2) In case, you are sending it through packers and movers, you do need some planning well in advance. Always go with some reputed packers and movers, who has good experience in this field. It may cost you more money but it does make sense in most of the cases. In the first place, I did mistake by choosing “Amanat”, who doesn’t have enough credibility.
3) When you choose the packers and movers, ensure that they have branch in your destination city. You don’t believe their words (as I did). Check their website and ensure that they have contact numbers for your destination city. Many small packers and movers have mentioned in their website that they have branches in number of cities but you don’t see any contact numbers there. Be very careful and you may want to contact the numbers to validate.
4) Once you select few packers and movers, call them and get their quotation. These people will come and give the quotation. Mention the floors in both source and destination city. Ask about the vehicle type. It is better to have closed container. If you don’t have enough items, it may be possible that your items with go in sharing with someone else. However you need not to know the other party.
5) Based on the cost of your items, you may want to insure your items. The packers and movers themselves insure the items on behalf of you. It does cost around 3% of the declared value. You may want to ensure selective items or the entire list of items. I insured my items through the packers but never got the original copy of the insurance (only got a scanned one). Also, the scanned copy was not having any premium amount mentioned (it was only written “As Agreed”), which made me bit suspicious. I did my insurance at the last moment as I didn’t have much time. You better do plan this in advance. Also, you do need to understand the coverage, which is never explained by the Packers and movers (again suspicious!). Below are the coverages applicable
SRCC – It covers the damage created by Strike, Riot and Civil Commotion
ITC-A- All risks barring some exceptions
ITC-B- Fire, lightning, breakage of bridges, collision with or by the carrying vehicle, overturning of the carrying vehicle, derailment or accidents of like nature to the carrying railway wagon / vehicle
ITC-C- Damage by Fire and Lightning
If your’s are very costly items, opt for ITC-A
6) Give one week’s notice (2 days minimum) to the packers and movers. On the day of packing, you may not be able to have food at home. Ask in advance that how much time the entire packing and loading operation will take and you can plan accordingly. Keep some less costly clothscushions seperately. This will come handy in packing some breakable items. Ensure that items are appropriately packed with air plastic, waterproof packing. The glass and other breakable items need extra care. They are generally packed along with thermocol. The breakable items are sometime kept in wooden frames to avoid any damage.
7) After packing, loading is equally important. Ensure that your items are loaded properly. My packers and movers “Amanat” brought a small truck and the way they were loading, it was very disturbing. The truck was almost overloaded and I was cursing myself for choosing them. They explained me that the goods would be loaded in a big closed container as the big vehicle is not allowed inside the city in the office hours. I made a big mistake by trusting them. Later I discovered that it was neither a big vehicle nor a closed container. To avoid such situation for you, I advise that you force them to load the big vehicle in front of you.
8) Once you load your goods, get a clear indication from the packers and movers as to how many days will it take. Generally they give you a consignment number and list of items separately marked on the items and in your list. When you receive the items, you can tally the number in your list and the number on the item. Never pay the 100% amount to them. Initially I paid 50% and rest when I received my goods.
9) If you don’t get your goods on scheduled day, enquire with the packers and movers. For me, I received my items after long 15 days. Also I discovered that “Amanat” is not a packers and movers. They are just packers, local to Bangalore. They pack it and hand it over to a transport department. They don’t have any branch office in Kolkata. The patch up someone(some other packers) in Kolkata to unload items.
10) Once the 7 ft wide truck reached our place, I realized my goods were loaded and unloaded multiple times. There wss a big machine at the middle of the truck which can not be shifted without a crane. Half of my items behind it and half in front of it. I found that couple of my items got damaged. The other packers, who were in charge of unloading, just washed off their hands by saying that items might get damaged while taking out as it was very difficult to take out the big items from the back of the huge machine. I was almost in tear seeing the plight of my hard earned money. Thus it is very essential that you ensure that the packers and movers have their branch in the destination city as well. This will give a kind of accountability to them and you need not deal with different groups.
11) Once the items are unloaded, the same set of people is supposed to unpack them and put it in proper places. Tally all your items with your list and while put your comments while you sign your paper. It is also helpful if you put your comments as review in some website e.g. Sulekha.
12) Last but not the least, do verify each and every facts and figures claimed by the packers and movers. In my case, I found that it was approximately 65% lie whatever they told in the beginning.
{jcomments on}
No comments:
Post a Comment