I'm hiring movers. Need privacy/security advise.

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fulloflead

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First of all, please don't tell me not to hire movers. I don't have a choice for various personal reasons. (Not being able to carry heavy things, for one example.)

I'm moving from a ground-floor apartment to a highrise about 5 miles away.

I've got a "Hobby Room":

  • a 100 lb. "hobby" bench with a lee turret attached and a small vise (that I could take off).
  • It also has a non-descript looking lock box bolted to it. (About 24" x 24" x 24" cube chuck FULL of handguns.)
  • Many dry boxes full of ammo (marked)
  • plastic stack drawers full of gun parts, grips, primers, knives, etc.
  • a bunch of unloaded bullets and brass (a few hundred pounds)
  • 2.5 pounds of propellent
  • 2 rifles in soft zipper cases

My concerns in this order are:
  1. 1. The movers realize I'm a "gun" person, gossip to their friends - I become a target for burglary.
  2. 2. The movers mention something to my apartment managers or my neighbers and I either become a burglary target or a "terrorist".
  3. 3. They take something.
  4. 4. They want to draw me into a conversation about guns/knives in front of someone I don't want to have a conversation about guns/knives in front of.

Is there any problem I'm missing?
I don't feel like I have to eliminate ALL the problems, but I'd definitely like to minimize them.
I have a few ideas on how to minimize some of my problems like moving some light stuff early in the morning myself before the movers come and stashing them in a closet of my new place.

Can you give me some advise on how to handle this move where I'll end up with about three 20-year-old moving guys handling my stuff?

.
 
I would start by overpasting the labels with arts/crafts info (keep a list of what is labeled as what, i.e. sequins = .45 LC unprimed brass etc.

misleading labels go a long way to disguising what you're having them move.
 
Sit in the living room in a rocking chair, with a 12 gauge. Just like you did when your daughter's date came over for the first time. Don't forget to lay your knife collection out in front of you... :D ;):neener:
 
I would definately move the sensitive items myself. You may have to unbolt some items from the table...
 
Hire a company that has been around a while, and does drug and background tests on its employees, make sure they are bonded. CAll and ask them, I am sure there are a lot of movers in your area.
 
Okay, hire movers or find a friend or two. Follow them to your new address. Move the rifles yourself. You could very easily put your handguns in book cartons and label "Fragile" "kitchen". Dishes and stuff are heavy. Book cartons are very handy boxes and support a lot of weight. They are available from all movers or primary Uhaul locations for purchase. Tape and label all boxes as you see fit. As far as the reloading bench goes, I'd take some things off if it is a concern of yours.
 
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labeling

Relabeling is a great idea. I've got a few boxes in the storage room that I kept mislabeled. "Old Photos" "scrapbooking" and a few others.

I had one labeled "gun stuff" full of holsters and other gear and realized what a bad idea that was.
 
Try to find a company that has bonded employees. Don't go with the cheapest. My wife wanted to hire the cheapest when we moved, so we ended up going with 2 Men and a Truck. A couple of scary looking big dudes, who I overheard talking about their prison experiences when they didn't know I was around a corner from them. :uhoh:

Being a bit paranoid about the movers seeing my "good stuff", I only had them do the furniture and big heavy stuff that I didn't want to carry. All the "fun" stuff I moved myself, or put some of the biggest/heaviest inside boxes that were labeled with information that wouldn't be useful to anyone but me. I knew that boxes labeled "Garage Cabinet" were my reloading stuff, but who else would know what the now empty steel cabinet in the garage was for?
 
Plan A: Break it down into manageable loads, and do the sensitive stuff yourself. Then hire a company to move the heavy stuff. I would doubt most movers would recognize the reloading turret for what it is.

Plan B: If you have some friends(hopefully one has a truck) who would be up for moving atleast the sensitive stuff call them up, order a pizza, and go pick up a 12 pack. Load 'er all up in the truck, drive over to new apartment, unload it all and bring it up, then kick back and relax with your buddies :D. Works best if your buddies are starving college kids :evil:.

Plan C: Take your chances call the company and make sure the company drug tests and does background checks on all employees and they're bonded(as suggested by Rob). Also mislabel all your sensitive stuff as a precaution.

Personally I like Plan B, then again I would also be helping alot as I'm able to move the heavier stuff. Also depends on who your friends are.
 
Have moved several times over my 22 years of service and I always transport my guns, important papers and keepsakes in leu of having them packed and shipped.

