Sullivan Moving & Storage

Let’s just start with, if it hadn’t been a government move I would never have dealt with this company.
My daughter walked down the hallway of our house while these movers were packing up and one mover said to the other «I’m not fucking babysitting». Then he started calling for me, and when I appeared asked me «if I was ok?» As if illness or injury could be the only reason I’d let my kid roam down a familiar hallway that led to where her room used to be.
They were astonished that we wanted them to transport our motorcycle, which was accurately and repeatedly mentioned on every manifest they had.
They didn’t fit it in the truck. We don’t have a lot of stuff, and constantly are very far below our max weight allowance, even with a 750lbs motorcycle included. They crammed our belongings so tightly into that truck, I saw the box carrying our TV bow. And they still didn’t get it all to fit.
Very very disappointed. I know they make a good paycheck from the government serving military families, but between the rude workers swearing in front of my two year old and the inadequate room and preparation, I will never recommend his service.

Thank you to Troy, Lindsey, and Paul at Sullivan for helping us with our move. They all were very professional which made our latest move the least stressful move we have ever experienced. We will use them again in the future and highly recommend this company. Ask for Paul as your driver.

The worst job ever is having to pack up and move!!! Sullivan made our move effortless, due to the professionalism of the office staff and the expertise of those that were sent to get us set up in our new place. Nick & Pico… thanks for everything and hope to use your services again when we finally move into our house. You guys rock!!!

Our move from San Diego to Northern NJ was very smooth. Chris Lind, our Estimator and Move Coordinator, was wonderful — always available to answer our questions and was very helpful. The pickup driver and crew person on both the loading and unloading did a great job and made sure that our household goods were kept safe. The time from loading to unloading across the country was 9 days, which we thought was pretty fast. Overall, the move went as perfectly as possible.

8/​12*** Still-​deservedly 1-​star review with even broken items. This is a garbage company and its becoming a game of what is not broken or damaged over what got here in one piece. Avoid this company at all costs, the most unprofessional experience I have encountered in my life.

NAVY MEMBERS BEWARE: Not happy due to the lack of communication regarding my military retirement move and shipment delays of household goods. I was packed out on July 21, 2015 and picked up on July 22, 2015. This shipment was being moved from San Diego, CA to Montana. Estimated time for the shipment was 9 days, which was July 31,2015. It was not until various phone calls on July 31, that I find out my shipment is in a warehouse IN SAN DIEGO. I am already in Montana and was expecting that shipment. Mark, was very kind on the phone but on Friday afternoon could do nothing but deal with it more on Monday. Malinda, called to state that my shipment would be arriving on August 11, 2015. This is a full 20 days since loading my household and everything I owned or could not fit in two vehicles on a truck only to stay in San Diego for an extra two weeks. I would recommend since this is a United/​Mayflower/​Unigroup corporation you take your business elsewhere unless you want to live in a hotel while your belongings wait in a warehouse to be shipped. Reason for delay: not enough shipments going to Montana so they had to wait for a full truck to make it worth the effort.
If the issue can be resolved in a timely manner or full reimbursement for unexpected expenses related to the delay can be given… my review will change for customer service. But until then…

Sullivan United impressed me from the initial phone contact to the visit at our home by Chris Lind. Chris explained the packing, loading and moving process and completed the on-​site preliminary survey in a friendly, professional, prompt and thorough manner. Chris is extremely knowledgeable and looked for ways to save us money in our move — especially since we are moving during the peak season. The communications between Chris and Connie Gardner in the Sullivan office was excellent. We received confirmations for when the packing and loading out would occur. The packers were energetic, clean and careful. The packers plus one other man loaded our furniture and goods the next day with care and alacrity. Everything is in storage pending our closing on a house in Nevada, but the frequent communications and assistance from Chris and Connie continue. This is the kind of attention and care I like to receive — and Sullivan’s pricing was less than the competitor’s. I give Sullivan United the highest rating because I expect that my experience with the delivery of our goods will be similar.

