STI Moving and Storage

Reviews

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1. T

   Tanisha D.

   Source: MoveAdvisor · Evanston, IL

   26 Feb 20213-bedroomPaid $520

   Professional and Timely

   I had three movers come, they asked me to do a walk through and immediately got to work. They ended up taking one hour and a half off of what I was originally quoted! They foresaw challenges and presented me with solutions instead of making me feel like all was lost. All three men were respectful and wanted to make sure that I was satisfied with the job. By the way, the customer service before I even hired them was really amazing. Kate was professional and made sure that she was thorough with asking her questions so that we were on the same page and she did not try to upsell me. Disclaimer: we only had them move the big pieces of furniture that we could not move ourselves.

2. R

   Rajat S.

   Source: MoveAdvisor · Evanston, IL

   11 Jan 20213-bedroomPaid $2,200

   Fast, efficient and very professional

   This is the second time using them in the last 4 years. Recommend them highly. On time, very fast and professional. They moved a 3 bedroom house from start to unloading in 6 hours!! Now if only they could also help with unpacking! :)

3. D

   Dimitry B.

   Source: MoveAdvisor · Chicago, IL to Highland Park, IL

   24 Oct 20202-bedroomPaid $2,000

   Great service.

   Great movers, liberal with packaging. If you want to save some money, you can try to pack some things yourself.

4. S

   Samantha M.

   Source: MoveAdvisor · Chicago, IL to South Hill, VA

   9 Sep 20201-bedroomPaid $2,500

   Wonderful experience out of state with STI.

   STI Review I moved away from Chicago to North Carolina for grad school and needed to get my 1 bedroom apartment moved South, and split into storage and my new residence. After doing research on local moving companies, I decided to go with STI Movers based on reviews, responsiveness and price (budget of $3k). After coordinating my virtual inventory list with Kate (who is absolutely stellar and beyond helpful), I confirmed a late July pick up date. I heard from other moving companies that my move would be "small", around 500-600 cubic feet. You have the option to put down a $200 (refundable) deposit or pay 1/2 of the total quote upfront (via credit card). Salvador and his team arrived promptly (and with sufficient notice) to pack up my apartment on moving day. There were more than enough movers and my apartment was completely packed in just over an hour. They took great care to ensure my things were properly padded, and were flexible with our few last minute open boxes. Salvador answered all of my questions and was very helpful walking me through the paperwork. All movers wore masks throughout the move (helpful during COVID). Between pick up and drop off of my belongings was about 3 weeks (you get a month of storage in your moving quote). You tell STI the first available date you will be available to receive the delivery, and they will deliver within 10 business days. While my delivery date was pushed back by 2 days due to a truck issue, I was offered the late compensation. Wilberto and Miguel gave me plenty of notice, and even a one hour timetable for my delivery. They were swift and efficient and took great care of my belongings. They were happy to split my delivery 50% into a basement for storage, and 50% into a U-haul for my family to drive onto school. Wilberto and Miguel unloaded all of my belongings in the span of an hour, and were courteous while in the house/basement. Overall I would 100% use STI Movers again. It can be scary trying to find a moving company completely online and during COVID, but I highly recommend STI Movers. They are extremely open communication wise, and are very passionate about providing great customer service. Kate was with me as a point of contact for 5-6 weeks and truly set my nerves at ease. Absolutely great experience!

5. E

   Elaine D.

   Source: MoveAdvisor · Gilberts, IL

   31 Aug 2020Partial movePaid $1,000

   Highly impressed with STI!

   The guys at STI accommodated all my requests and made moving simple! They were energetic and positive with smiles in their faces.

6. L

   Liora A.

   Source: MoveAdvisor · Evanston, IL to Chicago, IL

   28 Aug 20202-bedroomPaid $600

   Movers.

   The service was excellent!! Movers are so friendly and want you to be satisfied with your move. As expected, nothing was damaged and they worked efficiently.

7. P

   Patricia C.

