Cirker’s – Manhattan

In February of this year, 2015, we searched for a fine art storage facility. We had lots of requirements: our insurance company had to approve; temperature and humidity had to be museum standard not only for art works but so that we could work there for hours at a time; it had to be out of the flood zones; it had to be affordable; and we had to be comfortable there and feel that we could invite visitors who would also feel comfortable.
Of the places we considered Cirkers fit the bill in so many ways. To start with they had several rooms in our desired size and budget. The move took a week with, I think, six trips with an art shipper and two with a commercial shipper. In the end, on Friday afternoon, it finally became clear that we would simply not fit in our new room, so Cirkers calmly suggested a «staging room.» Meanwhile they left our commercial bins, office boxes, furniture, and even file cabinets, on their dollies so that for months we went in everyday and began by rolling things into the hall while we cleared a few precious feet at a time. We’re much better now but not completely organized yet.
The system is that you agree to a basic rental fee and then other things are a la carte. Need cardboard or a meeting room or gallery space? There’s a fee schedule for those things. Need a giant crate at the last minute? The art handlers are hired by the hour and they are terrific — and they have tools and ladders and well, stuff — the kind that helps get the job done. Actually, the staff is pretty terrific all around. Maybe I was just under-​appreciated at my former location, but from the art handlers to the office staff to the rental agent Chris to the front desk staff, Royalty, everyone has been polite, friendly, and professional. Add to that that the bathrooms and hallways are spotless and there is even an ice machine!

Cirkers
I’ve used Cirker’s off and one throughout the years but my last experience was a complete and utter tragedy. The piece that was moved was quite large and despite providing the dimensions of the elevator of the receiving building, it would not fit nor could it go up the stairs. Through a cascade of subsequent events this simple move turned into costing 5 times more than the provided quote.
Via a variety of encounters with the «second-​in-​command» on the telephone it became quite clear that we received sub-​par customer service from someone in training and instead of making good on their end, they reamed us and refused to bend in any way except for excusing the extra month of storage they were frankly trying to extort from us (they apparently charge by the month and will not pro-​rate because it’s «illegal». Ha!). Not only did we have to pay extra hours of moving, but a month of storage, insurance and repackaging.
Fearing the piece was damaged I asked to view it before receiving it myself to move elsewhere (Cirker’s quote to re-​move the piece for us was completely uncompetitive and insulting, but I was under a time constraint as I was moving out of country and had to move the piece right away). I was told that I would be charged for the viewing room, the move INTO said viewing room, and the move OUT of said viewing room. I was also told there was nothing they could do about ANY of the charges.
Sadly it was finally revealed to me that had the dimensions of the elevator been reviewed appropriately they would have never moved the piece. Clearly the person in training had dropped the ball and we were being forced to pay for it. To add insult to injury it was remarked to me that Cirkers was a «high-​end» art handler and that they were unaccustomed to any questions on their fees as their «clientele generally didn’t need to worry about such things». Etc. Ad infinitum. Condescending much? You betcha!
The kicker of it all was that I had to view the piece on their loading dock, not getting an adequate view to see if it was damaged in transit («Damage? Preposterous, we have never damaged anything.» Double Ha!) while the owner stood nearby, making small talk with his «guys» (Who by the way are amazing, I don’t fault them ONE BIT) completely ignoring me, with not even the hint of an apology for the tumult we had experienced. As I was about to pull away on a harried Friday afternoon rush-​hour his minion came down, offering his apologies and good luck wishes with the move. I would much rather have had my money and peace of mind returned. Lesson learned and NYC Consumer Protection Agency complaint filed.