$400 to move my machines!?!

Steverd

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Just got a quote from movers to move 22 of my games from my basement into my backyard shop. It's $400 to move 10 pinball machines and 12 arcade machines. They charge by the job and not per hour.

If you read my older post, I am getting older (almost 50) and don't want to winch all of the games up (done this in the past), don't have $2000 for a Escalera Stair climber right now. I have friends that might help move 1 or 2 games, but not all of them.

Seems pretty fair, what do you think? Bring in the muscle and just get the job done in an afternoon and save my back!?!?
 
Wrap them up in plastic and cardboard yourself, then that way you wont have to worry as much about dings and scratches. But $400 seems fair.
 
To put that into perspective, I just paid $412 for 4 hours of work having 2 movers (truck) move 13 of my games + a 2 bedroom town home into a larger home.
They took all the games around the house (down a hill) and into a walkout basement.
Yeah...they are ripping you off. $200 sounds a bit better.
 
Wrap them up in plastic and cardboard yourself, then that way you wont have to worry as much about dings and scratches. But $400 seems fair.

I disagree,I was a mover years ago and when you wrap it yourself YOU assume responsibility for damage.$400 for 22 machines sounds like a no brainer,I know i couldnt do it with my back the way it is.
 
Based on my first (and last) experience hauling a Centipede out of a basement...

[I was seriously feeling like an old mare at end of those stairs, old, out of shape, red faced and puffing like an old steam engine... I have a lot of respect for you arcade guys since that near-death experience!]

$440 (400 + tip - assuming they do a good job and don't beat your stuff to crap) comes out to $20 a machine. Come about machine 8 or 9 when you're worn out and looking for your chiropractor's / masseuse's phone number, it might start looking like a bargain.

Just my opinion, but then I'm old and already have plenty of back pain.
 
I think it's wayyyyy cheap. No way in hell I'd move those games for you for $400, lol. Jump on it man, if they seem like they'll be careful with the machines.
 
I think it's wayyyyy cheap. No way in hell I'd move those games for you for $400, lol. Jump on it man, if they seem like they'll be careful with the machines.

i would charge you 1000.00 at least. i hate moving these/rotating them around!
ask yourself, what would you charge to move 8000 lbs of games??
 
Its UP a flight of stairs i beleive.

Yes, it's up ten steps. There's a small landing to catch your breath then down two step into the back yard where my shop is at. It's also a straight shot up and out of my basement. I always remove the back door when I move games to give me a few more inches.
 
Its a good deal.. I have seen Steves stairs, and I know I wouldnt do it for that price.. Let them do it, but make sure the machines are covered if they damage them...
 
Its a good deal.. I have seen Steves stairs, and I know I wouldnt do it for that price.. Let them do it, but make sure the machines are covered if they damage them...

Heheh, that's funny, yeah the steps are a little steep and a little narrow. But I got them all down there in one piece !
 
$400 is a good deal for that many games. That's less than $20 a game. I had some guys move some games up my stairs once and it was $250. I think it was only 5-6 games total. Yeah it seems like a rip off but that was the low bid from several movers.

Recently I rented a motorized stair truck from a movie rental place and it was $80 for one day. But I had to do it all myself and like yourself I am reaching an age where that kind of stuff if getting harder and harder to do.

Pay the cash and be done with it, your back will thank you later. if you screw up your back it will probably end up costing you a lot more than $400. When I built my arcade addition I screwed up my back and it took 3 years to get over it.
 
That almost sounds too cheap, like they don't know what they're getting into. I sure wouldn't move them for that, go for it.
 
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