be present when the driver weighs the truck. You must be there when he weighs the truck ‘EMPTY’ and when he weighs the truck ‘LOADED.’ Many customers do not want to be inconvenienced by this, but remember . . . do not trust the moving company with your empty and loaded scale. Make the effort to go down to the scale and witness the “weighing” yourself, both empty and once it has been loaded.

Forty million people move every year in the United States. There are simple, easy steps you can take that will assure your move, either local or cross country, will go efficiently and greatly reduce your chances of having a major claim. The FIRST STEP is choosing the right “estimate.” Always choose the “Binding – NOT TO EXCEED.”

About the Author:

Aubrey Allen Smith is the author of the Truth About Trucking and “How to Guarantee a “Perfect” Move.” Having started in the moving business in 1969 at the age of ten, he is an expert in the field of transportation. He shares his “insider secrets” and moving tips that only a moving veteran would know. Please visit www.guaranteemove.com to see how you can guarantee a “perfect” move.

© 2007 – 2008, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.

: aubrey allen smith, guaranteeMove, moving

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