3 Sep 2020 · MoveAdvisor
1.0 out of 51.0
My family (me, my wife and 1 child) and I recently made a move from California to Texas, about a 1,500 mile trip. We packed up a 3 bedroom home of stuff to be transported. Initially, I spoke with a shipping and transportation brokerage, Alliance Van Lines. The representative I spoke to was helpful and quoted me a fair price. As per their business model, Alliance then connects a move to a local carrier who can pick up the job if they decide to do so.. LD Moving and Storage was assigned the move.
Although the fair quote mentioned above changed dramatically (almost doubled - FYI: this post is not about the $) upon pick up, they (LD pick up crew), did their thing, wrapped our things and put them into a van.
I found out later that our stuff then sat in some random location waiting for another truck (an 18 wheeler) to pick it up. How long did my stuff sit? I do not know. Where did it sit? I do not know. Was it secure? I do not know. FIRST TAKEAWAY - know where your things are.
What I do know is that is when the issues started. There must have been a misunderstanding with regard to delivery time frames - I figured if they collected our things about 1 week prior to my preferred delivery date, we should not be sitting in TX without our stuff for too long - I was happy to get a hotel or alike for 2 or 3 nights. I was told however, that our stuff would not leave for another week. SECOND TAKEAWAY - be very clear upfront on delivery time frames.
After multiple very frustrating calls with the Owner of LD Moving and Storage, Ziggy (spelling may be off), I had no choice but to pay an expedited fee to get our things to TX as soon as possible OR, we could wait until some random 18 wheeler came to get our stuff.. again, or stuff was sitting somewhere unknown. After about a week of hotel rooms, I gave in and agreed to pay the expedited fee. From that agreement date, it took them 3 days to get to TX.
I was assured that our stuff was the only move on that truck - it was not. When they arrived, I stood at the loading end of the truck while they asked me whether or not certain items were mine. At the end of the unloading, there were multiple items still on the truck that were not ours. Writing this, I am still unsure whether we have all our things.
Let's switch gears however. LD agree to disassemble your furniture if needed and reassemble at the destination, no baby cribs. As an example, one of the crew members attempted to assemble our bed frame and head board - it's a large unit but fairly easy to do. When I went into the room to inspect, the rails were upside down / wrong side around and all other ways of wrong. Not to mention, each screw was loose. I highlighted this to them, they fixed it but again, screws were not basically falling out. At that point, I told them to leave and I will complete the screws myself. THIRD TAKEAWAY - these guys are not professionals at anything. Check their work.
Subsequently, I have followed up with the owner of LD, Ziggy. My intent was to first, get the facts about the move. Specifically, if our things were the only items on the truck. This is important as my company is reimbursing part of my move and they needed to know - to which Ziggy replied, just tell your company that it was all your stuff.. FORTH TAKEAWAY - this is one testament (of many) to the LD Team..100% truthful? most definitely not.
Second, as a paid in full customer, I wanted to have my concerns heard about the experience. To that end, I was not listened to; I was interrupted and ultimately told to what whatever I want. LD Moving and Storage did not want to hear from me OR hear about my experience, period. They do not care about the level of service provided - the way I see it: there are enough people needing to be moved, Ziggy and his know this, and simply collect the $ before any work is done, completes the job (sub par) and moves onto the next one.
FINAL TAKEAWAY - my recommendation is to NOT, under any circumstances, use LD Moving and Storage. Moving is tough enough - the last thing you want to deal with is a less than upright business owner who does not care about the job that he or his fellow employees complete; just as long as they get paid. One last comment - there are multiple things broken and damaged from the move. A claim will be made.. Ziggy did not want anything to do with this either.
Read more