Via: uk.ac.nottingham.psychology; Wed, 26 May 1993 18:58:43 +0100
To: bovik@cs.cmu.edu
Subject: really bad movers
CC: ritter@psychology.nottingham.ac.uk
Date: Wed, 26 May 93 18:57:52 BST
From: "Frank E. Ritter" <ritter@psychology.nottingham.ac.uk>
Sender: ritter@psychology.nottingham.ac.uk
Source-Info: From (or Sender) name not authenticated.


We moved to England from Pittsburgh using Calfo Red Line Moving And
Storage.  They use a variety of addresses and phone numbers, for
example on Rodi Road, and in Plum (Tree, or Plum Borough).  

They were really bad.  While they only lost one box out of about 100,
and the actual movers were rather pleasent, helpful, and hardworking,
and some of their staff are quite friendly.  It became clear during
the move that they did not, in fact, deal often with people moving
internationally, or that questioned paying the amount they were told
when they were told without any previous announcement.  At one point
(on Christmas Eve), we were told that we had to pony up $1500 or our
air freight stuff wouldn't be moved (they also sent it to an airport
100 miles away instead of 10).  This payment was unanticipated.  Later
payments came with the same pay us *today* or we would be charged
storage charges.  Our relationship ended when they refused to provide
bank account details necessary to wire them the money.  I don't know
what the personel manager at the U. of Nottingham said, but he sorted
it out for we weren't able to.  We've dealt with a firm over here
since then for delivery (which Calfo wasn't able to set up, or at
least tell us about), and have been impressed with their service and
price.

While they tried to seem helpful about relative costs between the US
and UK, they were also grossly misinformed.  Oddly, storage is much
cheaper over here.  Taking their advice about buying a Trans-Am and
shipping that over too would have been folly, and set me back about
$2500 when and if I could have sold it.

We have a detailed list of about 12 things that went wrong, but this
should put you off them for moving in any case, should your career
call for moving out of Pittsburgh.

Cheers,

Frank  Ritter@psyc.nott.ac.uk 
    + 44 (602) 515-292 (office, will bounce eventually to a secretary)
    + 44 (602) 515-324 (incoming fax)
    + 44 (602) 704-740 (home)
Department of Psychology
U. of Nottingham
University Park, Nottingham
NG7 2RD
England