Cheapest way to move a matress & Gumtree removalist ripoff/cartel.

Lalittlelewd on 10/12/2014 - 11:52
Last edited 10/12/2014 - 11:53

I'm in the process of moving from a house in Malvern to an apartment on St Kilda Road and have moved everything in my sedan apart from my mattress. This trip takes 20 minutes.

I've been sleeping on a $12 Kmart single blow up mattress the last week and I really want to get my bed to the new place but I'm willing to keep sleeping on the blow up mattress until I can find a removalist who isn't a ripoff.

I've spent the last few days trying to organise a removalist from Gumtree to move the mattress for me but every. single. one. has given me a price between $80 and $120 regardless of if their ad states $35 an hour for a van+man or $50, which is just a joke and makes me think that there is some for of collusion between them to advertise low but charge high.

I don't want to pay more than $50, as I think $50 for a 20 minute trip with a double mattess is even high.

Any suggestions? I'm even considering buying roof racks for my car and taking it that way, but all suggestions are welcome.

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Comments

  • geek001 on 10/12/2014 - 11:55
    +13

    Rent a trailer from your local petrol station maybe? Assuming you have a car with a towbar.

    • alittlelewd on 10/12/2014 - 12:02
      +4

      I don't have a towbar on my car but I may be able to borrow a family members car who does.

      I've never driven with a trailer before though.

      • geek001 on 10/12/2014 - 12:06
        +9

        Me neither, but I have heard the following advice for novices:

        1. Secure your load properly(The most important bit).
        2. Don't take sharp turns.
        3. Try not to reverse if you don't have to.
      • BewareOfThe Dog on 10/12/2014 - 12:10

        Trailer hire can be quite pricey (unsure on short term). We were going away for 2 weeks, & needed a trailer. I ended up buying one.

        • cypher67 on 10/12/2014 - 12:35
          +18

          Buy the largest & cheapest item possible from bunnings and let you use their trailer, just make sure you are fast.

        • Cheeper on 10/12/2014 - 13:23
          +4

          @cypher67:
          Bunnings also rent their trailers.. or used to? Cheap.

        • subywagon on 11/12/2014 - 09:52
          +3

          @cypher67:
          Bunnings also hire out utes in my area.

        • ashanrath on 12/12/2014 - 09:11
          +1

          @cypher67: Not even that, my dad managed to get free trailer hire with a paint brush. Of course, YMMV.

        • cypher67 on 12/12/2014 - 09:17
          +1

          @cypher67:
          Just as an example, I did this once with one of those Kids Hard plastic Shell pool things, $10. Used the trailer for 2 hours.

        • captobvious on 13/12/2014 - 09:04

          it used to be free. tough times

        • darknnation on 13/12/2014 - 19:32

          @cypher67: yep best advice

      • tio on 12/12/2014 - 13:40

        or rent/borrow a minivan? Last time I moved to a new apartment, it only cost me $65bux for the van + some for fuel.

  • Gunther on 10/12/2014 - 12:07
    +13

    Know anyone about to buy anything from Bunnings? Free trailer hire.

    http://www.bunnings.com.au/our-services/in-store/get-it-home

    • geek001 on 10/12/2014 - 12:14

      Ooo.. didn't know about this. Do you have to buy a bulky item to use the trailer? Do you think they will let me borrow their trailer if I buy a pack of batteries, say?

      • 17833 on 10/12/2014 - 12:28

        Not sure about that. My dad has been doing this for a long time now when he needs a trailer for something (that will take less than a couple of hours). He normally buys a couple of sleepers that he uses for the garden, costs him about $22 all up I think from memory and he puts them to good use. This may not help you though if you live in an apartment.

        • cycleops on 15/09/2017 - 21:28

          have done this with a tallish pot plant.