A friend recommended Sullivan because she was so happy with the move they handled for her from San Diego, CA to N Carolina. Likewise, they did a terrific job for my move from San Diego to Annapolis, MD. John, the driver, carefully supervised the packing, inventory and delivery of my items. They were accommodating when — in mid trip– I asked to delay delivery by two days when the schedule at my new job changed, so I did not have to take off any time. I know they cannot always do that but I really appreciate that they cared enough to work with me. The people I dealt with at Sullivan were absolute professionals who knew their jobs and helped me through this tedious process. The price was very good and the service impeccable.

I recently relocated from San Diego, CA to Olympia, WA. Sullivan/​United packed and moved my belongings in two crates. I decided to have them pack since I was working up until I moved so it alleviated some stress. It was the way to go! Everyone I worked with was very polite and helpful from Chris who gave me the quote, Connie who coordinated the move, to the guys packing, moving, and unpacking my belongings. The guys packing did a great job — they were very polite and packed my belongings well. There were a couple of scratches on furniture, which is bound to happen in a long distance move, and I will file a claim for. I would highly recommend Sullivan/​United for a long distance move.

Melinda T. deserves a shout out! When I moved from San Diego to Montgomery, I talked to her several times to track my shipment. Everytime I talked to her, she was thorough, found my stuff and updated me. Moving was stressful, and I appreciate Melinda’s help and friendliness. I would choose Sullivan again just to have Melinda T. on my team!

Moving is never easy, that is why hiring professionals makes all the difference. I contacted Laurel at Sullivan United based on my real estate agent’s referral. They were flexible with my schedule and they were prompt. They worked hard moving heavy wardrobes downstairs and then up 4 flights of stairs. They moved our piano and shrink wrapped all of our upholstered furniture. The ability to put our clothing in loaner wardrobes was clutch. I highly recommend them. Also, they came in under budget and when they damaged one stair, they said they would repair it.

I have always moved myself with the help of volunteers (my friend’s daughter used to tell me I have «a lot of stuff» whenever she saw me). Moving has never been a pleasant experience. Age and limited number of friends to help me instigated my decision to hire professionals.
Sullivan Moving gave me the lowest estimate and their estimator, Chris, was the most professional and helpful. He explained to me the whole process and gave me good advice that helped me be prepared for my move. I did all my own packing.
The coordinator was in touch with me to keep me updated. On the day of my move, the men were very professional and friendly. They didn’t even curse when the sofa and love seat were difficult to get through the front door. My things arrived in a timely manner and were placed to my specifications. There was nothing damaged. I was very happy with the service.

My experience was one of being very satisfied with the move aspect but of being very disappointed in a claim for damaged goods. The movers damaged a glass table top, which was discovered by me just prior to crating by a third party. The unfortunate part, is the contract I signed, is clear that the coverage would be only by weight (60 cents per #), but this was not presented nor was I aware of this at the time they have you sign multiple sheets of contract legalese. So for a damaged 200 pound glass table top with a value of $ 1000, i received $ 120 !
I have not done a move in many years, so this was a big surprise to me.
Again, happy with the people I dealt with prior and during the move, just very disappointed in the claim aspect of the contract. Lesson learned.
I do feel very strongly, that Sullivan should have been more proactive in explaining the options as to damage coverage.
Bob S.

We moved a two bedroom apartment from San Diego to San Jose. The whole process went very smoothly. A person from the company came about a month before our move to estimate our needs and give us a quote.
On the day of our move tree guys came to pack and move the whole place. They were very professional. Went on their job like a swarm of locust. The packed everything, labelled it accurately and had me sign off the sheet. They took great care in packing everything. They finished in 6 – 7 hrs.
Our stuff reached us in San Jose in less than a week. The only issue with Sullivan is they dont give an exact date of delivery. They give an approximate window and only 24−48hrs before the drop will you know when you are getting your goods. They club your shipment with others. It makes business sense on their side but is a minor issue for us.
Everything reached us as it was packed. We did not lose a single item. Not a single thing broke. We again checked every box against the sheet we had at pick up. We were very impressed. They also transported my car and that was also in the same condition.
Overall good experience.

