Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Story of the Storage Unit

So post flood I decide I need some more space and decide to rent a storage unit. I've hired my share of movers in the past so I don't feel totally unqualified or in-the-dark about the process. I'm an intelligent person and I'm confident I'm capable of asking all the right questions, which I think I do.

The day of the move arrives and the movers show up with truck and dollies in hand - along with and outstretched hand not saying pleased to meet you - but hand over the cash lady. I say - huh??? You haven't even done any work yet, how many hours do you know its going to take so you know what it will cost and what to charge me? Not to mentionyou haven't done anything yet, so why should I pay you? You might damage my things and then I've paid you.

Well, they give me the story that its a tough economy and they've had a lot of customers move everything and then say - sorry we can't afford to pay you so this is their new policy. They are standing in my house and I really need my stuff moved so I get out my checkbook and begin to write a check - and they inform me they don't take checks - cash only. Well, that's news to me - and do they expect I just have a whole bunch of cash laying around?

So now I'm not just mildly annoyed - I'm getting angry. FYI - let me update you on the situation that they are also over 4 hours late for arrival of the scheduled appointment and I had made arrangements at the storage unit to be let in as well.

The nice young men holding the "invoice" in question and making demands are just the hired help and are surprised that their boss hasn't shared any of these delightful customer service policies with me up front - but they say its the norm so please don't shoot the messenger. (hmmm - maybe I should get a gun).

So now I'm full on mad and call the boss man and voice my concerns. In the end its agreed that I'll stop and get cash on the way to the storage unit to pay them. Ironically, they offered to stay at my house and load things when I went to get cash. I looked at them and said "SERIOUSLY"?
You need me to pay up front and I can't write a check because you don't "trust" me. But I should let two total strangers hang out at my house with my stuff and a moving truck ALONE!!!!! You've got to be kidding - I can't believe you just said that.

So on with the story - let the loading commence. All furniture is loaded and I give them the storage unit address and write directions and we head out. I need to stop and get cash and they roll on forward to the storage unit. Well it turns out I had to go to a second cash machine so it took longer than expected. I arrived at the storage unit and they weren't there. My first thought is HOLY SHIT - they stole my stuff - thank god I didn't pay them too. In the end they arrived about 10 minutes later - apologizing for getting lost - that GPS gave them bad directions. I said, I know - that's why I wrote you directions.

So they backup to the storage unit - jump out of the truck and ask for the money. By this time I'm totally frustrated. What was supposed to be a $160 job ended up costing $317 by the time all of the "unspoken" surcharges, etc. were added and I was sweaty (it was hot out) and mad.

In the end, I asked the kids why they worked for such an unethical guy since it made them look bad and they got the brunt of people's frustration. I said, why don't you just rent a truck and do this yourself. The kid honestly replied. Here's my business card. I have my own moving company, I work for him on the side and use this as an opportunity to market my company for free while getting paid.

Moral of the Story - Too many to list - but that kid might just be a genius.

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