If you can't do that yourself, packing on your own and labeling is a good idea.
 
Gee, geniuses...

1) Spring for a few bucks, score some wine boxes, and pack some of the stuff yourself. Mix it in with other stuff if you want.

2) Take stuff apart already. Put the lockbox in another box, and label it "old computer parts."
 
Moving Companies........

Even the bonded ones, hire parolees a LOT... some of whom are accomplished thieves or have buddies who are:mad: Sturdy heavy boxes are a headsup.= Seal, Label and NUMBER and break down into small components. Move the firearms and sharp pointy items yourself. :cool:
Get a local company & check their references... For sure bonded.
Be There! for the loading and unloading ... Talk to no one, movers, nosey neighbors, spectators.
Lucky this is a short move... distances requireing overnight stops increase the chance of pilferage by a huge factor.:uhoh:
 
Do you have any friends who already know of your gun/knife hobby who can help move sensitive items? And who could store those items for you until the movers have come and gone? If so, let the movers handle the empty workbench, and get your friends to take the reloading items, reloading components, and guns to their place before the movers arrive. Then after the moving is complete to the new place, get your friends to bring over the goodies.

Still use a bonded moving service, but your personal security is the same as it is now.
 
pack your own stuff.
A friend's ex-wife is a 'mover'.... she's always pocketing anything valuable while packing other peoples stuff.

The worst part is, I confronted her about it once at a party before they got divorced. (thieves make me angry) and she told me "everyone does it. If I didn't then everyone would think that I'm acting conceded"

Great woman, let me tell ya. I hope she gets caught and they throw her methamphetamine addicted butt in a prison cell.
 
Movers are a big problem. Even bonded means nothing. The scam is you have to prove they stole or damaged your property.

Best bet is to disguaise stuff as best you can that you can't move yourself and move what you can yourself, especially guns or other valuables.

You are right to fear moving companies. Their rep is well deserved.

One thing you have going for you is the short distance. Will be much harder to demand extar funds at the other end for storage.

Are you doing the packing and boxing up?
 
I'd be more concerned about them taking something than flapping their gums. I moved from New Jersey to Texas last year and used a van line (Allied, I think). Basically, I was advised that whatever the movers pack has to be catalogoued. Whatever I packed myself would just undergo a cursory inspection. That's exactely how it played out. No muss, no fuss.
 
Keep in mind that if you lie about the contents that you won't be covered for them if they are broken/stolen. Further, many companies will refuse to move firearms or accessories just like they refuse high dollar items like jewelery or grandfather clocks. Also, they may refuse to move the items if you packed them yourself and refuse to open them (they open the boxes and verify the contents and repack since they are responsible for them). Move the actual weapons yourself and see if you can get a few friends to help you with the ammo. Avoid the movers all together. Reloading stuff, I wouldn't worry about it, just label it as press and press equipment. Most people wouldn't know what it was if it bit them.
 
I recommend Atlas (which I think owns/is owned by Allied) movers. I've successfully moved across the US and Canada with them. Nothing stolen, nothing missing. Atlas will transport firearms as well. I'd recommend you take pictures of everything valuable, that way there is a record that you owned it. If they steal it, they'll go to jail for a felony. If your weapon is extremely valuable, carry it yourself. Also, explosives cannot be moved in most instances and if they are moving a firearm, you must declare it to them. Whoever told you to pack the firearms w/o telling the company is wrong. You NEED to declare that. This would be especially true if you were moving out of state (which you are not), but still...
 
Move sensitive, important and valuable items & information yourself. Let movers move the heavy stuff, clothing, non valuable items. If I had a gun safe I'd rent a truck and move that myself it's a dead giveaway you have valuables. Let outsiders know as little as possible.
 
I didn't have so far to move last year. I moved my guns and ammo in my truck. The movers just moved my safe (empty).
It was a national mover chain. Those guys weren't even from my state.
 
Sit in your favorite chair watching a Ted Nugent show while they are loading up.

Get out your favorite rifle and sit it on your lap and talk to it.

Ask everyone that comes in for ID and write down all their info on an oversized clipboard with one of those really oversized pencils (the look like small baseball bats).

Even if they have gone in and out 20 times ask them for ID again and when they said they already gave it just laugh.

Keep petting yuor imaginary dog and tell him everything is ok and to stop barking.

Yup that will work.
 
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