Help, OOS moving companies and the process

I know a lot of you have moved out of state recently and I was wondering if you could give me some insight in regards to the actual move. I have no idea where to start. Where do I get boxes from, when should I start packing? What moving companies should I get estimates from? Some moving companies say they will give an estimate over the internet. How is that possible, they have no idea what I have in my house. I could never list everything.

I am a little overwhelmed right now. Point me in the right direction and tell me this will be a piece of cake please.

Re: Help, OOS moving companies and the process

Ok, our experience was horrible...but not everyone has this many problems!!

We moved OOS in March and used United (located in NJ). They gave us a great quote (over the internet - but we only had a 1 bedroom apt, so it was easy for me to list everything). Anyway, they show up and load everything on the truck and turn around and tell us it will be more than 3x what they quoted us!!

We had an absolutely horrible experience. They picked up our things in a nice normal sized truck - dropped them off in the biggest semi I have ever seen in my life - the thing could not fit into our apartment complex entrance and they wanted us to pay even more for them having to cart it from the corner. After paying them all that $$, they made my DH help them move the items into the apt (they only sent two guys - one of whom sat in the truck the majority of the time - so the other guy needed help moving the large objects in). We were on the phone w/ the company screaming at them but there was nothing we could do. They started unloading the truck and put our mattress on the ground - which was wet b/c it was raining...and a lot of our fragile items were broken, etc. etc. (I feel like I could go on for days...)

We contacted bbb and put in a complaint (to which the company never responded to) and are considering a small claims law suit.

My best advice is to find a local moving company that is willing to go OOS, have them come to your home to do an in-person guarenteed estimate (definitely get guarenteed) and ask what type of truck will be arriving in. Also, check bbb for any companies that have outstanding complaints.

Good luck!!

Re: Help, OOS moving companies and the process

I can tell you who NOT to use! Don't use APOLLO

Here is what I wrote about them.


My Fsil and Fbil and their 4 kids moved to Florida. She left last weds. We dropped her and the kids off at the airport. Her DH was at the house with the moving guys. They came to the house like a week before and decided on what size truck they needed. They show up pack the entire truck and its to small. So they have to get another truck. After the second truck was all packed the tell her it will cost her an extra 3000.00 She was planning on sueing (she didnt tell them that though) she just called me up Hysterical crying. The truck got stuck underneath an overpass and it pulled off the whole top of the truck she lost everything. Computer, Computer desk washing machine fridge table EVERYTHING!!! through her tears she said "Kristin the only thing that is ok is the clothes cause the couldnt break" I feel so bad for her. OMG..... they told her they will pay her .60 a pound for damages???? W T F??? she has to call me back cause her lawyer is there. I FEEL SO BAD!!!!!


ETA: They just showed up today and started bringing in all of her broken stuff in. They didn't even call her from the road to tell her.



They charged her more before they left to begin with. They almost doubled her quote. They showed up driving a Ryder Truck And EVERYTHING was broken. Her clothes had tar on them.

Re: Help, OOS moving companies and the process

Wow, I had a really similar experience to lvlz. I used State to State Van Lines (also go by STS Van Lines) in Brooklyn. When I used them they had no complaints in the BBB, after I used them they now have 2 complaints (mine and another customer's the same month). I DO NOT RECOMMEND THEM! I can't find what I wrote to the BBB, but basically it's the same as lvlz, except that the price was double what was quoted. A lot of my things arrived late. They showed up on a SUNDAY at 1AM to deliver in a huge semi and got into an argument with me and left coming back the next day (making me miss work)...it was HELL!

I hear Mayflower is good.

Next time though, DH and I are moving everything ourselves.

Good luck!!

Re: Help, OOS moving companies and the process

Okay I clearly stated in my post that I wanted you guys to tell me it was a piece of cake

I guess I will have to start looking and really doing some research. Did the moving companies give yout he boxes or did you just pack it in whatever boxes you had?


Thanks for the info.

Re: Help, OOS moving companies and the process

We are moving from NYC to upstate NY soon - everyone's been recommending we use Mayflower. I can't begin to imagine how much it's going to cost.

Re: Help, OOS moving companies and the process

Posted by smiles

Okay I clearly stated in my post that I wanted you guys to tell me it was a piece of cake

I guess I will have to start looking and really doing some research. Did the moving companies give yout he boxes or did you just pack it in whatever boxes you had?


Thanks for the info.

Re: Help, OOS moving companies and the process

Posted by sasha

Wow, I had a really similar experience to lvlz. I used State to State Van Lines (also go by STS Van Lines) in Brooklyn. When I used them they had no complaints in the BBB, after I used them they now have 2 complaints (mine and another customer's the same month). I DO NOT RECOMMEND THEM! I can't find what I wrote to the BBB, but basically it's the same as lvlz, except that the price was double what was quoted. A lot of my things arrived late. They showed up on a SUNDAY at 1AM to deliver in a huge semi and got into an argument with me and left coming back the next day (making me miss work)...it was HELL!

I hear Mayflower is good.

Next time though, DH and I are moving everything ourselves.

Good luck!!