TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE
I have moved more than a dozen times in my life and have never had a worse experience. I thought I did my research - I was wrong. I dealt with a very nice salesperson who assured me that although TCM were more expensive than many others that I wouldn't regret it as my move would go so smoothly and professionally. She couldn't have been more wrong. From a changed move time (moving out) of 10 - 2 to nearly 7 o'clock - even though they knew I had to leave town and had a four hour drive ahead of me. "Oh - no worries" she said "we'll send a big crew to make up for the late start and it will be done really quickly". Well, 6 were to come and in the end only 3 movers. To move a 3,000 sq foot house using a 53ft truck. It took more than five hours. The three movers were excellent though so it wasn't a complete disaster. That was reserved for the drop off.
On time but that was the only good thing about it. Two sweet young men who clearly didn't have a clue, a driver who "doesn't move anything" (though he did move a few small/lighter items within the truck). And that was it. It was a nightmare. They tracked dirt throughout my house. I asked twice if they could use drop sheets and was told they didn't have any. If they moved an item and it went into the wrong place for some reason, they refused to move it anywhere else "Once we put it down, that's where it stays". I got more and more tense and finally sent a text to complain - about having only two movers for such a big load and mentioning the dirtying of the carpet etc. I received a literal barrage of anger and abuse back from the salesperson I dealt with. She then spoke to the movers who I am sure described me as impossible. At this point they threatened to leave all my items in my driveway. I literally could not believe it. I threatened to sue (who has threaten to sue a company I was paying double what I'd have paid elsewhere??? Just unbelievable.) With minimal care they proceeded to finish the move, putting most items in the garage. Still tracking dirt everywhere of course.
Overall it was a horrendous, stressful and VERY expensive nightmare. I am not a crazy person, or vindictive. I tipped the 3 first movers $60 each. I know the company would - maybe even will - characterize me differently. I believe that is one of their many strategies to continue in business. I cannot state strongly enough how terrible their service was in my instance. BEWARE.
p.s. I believe the company sub-contracts a lot of their work, which is why though there weren't enough of them (a company issue) the movers in Ottawa were actually very good. The ones in Trent Hills were just terrible but again, if there had been an adequate crew scheduled they might have done a lot better. So the root problem really is the way the company is managed.