How to avoid bad junk removal companies in Vancouver?

Searching google for junk removal companies in Vancouver, will return a variety of businesses offering such services, but reading the reviews, you will find two extreme experiences by clients. Either really good reviews, that are obviously scripted, or clients telling their nightmare stories. The first part of this article will examine the issues concerning the hauling industry in Vancouver, and the end of the article, will address how these issues can be avoided.

Why are there so many bad rubbish removal companies?

Vancouver is growing as a city, and this generates lots of household garbage. It is mostly old, or even in many cases new new, furniture. People move in and out, all the time, and in the process, they have to downsize, or simply upgrade their household possessions. Because of this activity, the hauling industry started to boom, and all sorts of “a guy with a pickup truck”, started to enter the game. Now, I have to say, that I was one of those guys, and there is nothing wrong with that sort of beginning. The problem is that most of these guys don’t take the quality of their services seriously, and instead of building a long-term client base, they focus on making some quick cash.

It is easy to get a good looking website, and put all sorts of claims on it. You have all seen it. The smiling guys with the broom, shaking hands with a happy client. Yet, when you read the reviews by google, it is amazing that companies can get away with so much bad business. Sure, there are few really good reviews, that are so badly scripted, that anyone with marketing background, can see it from a mile. However, the nightmare reviews cannot be more genuine. The typical complaint is when one price is discussed on the phone, and then after everything is loaded, the price is tripled. Lets get to how this is possible.

Dishonest Junk removal rates

Most websites, that get most of the calls, are those who list the lowest prices. However, this is what happens really. Those sites, will list low junk removal prices, that do not include disposal fees, or other hidden fees. For example, for 5 cubic yards, a company might quote you $100, and after they have loaded everything, they will tell you that the total charge is $200. After you protest, they will tell you that the $100 did not include the dumping fees they have to pay at the city landfill, and since the works is already done, you better pay. Also, they are aware, that you probably took the day off for this pick up, and you are not willing to repeat the whole process, and lose another paid day from work. It is the old bait and switch trick. I even had clients, who complained that the guys would get aggressive.

Unprofessional junk removal services

This is another issue, that goes hand in hand with the one we just discussed. Many of my clients, have tried the Craigslist, since this is the cheapest place to get that sort of a garbage removal service, but all have burned really bad. Here is the source of the problem. While, there are some really good companies advertising on this site, most ads are simply run by guys looking to make some extra cash on the weekend. It is not unusual for these guys to not even show up, or show up late, with a small truck, and then they spend the whole of your day, trying to haul away a garage full of items. Then there is the issue of letting strangers into your house.

How to find a reliable junk removal service in Vancouver?

As we have mentioned earlier, it is very easy to get a flashy website. However, it is not that easy to answer questions honestly on the phone. Call them, and ask about their pricing, extra fees, exceptional scenarios where the price of the service could change. You will be able to tell, if you are being lied to, or your questions are being given fuzzy answers. The best way to find a good one, is to ask a friend. My company is building a client base, and every year, I see more and more new clients, who were sent my way, by clients I’ve known for years.

I hope that with this article, you will be able to avoid the issues that have taken over my industry. However, this eventually will balance itself, because people that have used this service, have learned their lesson, and they are starting to be more careful when hiring junk removal companies.