Moving Scams & Rogue Movers – Part 3

Part 1: What’s the Scam?

Part 2: Why is this Happening?

Part 3: The Role of the Internet

Part 3 of this series discusses the role the Internet has played in making the issue of Moving Scams and Rogue Movers so widespread and prevalent.

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Most people would agree that the Internet has made their lives better – but ask the same question to anybody in the moving industry, and you might get a different answer. Why? Because the Internet has played a key role in tarnishing the reputation of this industry over the past decade.

When the Internet became a mainstream part of business in the 90′s, it made sense for moving companies to get quote requests (estimates) from their customers through a website.  Some websites went a step further and gathered moving companies and people together so a customer could go to one website and find many movers.  The information age had come to the moving industry – yay!

Unfortunately, this also happened to coincide with a time when the moving industry was being deregulated (see Part 2 for more on this) and many companies were entering the market.  Some of these companies were just inexperienced, but others were full-on scam companies (see Part 1 for more on this) that were ready to take advantage of loose regulations to dupe customers.

The Internet made it very easy for these questionable moving companies to get quotes and business from customers just by having a pretty (and sometimes not so pretty) website.  It also began to change customers’ expectations in working with a moving company from a detailed, hands-on, direct contact approach to “instant quotes.”

So what’s the solution? Consumers should be aware of the issues when shopping for movers online, even if it is a reputable third-party website. Consumers should also be aware that getting an accurate moving estimate is never “instant” and takes good, direct communication with a mover, along with (in most cases) an in-home survey.

For information on other issues regarding finding a moving company on the internet, please see our articles on:

Lead Generation Websites

Internet Brokerages

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Note: One Simple Move is not an Internet Brokerage or Lead Generation website. One Simple Move allows users to contact moving companies directly and anonymously, pre-screens any moving company in our network, and does not charge moving companies “lead fees.”

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Tipping Etiquette

Every time I walk into my local Chinese restaurant for carry-out I am faced with a dilemma – do I tip or not?  I’ve heard many people asking this same question on moving day when the movers are just finishing unloading the last of the truck.  I think the exact rules are a bit fuzzy, as with all tipping etiquette, but hopefully the “tips” we’ve provided will help alleviate some of that anxiety you don’t need on moving day!

Tipping should be based on the quality of service your moving company provides.  Many question why a tip is necessary considering the high cost of the move.  If you’re receiving good customer service and the movers are taking care of your valuables, not dinging up your brand new hardwood floors and are still courteous and professional, a tip is a nice gesture.  Tipping should occur once the job is complete.

• If the move is an all day job it’s nice to have cold drinks, such as water or soda, on hand for the movers.  Many people provide lunch, such as quick fast food or pizza, for the crew.  This is typically appreciated by the movers allowing them to take a quick break and then get back to work without an extended lunch period.

The amount tipped is discretionary.  Below are a few simple guidelines I’ve stumbled across but, as always, tip with what makes you feel most comfortable.

• If you have one mover lifting moderately heavy furniture and boxes, tip between $20 and $50.
• With multiple movers on the crew the general rule is to tip each mover the same as above but lower the amount by $5 per person.
• On average, most people tip $20 or $25 per person.
• If you’ve had your car shipped it’s recommended to tip the truck driver $20.

Phew!  Now that that’s taken care of go out and grab yourself a beer to relax.  But don’t forget to tip your local bartender $1/drink!

How not to find a moving company: Lead Generation Websites

Finding a moving company is easy.  Just type in “moving companies” in any search engine and millions of websites will appear.  Unfortunately only a few of them will actually be moving companies.  Some will be brokers (I’ll discuss these in a future blog post) and many will be “Lead Generation” websites.

They typically rank among the top listings with most search engines when searching for moving companies and related keywords.  They collect information about you and your move and sell it to moving companies enlisted in their services as a customer lead.

They are the websites that claim you can “get moving quotes now” or “get free moving quotes”.  Truth is you never actually get moving quotes now from any website and that moving quotes are always free.  The problem is that they are not a good way to find a moving company and can make the process of finding a quality moving company and having a stress free move more difficult than it needs to be.

