Stevens Van Lines

Reviews

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1. S

   Sharon W.

   Source: MoveAdvisor · Meridian, ID to Gresham, OR

   20 Jan 20194-bedroomPaid $9,000

   Move from Boise id to Portland or.

   This move was a disaster. The local agent was Boise Office and Moving. I was a dummy to believe them about how great they were and although I insured my move, I chose a $750 deductible, believing that I would not have any claims. All my wood furniture was scratched and nicked, one end table beyond repair. My very expensive off white sofa had black marks all over it, as well as an upholstered recliner. They tore the laundry room floor in my newly built house and put a hole in the wall at the top of the stairs. I don’t believe the furniture was properly padded; otherwise there would not have been so much damage. If Boise Office is typical of agents for Stevens, steer clear of these guys. The movers were in a hurry to return to Boise, and their work reflected their haste. The inventory sheet was not at all specific so was difficult to determine damaged items. I gave them one star as they did one thing right. That was boxing and wrapping two large wall pictures that were damage free.

2. K

   Kay L.

   Source: MoveAdvisor · Missoula, MT

   2 Nov 20183-bedroomPaid $5,800

   Do not use Stevens.

   This has been 3 1/2 months of total stress. After getting through the arrival of our belongings from storage in Washington (not told in advance the shipping would be subcontracted to Stevens Worldwide), with a driver taking a nap throughout most of the unloading process and given bad advice (we should have written down some things); we are now dealing with missing items from boxes. We paid for the replacement/repair insurance, but are getting no compensation for things that are missing. We initially gave the company the benefit of the doubt thinking a box may have gone on to Tucson (next delivery) or was left in storage, but it is very apparent that our boxes were tampered with either between our house and the two trucks, in storage, between storage and the Stevens truck, or between the truck and our garage. I personally talked to and saw the employee packing our flatware (stainless steel 12 place settings plus serving pieces from our wedding almost 38 years ago) in Washington. I found our two piece flatware trays in the drawer and took them out to be stored. The second day when they arrived to finish packing and moving our belongings I even told him I could have saved him time by having him wrap the two piece flatware trays with the flatware inside instead of packing them in a few bundles. I wanted to take the trays with me, too. I saw him put the flatware into a large packing box. We had over 240 boxes and items of furniture arrive in July so there was no way we would have known things were missing from boxes. Now, since every other item from our kitchen (with the exception of an expensive non-stick fry pan) arrived we realize a box was opened and things removed before getting here. We mistakenly thought with 9 months to file claims that we could be reimbursed for missing items inside the boxes. WRONG! We are being told that we signed for all the boxes so we can't have anything missing and we are being denied our claim. I also had an inexpensive plastic tote with hand held gardening tools and two pairs of gardening gloves that is missing. The tote would be insignificant, except it was given to me by my best friend from college when my dad died. They also gave us a hydrangea plant, but we could not move the plant from our yard, so I made a point of telling my husband I wanted to keep the tote with my gardening tools. Because we told people (including Mountain Moving owners) we gave away a lot of our belongings, I was made to feel like I was mistaken or lying about the gardening items. A couple of other things I do not have a personal account of, but that doesn't seem to matter anyway. We know they are missing, and we are being denied any compensation. They keep telling us that we signed a legal document that all the boxes arrived. How were we supposed to know the day 240+ boxes arrived that individual items were missing? The company manager told me to recheck boxes for items and ask our kids if we gave them things that were missing. We did not report broken plates that were packed by ourselves or a broken bed frame that was broken before we moved or a saddle that was listed on the inventory, but I said we gave to an employee in Washington. Why would we make a false report? We also don't understand why the replacement insurance does not cover items missing inside boxes. Surely, we are not the first people to have items misplaced, lost, stolen etc. before delivery. Why did they cover some damage to wooden furniture, but not missing things? Stevens is saying they didn't initially pack the items so they are not responsible and Mountain Moving is just telling us, "No," on everything missing. We were very naive (we know the owners of Mountain Moving) and way too trusting. For instance, we now know something was amiss with at least one box (besides the missing flatware and a few other items). The handlers brought several items to us (planter, cleaning supplies in a bag, floor steamer, one piece of our two piece flatware tray) in no box and told us, "These were last minute items and they weren't in a box and didn't have any numbers, so they weren't on the inventory list." Wow! How were they stored for 7+ months?? Also, weird that the flatware tray had another piece that was later found in a packed box. Why wouldn't those two pieces have been packed together? I also recently noticed on their legal paperwork that our lawn mower was listed with a grass catcher. We didn't have a yard when our items arrived in July so didn't check it closely and now realize the grass catcher never arrived. We know their answer is that we checked it on the inventory sheet, so we will not even waste our time on that one. (We should have been more diligent.) The driver assured us any damage and missing things would be taken care of but both Mountain Moving and Stevens won't pay anything because we didn't write it down the day of delivery. In addition, the driver told Stevens that a bed was completely put together with no damage when he was the one who came to us to tell us screws were missing for the support slats and one slat would be placed at the end of the bed because the support leg was missing a foot and there would be less weight on the slat there. any we could just put a piece of wood under it. Stevens eventually paid for the hardware, but this illustrates the need to not trust the company and what their employees report. Unfortunately, lessons(write down things, don't be pressured to think everything is OK, don't let the initial company subcontract,) are too late for us. bottom line we strongly suggest you not use Stevens Van Lines or Mountain Moving and Storage. We do not recommend these companies and urge you to find another mover. Also don't pay extra for insurance until you are assured they will pay for missing items.

