Nationwide Movers Bait and Switch; Piano Destroyers Florida

 This is our letter, dated 3-22-17, to the company with the annoying details: Tonight, Nationwide movers dropped our $8,000, nine-foot Steinway, grand piano on the cement steps at least three times. The top cover was severely damaged. It was cracked completely through the width of the wood, from the front to the back. The movers took over four hours to bring the piano from the truck into the house. As a result the whole move went on for fifteen hours and boxes had to be placed inconveniently rather than where we had planned for them. We will need to hire more movers to correct the problems left us by Nationwide. It is clear that these employees did not know how to professionally move a piano. They were at severe risk for bodily harm themselves because they needed five movers and only had three. In New Jersey at least one of the movers arrived smelling of alcohol. When the driver said he needed additional movers the dispatcher said none were available. An ad was placed in a local paper, suggesting that the company had not planned for professional piano movers, but instead picked them up at the last minute. It is also clear that the company did not communicate our plans about installing the piano on the instrument dolly once delivered. Apparently the gentleman “Ron,” who initially took our detailed information, did not effectively communicate our wishes on a number of items to the dispatcher, Isaac; or Isaac failed to adequately communicate with the driver, Jordan. The information our driver had on his cell phone did not match what we had given Ron. We had given him detailed measurements to the inch of every item several months before the move date. Ron gave us, verbally, a guaranteed price for the move based on our information. Jordan said that the move took up more space than was allotted in the original statement, even though we declined to move 14 large, previously planned items and had planned with Ron for 100 boxes and had in fact ninety-seven.

Also, the pictures and paintings, which were planned to be moved were ignored by the movers entirely; although they were said by Ron to be included for no extra fee. In the face of these facts the driver charged us $1,000 more that our “guaranteed price”. The driver appeared to want to blame our inexperience of moving for a lack of knowledge regarding your particular regulations for charges. For example: a “bed” is considered by your company to be a mattress, box spring and metal frame. If it has a headboard and or footboard, these are added separately. We had two of these sets, and yet Ron did not tell us of this calculation. Neither were we informed there was a $75.00 fee for each additional floor and basement. This hidden fee amounted to $300.00 over two houses. It is dishonest and frankly illegal for your business to not inform the customer of the rules for financial charges prior to the move. To have a guaranteed price given but then increased at the last minute is a form of “bait and switch.” According to Dictionary.law.com “…In most states this practice is a crime and can also be the basis for a personal lawsuit if damages can be proved.”