[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/risks-of-hiring-super-cheap-movers\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/risks-of-hiring-super-cheap-movers\/","headline":"Risks of Hiring Super Cheap Movers","name":"Risks of Hiring Super Cheap Movers","description":"Whether you\u2019re changing jobs, upsizing or downsizing your home, or just looking to try out a new location, […]","datePublished":"2021-10-16","dateModified":"2025-10-18","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/author\/kevin\/#Person","name":"Great Moving (Kevin)","url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/author\/kevin\/","identifier":5,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b4997c379c86a878ffe0e2cbc54f56f2298ff0763e895fa10c13c22bfb54a237?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b4997c379c86a878ffe0e2cbc54f56f2298ff0763e895fa10c13c22bfb54a237?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NYC Great Movers","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/nycgreatmovers-logo-20250918.png","url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/nycgreatmovers-logo-20250918.png","width":600,"height":363}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Risks-of-Hiring-Super-Cheap-Movers.jpg","url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Risks-of-Hiring-Super-Cheap-Movers.jpg","height":535,"width":922},"url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/risks-of-hiring-super-cheap-movers\/","about":["Moving Tips"],"wordCount":1881,"keywords":["Avoid Moving Scams","cheap movers","customer service","hire professional movers","hiring\u00a0movers","Hiring Super Cheap Movers","hiring trained professionals","Moving Companies","moving process","Moving Scams","Risks Cheap Movers","skimping on movers","Super Cheap Movers","trained professionals","Trustworthy moving services"],"articleBody":"Whether you\u2019re changing jobs, upsizing or downsizing your home, or just looking to try out a new location, moving is an ingrained part of American life. The average American moves an average of 11.7 times in their lifetime, with younger people moving more frequently. Regardless of your reasons for moving, the actual process can be expensive and stressful. It\u2019s why many people choose to hire professional movers.Of course, hiring movers isn\u2019t cheap, and you might be tempted to go with the most affordable option available. However, there are many risks involved when you hire cheap movers. In some cases, it might end up costing you more in the long run due to a variety of issues. Not convinced? Read below why slashing your budget for movers is a bad idea.Low-Quality ServiceSure, you\u2019re not guaranteed to get better service just because you pay a lot of money, but that doesn\u2019t mean there isn\u2019t a correlation between quality and price. Trustworthy moving services will always cost more than your standard man with a van. Good movers will pay their crew members a good wage to ensure they are hiring trained professionals who will make sure your belongings don\u2019t get damaged during the move. Cheap movers will likely be inexperienced, so they won\u2019t know the proper way to load and unload your belongings. This is especially important if you have a lot of expensive and fragile items. There\u2019s nothing worse than moving into a new place and realizing that a bunch of your plates, furniture, or even electronics are damaged. Risks of Cheap Movers vs. Smarter Ways to SaveIssueHow It Affects Your MoveSmart Alternatives to Save MoneyInexperienced CrewUntrained workers may mishandle fragile or valuable items, increasing the risk of damage.Pack fragile items yourself and label boxes clearly to minimize risk.Poor Handling PracticesItems may be stacked improperly or loaded unsafely, causing breakage during transit.Invest in quality packing supplies or rent reusable plastic bins for better protection.Lack of Insurance or LicensingYou may not be reimbursed for lost or damaged items if movers aren\u2019t properly insured.Always verify DOT license and insurance coverage before booking.Unreliable Customer ServiceIssues and complaints may go unresolved; communication is often poor.Check online reviews and choose movers with a responsive support team.Hidden Costs After the MoveCheap quotes often exclude fuel, stairs, or long-carry fees, leading to surprise bills.Request a written binding estimate and ask for a breakdown of all potential charges.Low Employee MoraleUnderpaid workers may rush or cut corners, resulting in careless mistakes.Hire reputable movers that value their staff and maintain quality standards.Limited Equipment or SuppliesCheap movers may lack dollies, straps, or padding\u2014risking your furniture\u2019s safety.Provide your own padding\/blankets or rent them from the moving company. It\u2019s not just the moving crew, though. When everyone is paid well, they are more invested in making sure the company succeeds. That means you\u2019ll get better customer service during the entire moving process. You\u2019ll even get any issues resolved quickly! More importantly, good movers will be expensive because they follow the appropriate laws and have the necessary licenses and insurances.If you\u2019re strapped for cash, instead of skimping on movers, you can find other ways to cut costs. That might mean packing everything yourself so the movers just have to load and unload your belongings. Other ways you can save money include:Getting free\/cheap boxes from stores, friends, family, etc.Selling items that you no longer use. You should only sell items that are in usable condition. If you have more expensive items, you can try to sell them on eBay to earn some more money.Downsize as much as possible. The less stuff you have to move, the less time it will take the moversMoving ScamsIf moving wasn\u2019t stressful enough, you also need to be on the lookout for scams. As time consuming as it might be, you should always contact around five moving companies to get quotes and ask a series of questions. If you notice one moving company is significantly cheaper than all the rest, take a step back and do some research before you book them. While there\u2019s generally some variation between moving companies, the price shouldn\u2019t fluctuate too much. After all, legitimate moving companies all need to pay the staff, insurance, gas fees, and truck maintenance. If you run into a company whose prices are suspiciously low, it might make sense to cross them off the list. Top Moving Scams Reported by Consumers (2024\u20132025)Scam TypeHow It WorksReported Cases (%)Typical Financial Loss ($)Hostage Load ScamMovers hold belongings hostage and demand additional payment before delivery.35%$1,200 \u2013 $3,500Fake Deposit \/ No ShowScammers take large deposits upfront and never show up for the move.28%$500 \u2013 $2,000Overcharging After LoadingMovers increase the price after loading items, forcing clients to pay extra to get belongings back.15%$800 \u2013 $2,500Damaged or Lost ItemsUninsured movers damage or lose items, then refuse to reimburse or answer calls.22%$300 \u2013 $1,000Fake Reviews & WebsitesScam companies create fake positive reviews and clone legitimate mover websites.18%$200 \u2013 $1,500Bait-and-Switch QuotesLow initial quote drastically increases on moving day due to hidden \u201cextra\u201d fees.25%$600 \u2013 $2,000Fake Licensing \/ InsuranceCompanies pretend to be registered with the DOT or use invalid insurance documents.12%$400 \u2013 $1,800 Of course, you could still be scammed even if you don\u2019t go with the cheapest option. That\u2019s why you should always research the company before signing any paperwork. All legitimate moving companies will have the following:A US Department of Transportation number – all moving companies must register with the US Department of Transportation. Some states also require moving companies to have additional state registration.Liability insurance – moving companies must have insurance to cover any damages done to buildings, as well as workers\u2019 compensation in case one of their crew members gets injured on the jobIn-depth information on their website, including phone number, address, email, etc.Generally positive reviews – a few negative reviews are to be expected, but if reviews are 95% positive, it\u2019s a good signYou should also call the movers directly to ask questions that their website doesn\u2019t answer. Pay attention to how they answer. If they provide useful and straightforward answers, they probably aren\u2019t a scam company. If they get angry or try to dodge questions, move on.Hidden CostsEven if they\u2019re not a total scam company, many cheap movers will try to avoid putting all their fees up front. This means that you could end up paying significantly more as they might not put it in the initial quote. And don\u2019t forget additional charges if you end up with more boxes than you initially stated. Some companies will charge you an arm and a leg even for one extra box! Common Hidden Fees Charged by MoversHidden FeeAverage CostDescriptionLong Carry Fee$75 \u2013 $150Charged when movers must carry belongings more than 75 feet between the truck and your door.Stair Fee$50 \u2013 $200Applied for each flight of stairs when elevators are unavailable or not used.Elevator Fee$50 \u2013 $100Covers extra time needed to wait for and use elevators during the move.Fuel Surcharge5% \u2013 10% of the total costAdded to cover high fuel costs, especially for long-distance or heavy urban traffic moves.Packing Materials$50 \u2013 $300Charged for supplies like boxes, bubble wrap, and tape \u2014 often not included in base quotes.Last-Minute Booking Fee15% \u2013 25% markupApplied when you schedule a move less than 48\u201372 hours in advance.Weekend\/Holiday Upcharge10% \u2013 20%Rates increase during busy periods or holidays due to higher demand.Storage Fee$100 \u2013 $300 per monthCharged when belongings need to be stored temporarily before delivery.Cancellation\/Rescheduling Fee$100 \u2013 $250You will be charged if you cancel or change your move date with little notice.Bulky\/Heavy Item Fee$75 \u2013 $200 per itemApplied for oversized or heavy items like pianos, safes, or gym equipment. Of course, this all depends on the type of move. In general, good local movers will charge an hourly rate instead of by weight or load. So one or two extra boxes shouldn\u2019t be an issue. However, you shouldn\u2019t assume. Always ask the movers how they charge and make sure it\u2019s in writing when you get the quote. You should also make sure to ask about any fees, such as:Long-carryStairsWeekend\/Holiday upchargesLast-minute bookingCancellation\/ReschedulingYou want to get as much information as possible so you don\u2019t have to deal with the sticker shock after you\u2019ve already loaded everything into the moving truck. It\u2019s not unheard of for moving companies to hold onto your belongings until you pay up.And speaking of extra fees, don\u2019t forget about the tip! In general, you should tip $5 per hour per person. So if the job took 4 hours and you had 3 movers, that\u2019s an extra $60 you need to set aside. While you don\u2019t have to tip movers if they do a poor job, some cheap moving companies might harass or threaten you to give a tip. If that happens, you should call up the moving company’s customer service and lodge a complaint. You should also call 911 if they seem very aggressive and make sure to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and leave a review on sites like Yelp and Google.ConclusionWhile it might seem like a win for your wallet, hiring cheap movers can actually end up costing you more money. Rather than deal with any additional headaches and stress during your move, you should take the time to hire a reputable moving company. Yes, they might cost more, but you won\u2019t have to worry about hidden charges, damaged items, or scams. At the end of the day, you\u2019ll be happy you went for a more professional option.FAQHow much does your company charge for moves?Our rates are based on a few factors. If you move locally, we charge an hourly rate in addition to other fees such as stair fees, travel time, and more. We\u2019ll list everything out clearly on our quote so you won\u2019t be surprised. For long-distance moves, we charge by weight.How cheap is too cheap?It\u2019s hard to say, especially as some areas might be cheaper\/more expensive than others. Your best bet is to call up several moving companies and compare prices that way. If one is $300+ cheaper than the others, it\u2019s probably not a reputable company.What are some red flags for a moving company?If you\u2019ve never worked with a moving company before, it can be daunting. However, here are some ways to spot bad movers: They push you into signing a contract immediatelyThey don\u2019t answer your questions or try to dodge themThey won\u2019t provide you with their US Department of Transportation NumberTheir website doesn\u2019t list an address or phone numberThey ask for a large upfront depositThey can\u2019t provide proof of insurance, or if they do, the business name on the insurance doesn\u2019t match the name on the siteThey have very bad reviews"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Risks of Hiring Super Cheap Movers","item":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/risks-of-hiring-super-cheap-movers\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]