We just had our first in house 'Storage Wars' style auction. It was a hit.
This shocked us because we only had one unit up for auction today. There was an amazing amount of interest and it happened fast. It was fast, neat and clean. Our company will be using this method from now on.
If you are thinking about going to an auction like this, you really should try it. Call around and ask if a company does in house auctions. Find out who to talk to and then when to show up. Don't show up late or you might just miss it.
Happy hunting.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Experienced Movers & Renters
I'm not actuly refering to the moving company, but to it's customers.
I just spoke with a gentlemen that was wonderfully polite and understanding. He knew when and were he wanted to move and had a good idea of how things went. He was getting a few estimates is wonderful. He even said that he had found that he understood that the best time to move was in the middle of the month.
This last part is what makes me the happiest.
Lots of people get upset when they want to move in the first or last week of the month. Regardless of if it is a local or long distance move, this time frame is always busy. Most of these people tend to be renters and unfortunately because of leases they tend to get the short end of the stick. All this can tend to make people cranky. It is even worse for the person that doesn't like to move or hasn't been in charge of setting up their own move before.
Timing is everything. Also, this guy made my day.
I just spoke with a gentlemen that was wonderfully polite and understanding. He knew when and were he wanted to move and had a good idea of how things went. He was getting a few estimates is wonderful. He even said that he had found that he understood that the best time to move was in the middle of the month.
This last part is what makes me the happiest.
Lots of people get upset when they want to move in the first or last week of the month. Regardless of if it is a local or long distance move, this time frame is always busy. Most of these people tend to be renters and unfortunately because of leases they tend to get the short end of the stick. All this can tend to make people cranky. It is even worse for the person that doesn't like to move or hasn't been in charge of setting up their own move before.
Timing is everything. Also, this guy made my day.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Social Services and Moving With Them
All I can truly say is good luck to you.
From what I can gather from the people who have come in, the way it is supposed to work is Social Service Workers will give their clients a list of moving and /or storage companies that have worked with them in the past. The client then must get three estimates from them and then the Social worker will pick one company and contact that company to authorize the move. Then the company moves the client and then gets paid.
What actually happens can vary, but my experience is that there is an unfortunate amount of Social workers that do not care about their clients.
What we see is someone will come in saying 'so&so said to come here' we go ok, get information and when asked for contact info on so&so 'oh, they are not my Social Worker, I was just told to say that'. We give them the estimate in a sealed envelope. If it's moving they are told that the Social Worker needs to contact us in certain amount of time or the move will not happen. Client says ok and they leave. The most common ending is that we never hear from Social Services or the client again. Or we might get a call from the client wonder were their movers are and then we have to explain that we were not contacted by their Social Worker so the move is not happening. Que angry ranting at us and threats of BBB and so on until we are hung up on. On the rare occasion the Social Worker will call us and set things up, but again this is rare.
There is also an amazing amount of people that take advantage of the Social Services system. Due to this my company has tired to set rules & guidlines for who/how Social Services sends their clients to us.
We even tried to find out if there was a way we could fax in their clients bills to them each month instead of the hit or miss method of their clients bringing in the late bills. They never bothered returning our calls and we gave up after a few months of trying to reach them.
Explaining how things work to the client can sometimes work but not always. Most are emergancy moves and refuse to listen when we tell them that we are booked. It can get ugly and extreamly uncomphortable.
But the very worst thing that can happen(if they even contact us) is when a Social Worker does not like our prices and they try to force us to change our policy. They will imply that Social Services will stop using our company and if that does not work they will send their client after us.
Yes, some very poorly skilled Social Workers will enrage their clients and tell them to call us because the Social worker does not like our rates. I really wish I knew what they thought they would gain by alienating a company like this. I have been screamed at but clients with out any idea of why they were calling only to hear "Social Services told me to call".
I don't know why anyone would think that that is a proper way to get a company to work with you. My company has started keeping notes on what Social Workers we have worked with in the past. We have one that we will not do business with because he was so inconsiderate to us (and his client, she reported him to his supervisor and got a new Social Worker). Another woman is border line being on that list but we think due to her Social Services has stopped sending people to us for estimates.
Again, for any of you that need to use their services, I wish you the best of luck. But with how my area is treated you should be careful that they do not burn bridges for you. you never know if someone they flip out on might be the person you interview with at a later date.
From what I can gather from the people who have come in, the way it is supposed to work is Social Service Workers will give their clients a list of moving and /or storage companies that have worked with them in the past. The client then must get three estimates from them and then the Social worker will pick one company and contact that company to authorize the move. Then the company moves the client and then gets paid.
What actually happens can vary, but my experience is that there is an unfortunate amount of Social workers that do not care about their clients.