The good. These websites are nice because they are quick and easy.  You fill in a few fields and hit submit.  Then moving companies contact you.  You have to do little to no searching to find them and they do all the legwork in contacting you.

The bad. Spam, sales calls and questionable moving companies.  First of all, because you have to give up your privacy in the form of your contact information, these moving companies can just email or call you at their convenience.  Second, typically you don’t know what moving companies have been given your information.  This is pretty scary because you don’t know who has your contact information and you don’t know anything about the quality of the moving companies.  And because you don’t know who the moving companies are, you can’t research them until they call you and you give you their company name and if they don’t call you at all it was just a waste of time.

Another issue with classic lead generation websites is that occasionally illegally operating or “rogue” movers purchase leads through these sites and can cause absolute nightmare moves (see our series on moving scams & rogue movers).  However, these sites are successful for a reason and their general ease of use makes them an enticing option.

Below are some links to past experiences from one of the more popular lead generation websites.

http://www.movingscam.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=58081

http://www.my3cents.com/showReview.cgi?id=33032

http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/291/RipOff0291367.htm

www.movingscam.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=280&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=45

On the other hand, One Simple Move is different and is not a typical lead generation website.  But I’m not just trying to plug the site and I’m not going to say it’s better.  Ultimately, our users will decide that for us.

At One Simple Move you create an account and receive access to a directory of qualified, licensed moving companies that can service your needs.  You then research and contact movers and can contact them anonymously through our site until you feel comfortable giving up your contact information.

The good. You are empowered as a consumer with a list of licensed and qualified movers who you can now research and contact on your own time, at your speed and without giving up your privacy through our unique anonymous communication interface until you feel comfortable giving up your contact information.  You can also review your moving company post-move to help future users.

The bad. Well I guess the worst par is that you have to create an account and have to do the legwork of contacting the moving companies.  But we work with some of the best moving companies, inform you about the industry and make connecting with moving companies as easy as possible by giving you one place to track all of your contacts.

Get Your Moving Day Green On

These days being “green” is in.  You’re already part of the solution each time you take reusable canvas bags to the market, refill your water bottle with tap water and conserve energy.  So why not take it one step further and be “green” while moving!  It’s easier than you think and when it’s all said and done you may have actually saved money.  But more importantly you’ll feel good about yourself!

It won’t happen overnight but if we can provide just a few tips on making that transition a little easier, we’ve done our job.

Purge and Condense

It’s always a good idea to take your upcoming move as an opportunity to sort through your belongings and decide what you want to keep and what you don’t.  If you want to sell your items place them on eBay, Craigslist, or simply have a garage sale.  Don’t feel like it’s worth the hassle?  Find your local donation agency to schedule a drop-off or pick-up.  Don’t let your electronics pile up in the junk yard.  Check out www.aslrecyling.com to find a local agent that will pick up your eWaste for free.

Eliminating extra waste also saves on the number of trips you have to take to your new home.  If you’re moving yourself think about renting a larger truck or maximize your space.  If you’re hiring a moving company you might be interested in www.greenmoversusa.com to find a green moving company in your area.  These companies are rated by just how green they are, including those companies that plant 10 trees for every completed move!

Cleaning

Whether you’re cleaning your new home prior to move-in or doing a final clean for the new homeowners, use green cleaners.  They are safe for your family, safe for the environment and actually less expensive than those products with harsh chemicals.

Packing Materials

Think reusable or recycled.  Ask friends and family for old moving boxes or search Craigslist.  You might also consider stopping by your local grocery store or liquor store to find out what day they normally receive shipments.  These boxes are typically more sturdy than boxes from holiday/birthday gifts.  Instead of plastic bubble wrap to protect your valuables use old newspapers that can be recycled or sheets and towels that can be washed.

Want to avoid waste altogether?  If you live in Southern California check out Earth Friendly Moving at www.earthfriendlymoving.com.  Earth Friendly Moving will drop off plastic, reusable containers for a small fee, then pick them back up once your move is complete!  Avoid boxes and tape all in one quick delivery.

We hope you find these tips helpful and think “green” before your next move!