Oct 30, 2008 03:33 PM
1995 Views
(Updated Oct 31, 2008 02:46 PM)
I had the worst shifting experience imaginable while shifting locally within Bangalore (3 km distance). Their executive, Sumit, came home and surveyed the things before giving us a quote of 6000. On informing him that we had received a lower quote of 5000 from DHL and others, he matched the price.
No one bothered to call and inform us earlier what time they would reach on shifting day. On the day we were supposed to shift, they came by 10:30. There were 3 people and within 1 hour they realized that they would need more people and cartons to pack the stuff. They called up the executive who had come earlier - Sumit and told him to send more helpers and cartons. Sumit kept saying he would send more workers but no one came. He himself came and surveyed the packing process, just shouted at the workers and went away. By 5pm these guys ran out of cartons.
We called Sumit and told him that the loading had still not started and quite a few items (dining table set, sofas, books etc) were yet to be packed. There was no action taken. They loaded whatever they had packed and took the stuff to our new flat. By the time unloading started it was already 7:00 p.m. The workers were a very discontented lot and they informed us that this is a regular habit of Sumit and in Sahara. They were usually sent with inadequate packing material and helpers to complete the job and only when the customer would create a big fuss would the company send on more people.
We called up Sumit again and this time he dropped his veneer of politeness and helpfulness and his response included the following statements "aapko kya lagta hai 5000 rupaye mein aapne company khareed li hai? itne low price mein aise hi hota hai!" On asking him why hadn't he sent sufficient men and cartons, he said "hamari 50000 trucks chalti hai bangalore mein.. isi tarah se kaam hota hai" Then he said that he would send 5 more people to help by 8:30 exact. From 8 p.m., he switched off his cell. Prior to this, we had called up the company landline also and asked to speak to the supervisor. Someone named Satyanand came on the line and on learning about the issue told us to follow up with Sumit only as he was organizing the entire thing. We told them that the workers were saying that it would be 5 a.m. if they were to go back, get the second lot of things and unpack it and told them to send the truck the next day. He said that would cost us extra!!
By the time unloading was over, it was 10p.m. Not one single carton was unpacked nor anything arranged though arranging was a part of the contract. (See picture which shows how they stacked up the cartons and left) Sumit's cell was switched off. The worker gave us the no. of another supervisor called Bhaskar to whom we informed that we were not going to stay up till 5a.m and to send the truck the next day. We told him we would pay 50% of the amount and after much haggling he agreed but said he would send again the day after. We had no option but to agree.We told him that if he didnt send then we would have to hire another company to which his response was even then you will have to pay the full amount. There were no regrets expressed for the harassment and delay.
The workers had left the sofa in the corridor in the old flat which we ourselves had to go and put inside the house that night. (see picture for things left for another day...) The day after 7 guys came and within 3 hours they had brought the remaining stuff to the new apartment and unloaded it. Here again, half the stuff was taken to our flat and then 5 of the guys promptly left. The remaining 2 guys carried the rest of the stuff to our flat and did some amount of unpacking and arranging. After the work was over, we paid the remaining amount in full. But not before we received a call from Sumit and Bhaskar asking us to pay extra for the 2nd trip made. The gall of these people is preposterous!!! Never use Sahara Packers and Movers.
