Moving on the Winter Holidays

I do NOT recommend moving on the holidays.

The week of Christmas and the week for New Years is always booked. It's a short week so that adds to the stress. Commercial moves happen a lot in this time frame because companies don't have to worry about employees and movers getting in each others ways.

Unless the holidays are in the middle of the week the holiday weekends are either booked to death or companies are closed for the holiday. This also happens on the 4th of July, Labor day, Thanksgiving, Memorial day, Presidents day and maybe a few others.

How they managed to keep to schedule and go gray o bald is beyond me.It also seems like the holidays is the designated time that any and everything bad will happen to the moving trucks. We had two trucks go down last wee and I have never seen my managers and dispatchers so stressed. The weather also didn't help matters.

So, if you are planing to move during a holiday you will need to contact a moving company about two months in advance to do a survey and set up your move date. If you wait until the month of your move you might find that holiday week booked already. Calling the week of the holiday to be moved will not do much good and calling the day before will do even less.

A last minuet move never ends well, avoiding one will save you an unpresident amount of stress.

Also as a last note, I will never go into a store on December 24th again. It was down right terrifying.

Customers and Delays

Ah... It's always good to start the day getting screamed at by a customer for another company getting delayed. The short of it is my company accidentally moved a box to his home in Arizona instead of his daughters home. They were both moving from the same house to different locations so unfortunately it can happen. A mistake happened and the box was not picked up as scheduled by the mail service. Things were fixed and everyone was happy.

This last bit is a tad exagerated.

The gentlemen mostly screamed and swore at me on the phone. He was so loud that my co-workers could listen in from a few desks away. Our HR manager was sitting next to me during it and afterwords said if he had been on the receiving end he would have hung up on him. That's how bad this gentalmen was.

I managed to get him to go on hold three times. the first was so I could collect myself and call the woman who set up the pickup. I asked her if she preferred poison or a bullet. She laughed and then said she would contact the mailing company to see what was up.

I picked up his line and let him know the mailing company was being contacted and that he would be called back about it. He was not happy and started screaming about everything under the sun. Including paying for his stay in Arizona. The worst part? He wanted the person who set up the pickup date for the box. My HR guy said not to give him her number because while we are used to him (and can laugh at it) she was not.

After he screamed at me some more I got his number so she could call him. I answered a few more calls and then called her to let her know what was going on. As soon as I said hi she said she should have taken the poison. Apparently he had called a few other people that work for us and gotten her office number.

While it seems like this customer 'won' or something like that, he didn't. His actions just further proved why we try to not end up servicing customers like him. There are so many notes on his account right now I'm amazed the computer still runs. As soon as this latest possible move is completed I'm pretty convinced that we will refuse to move him a third time.

When Packing Medication...

Please, please, please! If you have medication the is necessary for you to continue to live, please do not have the movers pack it up. Also please do not call in yelling at the moving company because you need the medication.

Take some with you or contact your doctor for an emergency prescription.

Moving Company is Using a Rental Truck

I can understand the concern if your moving company shows up with a rental truck. Fortunatly there is a relitive easy explanation for why companies do this. Moving trucks are expensive.

Let me start again. If you are moving localy during the summer bussy seasion or the first & last week of the month, there is a chance that the moving company will have more moves and movers then they will have trucks. This is actuly a good thing for the moving companies.

Unfortunatly a 26' long truck can cost $56,000 when used or $87,000 new. This is not counting the $8,000 to have it painted with the logo of the company. That's $64,000-$95,000 for a truck they might only need a few times a year. That is not counting any work that would need to be done on it.

For a long distance move most companies will not rent a trailor. They will buy them but they might not be painted. The traiolors are just as rediculis in price to purchase as the smaller trucks. They can range from $38,000 used. for a used tractor to pull it your looking at $138,000 used. New could be $200,000+.

