Been living a classic horror story the last week with this move. I'll skip over the shenanigans the Buyers from Hell pulled at the closing in Boca, 2 weeks ago, and cut straight to the Movers from Hell:<br><br>I hired a Miami-based mover on the recommendation of the folks that moved me down to FL last year, and with whom I was nothin' but pleased. On the pickup day (6/29), they promised we'd have our stuff buy the following Friday. No prob -- so we'll camp on the floor for a week. Then the delivery date began to slip, and the lies began. So I called the referring co. to see if they could throw a little influence for me.That's when they tell me they had dissolved the affiliation 2 weeks ago due to poor performance and other issues.<br><br>Finally on Thursday, they tell me the truck will be at my apartment Friday (yesterday) by 1PM -- a week late and tough sh!t. By 7PM, no truck yet, and the dispatcher now tells me that because it's a 3rd floor walk-up, I'm being charged an extra $350!!!<br><br>At 9PM, the truck arrives, and the driver tries to hold me up for $500! After nearly an hour of phone calls and arguing, they agree to the $350. They finished up at 3:15 this AM. Literally every box marked "Fragile" was crushed like a soggy paper cup. Fortunately, we packed well, so there was relatively little breakage, aside from a smashed bottle of The Glenlivet French Oak Finish and a badly dented breadmaking machine.<br><br>The furniture was another matter. Without exaggeration, more than half my stuff was damaged, or had parts missing! Worse, I misjudged the width of the staircase. Neither My sofa, recliner. entertainment unit nor computer armoir would fit. Those 4 pieces are downstairs as I write this. Tomorrow AM, a couple of NY's bravest from the station on W19th St. are coming to take the sofa and recliner back to their firehouse, and Housing Works -- my favorite NYC thrift store is coming for the 2 big cabinets.<br><br>I've called my lawyer and bank to get a chargeback on the mover's deposit (over $2400) in the works, and Monday AM I'll be on the horn to the mover to see what they're gonan do about this rip-off and rape before I sue them into Biscayne Bay!<br><br>But now, I need a night's sleep.Been up since 6AM yesterday...<br><br>

OMG, Steve, that is the worst "movers" story I've ever heard.<br>This is certainly one of your worst weeks ever with your cell phone problem and having to put your dog to sleep.<br>I really feel for you. <br>Hope things start getting better and you are able to recoop some of your loses.<br><br>

Man, that sucks. I assume you didn't let them move your Mac.<br><br>

I have a method for packing that's really secure, and I use a marking code that doesn't telegraph the contents. There was no room in the car for any computers except my PB. So my Quicksilver, my wife's iMac and my daughtetr's eMac all came on the truck. But despite the crushing of the boxes, they all survived.<br><br>

Sweet Mother of Abraham Lincoln....<br><br>Sue their asses off. For every penny of damage to every piece including the stuff you gave away. I'd twist their nuts on the delays too. <br><br>By the time you're done with these losers, you'll never have to worry about hiring a moving company again....because you'll own theirs. <br><br>Interestingly enough, it's stories like these that always have led me to rent a 25-foot Penske whenever I do a big move. <br><br>

Holy smokes, Steve! I would have been eating the fruit of the wall paper by now. Man! <br><br>I hope you sue them in to the stone age.<br><br>

There was a story on Dateline/60 Minutes/20-20/48 Hours about shady movers who steal stuff from clients or hold their stuff for basically what amounts to a ransom.<br><br>I, too, hope you do all you can to take those bastidges to the cleaners. BBB, Chambers of Commerce, Consumer Affairs...whatever organizations you can think of need to be notified and enlisted for help.<br><br>When you pay to place what essentially amounts to your entire life in the hands of another, it's damed well incumbent upon them to treat your possessions as if they were their own. By backing down or not hammering them hard they will only believe that they can continue with their bu||§h!†.<br><br>

I don't know how many times this has to happen before people learn their lesson and just pay the $200-$500 for a U-Haul and move their own stuff. Yeah, it's a pain in the ass to spend a few days driving, but I would say it's worth it in the end, no?&#10;&#10;Pack your own sh!t. Move your own sh!t. Unpack your own sh!t. It's the ONLY way you aren't going to have anything broken, stolen or be ripped off.&#10;&#10;I'm sorry this happened to you Steve, I know how much of a positive thing this move back to NYC was for you... but don't make it worse by wasting your time calling lawyers. You signed a contract (most likely) and I'm sure if you look at the fine print you'll see that they in no uncertain terms state that delivery times are completely at the will of the drivers, and any damage due to moving is 100% NOT their responsibility.<br><br><br>CreativeGuy: Design software tips, tricks & commentary.

A 25-footer may be ok for yourself. I'm talking about a family of 3 with a houseful of furniture, plus all the stuff that goes with hobbies and business. I'm way pasty the do-it-yourself stage.<br><br>

Wrong-O Red Rider. I took the insurance offer which covers part of the loss/damage. Plus I'm photographing everything and documenting it all. The extent and nature of the damage shown in the photos clearly demonstrates gross negligence and failure to treat my property with reasonable care (which IS required of them by law), and I have a paper, email, and VM trail supporting half a dozen broken promises and other discrepancies on the mover's part. One thing I can guarantee: when I get done with them, they'll know they've been in a fight.<br><br>As far as moving myself, see my reply to Bryan. I had nearly 9,000 lbs of net wgt. going into a 3rd floor walk-up. You wanna schlep that by your lonesome, big guy? Knock yourself out! <br><br>