   Source: MoveAdvisor · Oak Lawn, IL to Arlington Heights, IL

   11 Nov 20211-bedroomPaid $755

   STI moving

   I had a good experience with STI. The movers were efficient and knew what they were doing. I'd hire this company again.

8. J

   Jill Y.

   Source: MoveAdvisor · Wesley Chapel, FL

   23 Sep 20184-bedroomPaid $4,000

   Lost Items/No Effort.

   We used STI movers for a move from FL to MI. We researched the company online on multiple sites, read reviews, asked questions, etc and thought we had made the right choice. The gentlemen that packed up our belongings and the truck were amazing and very professional, and it seemed like the move would have no issues. It took quite a while to receive our belongings however (a little over two weeks) but that was per the contract, so we were prepared. Unfortunately, when the truck did arrive at our new house, the movers that unloaded were very impatient impatient and in a hurry. I am not sure if they were behind schedule or what the issue was. It was very rushed and difficult to track everything coming off the truck, as they were just haphazardly piling it up, and there was a language barrier with one of the movers who was just too to communicate with us. A significant number of our plastic storage boxes were cracked, broken, or dented beyond repair. Fortunately, the only damage were two broken mugs. Twice we had to send the movers back to the truck because they had unloaded things that were not ours. It took us a bit to sort through a huge quantity of boxes piled up in our house and garage, only to discover we were missing two boxes. One box was no big deal as it contained kitchen items, however, the other box contained my teenage daughter's art portfolio, and over a year's work of art work that she had been working on for art college acceptance. When I contacted STI, we basically received an email stating the odds of them finding it were impossible and the instructions for a claim. I emailed the company back explaining that we were not concerned with the one box, but getting the portfolio box back was extremely important. I did not receive a response to this email. My daughter was devastated to have lost a year's worth of work, some of which was targeted to send to an art contest this fall. I am incredibly disappointed in how this turned out, and shocked that there isn't some kind of protocol to locate the owners of boxes left on the truck, or possibly given to another household. I am also incredibly disappointed with the level of customer service I received regarding our missing items. There was no reason for this, as the gentleman that packed everything were so organized and professional ad we were able to see how our things were packed on the truck. The only thing I can think of is something that happened in transit, which is a disappointment. I can buy another rice cooker and colanders from the other lost box, but we can't get back a year of art. I really wish I could have posted a great review of this company talking about how they found our missing belongings and got them back to us, but it clearly was not important. They got paid at the end of the day, so why make the effort?

9. F

   Frank

   Source: MoveAdvisor · Farmingdale, NY to Lake Mary, FL

   2 Sep 20182-bedroomPaid $3,000

   STI Moving & Storage Shame On You!

   I hired STI Moving & Storage twice, the first move from Illinois to New York went well. The cost of that move was just over $2,000. However, the 2nd time I used STI Moving & Storage they gave me a quote for $2,298, fair enough with less items this time around as we left some stuff to my family. The movers showed up, late might I add and took forever to get me all packed to the point I started to help. It was a rainy day and I advised that they lay down moving blankets, but they never did. The movers charged me an additional $1000, stating the square footage was larger than estimated. How can that be? I moved the same stuff the first time I used STI Moving & Storage and there were several things we left behind. This experience gets even worse, and I hope when you choose a moving company you will not use STI Movers. I arrived in Lake Mary, FL Saturday, February 17th and of course I didn’t hear from the movers until Thursday, February 22nd after calling STI Moving & Storage asking where are my movers? You can’t make this stuff up, it gets even worse. I spoke to Martin who is the manager at STI Moving & Storage located in Skokie, IL and he said they will be contacting me and should arrive with my things between Friday, February 23 and Sunday, February 25th. I get a call from the movers and they tell me they will be at my location Sunday @ 10:00am. I get a call they’re stuck in traffic and should be here by 11:30am according to GPS. They showed up at 2:45pm with some lame excuse, GPS doesn’t lie guys. These guys were also slow, and again I jumped in to help. I noticed boxes crushed, my freezer chest looked like a car parked in New York City with many dings. My Bowflex Treadclimber was scratched badly. This was so unacceptable! The movers even had the nerve to ask me for a tip, seriously? You were almost 7 days late and 5 hours late on arrival that you committed to, and you gave me a lame excuse, and my stuff was damaged. We also realized that we are missing items, kitchen stuff and my large fishing tackle bag with more than $1,200 worth of gear. Think twice before using STI Moving & Storage, seriously! Web site: http://www.stimovers.com/ Phone: 1-888-449-1223 Martin from STI Moving & Storage sends me a claim form that requires more time to put together than getting a root canal. What a waste of time!

