Learning to Trust Again

Just a week ago, I moved into my new home in Philly. This is my second move in a year; the first was earlier this year when I relocated from New York City. That move was completely DIY. We hired movers from Task Rabbit and used a U-Haul truck to transport my belongings. Strategically, I did not bring much furniture which would make the move so much easier. 

Fast forward to December, I knew that a U-haul truck and Task Rabbit movers would not cut it since my possessions now included many heavy pieces of furniture; this would necessitate the right tools and equipment that was not worth skimping on a DIY approach.

For my previous move (from New York City) in the summer of this year, I tried everything in my power not to hire a moving company. The last time I hired a moving company to move to my then New York City apartment, I was scammed which made me wary of the shady, illegal, and unethical practices of some in the moving business. 

My first sign that something was wrong was that the movers were nowhere to be seen upon my arrival at the new location. I waited patiently, but still no movers. At this point, all my belongings were packed in their truck but there was neither a truck nor movers in sight at the intended destination. I made a few calls and did not get a definitive answer of where they were with my belongings.

Realizing that I was possibly being scammed, I contacted the police. When the movers finally arrived, they presented a completely fraudulent bill, as it had extraneous charges that were never discussed when I obtained my original quote. They further held my belongings hostage and stated that they would not release them unless I paid their fraudulent bill. 

The officers that responded from the NYPD did absolutely nothing to assist me. It was as if they were siding with the movers who were clearly engaging in unlawful practices at the time. I felt helpless and victimized. With no other options, I paid the movers the ransom for my items so they could deliver them to the 2^nd floor apartment where I lived. 

However, their deception did not stop after I paid the price. The “criminals” brought up some of the items and left a significant amount downstairs in the lobby, then drove off. How low and disgusting could they really go? I lugged my remaining items and, on that day, swore off ever hiring a moving company again. 

Hiring movers to help with relocation comes with a lot of risks. It can also be very costly, depending on the specifics of the move. For instance, for my move from Brooklyn, New York to Philly, several moving companies quoted a figure that was roughly twice the cost of my DIY move. However, my biggest apprehension was the risk involved. I could not risk some unscrupulous miscreants holding my items hostage again. Further, in addition to my personal experience, I have heard many horror stories where people were scammed during their moves, so I tried at all costs to avoid moving companies. 

As I noted earlier, this current move (in December) would be quite involved in terms of the volume of items. With skepticism, I started my Google search for the best movers in Philadelphia. My search was narrowed down to Mambo Movers and Broad Street Movers. Both had positive reviews, but Mambo Movers had a slightly better rate, so it was Mambo for the win. Of note, they were not completely void of negative reviews, but I also paid attention to the dates of the reviews, and the content, etc., to determine if this would be a good option for me. 

I also made sure to inquire about all their charges, because, in addition to the hourly rate, moving companies tend to bill for gas and travel time. They seemed quite transparent; they contacted me a week before my move for final confirmation. To be honest, I was quite fearful, and I prayed and hoped for a smooth experience. For good measure, I hired an extra mover from Task Rabbit, so my move would have a total of four movers. 

My movers were scheduled to arrive between 9:30 and 10:00 am. They got to my location before 9:30 am, which was obviously quite promising. Based on the number of items I had, I initially estimated a total of 4 hours for the move, just to be safe. I watched the guys while they did their thing. They worked efficiently and seamlessly. After budgeting for a four-hour move, the truck was unloaded at my new place in an hour and a half! 

The final moving bill including the fee for Task Rabbit amounted to half of what I initially budgeted. This was beyond my expectations, as I initially worried about being ripped off, once again. Significantly, I was able to bless all the movers abundantly with a generous tip, as my move turned out to be seamless, and painless. And I was grateful and relieved. Isn’t this how a move is supposed to be? Sometimes when you have done all you can, you just have to let go and let God. Indeed, I have learned how to trust again. Relocating in itself can be quite stressful and taxing, and God knew that I could not endure another moving mishap like I did back in Brooklyn. 

So, I am beyond grateful for the seamless move from my previous uninhabitable apartment and I will glorify God for giving me the strength to relocate twice in a year. To God be the glory, and much love and gratitude to Mambo movers. 

As we embark on the new year, I pray that God will strengthen the weary because, with him, all things are possible. Happy 2024!