3. J

   James S.

   Source: MoveAdvisor · La Canada Flintridge, CA to Silver Spring, MD

   2 Sep 20184+ bedroomPaid $11,000

   Choose another company.

   I hired Pinks (who have an excellent reputation, and who we had used before for a local move) who gave it to Stevens for the cross country trip. "Thieves and wreckers protected by lawyers" is my short description of our experience. Even though I was present at the load out and the load in, stuff (particularly from the garage, which we had used to store some of our valued personal mementos during the "staging" process of the house sale) was seen to be packed, but just did not arrive at the destination. Other furniture just arrived broken, with the disclaimer that "presswood isn't covered by insurance" being used for just not taking care of the customer's possessions. Our claim against Stevens was dismissed by them, since we had not recorded the damage/missing items at the time, even though it was the behavior of their employees/contractors that prevented missing/damaged items being identified. Still miss my antique train set that wasn't noticed as being missing until the Christmas after the move :(.

4. H

   Heather K.

   Source: MoveAdvisor · Pittsburgh, PA

   30 Aug 20183-bedroomPaid $12,000

   Lost our entire shipping container for days. Blamed everyone else.

   Stevens lost our entire household for a week. Did not answer calls or emails. Apparently the shipment cleared customs and they did not do anything afterwards (they were supposed to transfer it from Cleveland to Pittsburgh). Then they claimed that the origin agent indicated that the shipment terminated in Cleveland rather than Pittsburgh, which is completely false (all of origin agent's documentation say Pittsburgh). No apology from Stevens, no attempt to remedy the situation. Just curt, rude emails telling us how things are going to go and blaming everyone else. And here we have an entire family forced to sleep on the bare floor for an entire week due to this. At least they could be respectable and apologize for causing all of this, or make some kind of effort to rush it. But no. We have yet to even see if they will provide the full-service moving and furniture assembly that we paid for, or if our household items are OK. Avoid Stevens like the plague.

5. P

   Patty K.

   Source: MoveAdvisor · Hoffman Estates, IL to Tucson, AZ

   13 Aug 2018Partial movePaid $4,500

   Worst Experience.

   I hired Midwest who then gave it to Stevens! My boxes came to us smashed in with holes table scratched and my Custom made Vase 300.00 cracked. On top of it they where late by 4 days! Their answer wither the boxes are smashed they didn't pack them we did so their not liable even for the box missing. I have pictures of everything they just don't care! They offered us 112.00 dollars for all damage and missing items. DO NOT USE THEM OR MIDWEST MOVERS in Illinois!!

6. Q

   Qpoi

   Source: MoveAdvisor · Hartford, CT to Elk River, MN

   11 Aug 20183-bedroomPaid $8,000

   Terrible experience with Stevens.