What we see is someone will come in saying 'so&so said to come here' we go ok, get information and when asked for contact info on so&so 'oh, they are not my Social Worker, I was just told to say that'. We give them the estimate in a sealed envelope. If it's moving they are told that the Social Worker needs to contact us in certain amount of time or the move will not happen. Client says ok and they leave. The most common ending is that we never hear from Social Services or the client again. Or we might get a call from the client wonder were their movers are and then we have to explain that we were not contacted by their Social Worker so the move is not happening. Que angry ranting at us and threats of BBB and so on until we are hung up on. On the rare occasion the Social Worker will call us and set things up, but again this is rare.
There is also an amazing amount of people that take advantage of the Social Services system. Due to this my company has tired to set rules & guidlines for who/how Social Services sends their clients to us.
We even tried to find out if there was a way we could fax in their clients bills to them each month instead of the hit or miss method of their clients bringing in the late bills. They never bothered returning our calls and we gave up after a few months of trying to reach them.
Explaining how things work to the client can sometimes work but not always. Most are emergancy moves and refuse to listen when we tell them that we are booked. It can get ugly and extreamly uncomphortable.
But the very worst thing that can happen(if they even contact us) is when a Social Worker does not like our prices and they try to force us to change our policy. They will imply that Social Services will stop using our company and if that does not work they will send their client after us.
Yes, some very poorly skilled Social Workers will enrage their clients and tell them to call us because the Social worker does not like our rates. I really wish I knew what they thought they would gain by alienating a company like this. I have been screamed at but clients with out any idea of why they were calling only to hear "Social Services told me to call".
I don't know why anyone would think that that is a proper way to get a company to work with you. My company has started keeping notes on what Social Workers we have worked with in the past. We have one that we will not do business with because he was so inconsiderate to us (and his client, she reported him to his supervisor and got a new Social Worker). Another woman is border line being on that list but we think due to her Social Services has stopped sending people to us for estimates.
Again, for any of you that need to use their services, I wish you the best of luck. But with how my area is treated you should be careful that they do not burn bridges for you. you never know if someone they flip out on might be the person you interview with at a later date.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Moving One Item Out of State
If you live in another state and while traveling decide to purchase a bed or huge antique... Don't.
Let me try that again.
If you live in another state and while traveling decide to purchase a bed or huge antique and decide to contact a mover to move it, please do not be surprised that the cost might be $1000 or more.
Moving companies have a minimum weight charge that they use on all of their moves. It's doesn't matter if it is one item or one household. This is more to over the cost of running the truck & insuring the item then to pay the driver. It is not there to prevent people from hiring them or to make it difficult for you to move your item. It is there to protect the company.
Now, some people might ask if we could 'tak it on' or 'sneak it on' to the back of a truck if we have a truck going that way. Once upon a time companies were able to do this but now, due to insurance reasons, they can't. You can ask, but do not expect any answer other then no.
I feel really bad telling people this. UPS could be an option or you could rent a truck and drive it your self. Personally I would get a rental and drive it because I would totally shop along the way.
Let me try that again.
If you live in another state and while traveling decide to purchase a bed or huge antique and decide to contact a mover to move it, please do not be surprised that the cost might be $1000 or more.
Moving companies have a minimum weight charge that they use on all of their moves. It's doesn't matter if it is one item or one household. This is more to over the cost of running the truck & insuring the item then to pay the driver. It is not there to prevent people from hiring them or to make it difficult for you to move your item. It is there to protect the company.
Now, some people might ask if we could 'tak it on' or 'sneak it on' to the back of a truck if we have a truck going that way. Once upon a time companies were able to do this but now, due to insurance reasons, they can't. You can ask, but do not expect any answer other then no.
I feel really bad telling people this. UPS could be an option or you could rent a truck and drive it your self. Personally I would get a rental and drive it because I would totally shop along the way.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Planing to Move
I can't tell you how many times I have paused while talking to a person on the phone because they "are planning ahead" or "want to get the ball rolling" for their move that they want to happen in three days.
Most companies have a seven day registration policy. In my opinion it is there to prevent last minuet switches to driver schedules. The last thing any moving company wants to do is have a driver stuck on the other side of the country and possibly delay other moves.
If this happens in the summer, durring our bussy seasion, I have to tell people that we can not do their move. A few have asked for my manager and would hang up on him because he would give them the same answer. Generaly in the summer we are booking moves two weeks out so a last minuet thing just can not happen.
In the winter, during our slow season, once in a RARE while we can pull something like that off. but we have started to see a pick up in appointments during this time and this makes last minuet moves like this almost imposable.