This rough estimate is not counting insurance, inspections and other work that would be needed on the trucks and trailers to get them on the road. By renting a truck they are able to keep their cost's down in the long run. But I'm sure that if you wanted to buy them a truck with all the fix'ens that they would take you up on it.

Mondays....

This Monday has not been a happy day. Almost every potential customer I spoke with today wanted everything that I could not give them. Three people wanted a quote for a move. After I told them we needed to have someone see the items, they all said some variation of "Oh, you can just tell me. I won't hold you to it."

When I informed them that no, we actually need to have someone see the items, two of the callers were very nice about it and said they would call back closer to their move date. This is completely understandable because house sales and such are temperamental things.

The other... well, nothing I could say that wasn't a price would make her happy. She ended the call by saying that I just didn't want to tell her. Belligerent tone of voice and flouncing away attitude just oozed through the phone. I can understand just wanting an idea of a price, but to keep pushing for one? No, that I can not understand.

Every time I get someone like that I just remind mysef that if they don't call us back that it just might be a good thing.

Moving Preparation Ideas for Long Distance Moves

This is a pretty stander-ed list of things my parents did during our long distance moves. While it is basically a list of ideas for items that you would want to purchase when you get to your new house while you are waiting for your household goods to be delivered.

1) An inflatable mattress and a method of inflating it.
This is probably one of the most important things you will need if you go to your new home before delivery of your items. Some of the less expensive ones require you to use a pump or hairdryer to inflate them. Some of the better ones are equiped with their own pumps. both will make your wait eiser.

2) Dishes and silverware
When you get there swing by the local big name store and grab yourself a set of silverware, dished and glasses. It never hurts to have an extra set on hand, even after moving the set could be used for picknics, camping, for the kids or even for your next long distance move.

3) Towels & Robes
Either you purchase new or pack your current set, you want to make sure you have enough for everyone when you get to your new home.

4) Personal Items
This might seem like a no-brainer but little travil bottels of shampoo run out fast when you have kids. Toothbrushes and the like are also things you don't want to be packed by your movers.

5) Backpack of Things for the Kids
This is a big one. Until you stuff arrives your kids will have nothing to do inside the house. Unless you have get them to help clean the new house you should make sure they set pack a backpack of things they like to read or games they like to play. This was a must every time my family moved.

There are so many small things that you never realize that you use until they are locked away. Hopefully this list will help you in the process of your long distance move.

Your Moving Truck & You

I have gotten several sales calls asking if their items will stay on the same truck with the same driver. This is actuly a very intresting question because the answer is defined by the sercumstances of the move.

The things that can cause your items to be moved to a different trailer after pick up are usally due to size and were it is being delivered. Most large companies will try to get you your items as soon as possible, the moving companies that work as agents for the larger companies do this as well. So at times they will have different agents take your shipment if that agent has a driver going in that direction if it works out better for you.

Sometimes a Driver will just be dropping off a trailer and be heading back the route that your items would need to go. This way they get the items delivered and their driver were they are needed.

If your items fill a trailor you will generaly have the best shot at getting the same driver and trailer that packed you up. If your home needs more then one trailer you will get a combination of the two scenarios.

Overall the moving companies are trying to get you your items as soon as they are able. With the economy and entering the slower winter season you should prepare for a different driver making the delivery.

Not So Open Letter

To The Unhappy-est of Customers

Please, please, please think of moving companies as your friend. Just like your friend would not like it if you were to swear at them then we also do not like it when you swear at us. Unfortunately screaming and swearing at us will not get you what you want.

Unfortunately some parts of the moving industry are out of our hands. Equally unfortunate is that you turned down our earliest available dates to pick up your items. And considering that you have purchased a plain ticked this is twice as worry some.

No sir, unfortunately because you played dealer for the owners' fathers' parties in days gone by, does not mean that you can get a move when ever you feel the need. Demanding that the owner guarantee everything, a bag of chips and a small puppy is not going to sit well.