    • msmhw on 10/12/2014 - 20:36
      +21

      Buy something -> take the trailer-> move your mattress-> return the trailer with the items you bought for any reason-> get refund ;)

      • subywagon on 11/12/2014 - 09:52
        +3

        This works ;)

      • pikespeak77 on 11/12/2014 - 20:01
        +1

        Perhaps the most Ozb comment in this thread.

  • mariosensei on 10/12/2014 - 12:08
    +9

    Rent a van from GoGet maybe?

  • timmypete on 10/12/2014 - 12:18

    Not sure if they'd let you or not, but try hire a taxi van with a wheelchair ramp on the back?

    • benjamin on 11/12/2014 - 15:38
      +7

      I moved a piano this way. $20 including tip!

    • nikey2k27 on 12/12/2014 - 15:09

      I have done this before so cheep. just tell them in the job. do it went taxi are not busy.

  • p1 ama on 10/12/2014 - 12:19
    +45

    I know this is OzBargain, so many people would disagree with me, but you say that:

    I think $50 for a 20 minute trip with a double mattess is even high

    I don't think this is a fair statement, even though you say it's a 20 minute trip, they have to get to your place, probably help you load up the mattress onto the van and then drive the 20 minutes and then help you unload…etc. I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up being around a one hour job.

    Then once you factor in petrol as well, which will be around $10+, or more like $20 once factored in getting to and from the job, $30 per hour of work is not unreasonable and is probably less than what you get paid.

    If you want to be cheap, hire out a trailer, as others have said. A double bed would probably be a little too big for roof-racks. But even then you won't be saving much.

    If you're really cheap and really don't want to pay near $50, then you might as well just drag it there by hand. I don't see how buying roof-racks or hiring a trailer and then paying for petrol makes it any cheaper than $50.

      • p1 ama on 10/12/2014 - 14:30
        +15

        Except my comment has nothing to do with what you are saying. Advertising for one price and then jacking up the price is another issue. I did not address that issue at all because I agree it is wrong.

        I was replying directly to the comment about $50 being too high.

        Why advertise $35 an hour (timing starts at pickup, not the time they leave their own home/last job)

        Says who? They can charge you however they like. That's at their discretion. If they want to start timing from the time they leave their own home, there's nothing you can do about it, apart from go with somebody else.

        • p1 ama on 10/12/2014 - 15:28
          +19

          @alittlelewd: And how many posts do I have that's down voted to oblivion? Getting personal now are we? Let's see if your claims are backed up. Just checked, seems like most of my previous posts are upvoted, not downvoted. Even my first post up there is upvoted.

          So stop making things up. In fact, on average, I have more posts with a high amount of upvotes than you do. Even here, I bet that you're the sore loser who's negging my posts because you can't accept that you're wrong.

          Secondly, why would I pick a fight with you? How does that, in any way, enhance my quality of life. It doesn't, so don't get all pompous and self-important and think that you're worth my time picking a fight with, because you're not.

          I even gave a suggestion, if you're so cheap as to not be able to fork out $50, then you might as well strap it to your back and drag it there because you're not going to find any significant discount over $50. Even hiring out a trailer for $30 and then using your figure of $5 for petrol lands you at $35 already. Plus you have to go and take the trailer home and return it, another $5. You're at $40. Why not just drag it there.

        • 729fx on 10/12/2014 - 23:20
          +16

          @alittlelewd: I think you are being alittlerewd

        • [Deactivated] on 11/12/2014 - 00:49

          @alittlelewd:

          It seems pretty standard to find one that charges from the moment they leave the house, till when they expect to get back.

          Hope you manage to find a cheap one that lives close to both your places.

        • p1 ama on 11/12/2014 - 10:16

          @lolbbq: I think this is only fair. People say they don't get paid for travel, but let's be real, if two identical jobs offered you the same yearly salary, one a 1km walk away from where you live and another a 40km drive across town, most people would probably pick the one closer to them.

          Thus, they require compensation, i.e. a higher salary, to go to work somewhere further, that's pretty standard to me. OP doesn't seem to get that.

