Recommended Piano Moving Companies??

[bluemedgroup]

Hey guys,

I did a few searches already and haven't been able to find much information on REPUTABLE piano moving companies. 

I'm looking to move a baby grand Young Chang piano from Kansas City to Jacksonville, FL in the upcoming week or so. 

I also tried seraching on another popular piano forum, and no topics there either.

I'm sure some of you out there has hired a piano mover and has advice.

Can you guys recommend or point me to a reputable and trusted piano mover with good reviews?

Appreciate it.  Thanks!

[indianajo]

Do NOT use Keyboard Carriage of Indiana. They were the house freight unit of Kimble factory, and are equipped to move freight for factories and warehouses, mostly. they showed up at an organ move for an organforum.com member with only a carpet dolly and two clueless drivers.    
Most of the big moving associations had franchises that had equipment for moving grand pianos. This takes at a minimum, a piano board from New Haven Moving Equipment Co, a 4 wheel rubber pad dolly with a 1200 lb rating, and some flat (not round) nylon straps and pads. Ensure that if there are any stairs, or even one more than 3" high, that there are four strong men, of which one must know what he is doing.  (ask about the music rack and leg removal as a test before they start work).  Your technician should remove the pedals before the four men show up.    
 I worked 1973-4 at a North American Van Lines agent that had this equipment and the one driver that knew what he was doing. The industry has since contracted and now the majority of moving vans I see on the freeway now are Allied Van Lines and Mayflower Van Lines.  North American since their purchase seems to have moved into the Electronics and trade show market, mostly.  
Be sure your music rack is securely strapped down, or removed and inventoried separately.   Make sure your bench and legs are inventoried separately.  Buy the insurance.  
My console piano was moved competently from Herington KS to Louisville in 1983 by an Allied driver with a helper.  It did not require a piano board, being a console.  They carried it down the stairs. 

[bluemedgroup]

Thanks, will stay away from Keyboard Carriage. 

Does anyone recommend any specific companies that they have had a good experience with?

[iansinclair]

If you're not familiar with it, here's a nice little movie on how NOT to do it...

[hstauber]

I had a Steinway grand moved from Illinois to Seattle area after inheriting it from my father and used Walter Piano Transport. They were quite inexpensive (much less than I had anticipated), and the piano arrived in perfect condition, no problem. BUT they were just terrible as far as communication, and very, very slow. I waited for months for my delivery, and when I would call, would either get the brush-off or just a patronizing "You have to wait for enough delivery orders to come in to fill the truck." They were not even able/willing to tell me exactly where my piano was being stored in the interim--turned out to be St. Louis--or reassure me of its condition. As you can imagine, I was in a state of horrific anxiety for that whole time. So. . . I'm not sure whether to recommend them or not! As I said, it appears that the piano was well cared for through all that, but whether the anxiety was worth the low price and care taken, I'm not sure.

[crajojo]

There's a few companies that specialize in moving pianos so that's probably the place to start. I've used a "regular moving company" 3 Movers that offers piano moving and didn't have any problems. Seems like it's something they do somewhat regularly - they were able to accommodate everything I asked and were good about communicating everything about their approach. I'd use them again.

[crajojo]

Sorry, just realized how old this was - hopefully it's been addressed by now