Spartan Movers - Cleveland Beware Spartan Movers! Broadview Heights Ohio

Beware of Spartan Movers!  The short story is they moved some of our stuff, took a partial payment and then never came back. 

Here's the longer story: I feel so stupid for getting ripped off like I did, didn't see all the red flags, but I never thought someone would screw me over like they did.  When I scheduled with them they said it was a flat rate of $590 for the first three hours and then $150/hour after that.  First red flag - they only take cash.  I scheduled four movers with them for Sat 2/22/14, and we had to be out of our house by Thurs 2/27/14.  I confirmed with them on Friday, and they said they would be there between 9-11am. 

They showed up at 11, second red flag -  they had a U Haul truck.  The crew leader, Ivan, came to the door and said I scheduled three movers.  I said no, I scheduled four.  I showed him my 18foot shuffleboard table that was in the basement, which weighs about 600 pounds, and told him he had to get another guy out, and he called the office and they said they would send another guy.  Third red flag - one of the guys didn't know how to get a dolly down the stairs.  We had a 2400 sq ft house with a finished basement and were moving into a house about the same size. 

Ivan said it would be at least 2 trips and take about 12 hours, and it's already past 11am.  He then told me I would have to pay him after the first three hours and then we would settle up at the end.  So, I went to the bank to get more money.  Fourth red flag - when I left to go to the bank one of the guys gave me some money and asked if I could get him a gatorade because "he had a rough night".  They loaded up all the boxes and our clothes that were in trash bags, and very little furniture.  The truck wasn't even full.  When we got to our new house Ivan said I had to pay him for the first three hours plus an hour, which was $740. 

Fifth red flag - he asked me not to pay him in front of the other guys because he didn't want them to know he had that much cash on him.  Here's the irony - I had all hundreds and one hundred in twenties, which I got so I could tip them!  So I wanted to hold onto the twenties so I gave him $800 in hundreds.  They unloaded the truck.  Then Ivan said U Haul called and the truck was having brake problems and he had to go exchange it, and to meet him at the old house in an hour.

I went to our old house and after an hour and a half Ivan called me and said U Haul only had a 17 foot truck, which wouldn't do any good, so they would be back the next day and give me a reduced rate.  I said why don't you call Ryder or Penske, and he said they require a $400 deposit and his boss didn't want to do that.  I said I just gave you $800 and you will get the deposit back, and he said no, so I asked for his boss's name and number.

I called the boss/owner, John, and he said he was in a bind because one of his guy's wife went into labor that morning and he and his brother took off in one of his trucks to go to the hospital, so he was short handed.  I looked on Angie’s List and they used this same excuse on someone else! Based on everything that happened later I don't believe a word he says.  He promised and promised he would have four guys at my house the next day at 9am and he would give me a reduced rate.  Since it was past 4pm I said okay.  My daughter didn't have a bed to sleep in.

I went to the old house at 9am the next day and they never showed, never called.  No one would return my calls or texts.  At noon I called my wife and she came over and we took some essentials to the new house.

Monday I called John and he said he had no idea.  He said he called Ivan on Sunday and Ivan told him he was there moving our stuff.  How can that be, if he had four guys scheduled, wouldn't someone call him to see what's going on?  I said I want my $800 back, and he said Ivan told him I only gave him $600, so he must have pocketed the rest.  Finally he said he would give me my money back in two weeks, and never did.  I have called him twice and each time he said he was really busy and would call me back in five minutes and never did. 

I got an estimate on Monday from two other, reputable movers.  Keep in mind I had to be out of our house in 3 days.   The other company did a great job and we moved on Wednesday.  So, I had to miss two days of work and I get paid hourly.  Spartan Movers is awful, they do a terrible job, are totally unprofessional and don't stand behind their work.  What's a real joke is on their website it talks about how John started Spartan movers because he saw what a terrible experience one of his friends had when he was moved, and wanted to start a moving company that would do things right and where customer satisfaction was most important.  What a joke.  Run away, very far away!