I recently moved to Mountain View and my previous moving company bailed out on me because of a family emergency thing. Whatever. So, desperate to find somebody to move my heavy stuff in the new place, I called Partner Van Lines. Without doing my research (lesson well learnt), and unaware of the tricks they are playing. Oh, gone is my innocence!
So the moving consultant gave me an estimate of 3 men for 3 hours + cost of materials, which, she assured me, shouldn't be more that 50-60 dollar. It was still on the expensive side, but whatever, as long as it is done.
The morning of the move (which was the last day when I could vacate my previous apartment - again, lesson learnt), instead of 3 men, there come 4 men. Their supervisor / coordinator tells me: for this one bedroom, it is better to have four men and we can finish it in 4 hours. With three men will only be done in 5.
"What's up with the estimate?"
"Oh, the consultants have no idea about how much work it involves!!"
This is just plain RIDICULOUS. You can communicate with the "consultant" and adjust the estimate. I felt like a fish hooked on a very stupid rod. How could I fall for that!!
"So, lady, you have a choice: 4 men for 4 hours or 3 men for 5 hours"
"No, a choice would be the initial 3 men for 3 hours OR 4 men for 2 hours"
Another choice, send them home, lose the deposit and move my Ikea bed all by myself.
Obviously not a choice.
So taking into consideration my time worth and their price, we decided for 4 men for 4 hours + $120 (!!) packing materials.
The guys who actually did the work were very good and very nice and they did work hard (although with a burrito break, probably dictated by the supervisor so they can justify the 4 hours). It is not their fault they are working for a company that would steal in your face.
So from an estimate of 300 it went up to 600. I understand the concept of estimate, but really, not even the worst student in statistics can be that off. Unless he wants to.
So... stay away!
Pros: can not think of any
Cons: double the estimate to find out the real cost
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