From Reception

P.S.
We have contemplated getting a bookie to handel the bets of acts of god causeing this move to not happen of n the selected date. Driver Quitting on day of pick up is at the top of the list. Quickly followed by you calling and rejecting that pick-up date. If you have any advice we would be much appreciative.
X's & O's

Your 401k & You

No investment tips or trick will be found here.

Mostly I would just like to implore how important it is to start your 401k as soon as possible. Especially if your employer matches any percent of what you put in. Any percent that you get from your employer is like free money.

Yes, when you start out it will hurt a little. Chances are it will hurt a lot less in the long run when you get to cash that 401k in to get the money. Most people believe that your next raise will make up for what you put into the 401k or something to that effect. A raise while adding to your 401k will not effect you in a bad way. All raises are a good thing.

I once had the opportunity to start a 401k with a company that would match up to 6%. So if I put in 6% they would match it. If I put in 1% they would match 1%. If i put 7% they would only match 6%.

I blame my youth and in-experience in the work force for not joining up right then and there. I missed out on several hundred dollars towards my 401k. Thinking back on it always gives me a twinge or regret because i could have taken that 401k to my cureent job.

Your 401k will follow you from job to job. From what I have heard it only takes a little paperwork.

The 401k company that you go with will tell you that you can take a loan from your 401k account. Don't take a loan from it or you might be crying your self to sleep with the interest they will charge you. I understand that it will be added to the percent that you are already taking out and that it can be rather painful. As can the fees that you will have to pay to take a loan out of your money. I have heard that loans is how the 401k companies make their money.

So, in short, please do your self a favor and start your 401k as soon as possible. You will be happy for it in the long run. Just don't take a loan from it.

Due Dates and Late Charges

If this topic was on a map it would be labeled 'here be dragons'.

People will always protest  due dates and late charges. Even if it is something as simple as $10 after the 11th of the month per each month, you would think that with 10 days to pay that it wouldn't be that hard. Right? Yeah, keep believing that and I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.

People will protest them and some people will flat out lie about having to pay them. Others have claimed that we must have recently changed the rule because this wasn't like this last month. Or possibly last year. It is hilarious when they try this after only having had the unit for a month or so.

The company I work for used to wave this fee all the time until one of the customers flaunted it to my boss that they always had the fee waved. She had been a customer for some time and claimed that the late fees were new. They did end up waving her fee but told her that we could not do that again for some time. From that point we started waving only one late fee per calender year.

We also had a customer con her way into not paying for two units for three months. In the start her reason for getting him to not charge her? She was planing on moving out and had been there oh so long but couldn't he please just wave this one late fee? She then came in when she couldn't get in due to non-payment and said that he had said she didn't have to pay the full month. He's a nice guy and just agreed. This happened twice more before I finally told him the amount that she had gotten for free and he finally put his foot down. She was not happy with me when he informed her of this when next she came in.

Another time a gentleman came in and said he had paid one unit up and only owed for one. Again my boss gave him the benefit of the doubt. I asked the mentioned coworker and he said that it never happened. The following month he tried it again and I  informed him that he would need to bring in the receipt in order for me to proses that request. He paid up. He is still renting with us and still tries the same thing.

Another gentleman claimed that he was very busy and that he couldn't be bothered with keeping track of due dates. He claimed that he was never told that we didn't send out bills and he was getting bills. Also that it was a ridiculous & other companies sent out bills. I made the mistake of pointing out that what he was getting were notices of non-payment(that said so at the top) and that I was the one that signed up his unit(I actually had to tell him several times and that we could not make an exception). He then demanded that we pay him back his $30 in late fees. He had only paid $20 and when I tried to explain this he started demanding to talk to a manage. Sadly they were out and he had to wait for a call back that he didn't pick up. My boss said to wave this months fee but charge any others that he earns. I can't wait to deal with that call.

And to think so much of this truble is over $10. I feel for the other companies that these people deal with.

Planning when Planning to Move

When you deside to move, be it to another state or just down the block, timing is important.  Beyond important because if you wait to the last minet you might find yourself out of time with no movers.