At the end of May, I hired Sullivan Moving to move my 7,000 lbs. of my household goods and furniture from a home and from two storage units in a storage facility in Carlsbad to two storage units in a storage facility in the San Francisco Bay Area. This was a very complicated move! I experienced the smoothest possible, and even a pleasant move experience! Each step of the way, from my partnership with Dave, the move coordinator in the planning stage, to loading and unloading with fantastic movers (Danny, Mario, Nicholas, and Manny), under driver Nick Corby’s professional, unflappable, and caring direction, everything was five-​star all the way! I’ve been unfortunate enough to have moved many times, so I believe I can judge an excellent moving company, and I gladly give Sullivan the highest praise. Thank you so much, each of you who participated in my move!

I started with this company based on a professional recommendation. Here’s the chain of events:
1. I hire people and we relocate them. I called a company i am considering for relocation for a reference. The referred me to Sullivan.
2. I received a prompt, professional reply from Sullivan in Southern California.
3. They sent out an estimator to my home in Northern California who proceeded to somewhat chastise me for calling the S. Cal people. (I was referred, hey) I then was told how he was trying to get my company’s business and who he was talking to that he thought was the decision maker. I told him twice I was offended and twice that I was snubbed. I was, in fact, evaluating companies right now and both people he named had nothing to do with it. No response.
4. I was given a «not to exceed» price based weight and mileage. Totally normal. It’s not my first rodeo.
5. I was given a arrival window. Totally normal. It’s not my first rodeo.
6. I received my written estimate. Wrong last name. No biggie… except apparently one one person can correct it and she’s gone for a week. No signed agreement.
7. The delivery window was wrong. It was now going to be at least a week longer. Person on the phone stayed professional but I told him this was not my first rodeo and he would need to meet the time committment. He had to wait for the person to come back to the offer… that would be tomorrow.
In the mean I went to a moving site online that I can only describe as comical. I knew movers were slimey but eeeuuuuwww! None the less I found someone who would do a direct haul (no truck transfers) from CA to NV. (It’s 605 miles… not exactly a long haul) Prompt. Courteous. Good payment terms.
OH yes, did I mention Sullivan wanted FULL payment up front. Let me see. You have all my money. You have all my belongings. If anything goes wrong, just what leverage would I have. Nope. Not my first rodeo.
To be truthful all the interaction has been pleasant but their lack of ability to meet the time committment was an automatic out for me… so they lost the business.
To be clear — my last move was a disaster and I had to camp in an empty apartment for almost a month after having the moving company (Capital) deliver more than 2 weeks late. That’s when I learned no truck transfers «shuttles» never put anything in storage (more moving) and always insist on background check proof.
Most of the problems come from putting multiple shipments on one truck and add to that «shuttles» which are used to pick up and/​or deliver where big trucks won’t fit. My belongings were moved 5 times. Very little damage I self-​packed and I’m a flipplin’ pro. The one item that broke was in a box that looked like it was rolled down the ramp… and don’t you know it was a heavy, carved bust by an artist now in demand that couldn’t be replaced. (It’ takes a pretty big fumble to break a heavy sculpture) The insurance only paid by the pound. Big loss financially but more sentimental.