        • TheBird on 11/12/2014 - 19:18

          Why does time start at pickup? You're the one that chooses the to and from locations.

        • [Deactivated] on 12/12/2014 - 12:07
          +1

          @alittlelewd:

          They prob charge $35 an hour for real jobs… like all day jobs, where they can afford to be that cheap because they are not running around town just for a 20min job for some (insert a word) who is too cheap to pay people what they are worth.

          I personally wouldn't bother doing it for any less than $100, just not worth the time, have you thought for a second that they may be situated 40km from where you live, now add that travel time to and from with the 1 hours work for you. Think mate, think.

          Also if they are local, and they have other jobs on why would they book you for $35 when it would cancel a job they could get 4 hours of $35h for?

          We get it all the time, builders give us tenders at stupidly high prices because they have so much work coming in, if they don't get the job no big deal to them, if they get it win… that is how the world works… get over it.

        • plague69 on 13/12/2014 - 10:23

          @paulsterio:
          Well, it's one thing to charge that, but I think the OP is saying that they where not told of the charges until the movers got there? Good Ol' Bait-n-switch? Which I think should never happen in Australia

      • awangsap007 on 14/12/2014 - 15:26

        Would you do this for $35 for a stranger? I wouldn't. I would rather sleep or spend money to have a massage session.

  • Geewhizz on 10/12/2014 - 12:27
    +12

    You can hire a trailer from Bunnings for $25 for 4 hours. if there is nothing bulky you need that would get the hire for you for free.

    Is there no one you know who has a trailer that would do it for you in exchange for a carton?

    • tomw20 on 12/12/2014 - 11:30

      Cartons cost more than $35 lol

      • Geewhizz on 13/12/2014 - 17:38

        But he'd have paid up to $50 for the job.

  • dasher86 on 10/12/2014 - 12:30
    +30

    You can do it in the dead of night by strapping the mattress to the roof of your car.
    Strap well, drive slow, avoid traffic and avoid the cops ;)

    oops missed the roof racks bit. you can do it without it.

    • pat_mac on 10/12/2014 - 13:17
      +12

      This is what a true OzBargainer would do. All the negs should rescind their membership immediately.

    • ferguscan on 10/12/2014 - 13:27
      +2

      Why the negs? This is exactly what I would do. Doesn't seem like it would be illegal.

      Protect the roof with a blanket, strap the mattress down tight, and away you go.

      EDIT: in case it's not obvious, this involves winding the windows down and running the straps through the openings.

    • djones145 on 10/12/2014 - 13:43
      +12

      straps or and 3 mates in the car holding the mattress

    • alittlelewd on 10/12/2014 - 14:13
      +6

      I'm half temped to do this.

      Windows down and bungee cords wrapped over and through.

      If I can't find someone to do it for me under $50 in the next few days then I will desperate enough to give it a go.

      • xuqi on 10/12/2014 - 19:31
        +15

        Just don't come back crying that:

        • You damaged your car roof lining, and you'd like it fixed for <$100
        • The cops fined you $300 and some demerit points for unsafe driving (if you follow some of the above suggestions)
        • You caused/had an accident

        That ~$80 price will look mighty attractive in hindsight.

        • ferguscan on 10/12/2014 - 20:49

          Please explain how strapping a mattress direct to the roof is any less safe than tying it to roof racks.

        • xuqi on 10/12/2014 - 21:43
          +3

          @ferguscan:

          "straps or and 3 mates in the car holding the mattress"

        • beyondtool on 11/12/2014 - 10:16
          +1

          @ferguscan: this is why I see fridges, cupboards and ladders strewn all over the M1. A plank fell off a ute a few years back, nearly killed me.