Here is some general advice:

-Most, if not all, companies have to phyisicaly see your home before they can commit to your move. This is so that they can make sure to give you the most acurite estimate possible. This also gives them the chance to see you street and driveway so they will know what size truck you will need for your items.

-Between April 20^th and September 30^th is the moving business bussy seasion. Bussy to the point of having to schedual appointment to see your items to give you an estimate up to (and possably beyond) a week from the day you call to set it.

-A local move is generally set up as same day load and delivery. If you have a large house, packed rooms or want your movers to do your packing you might be looking at a two day move. Your sales agent will be able to determine this when they see your items but there is the off chance that you will need that extra day.

-A long distance move will always have a delivery spread date that could be anywere between 2-14 days. Usaly the more you have the smaller a spread you will have.

-A last minuet move will cost you. Be it time, money or health. It might be that the companies just can not fit in your move if you need it the next day. The stress this can cause can be unimaginable.

MSN News or Lack There of.

I have lost any faith in MSN and their writing abilities. This is the closest thing I have seen to fear mongering in a long time. It is above and beyond muck raking and just plain ludicrous. Now, I wouldn't have such an issue with this If it hadn't been written as if the whole industry was like this. Or insinuate that every single company did every single item on this list, every single time.

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/ConsumerActionGuide/10-things-moving-companies-wont-say.aspx

The writer very obviously looked just for the worst of the bad. Even though the sections have different titles it's mostly the same 'we had to pay more' story. They also only seemed to have chosen stories did not have an in house estimate or they did not read the contract.

I can not say it enough how important it is to have an in house estimate, to ask questions and to read the contract.

Insurance on your items is called a valuation. The standard Free Coverage that most moving companies provide is $0.60 per Item per pound of that item. Which means if you decide not to pay for more coverage then if your 100lb item get's damaged you will only get $60 for the item. So if you want better coverage then you will have to pay to protect it. All moving companies have insurance plans, if they say you can't purchase more then do not go with that company.

In the article almost all of the people who were ripped off were charged buy the cubic foot or charged almost four times what their estimate was. I'm willing to guess that they either only got phone estimates for minimum weight charge for a long distance move.

UPS charges by the cubic foot. Back in the day, if you have a box that was 3lbs and it's size qualified as an OS1 (over sized one) they will charge you for 30lbs. Because that is what they feel the space is worth. They also have the man power to check the boxes as they go by. They also pack the trucks amazingly well, almost like a giant game of Tetris. Moving companies? Not so much. I would not trust a moving company that charged by cubic feet. If there was a space above the boxes chances are I would still get charged for it.

Most large moving companies will have rates set up for their agent companies to follow. At times charges will vary from state to state because of the U.S. Department of Transportation  and taxes. The DoT watches moving companies very closely and their fines are very high. No one likes to upset the DoT.

The company I work for has a 2,100lb minimum charge in the summer for a long distance move. Why? One reason is because it can very hard to get enough small moved together and going to the same general area. Mostly it is because if you are looking to have just one item moved the cost for it's weight will not cover the cost for man hours nor for the fuel to get the truck there. Unfortunately it is sometimes not worth the cost to hire someone else to move just one item.

There is just so many things in that article that are wrong or misleading it's frustrating. My boss was flat out discussed with the article. Unfortunately information that get's put on the internet is mostly negative. If you find yourself with questions please feel free to ask me them and I will do my best to answer them.

People are mean.

And unfortunately there is nothing anyone can do about it. This is only partially true. Moving can bring on all kinds of new stress.

Is it their first move? Did they have a prior bad experience? Do they expect you to do all the work for them? Are they planning ahead or is it a last minuet move? Do they need a certain delivery date?

Most will not even realize that they are stressing themselves out. The only thing that can realy be done is try and be as sympathetic and firm as possible. I say firm because if you are not wavering and sure of not only yourself but of your company this can calm people down imensily.

Some people only need to hear that everything is going to be all right and that they will be taken care of.

