If I could give them zero stars, I would!\r
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Imagine this: we call and speak to the owner months before our move date and are impressed that he calls back on a Sunday and quotes a reasonable price. We tell him that we will be buying many large items at IKEA and need to have it picked up and driven one hour north to Huntsville. He says that it would be no problem and that the driver can meet us in the pick-up area.\r
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So, with VIP Movers reserved, we drive from California to Houston in 2 days (11 hours of driving each day), and we only have two days to purchase, move, and set up our daughter's apartment for college before my husband is due back at work.\r
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On Saturday, we get a confirmation call from VIP stating that they will be outside IKEA at 1pm Sunday. I ask for a number to call since the office is closed on Sunday, and Salvador gives me his mobile number.\r
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We get to IKEA, select our items and roll 4 large pallets outside to the pick-up area. Shortly before 1pm, I call to tell them what we are wearing so that they can spot us.\r
Ten minutes later, I get a call from the driver saying that they are running ""a little"" late and that they will be there at 2:30 or 3pm instead. I am shocked to hear this, as it is hot, sunny, and humid outside and that will mean waiting a possible two hours in this weather. Of course, it is too late to book another mover, so we have to wait. \r
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When it hits 3pm (now 2 hours later), we learn that they are ""wrapping up"" the other job and should be to IKEA ""shortly"". \r
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To shorten our story of misery, ends up we get desperate at 4pm and make calls to see if there is a U-Haul rental nearby. There is, but it closes at 4:30pm. My husband heads over there, and right when he is signing the contract, my daughter finally gets a text message saying they are available now (at 4:25pm for a 1pm appointment!). We end up having to load the truck, drive, and move furniture to a second floor apartment, and my husband has a hernia for which the doctor warned him to not lift anything over 20 pounds. It was like a bad nightmare and a very poor introduction to Texas.\r
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I will never forget waiting 3.5 hours outside of IKEA in that humidity. So much for all the pre-planning and the confirmation call the prior day! \r
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Needless to say, this is an experience that I would never want anyone else to have, so I will be writing reviews to warn consumers everywhere. You will not be surprised to learn that despite several messages to the company and one actual contact with a person there today, we have received no call back of apology. There is no way to ever get back the time we lost in setting up our daughter's apartment, and I am afraid to find out the damage it did to my husband's hernia by having to do all that lifting.
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