Long distance move newbie
Vicki Tyrrell
Submitted this review about
Northern Van Lines
Review made Live: 12/18/2011 10:34:00 PM
Northern Van Lines, Eugene Oregon. For those with shorter attention spans, I will tell you, a definite thumbs up. For those more detail oriented, I will illuminate.
-Pickup is a two day window, to allow for schedule changes; be prepared to wait. They will call you when they are within an hour of getting to your place.
-The truck will be a One Way Rental (no NORTHERN logo), but don’t get nervous, this is how they get your stuff to central warehouse, for loading or storing onto a larger semi truck for delivery.
-The guys (two) were courteous and FAST!! Man, stay out of the way, because you will soon be part of a packing blankets and packing tape!! They will inventory your boxes and label them for you, in a full pack job. Well worth the 15 cents a pound, these guys are good!!
-Northern does SUB CONTRACT their work, so sometimes there is a bit of confusion, don’t get frustrated. Northern will be there, to get the job done for you.
-My Mom in law had a million pieces of glassware and knick knack stuff (she’s 92). They did a fabulous job of wrapping the living daylights out of them. We only had one piece that went to the great beyond (trash), because they did such a great job! KUDOS!!
-Delivery was delayed, from what I was originally told; several panicked phone calls and e-mails (had no one and nowhere to care take the 92 year old Mom in law, until her stuff got to senior living facility) and they did their darndest, to speed up the path that my Mom in law’s stuff was taking. They got it here only a couple days past their original estimation. The original estimate was based on all things going fine and evidently, that doesn’t happen too frequently in moving, even when it’s a short run, like ours. Your contract gives them 7( minimum) - 21(maximum) days to get your stuff to you; have a 7 - 21 day, contingency plan….we didn’t.
-Do not get anxious, if they do not call you back with “reports”, evidently, they only get updates at 5pm each day, when their drivers call in. Suggestion to Northern, let your customers know that, they might be more forgiving of not being called back in a more prompt manner. We don’t do this for a living and have no clue how your system works.
-You will be given a contract to sign…read it!! It states “binding” contract and it also states “estimate”. It’s very confusing to the long distance moving newbie. Your estimate on that contract is NOT binding, you will NOT be expected to pay that amount on delivery. The amount you pay will be based TOTALLY on how much your stuff weighs, which you will only find out when the movers deliver your stuff. They only take cash a or post office money order. If your stuff weighs more, you will pay more, if your stuff weighs less than original estimate, you will pay less. Evidently, the drivers are prepared to wait for you to get money or post office money order. I think it would be easier to weigh the stuff, let me know in advance what I owe, so I can have the money order ready and the guys don’t have to sit there. Again, they will call you when they are about an hour from your place.
-Be prepared for additional charges, read your contract. Moving furniture over 100 feet, more… moving up additional flight of stairs…more…fuel fee, more. Northern needs to update contract, there is no fuel fee charge noted, nor is there an elevator charge (additional $75) noted. Since they sub contract, the fees might vary slightly, be prepared…have more cash.
-Credit card payments need to be done 3- 4 days in ADVANCE (so they clear) of delivery or it isn’t going to happen. Not sure how they refund, if you do that scenario. They should include that on their contract also.
-The guys did some damage to senior living door and wall, while getting through doorway without doorstop. When asked about it, they gave me the claim information web page and their boss’ phone number. NO big hassle from the guys. They messed up, admitted it and we all moved on. Suggestion to Northern, doorstops for the guys, might be helpful on moves or just making it policy for them to take the time to make or find a doorstop to cut down on damages.
ALL in all, it turned out to be a DARN GOOD moving company to deal with. There are a lot of complaints and bad experiences out there (internet) and it makes us (customers) very suspicious of everybody. Their estimators are not out for sales, they truly want you to have a GOOD experience and do a GOOD job. I believe that sincerely. Thanks Robert.
Their long distance coordinator, Amy, did a great job of trying to help us out, by rerouting my Mom in law’s stuff. Thanks, Amy. You are a cut above!
They busted their butts to try and help us out and they DID IT. How many moving companies will do that….. Yep, you got it NORTHERN VAN LINES!!
