Sam

Sep 2, 2024

International Move

As this is literally the sixth time we have used Schumacher the expectation was that the move would be a great as the five previous times. It was far from great, in fact it was poor in every respect from the packers to the delivery. Let’s start with the packers. In Italy, although they were told (as one man spoke English) and showed, they forgot two large kitchen drawers. They had to return the next day to pack these drawers. The drawers were large, hard to miss, and contained all of our silverware and kitchen utensils. They also were leaving without packing the dining chairs, it was a good thing we checked that, so they did not have to return for these. The packers were not careful. They did not respect our things at all. Unlike the last time the clothes were jammed in boxes and are so wrinkled they are unwearable without ironing or dry cleaning, depending on the type of clothing. This was not the case any of the other times. Also, because they were not careful packing, one of my antique dishes was broken, my watercolor art paper (which is expensive) was jammed in boxes and much paper was creased and is unusable. At least four pairs of shoes again were crammed in boxes and are misshapen. My clogs are not fixable, Bob’s leather loafers are completely misshapen, as well as at least three pairs of tennis shoes. I have stuffed the shoes with paper in hopes that the shape will come back. The delivery was total chaos as you know. Firstly Chris never scheduled the move. I waited at the house for 8 hours the first day, and when I finally got the number to call what I thought was a moving company (which it wasn’t) the move was never scheduled, so I scheduled myself thinking I was talking to a moving company, which I was not. Not once but twice they delivered the pallets. Obviously Chris or (whoever) does not understand what the truckers (contractors) were scheduled to do. Once again not once but twice pallets were delivered. The first driver was a courteous but of course his job was to deliver the pallets uncrated. We talked and agreed to send him back. The incompetence was incredible. Thankfully the second delivery of pallets was by a man who also contracts residential moves. He offered to come the next day with his sons and unbox the pallets and deliver as we had discussed. The pallets could not fit in my garage, so he had to bring them back and park his truck appropriately. It was not Chris but me who arranged this, then was ok’d by Schumacher to pay for this service. He returned the next day and uncrated the pallets and delivered as promised. If any other driver had delivered I would still be waiting for my things. And my guess a third pallet delivery. In addition I felt I should tip the boys as they were giving up a Saturday to help their father. I know they had plans but the driver was kind and did not have confidence that yet again a moving company was not going to be a residential moving company on Tuesday between 5pm and 7pm? I believe he saw we were older and wanted to help out so we could begin to set up our household. I tipped the boys $70 to show my appreciation for giving up their Saturday morning. They had plans. Had we had a normal moving company I would not have felt this was necessary. So besides incredible aggravation and frustration trying to get my things delivered, it cost me personal money. The people you contracted in Italy this move were definitely not the same caliber as the other Italian movers. Those boxes were packed carefully nothing was damaged and the clothes were not a wrinkled mess jammed into boxes with other things. I am sure this email will fall on deaf ears and nothing will be done to make up for this mess of a return move to the United States, including additional personal money I spent for the driver’s sons. Obviously I was not obligated to do but this man and his sons gave up their Saturday morning to help us out. Quite possibly it would behoove Schumacher to do something additional training for those in charge of delivery to understand what the contractors they use actually do and to be sure the Italian contractors you use are competent and respectful of your clients goods.