The military move

[clc17]

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Anyone have any problems with their military movers. I am nervous since we have accumulated some nice things and really don't want them ruined. It's nice to have our move paid for, but I want to know I am going to geta quality job.

 

[BOHICA-FIGMO]

Anyone have any problems with their military movers. I am nervous since we have accumulated some nice things and really don't want them ruined. It's nice to have our move paid for, but I want to know I am going to geta quality job.

Have undergone 5 PCSs, I have learned that military movers are hit or miss. Most bases contract out with the major moving company franchises in the area. Sometimes, you can request a specific moving company when you talk to TMO, but that may more difficult during the summer moving season. The military will reimburse you for actual cost of replacement items if stuff gets lost/broken. For instance, the movers lost a table leg once ( 🙄 ) and the military paid to have the whole table replaced. Good luck!

 

[GMO_52]

Have undergone 5 PCSs, I have learned that military movers are hit or miss. Most bases contract out with the major moving company franchises in the area. Sometimes, you can request a specific moving company when you talk to TMO, but that may more difficult during the summer moving season. The military will reimburse you for actual cost of replacement items if stuff gets lost/broken. For instance, the movers lost a table leg once ( 🙄 ) and the military paid to have the whole table replaced. Good luck!

Similar experiences for me. A buddy of mine had two enormous women show up once and pack and load his entire house in a day. Run around with your digital camera and take pics of anything really valuable. They broke a dresser once and lost a shelf to a hutch that I had made. That last one really sucked.

Also, if you're driving anywhere, you should always do a partial-DITY so you get credit for packing your car with your real valuables.

 

[Heeed!]

Anyone have any problems with their military movers. I am nervous since we have accumulated some nice things and really don't want them ruined. It's nice to have our move paid for, but I want to know I am going to geta quality job.

I've had multiple bad experiences with moves. The military will reimburse you for things that are damaged BUT they depreciate the value based on how old the item is and how much you paid for it, backed up with a receipt if it's over $100, I think. It doesn't matter how much the same item would cost you today. So, if something does get broken, you won't break even (no pun intended). If you want to get the item back to the same standard you had before the move, most times you'll have to pay some $$ out of pocket. DITY move the stuff you want to protect. Just don't park your U-Haul in the Holiday Inn parking lot in Orlando. Because while you're sleeping, their rent-a-security-guard Barney Fife will call the U-Haul 1-800 number, misread a few digits on the side of your rig, and when you awake in the morning, the truck will be long since towed away.

 

[tec]

I had four moves with the military and had no problems. I had already taken pictures of my valuabes for my homeowners insurance but didn't need them because all of my things arrived safely.

 

[BOHICA-FIGMO]

I've had multiple bad experiences with moves. The military will reimburse you for things that are damaged BUT they depreciate the value based on how old the item is and how much you paid for it, backed up with a receipt if it's over $100, I think. It doesn't matter how much the same item would cost you today. So, if something does get broken, you won't break even (no pun intended). If you want to get the item back to the same standard you had before the move, most times you'll have to pay some $$ out of pocket.

Actually, I think that is changed now. Some post-911 common sense change to the law. When I moved from the ROK to my present location 😉 in 2002, I had my table replaced at the full value of the replacement. Of course, I had to document the price was the lowest available, yaddda, yadda. Ultimately, it came down to the fact that having a replacement leg made was far more expensive than replacing the whole table.

 

[clc17]

Did you buy the extra insurance. We are buying that value protection insurance for full replacement cost...i think it will cost us about 200 bucks. Otherwise from what I read, they are only liable for like 1.25 per pound or something (which again is better than what civilians get which is 60 cents per pound).

How did you get your homeowners or renters to cover this? We have USAA and they told me they won't cover damaged stuff, just lost, stolen, burned, flooded etc stuff.

 

[clc17]

Do we do the weigh the vehicle thing before packing and after packing? We are both driving our POV to the new duty station.

 

[BOHICA-FIGMO]

Do we do the weigh the vehicle thing before packing and after packing? We are both driving our POV to the new duty station.

You have to get both empty and loaded weights. They calculate the difference to determine how much $$ you get. Given post on other threads, you may consider this to be illegal, but it is best to get the initial weight with an (almost) empty gas tank, and get the loaded weight with a full tank. I'm not sure what a gallon of gas weighs, but you have to think a 20 gal tank will get you an extra 100-150 lbs. Just one of the tips and tricks I've learned through the years. Good luck with the move!

 

[BKK]

I concur about the digital pics. Just make sure that you keep the pics and not let them be packed away. Keep your PCS documents as well as ANYTHING else document-wise that you don't want lost. (Wills, insurance, marriage lic.,etc). I have yet to do a DITY move since the majority of my moves have been CONUS to OCONUS or back.

If you have the original boxes and packing material for electronics, that is the best way to go.

If the packers try to do anything that you don't like, tell them so. If they continue and give some lame excuse, don't hesitate to call the Quality control Rep from the TMO office (Traffic Management office). The can usaly clear some problem over the phone or may even come out to mitigate the situation.

Of course, providing water, sodas, pizza, etc really helps the packers in taking care of your stuff.

BK

 

[backrow]

Hypothetically, if my wife had a three or four pieces of antique furniture valued 10 to 50 thousand dollars each, would the military reimburse us if the movers lost/damaged said furnishings?

sounds like you wouldn't mind them going missing 😀

 

[navysurgeon]

my experience

1. take lots of digital pics
2. watch the movers pack, don't let them just dumo stuff into boxes
3. photocopy everything they give you
4. tip them and buy them lunch/drinks
5. stuff is going to get broken

enjoy your PCS

TNS

 

[efex101]

Moved five times and have had no *major* problems sure some things do get broken or scratched but nothing of tons of stuff getting lost...most of the time these moving companies would lose $$$$$$ so much money from the contract with military that most do a good job. My moves were also overseas to and from, and CONUS. I have tons of valuables (figurines worth $$$$, huge custom made grandfather clock, etc..) and nothing major ever happened...like others have stated take pics and WATCH the movers! be nice to them feed them and give the lots of drinks! or they can screw up your stuff. You will be amazed at how rude some folks are (from what the movers commented on) ...they specifically mentioned officers as being the worst so beware! I guess some were not even able to get water or anything to drink and it is hot somewhere down South you can imagine how pissed off the were! so be nice and treat them well. We always provided drinks and lunch/dinner for them and they worked their tails off and packed everything with fine eye to detail...