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OZ Moving & Storage

318 East 78th Street
New York, NY
212.452.MOVE (6683)
(four locations in NYC)

2004_10_18_oz.jpgFunny, too. As we search for the best moving companies in New York to add to our Stores Guide, we have to look harder and harder. This is our latest tip.

OZ Moving & Storage was started by Avi Oz in 1993 and is now a full service company with continuous good reviews from City Search (8.9), and NY Mag (4 stars). They offer:

  • packing & unpacking
  • moving
  • storage
  • cleaning
  • boxes and blankets
  • piano moving
  • crating of marble or heavy objects.

    What particularly caught our eye, however, was their wacky Village People website and the super helpful offer to recommend trusted professionals in a number of categories that we would see a new apartment dweller needing, such as electricians and locksmiths.

    OZ answers their phones right away, provides free estimates and charges:

  • $120 per hour for 3 guys
  • $140 per hour for 4 guys

    and there is a 3 1/2 hour minimum (= $420 with 3 guys). All blankets and tape,etc. are free and they need a credit card as a deposit to get started. Ask for Danny, tell him we sent you and let us know what happens. MGR

    Do you know OZ?? Leave a comment below and help out others....

  • MAIN OFFICE:
    318 East 78th St.
    @ 2nd Avenue

    UPPER WEST SIDE:
    2237 Broadway
    @ West 80th St.

    UPPER EAST SIDE:
    1734 2nd Ave
    @ East 90th St.

    WEST VILLAGE:
    184 7th Ave South
    @ West 11th St.

    Comments (7)

    Not from my experience. We called them twice to come over and give us an estimate, and twice they didn't show up or call. That was the end of that. We suspect it was because they felt our apartment move was too small to be worth their time.

    posted by Rich on 2004-10-18 13:19:43

    Oz moved me this weekend, or rather put all my stuff in storage. They were prompt, efficient, friendly. My only concern sis that they wrapped a painting for me in a way that made the artist cringe when I described what they did. I'll let you know how my boxes survive this experience.

    posted by Dorothy on 2004-11-01 14:36:24

    OZ moved my stuff for two moves. Both times they did a great job. Were on time, efficient, very polite, careful with my stuff, etc. They're not cheap though.

    posted by Ellen on 2005-04-14 10:25:13

    OZ moved me yesterday so the memory is still fressshhh in my mind - they were great. it takes them a while to thaw but they are all wonderfully helpful, efficient and polite. thanks, apartmenttherapy for a great ny tip!

    posted by purpleplunket on 2005-08-12 16:34:09

    These guys were TOP-NOTCH. Not only did a co-worker recommend Oz, but another friend who used to work for moving. He said most moving companies rip you off, with the exception of Oz, being the most honest. If I have to move again, I will not hesitate to use them. The move was stress-free.

    I cannot recommend them enough! Why?

    1) I got a live, friendly person on the phone who assessed my apt. (no fancy consultation visit) and gave me a quote. They came in at almost HALF what another mover quoted me for a 1-bedroom. Once I knew I wanted to use them, they asked for a $50 deposit. I thought their price was more than reasonable.
    2) They gave me options for a move on 10% off days and threw in 2 wardrobe boxes free.
    3) They called to confirm the move a few days before.
    4) On the day of the move, they were running 10-15 minutes late, and called me to let me know.
    5) The 4 movers who showed up were the friendliest guys I've ever seen. They were HAPPY to be doing their job and just made the day/process go smoothly. They knew exactly what they were doing, and carefully blanket-covered all furniture head to toe (not just the tops or bottoms).
    6) I had packed my boxes (probably is more expensive if you're going for the full service move), but they helped to get the last few boxes taped up and ready to go.
    7) NO hidden fees! The foreman was fair to his fellow-movers (I tipped them all equally and he gave them their tips in front of me), and the final price was EXACTLY as I was quoted when I first called.
    8) The foreman made sure to place all furniture, boxes where I wanted. They also made sure I checked the truck to ensure all my belongings were unloaded.

    In the end, I still came out spending much less-- even with a tip--than if I had used the other movers!

    posted by Mela on 2006-05-05 13:53:32

    I cannot recommend this company.
    I got a “maximum cost” estimate, which I paid, and was told I’d get a refund once the move was completed. After the move, the foreman said I had to wait until they got back to determine the refund but that they’d call me.
    After 2 months with no call, I called Oz who now said that they don’t give refunds. I told him that was not what I was told so I wanted some action. He told me to call a woman in Billing for an invoice who told a different story: I would have received a refund except my move took longer than was estimated. I said they only took four hours to wrap, pack, and load my furniture and that meant the travel time, estimated for 30 minutes, took 6 hours.
    I wanted to see a copy of the record she was quoting. I asked for an invoice with a breakdown of the time spent. She said that it would be sent right away. I didn’t receive it so after 2 weeks I sent 3 separate written requests reiterating the problem. I asked if I was charged for the hour the foreman talked on his cell phone, meal breaks during the move, and if I saved money by the movers not picking up all the garbage left throughout me building.
    After a few months of being ignored, I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. Oz now wanted to talk but still didn’t send the invoice. They eventually sent a cash payment to settle the case which I took because I wasn’t sure how much longer they’d be in business. By this time, their formerly beautiful, interactive, animated website had degraded into a cheap, do-it-yourself webpage.
    Although Oz is a licensed contractor, they admit that they don’t make or maintain time records of their moves. Oz got the time used by looking at what the employees put on their timesheets for the day (conflict of interest). If there was no time record, the woman from billing must have been making up the numbers she quoted. Oz never answered my complaint of the foreman spending an hour on the cell phone but I guess he didn’t put that on his timesheet.

    posted by Bre on 2006-10-31 12:33:49

    I cannot begin to tell you how bad this moving company is. I was moving less than 30 blocks on the same side of town. They sent four guys, two of which I never saw one did all the work and the others, who knows. They arrived 40 min. late but made me sign saying they were there at 9:00 am, they just had to park, made me give them quarters for the meter that they never used and finished at 5:00 pm. I was their first and only move and they took their sweet time. The actual cost was $600 higher than the estimate. I cant express to you enough, please don't go with this company unless of course you have money to throw away. Oh yes, one other thing, they destroyed my new hardwood floors in my new apt. Icing on the cake. I tell everyone I know, go with anyone BUT OZ. MOVERS BEWARE!!!

    posted by canacea on 2007-10-16 10:46:58
    view canacea's profile
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