I had one customer who just needed someone to take extra time with her to explain every thing. How we pack, load and every little detail in between. The agent I sent out was extremely calm and easy going. He ended up spending almost two hours helping her out. By the end of his visit he not only set up her move, but helped her to relax. When I spoke with her on the phone prior to her move she was actually happy.

Sometimes you need to go the extra distance to help someone out. Even if they end up using a diffrent company you will have made a good impression on them and helped them on their way.

Customer Etiquette

If you are going to be rude to someone at least have a valid reason for it. if you call one day asking for something that policy says they can't tell you over the phone, don't call in the next day claiming you asked about something totally different and that the company policy is ridiculous. Better yet, admitting to being rude and then threatening to wright a 'very nasty review' if your demands are not met.

This is an excellent way to make sure that a company will not want to work for you.

This is almost as effective as making a mistake in writing your notes and saying the company lied. Exasperatingly when said customer had made a joke about it being on Friday the 13th.

When this happened I got chewed out three times that day. By my boss, the sales agent and then the customer. I got the customer to read his notes and corrected him that no, the 13th was a Friday and not a Saturday. Talk about lesson learned.

Explaining the Self in Self Storage

I will never, ever understand why people with ask if they have to move their own items into self storage. On one hand the joke never gets old. On the other hand I want to bang my head on my desk every time I hear it.

Self Storage is just that, you store it your self. You rent the unit and you move it in all by yourself.

While the company will have someone working they are not there to move your items into the unit. This is for insurance purposes. No company is going to take liabilty for that.

Some might have workers you can hire to move your items but they will not be free. Even if you think htey are they are not. People cost money.

Also, no company pays people to stand around. Likewise they are not going to allow people to stand around and offer their services. Again it's an insurance thing. Insurance is very expensive these days and no one wants to be sued.

The hazard of online movers.

If you are thinking about online movers please reconsider.

First you will probably never get an accurate price for your move if they do not see it. In all my time in the moving business I have never heard of an internet based move having a happy ending. Second I have heard numerous horror stories of people having used an online moving company hold their items ransom. Or the price jumps into the stratosphere.

This is why you need to have an agent go out and take a look at your items in person. As in physically go to your house and look at what you have in it.

And no, using one estimate and asking other companies to give you a price based on that will not fly. Unless the company is either desperate or plans on taking you hand over fist, most will not do an estimate for you.

Why not? Because some people have a better idea of an items weight, will see all items or they might have different methods of calculating the weight. More importantly they will be able to ask questions about things they see or don't see(like a hidden crawl space).

Also, you are agreeing to a faceless companies terms and charges. I understand that this is the world of the web and faceless purchases.. But every time I make an online purchase on a new site I worry because you just never know for certain until you get your item/service if they were telling the truth.

And that's for sheep things like tea. I couldn't imagine doing that with a whole house worth of goods.

If you truly feel confidant in using an internet mover please check on them with the Better Business Bureau. They are your friend and are there to serve you.

Small Advice Article

I want to hug and send so much love to Better Homes & Gardens right now. The articles were posted some time ago but the advice still remains sound.

Countdown: 12 Weeks to Moving Day
this article makes me weep with joy. It lays out some very simple ideas for people that are moving to keep sane. I have seen and talked to several customers that would have greatly benefited from reading this article to lessen their stress.

Hiring a Mover: 5 Mistakes Even Smart People Make
these are five very easy to do mistakes when moving.

10 Biggest Moving Mistakes
This article expands on the one above it. It's still a good read.

It does sadden me that there seem to be more articles about moving mistakes the there are about advice.

Please be nice to the help.

So, you are trying to get a service done but things are booked or there are other small troubles. at some point in your past someone might have suggested that to get your way you should be passive aggressive to the people you want to do things for you. Or even be truly aggressive to service people.

Don’t do it.
Just don't. Do. It.

There are four general ways verbally abusive customers are treated by service.