10. K

    Kat V.

    Source: MoveAdvisor

    7 Jul 20181-bedroomPaid $2,200

    Do Not do Business With This Company!!

    TLDR: A sexually transmitted infection would be less painful than my experience with STI. Their employees are neglectful, indignant, threatening, mismanaged & irresponsible. They lied, attempted to intimidate & extort me, verbally abused me & caused damage/loss to my property. They broken 3 federal laws, made me feel so unsafe that I called the police, it was a nightmare. FULL STORY: Arranged for full service with STI from Chicago to LA. I was employed full time, which is why I sought service from a professional moving company. According to STI's website, their mission is to "deliver dependable, worry-free moving". It goes on to pledge moving services that are "quick, efficient and professional". Unfortunately, their was unsatisfactory due to the lack of organization between employees and horrific customer service. At the time of confirmation, they advised that delivery would occur within that fourteen day window & they would give me a 24-48 hour notice of the exact time. I was working in Chicago & my office new equipment was part of the shipment. I was to fly out and meet the delivery once they gave 24-48 hour notice so there would be no lapse in my schedule. When it did not arrive within 48 hours of this notice, I called to inquire. I was told it was delayed & would arrive the following week. When the delivery still failed to arrive, I called again & was told it would take another two weeks, longer than the 14 business day window. No one ever reached out to notify me of a delay. Instead, I had to call every day & every employee seemed to have no means for tracking it. I received different estimated delivery dates that seemed to move back and forth with no rhyme or reason. It's evident that there was a lack of coordination between the dispatchers, trucks & coordinators. I was concerned that the delivery had been lost or damaged & they were stalling. They did nothing to soothe my anxieties and reassure customer confidence. As a result of STI's failure to stay organized, I missed several weeks of work. My employer grew critical of my relocation efforts as I was forced to relay conflicting information, & as a result of STI's incompetence, I got laid off. The following month, I received a call on a Friday 5pm confirming that the delivery would arrive between 9-11am the next day. This 16 hour notice also falls short of what might qualify as 24-48 hour notice. The truck still didn't arrive on time. It showed up in the afternoon & the driver said dispatchers had given him the wrong address. All tardiness aside, this is when the real nightmare began. The driver wouldn't give me his name & demanded an additional payment in cash for "added fees" before completing services. I spoke to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration who explained that by law, a moving company cannot demand more than the binding estimate upon delivery. Lawfully, STI could have charged me added fees within 30 days of delivery. Instead, they unlawfully demanded more money in cash & threatened to hold my property hostage if I didn't pay. As I refused to pay more than the binding estimate from the Bill of Lading, the driver raised his voice & threatened to leave with my property. His language was demeaning, his tone disrespectful, he kept gazing at my body & I had to request that he look at my eyes, not my chest. I was home alone & felt unsafe by the two nameless employees, one of whom was the driver, whom seemed fixated on my body & threatening my property. After it escalated, I called the police to ensure my safety & settle the dispute. Then, I began collecting evidence (i.e. - taking pictures of the truck, the license plate, etc..all while they belittled me with undignified laughter). The driver called me a liar & insisted I hadn't actually called the police. I recorded video of the driver refusing to identify himself, threatening my property & refusing to cooperate with the police. It must have dawned on him I was serious because he stopped laughing, told me to put away my camera before climbing back on the truck & driving away with my property. I then called STI & I spoke to a dispatcher, explaining that two men who refused to identify themselves had demanded more money than I owed. The dispatcher responded by also raising his voice, claiming I had no reason to not trust STI. He called me a "stupid girl" among a slew of other vulgar insults and further remarked, "You don't know how to read". The dispatch employee called me a liar & again I was accused of not calling to police. I refused to let him raise his voice & insult me over the phone, so I attempted to move the conversation to email to have it on record. I sent 3 emails expressing my grievances. Refusing to correspond in writing, the dispatcher kept calling back