To save your self some frustration you want to get an estimate about two weeks or more before your desired move date. If you are worried about getting stuck with a last minuet move; contact a moving company a check to see how long their estimats are good for. If you have a sales agent come out ask them if there is anything that could be done if you have to be out of your home sooner then you thought.
Most companies have a seven day registration policy. In my opinion it is there to prevent last minuet switches to driver schedules. The last thing any moving company wants to do is have a driver stuck on the other side of the country and possibly delay other moves.
If this happens in the summer, durring our bussy seasion, I have to tell people that we can not do their move. A few have asked for my manager and would hang up on him because he would give them the same answer. Generaly in the summer we are booking moves two weeks out so a last minuet thing just can not happen.
In the winter, during our slow season, once in a RARE while we can pull something like that off. but we have started to see a pick up in appointments during this time and this makes last minuet moves like this almost imposable.
To save your self some frustration you want to get an estimate about two weeks or more before your desired move date. If you are worried about getting stuck with a last minuet move; contact a moving company a check to see how long their estimats are good for. If you have a sales agent come out ask them if there is anything that could be done if you have to be out of your home sooner then you thought.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Please Leave a Voice-mail Messege
I can not stress this enugh. Leaving a voice-mail messege is the best way to get your information to the person that you are looking for if they are not available.
Seriously, voice-mails are not your enemy.
I can not tell you how many of our shippers have not left important messages and wondered why they never received a call back when they needed it. Most were about changes to their pick up or delivery dates. This information is very, very important and should be left in your message. As well as a good call back number that you can answer.
Too many times have I been asked to take a message that was just a 'have them call me' with no number or sometimes no name. The ones that give me pages of detailed information so fast and get angry that they have to repeat parts until I feel I have it all? That type of message needs to go to voicemail. written messages get lost or forgotten, but mostly lost.
It always seems that when no voice-mail is available everyone only wants to leave a voice-mail. But when It is available they only want me to write the message. Unfortunately this is something were not everyone will be happy.
Seriously, voice-mails are not your enemy.
I can not tell you how many of our shippers have not left important messages and wondered why they never received a call back when they needed it. Most were about changes to their pick up or delivery dates. This information is very, very important and should be left in your message. As well as a good call back number that you can answer.
Too many times have I been asked to take a message that was just a 'have them call me' with no number or sometimes no name. The ones that give me pages of detailed information so fast and get angry that they have to repeat parts until I feel I have it all? That type of message needs to go to voicemail. written messages get lost or forgotten, but mostly lost.
It always seems that when no voice-mail is available everyone only wants to leave a voice-mail. But when It is available they only want me to write the message. Unfortunately this is something were not everyone will be happy.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Moving During the Snowmagedon or Snowpocalypse
This is not the kind of weather you want to move in. Right now it is not to bad here at my office but yesterday was spent contacting customers and other agents to make sure that people knew what was going on.
Over all most wanted to just wait and see what the weather would be like today. Which was good because we only got three inches of snow last night. Only one survey appointment canceled but that's understandable. The street plows have not been by the office yet and our hired guy didn't bother with the parking lot until people showed up. (who then got stuck and had to dig themselves out...)
But again, all the scheduled move we had for today actually happened on time. The movers all made it in to the office and were not snowed into their homes. All the trucks started and were not stuck at the dock. Over all it was a very good day so far.
But! We got very lucky.
If we had gotten the 16 -24 inches that we were warned about then the office would be closed today and we would not have been able to move or help anyone. It doesn't sound like a lot if you imagine a semi-truck driving in it, but if the drive can't get to the office then there is no one to drive the truck. Like wise if the movers get stuck then there is no one to move the furniture into and out of the trucks. Driving bans can also cause havoc with moves because no one wants to rick the fines.
So, with luck this will all be over and we can get back into the nice moving weather.
Over all most wanted to just wait and see what the weather would be like today. Which was good because we only got three inches of snow last night. Only one survey appointment canceled but that's understandable. The street plows have not been by the office yet and our hired guy didn't bother with the parking lot until people showed up. (who then got stuck and had to dig themselves out...)
But again, all the scheduled move we had for today actually happened on time. The movers all made it in to the office and were not snowed into their homes. All the trucks started and were not stuck at the dock. Over all it was a very good day so far.
But! We got very lucky.
If we had gotten the 16 -24 inches that we were warned about then the office would be closed today and we would not have been able to move or help anyone. It doesn't sound like a lot if you imagine a semi-truck driving in it, but if the drive can't get to the office then there is no one to drive the truck. Like wise if the movers get stuck then there is no one to move the furniture into and out of the trucks. Driving bans can also cause havoc with moves because no one wants to rick the fines.
So, with luck this will all be over and we can get back into the nice moving weather.
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