   We do NOT recommend Stevens van lines. We used them when United Van Lines was not available for our move from the East Coast to the Midwest. The two man crew that came on packing day were terrible. They did not label boxes properly, squished everything from each room into huge boxes and packed clothes along with other items, including stuff from the bathroom, such as bathroom rugs. They were extremely haphazard and disorganized in their packing and required constant instructions and supervision and took all day. They did not wrap items well, including fragile ones. We had used United for two prior moves and were extremely impressed with their organization and packing methods. They used multiple small boxes and literally labelled every single one with all the items packed inside. With Stevens, we had to instruct them regarding everything including removing bulbs from lamps before they put them in the truck. The movers missed packing items and when we pointed them out, they told us you should have told us earlier. We had already informed them as soon as they arrived that everything in the house needs to be packed. They told us they would unpack in the Midwest for an extra fee which we signed up for but little did I know their unpacking involved opening boxes and dumping everything in huge piles in our rooms. They dumped bathroom mats and kitchen utensils on top of our kids clothes in the nursery (I ended up having to wash every single piece of clothing my kids owned). We had to sort through mountains of stuff which literally took weeks as boxes from different rooms were dumped on top of one another. I cannot begin to list the number of items they damaged; multiple lamps, our wood bed, wood tables, two expensive $500 car seats, expensive nursery room furniture, etc. We had a separate storage section in the East Coast which was supposed to go to a storage area in the MidWest. They put multiple items into storage that were not supposed to go there and vice versa. My husband and I spent a lot of time and effort tracking down items and moving stuff to and fro the storage area and three months after we moved, we are still missing a few items and have no idea where they have misplaced/missed. I never write reviews, this is my first one, but after a terrible experience, felt compelled to warn other people of how unorganized and careless they are.

7. P

   Phil

   Source: MoveAdvisor · Pasadena, CA to Annandale, VA

   10 Aug 20183-bedroomPaid $12,000

   Overcharged after pickup.

   I was charged an extra $3000 because they estimated the weight incorrectly. I got the bad news three weeks after the move. At that point you can't reconsider or go with another vendor They have all your possessions and you have to pay whatever they say. Basically a ransom payment. Make sure and get a guarantee of price BEFORE entering into a moving contract.

8. M

   Mocha R.

   Source: MoveAdvisor · Albuquerque, NM to Alexandria, VA

   30 Jul 20183-bedroomPaid $12,000

   Worst moving company.

   I am in the military and have moved about 9 times. This is the worst move in my 26 years of serving in the military. Delivery was scheduled for a week ago. Then they kept telling me to wait a few more days. Then the delivery date was scheduled for this morning. No one showed up and when I called they’re response was they didn’t know what happened. Truck driver then called later and “guarantees” to deliver tomorrow. I don’t believe him or the company. Again..cannot emphasize enough to potential and future consumers..do NOT hire this company. They are extremely unreliable and not trustworthy with your household goods. Unfortunately the military has contracted to the worst possible company. Taking care of our military?? I think not!! Consumers..beware!!

9. C

   Celeste L.

   Source: MoveAdvisor · Fort Lauderdale, FL to Denver, NC

   29 Jul 20182-bedroomPaid $5,000

   Hire someone else.

   They sent a 2 man crew. Took the all day. The boss man, Antwon, was on his headset talking to family members all day long. When it finally came to move our treadmill- he couldn't get it through the store. He said " I'm not suppose to take it apart- but that's the only way. Long story short- we waited until 11 pm - and after 2 hours - Antwon could not put it together. He said to us- "I will have to take the hit" "This is my fault". We just received our denial on claim- along with instructions on caring for your treadmill. Isn't that a nice touch? They did not even offer to have it fixed. We work hard for our things and if you do too- Do NOT hire this ratchet crew.

10. C

    Carole G.

    Source: MoveAdvisor · Greeneville, TN

    6 Jul 20184-bedroomPaid $6,800

    Move From Florida to Tennessee.

    Do not use Stevens World Wide Van Lines for your move. We had moved from Texas to Florida in 2014 and used Stevens. The crew was fantastic. They wrapped everything and nothing was damaged. We used Stevens for our move this year from Florida to Tennessee, thinking we would get the same professional service. So much of the items were damaged. We had the adjuster come over to take pictures and we sent in pictures and a list of damages. We just got the letter in the mail. They will not be paying anything. Nice way to treat repeat customers. Do not use if you value your property.