          Knewtons laws of motion..objects at speed remains at speed unless acted upon by an external force! The roof lining of your car is not a sufficient anchoring point to take the stress of hard breaking at speed. A mattress at 80kmh can do a lot of damage, http://www.wjhl.com/story/20805034/woman-charged-after-flyin…

          Roof racks are designed to distribute the load over the length of the roof and are rated for particular use. The suggestion to get a few mates to hold it down out the window is utterly absurd. Especially to save $80.

        • ferguscan on 11/12/2014 - 11:31

          @beyondtool: strap the mattress direct to the roof (using ratchet straps over the top of the mattress, and all the way underneath through the open windows). The mattress is not anchored by the roof lining. It's anchored by the roof itself. Which is very strong. Much stronger than roof racks, and I would argue, safer.

        • dasher86 on 11/12/2014 - 12:33
          -1

          @beyondtool:
          That's not the reason why you see things all over the m1.
          The reason is because whoever transported the goods regardless of method didn't do a good job of it.

          If you strap the mattress correctly you should have no problem, roof rack or no.

          Just like if the plank was correctly strapped in the UTE it wouldn't have nearly killed you.

          I never suggested to get three mates to hold it down. I've seen this and it actually looks stupid, least of all one your mate accidentally lets go.

      • sleepy120 on 10/12/2014 - 21:56
        +1

        i'd use ratchet straps.

      • knk on 11/12/2014 - 20:39
        +1

        If you do this, please do not use bungee cords lol. Buy some ratchets…but they'd be like $20 anyway so may as well pay someone to move it.

    • victorwilson on 10/12/2014 - 18:06
      +6

      Just make sure you don't do this

      • [Deactivated] on 11/12/2014 - 12:53

        those are beautiful wings

    • WT on 11/12/2014 - 13:16

      We had a guy pick up a sofa and just strapped it to his roof!

      Actually, it wasn't even strapped, just tied

    • Bren20 on 12/12/2014 - 13:26

      I have done this before, I had a cop on a bicycle come up to me while I was stopped at an intersection, he checked to see that it was fastened securely then went on his way.

    • lgacb08 on 12/12/2014 - 15:32

      I did this to get a 2nd hand queen mattress last year, but the trip was only 2km away.

  • modsec802 on 10/12/2014 - 12:57
    +20

    Try AirTasker and set your price

    • alittlelewd on 10/12/2014 - 14:14

      Thanks. Never heard of them before and will check them out.

  • adamren on 10/12/2014 - 13:10

    Place an ad for a random to do it?

    There is AirTasker etc online too.

  • Cheeper on 10/12/2014 - 13:25
    +1

    Rent a ute for a couple of hours… some cheap ones around.
    some ozbargainer in that area could offer to do it for nix… :-) I would if ya was near here.

  • coin saver on 10/12/2014 - 13:34
    +11

    Catch a bus with a mate helping (not peak hour) give the bus driver a laugh.

  • webtonmoy on 10/12/2014 - 13:52

    I have made bookings through gumtree for similar distance twice. Done it within $50. Had to make a few calls though. You can try :)

  • altomic on 10/12/2014 - 14:07

    minibus taxi.

    or, is there a guy in your street with a ute? offer him a slab.

    Malvern to St Kilda Road is no distance

  • tinx on 10/12/2014 - 15:43
    +2

    rent an ute from bunnings.

    $34 for 1 hour

    http://www.bunnings.com.au/for-hire-handivan-1-hour-rate_p54…

    not sure why there's no ute there, last time my friend rent an ute from them instead of van.

    • msmhw on 10/12/2014 - 20:31

      It cost $39.50 per day from budget
      Great if you can share it with friend who need to move some stuff

      • JimmyF on 12/12/2014 - 09:30
        -1

        Why share? His happy to pay $50…. so $40 to rent the ute, $10 in fuel…. Job done!

    • maurice on 11/12/2014 - 18:25

      "1 tonne van with a generous cargo area of 4.3 cubic litre capacity"

      For all your http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Dwarf_star_alloy moving needs.