My experience with United Van Lines/​Sullivan moving company was BY FAR the WORST experience I have ever encountered with a service provider in my ENTIRE life!!! The very worst, and if you would rather not endure the head-​ache of their services yourself, I would advise you take heed to my review.
First off, at inception of business transaction, they seem to be very service oriented and accommodating that is until they get your business and the contractual agreement between you and the company has been signed.
I was initially told that there was a time frame that I would receive my items resulting from a move from CA to VA. The estimators came to my place in CA, surveyed the items to have been shipped, gave me an estimate, and told me that since the total weight amount of my items weighed below the required minimum, that I would be charged just the standard weight. Cool. They then proceeded to tell me that it would take between 5 – 15 days to receive my shipment from CA to VA (as I arrived to VA before the movers did.)
Throughout the process and after my card was charged the service fee, I not once heard from United Van Lines/​Sullivan moving, forcing me to have to check in with them intermittently just to simply check the status of the move. Further, when I left messages for my moving coordinator, I never received returned phone calls, forcing me to call, hold, and wait for her to take my calls. After about a week and a half after being told the length of time it would take to move my items, from the moving coordinator, I was then told (again a week and a half later) that the driver was still in AZ, and making his way to the East Coast… We are now to day 10 of the process and I was then told that the driver might not arrive to VA until the actual 15^th day (as promised by contract) because the truck drivers can only drive so many hours in a day. Fine.
We get to the 15^th day and I am then told (by the way, by the driver, whom I had spoken to for the VERY FIRST time the day my shipment was to arrive, and never prior, even though the driver told the United Van Line company that he called me on several occasions [not true!]) that he would not be able to make it by the close of business on the 15^th day because when he did the delivery before mine, he didn’t have help unloading the truck and that it took him longer than he thought. This is not my fault, and I should not have had to suffer the consequences of a delay in the delivery of my items because United Van Lines/​Sullivan didn’t plan appropriately.
Nevertheless, when the driver finally arrived to my address A DAY LATE, he then tells me that he can ‘t unload my items until the next day because he was tired from having to 1.) unload the last delivery by himself 2.) for having to wait to get the truck fixed because of a minor maintenance mishaps (between the commute from his last delivery to mine, and 3.) because he needed more help unloading my things and wouldn’t be able to get the help until the next day… Again, isn’t this something United Van Lines/​Sullivan moving should have set up before the driver got to my address???
So finally arriving a day LATE after my contractual time frame that was paid for, the mover (s) finally unloaded my items, came in my home, scratched my walls, left SEVERAL broken items in my boxes, set up a couple things and left.
I called to make a complaint to my moving coordinator after this tremendous inconvenience, because after all, I had to take time off from work, and sacrifice not having my items when promised to me and having to wait to get them, all to be berated by United Van Lines/​Sullivan Moving company and told that there was nothing they could do about this because my load was less than 3,300lbs!!! They proceeded to tell me that the only way I could file a claim against this matter was if I had a delivery that was the maximum weight amount otherwise, if I wanted to get a lawyer I could do so. Really?! No apology, no partial refund for the tardiness and broken items, nothing. Just rude staff that could care less that their service was less than sufficient. Anyway, my moving coordinator was Dawn Lewis, my estimator was Troy Becker, my driver was David Rivera, and I was berated by a guy in the office I think by the name of Sebastian Brooks. I WILL NEVER EVER USE THIS MOVING COMPANY EVER AGAIN, AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND AGAINST THEM!!!

I had planned to use Sullivan Moving and storage for my move from San Diego to San Jose because I expected peace of mind on the day of move. I wanted moving and packing done by a professional team as we could not any of the packing due to time crunch.
Chris came to our apartment and did a quick survey and gave a worse case scenario quote (longest route to the Van from my apartment) and the packing time was calculated to 6hrs by 1 person.
The quote was high compared to the other companies but I decided that they would take care of the move well and the no cost would offset the peace of mind during the move.
The came the nightmare, the day of move — We had Vincent (Sr) come to our apartment at about 8:30 am and he started complaining from the moment he set foot in our apartment. The whole reason for me accepting to pay such a huge price was for PROFESSIONALISM! but frankly I was PISSED off the whole day with his attitude. They started packing at about 9:15am and continued late into 5pm.
He started complaining about the way the whole place was rather than helping us understand what was required. He was talking as if he was doing us a favor with the move. His answers were rude at times.
I had requested that he pack couple of our potted plants in boxes and transport them as well at the start of the move which he agreed to do and then at about 4pm starts complaining that he is past his 6hr time period and will not get paid extra and also insisted that we pack the plants in boxes for them to move…
Three people came to pack and move my stuff but for some reason three people took about (12hrs) to pack a single bedroom + Loft apartment while the quote mentioned the job would be done by 1 person in 6hrs
The packing and all the items were loaded in truck at about 5pm but then I find he had left behind his pop and sticky tapes behind which I had to trash… aaarrrgggghhh
The stuff was delivered to my place today at noon and the delivery was done by Michael and a friend of his, they were good in delivering the stuff and re assembling the required items.
But the Packing was a total NIGHTMARE and on the top of it I had to pay about $ 116 extra for the crappy slow packaging that was done for approx 12hrs by 3 people. I am not sure if it was caused by a bad estimate on the part of Chris or a deliberate slow packing to fleece out additional charge in spite of the quote being a worst case scenario one.
If you go with Sulivan Moving and storage, atleast make sure that VIncent is not packing your stuff… PERIOD. The Packers are not worth the price

