We have heard All Star Movers recommended around town from Manhattan User's Guide to City Search, where they get a 9.2 rating and this review:
They showed up on time, were quick and efficient, and really reasonable in comparison to other places I called. They also have a great rating with the NYC Better Business Bureau. I've heard horror stories about movers, but All Star was great!
However, one of our friends used them a few months ago and had this to say:
All Star were good with my move (they were slow delivering boxes) until it came time to settle up. Admittedly, I wasn't there, as I had an assistant overseeing the move, but she told me that they were charging for more hours than she saw them work. It all worked out in the end, but was awkward. I would recommend them, but advise being really clear about the hours so that this sort of thing doesn't happen to you.
With all movers it is good to keep track of all the details, as the moving world is very competitive. We can still recommend All Star, but as the dentist says when there might be cavity, "let's put a watch on that tooth." MGR
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I just used All Star today and it was an extremely efficient move with really friendly, sweet guys (my cat *really* loved them and he's a vicious bastard). They knew what they were doing from the get go, not burdening me with any decisions or problems; I just sat back and watched. I even mentioned to one of the guys that he didn't have to worry about scratching a particular item and he said that that would take all the fun/challenge out of their job. I felt safe giving them my stuff. Very professional.
Price-wise I was happy that their time minimum was only 2 hours. When I called Rainbow they were asking $140/h for 4 movers with a 4h minimum; All Star sent 3 guys for $120/h and it took just about 2.5h. One guy had to leave early and because he didn't finish the job he only charged me $45 for his part of the whole move! I couldn't believe it.
I used All Star this past Monday for an apartment move, and they were great.
The move (a one bedroom) took three guys about 3.5 hours, less than I expected. While they were 15 minutes late, they made sure to reflect that in the final bill. They also used at least 4 of their own boxes (I still have them) and five rolls of their own tape, but didn't charge me for them. They were speedy and efficient, and I would definitely recommend them.
I hired two guys from All-Star to unload my truck when I moved here last summer, and they were great. Very time-efficient and conscientious (e.g., careful to not set dirty boxes on my rug), polite and personable. I am using them again for my upcoming move across town.
In your "moving companies" section you have omitted the company I think should be at the top of everyone's list: All Star Moving and Storage, Inc. My daughter had to move from one apartment in Manhattan to another and my husband, son and I were going to help her do it. Less than a week before the schedule move my husband pulled a muscle in his back and my son had tom make an emergency trip out of state. After researching the web I came up with six moving companies who seemed to be reputable. Five said they could not help us and All Star Moving Company said, they could not help us at the day and time you have given, which was Friday, June 30th, 2006. However, they could do it Monday, July 3rd. We contracted with then.
I dealt with Rich Baralle, the owner, who was extremely informative and thorough. He recommended we go with an hourly rate for a four man team of movers. Rich estimated the move would take 4 - 5 hours. On the day of the move, they showed up ON TIME, each one was extremely professional, careful, competent and very pleasant. They wrapped everything with care. Their attitude and approach immediately put my daughter at ease, who had been very stressed out by the whole moving thing.
Not one thing went wrong. Not one item of furniture was even scratched. And, it only took them 2 1/4 hours, costing us, in the end, half of what we expected to pay. There were no hidden costs added on. I have never had such a pleasant moving experience.
I highly recommend All Star Moving and Storage, Inc. I also highly recommend the particular movers on our job, Herb, Kenny and Cody (we never met the driver of the truck who worked exclusively outside). From now on, I wouldn't consider using another company.
We had a really great experience with All Star this past Saturday. We are very nervous movers to begin with and were anxious when we were called by the company to say that the movers were running late. However, once they arrived, the 4 men were all very professional and put us right at ease. We were moving from a second floor walk up with a hard bannister to get around, and they moved every piece very carefully and were mindful not to bang into the walls.
Once we arrived at the new apartment, they were very patient while we decided where each box should go, and everything made it from point a to point b intact. To top it off, we had a great time with the crew!
I would highly recommend using All Star in the future. We could not stop raving about them, and will mention them to everyone we know.
We used All-star on the reccomendation of a friend. Thought we'd go for a more expensive "reliable" company. We were dissapointed to put it mildly. They over-charged us for the time spent travelling. They arrived late, and charged us for that. And most importantly certain pieces of furniture were permantly damaged beyond repair due to careless handling. To the point, I would NEVER use them again and will inform anyone I know of my experience. Unfortunately they were also not responsive to the damage they caused. Once they got thier check they washed thier hands of the responsibilty for damages. Just goes to show, expensive movers are not always reliable and definitely not trustworthy.
Stay away would be my advice.
All-Star is an exceptional moving company. When my husband and I were planning our move, we got a quote from All-Star but decided to go with another, more well-known and "reputable" company. Moving day arrived and the supposedly well-reputed company did not show up and left us hanging on the day of our move for over four hours. We called All-Star and asked if they could step in at the last minute and if they'd still honor their original quote. They pulled together a 5-man crew and a truck within 90 minutes. They honored their original quote and actually came in UNDER it. They worked into the evening hours with snow on the ground and did not ask for overtime. They were fast, efficient, courteous, professional and exceptional at their work. They moved a piano for us as well, in an apartment with no elevator....and all at the last minute.
All-Star is quite possibly the best customer service experience I've had. I recommend them without reservation and will NEVER use anyone else ever again.