repeatedly, yelling with abusive language. According to the FMCSA, if STI wanted to dispute my complaint, they had a responsibility to express this in writing. Instead, they bombarded me with verbal abuse & drove away with my property. This violates the Household Goods Movers Oversight Enforcement & Reform Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-59) section 4210, which makes it unlawful to hold household goods hostage. At 3:00pm, I received a call from a relocation coordinator who was willing to speak without raising his voice. We discussed the situation, looking over the contract while I expressed distress caused by their employees' disorderly conduct. He agreed to have the truck return to complete the delivery and I was to pay the balance according the binding contract without the "added fees". Following this, he sent an stating in writing that I had refused to pay the balance (false). When the truck returned, they still refused to give me their names. They also refused to reassemble my property as promised by the full service agreement. Instead, they tried to coerce me into doing it myself. Our disagreement over who was responsible for reassembling these items only served to further catalyze the conflict. About halfway through the delivery, the police arrived. The driver reached them first & told them that I'd refused to pay for my delivery. Their story didn't fly with the cops, especially when I showed them my deposit receipt & money order for final payment. The police took my side and the driver got mad because I was a woman and he wanted to get his way. He called me a liar & once again, refused to complete the delivery. I got their supervisor on the phone, who spoke with the police before speaking with the driver, instructing him to cooperate. The driver's behavior was so appalling it's no wonder he refused to reveal his identity. Any sense of professionalism and legitimacy I had for was lost. Much of my property received significant damage since I'd released it into the care of STI, there were even items missing. Their website claims professionalism in moving art, yet original pieces were haphazardly crushed & stuffed into boxes. They weren't packed between cardboard inserts, while one particularly large piece of artwork went missing entirely. Other items had water damage, indicating that they hadn't been stored in a temperature controlled facility. The movers failed to wrap my electronics in thick brown padded paper & the moving boxes themselves were in bad shape. Fragile boxes hadn't been labeled "top load", while boxes labeled "this end up" were unloaded with no regard to this labeling. My glass plated table was only wrapped in one blanket & a large mirror got broken after they hadn't wrapped it in any padding at all. My marble desk was delivered in such terrible condition that it fell apart upon delivery, while delicate musical instruments had been stuffed carelessly into boxes. Their website claims to "ensure a safe and successful long distance move". Under no circumstances should a successful long distance move make the customer feel unsafe or entail police involvement. The poor execution of this delivery failed to reflect any sense of security or professionalism. The services of STI was beyond unsatisfactory, hardly the "dependable, worry-free moving experience" that is clearly stated as their mission. Their services caused me to experience distress and anxiety as a result of the property damages, neglect, indignity & mismanagement. In response to my grievance letter, STI offered me a $200 settlement that required my signing a nondisclosure clause. I refused to accept this agreement, how could that small amount possibly compensate for the extent of stress & abuse not to mention lost wages & damage to my property? According to the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration), STI had broken not 1 but 3 federal laws including extortion as well as holding property hostage. I filed reports with the FMCSA as well as the BBB and Attorney General, all of whom suggested I take STI to small claims since I had documentation. Of course, ran into a problem filing claim because the courts couldn't locate STI's agent of service! Turns out they weren't authorized to do business, make transactions or operate in the state of California! Digging deeper, we discovered that STI changed the name of their company a few years back, which means it's likely they've faced previous litigation. When we stood in front of the judge, he ruled that the dispute involved violations of federal law & was thereby out of his jurisdiction, suggesting I take them to federal court. Good luck finding an attorney who's willing to represent a lone consumer against a small sketchy business on a federal level! STI walked away scot free - no accountability. They're free to be negligent & abuse customers while breaking whatever federal laws they please.