Pay more on the front to avoid a scam
My experience with Sharp Van Lines was profoundly exasperating. I had a three-day move (move out - store - deliver) that needed to be done early due to cleaners prepping my house for the new owner. They sent Mike Capiello,a traveling salesman,to estimate the move. Despite getting various estimates,I chose them for their lower quote—big mistake. The promised move time shortly after 7 AM turned into a waiting game as they arrived past 9 AM. While lateness can happen,the lack of professionalism in not communicating delays was frustrating. I had to call for updates and found out they were much farther away than initially claimed. To compensate for lost time,I moved my boxes to the yard and garage. The situation worsened when it took them an additional hour to locate my address,forcing me to guide them. Upon arrival,they insisted on adding an extra worker at a higher cost for efficiency,despite the agreement for a flat rate. Unfortunately,this led to an exorbitant cost escalation,surpassing the initial quote by over $800. An unexpected and demanding call pushed for a deposit not previously discussed. Despite coordinating in advance due to moving my daughter to college,they expected me to miss the moment,drive back,and pay cash before delivery—a communication failure. I contacted Mike Capiello,who assured me he'd handle it. Surprisingly,the situation escalated. After the crew's assurance,I received evasive texts from Mike,then an abrupt demand for the deposit. The dispatcher escalated the chaos with a heated call,screaming and threatening to abandon my possessions on the street before hanging up. Alex,the manager,eventually called and allowed a Zelle payment. With that resolved and my day effectively ruined due to arguing,we move on to delivery. It started off better as they arrived on time,but as soon as they got out of the truck,the nonsense continued. They asked for a tip before unloading the truck. Moreover,the tried to haggled after they didn't like my tip,which in hindsight should have been nothing,considering they had already robbed me and stolen beverages during the move. Their insistence on cash for such a substantial job may be an attempt to prevent charge reversals later. Despite an initial estimate of $2010,the final charge soared to around $2900 due to the extra worker (on a flat rate job,charged for 12 hours despite 3 hours to remove and 1.25 hours to deliver). Ultimately,my misplaced trust in their demands was profoundly disappointing. The unprofessional behavior of Mike and the dispatcher,lateness,shakedown,and lack of professionalism transformed what should have been a smooth transition into a frustrating experience. Exercise caution when considering their services and prepare for unexpected charges,communication breakdowns,and a lack of respect for your intelligence. They understand that you are vulnerable and will look to take advanta