We have moved 4 times in the last 5 and a half years. We used Sullivan United for the first two moves… got ‘thrifty” and decided to go with a ‘discount mover’ for the 3^rd. After that fiasco — realized that you get exactly what you pay for and came back to Sullivan United for this 4^th move.
At this point I feel like a moving pro. Everything from the initial quote to the actual move experience is like clock work with Sullivan United. The move crew worked their butts off for us. Everything I tossed at them they would figure out with a smile. I thought for sure at the end of a very long day that we would have blown right past our initial estimate but was floored to find out that our crew had ‘beaten’ the estimate by 15 minutes and our costs would actually be LESS than was quoted.
I will never ever ever ever use another moving company. Sullivan United is a quality organization staffed with quality people.
Kudos to the entire Sullivan United staff. Moving sucks. but they somehow make it suck less!

*** Update 2÷15÷2011 ***
Mark Keiper with Sullivan Moving and Storage saw my review and contacted us via email. He apologized for the situation and took responsibility. Mark explained the source of the error — and made no excuses for the mishandling. He seemed sincere in his commitment to use our experience as a learning opportunity. We appreciated his email and his frank manner. He followed up with a personal notecard and two giftcards for Starbucks. I hope Unilocal members will consider the revised review.
*** Original Review ***
Our move was scheduled for Saturday 1÷29÷2011. We worked with Troy. Initially, felt that Sullivan/​United was a good choice. They did an in-​home visit and used an automated tool to inventory our furniture, etc. and provided a pretty competitive estimate. We shopped 3 moving companies, and the top 2 had similar estimates for labor/​time — so chose Sullivan/​United based on price (I’ll note that we based our assumptions on paying the «not to exceed» amount of the quote.)
Job bid was for 4 movers at 6 hours. (we moved 10 miles away). Timing was tight, we had to move on that Saturday and we finalized arrangements well in advance.
Day of the move. 3 guys showed up with a truck. We got the «no way we can do this job in 6 hours at the not-​to-​exceed price» — if you’ve read reviews on moving nightmares… you will find the common shake down. The movers show up and insist that you sign a new agreement, the customer signs under duress… and pays much more than they originally agreed.
Pretty pissed at this point. Compared our signed estimate with their dispatch order. We contracted for 4-​movers and 6-​hours… they were dispatched for only 3-​movers. (oh… and the movers complained that the truck was not big enough for our move, either)
Contacted Troy via cell phone. Frankly surprised that he called us back. Piss-​poor response from him. His main comment «we are a reputable company» — no solutions… no way to get a 4^th guy… nothing he could do. We told him we weren’t signing anything «new» and that we would not pay more than the original not-​to-​exceed price. We got the virtual shoulder shrug. Not happy with this guy at all.
Movers were great. Once they realized that they had been screwed by Troy… they seemed to buckle down and go to work. I was really concerned that they would take out their frustrations by doing a careless job… but they didn’t.
If you do the math… 4 guys and 6 hours translates to 3 guys and 8 hours. These 3 guys worked hard (and so did we) and we got just about everything in the truck they had… plust a few loads in our personal vehicles.
They completed the job in about 8.5 hours and when they tallied up the bill it exceeded the not-​to-​exceed by $ 12. We paid it and tipped these guys $ 60 each for their efforts and attitude. They are the only reason I’m giving two stars.
It’s been a week. No follow up call from Troy. Nothing.
Mistakes happen… it’s how you handle them that sets a company apart. Very disappointed in the way this was handled. The movers and the customer end up in a difficult situation. No accountability!