A best case scenario they won't notice. Some very few will not outwardly show that they care how they are treated. They will still give you the same service as a good customer. These people are far and few in between. They are almost an extinct species.

Most will probably 'pass the buck'. sadly, some people on the work force are so used to being verbally abused in some manner if you try it chances are they won’t bat an eye lash at it but they will also more than likely pass you onto someone else.

The middle of the road response you could get would be the same service but they might not go very far (or at all) out of their way to help you. They also will not bend the rules, or pull out miracles.

If you think the worst they can tell you is that they will not serve you. You are only partially right. Some might ban you from the store. They might even go so far as to call the cops on you if you are threatening them.

People who make less then you are not less of a person because of this. Frankly they are not paid enough to take that kind of treatment. Ever.

Customs Agency VS Moving Companies

If you have to move to another country you will have to contact the customs agency yourself. this way you know what fees you will be charged and can register your car in the new company.

Calling a moving company to find out what the fees will be and how to register your car in the USA will not get you any ware but directed to call Customs and/or the DMV.

Well, you will also probably get frustrated.

Due to Canadian law, US moving companies generally Can Not move you from Canada into the USA. I think it has something to do with taking work/money from the country, but don't quote me on that.

If you don't want to run around, or be run around, the best bet would probably be to contact the customs agency or either your country and/or the one you are moving to and deal directly with them. Then after, or while you are getting that information you should contact a moving company near you if you are planing to move your household goods.

Because contacting a moving company at your destination is a whole 'nother can of worms.

Canadian Customs

USA Customs & Border Protection

USA Department of Motor Vehicles

Customers and the word No.

Telling a customer ‘no’. Some people dream of this day, others not so much. Then there are people in professions who absolutely dread even the thought of telling a customer ‘no’. That’s because a lot of companies have a ‘never say no’ policy. Or even worse ‘the customer is always right’ policy. Or because it sometime easier not putting up a fight and giving the customer what they want and when they want it at your companies expense.

Most customers do not like being told ‘no’.

Whether or not this is caused by the ‘get it now’ existence some are lucky enough to live or from children being raised to be the center of the universe… Customers just don’t like to be told that they cannot have what they believe is their due.

Personally I try for a method of saying ‘no’ that implies ‘you have my complete condolences but sadly that there really isn’t anything that can be done’ to the customer. Note that trying and succeeding are very far apart but fortunately if it gets to this point my voice can sound as if they have put the fear of god into me. I will generally sacrifice my dignity over the phone to have an easier time going about saying ‘no’.

But sometimes you get the more… determined customers will ask (see: demand) to talk with a supervisor, manager or even owner to get their way. This can be easier to deal with as it’s no longer on your head if they tell the customer ‘no’. Sometimes it can even be therapeutic when after your boss finishes talking with them, they agree that you were right in sending the customer their way.

Unfortunately if you ever get comfortable saying ‘no’… then you could be in for a whole lot of trouble. It is a double edged sword that should be wielded with caution.

About Me.

This is just a quick run-down of why I'm writing this Blog.

In the past I have worked in a factory setting and once with a parcel delivery service. 'Eye opening' doesn't even begin to describe working with some of the people that I worked with. But at that time there was little contact with customers out side of an order. Probably a good thing.

Currently I'm working as an Receptionist/Administrative Assistant/Customer Service Rep. Not always in that order and not always as cut & dry as it sounds.

Actually it's never as cut & dry as it sounds. Ever.

This Blog is about the things I learned, experienced or should have feared in dealing with the working world. Experiences range from the simple things to the not-so simple.

Most are stories on dealing with customers with the occasional 'how it works' or 'how it doesn't work' type segments. These will mainly be on planing, cost and possibly haggling in the business world.

There will also be some advice on dealing with upset customers. The customers will range from 'just a little put out' to 'screaming profanities'. Unfortunately most of it was learned during trial & error... So... Caution will be advised.

Actually, when dealing with the working world, caution is always advised.