  • carboncider on 10/12/2014 - 20:45
    +3

    About year and a half ago I had a queen mattress plus couch moved by one man with a van and myself, found via gumtree. charged me $40/hr and took about 50 minutes, so paid $40.

    Unfortunately I don't remember who it was as I just picked the cheapest one who was available on the day I needed. I'm not sure why you're unable to get them to stick to their advertised hourly price, but I hope my experience is confirmation that there are at least some who will do it for a decent price.

    Good luck

  • devilbabies on 10/12/2014 - 21:28
    +1

    www.carnextdoor.com.au

    someone has a holden combo (a tiny little van - you'd have to make sure it's big enough) available in elwood for $5/hour (+ $5 booking fee + $0.33/km)

  • Azn310 on 10/12/2014 - 21:51
    +1

    How about some fellow ozbargainer with a ute living in the area give this man a hand for the sake of fellowship

    Me, i would definitely stick it on top of my cars roof, strap it and go at midnight. You have to be very unlucky to find a copper that is unreasonable enough to give you a fine. If a copper stop you, tell them to call their mates with the hiluxes to come and help you. You paid tax for it.

    I have seen people moving sofas on the roof of their cars, mattress is like nothing.

    • timmypete on 11/12/2014 - 11:29

      If a copper stop you, tell them to call their mates with the hiluxes to come and help you. You paid tax for it.

      This is as much of a waste of public resources as the people who think triple zero is a taxi service.

      • Azn310 on 11/12/2014 - 21:14

        Lol well i think if they help, they are contributing towards safer roads no? Its similar to giving a drunk guy a lift home instead of letting him drive, follow him and issue a ticket

        • RockyRaccoon on 12/12/2014 - 06:07

          Its similar to giving a drunk guy a lift home instead of letting him drive, follow him and issue a ticket

          Not really.

          You are already driving, so they will fine you just like the drunk driver.

          The OP is looking for solutions not crazy ideas from someone with no life experience.

  • xanctum on 10/12/2014 - 22:18

    Instead of a trailer, you can actually hire a trailer from bunnings locations (check the locations list first)

    http://www.handyrentals.com.au/our-rates/

    $25 for 1 hour, plus 39c/km

    • ferguscan on 10/12/2014 - 23:53
      +12

      You can actually hire a trailer instead of a trailer?

      • xanctum on 11/12/2014 - 08:30
        +2

        Oops, I meant you can hire a Ute / van instead of a trailer

    • Azn310 on 11/12/2014 - 01:08

      There are trailers on gumtree for hire, pretty cheap, some goes $50 for a whole day, so probably can negotiate with them for about $20 an hour?

    • djones145 on 11/12/2014 - 08:13
      +2

      instead of a trailer or a trailer from bunnings, what about a trailer from that shop that's similar to masters…. think it was called bunnings, you can rent a trailer from there

  • Cave Fire on 10/12/2014 - 22:38

    There's also a website specifically for receiving delivery quotes Meemeep.com
    You give your item details and you will get quotes from people in the area. The drivers are verified and ranked according to their experience. If someone advertises a cheap price and then mysteriously changes it, they are not worth supporting IMO.

  • Turd on 10/12/2014 - 23:40
    +2

    Go get is the best if you can ask a friend to help you move it.

    I hired a van from ikea and swung via my old house to get a matress to the new one. All up cost me $37, 22km later and 2hrs booking time.

    Protip if you move at night from 11-6am it only costs you 1hr of time so a bit cheaper and you can keep the van longer

    • Azn310 on 11/12/2014 - 01:11

      This is pretty interesting. I just looked up and seems like Ikea teamed up with GoGet to offer van hires, the rates are impressive but requires membership with Goget? Not sure how much membership, deposit is?

  • MementoMori on 11/12/2014 - 06:58
    +4

    I had a maxi taxi move a 58" plasma for me. By far the cheapest. $11. I tipped him a $20. I think it could fit a mattress.

    • yabree17 on 11/12/2014 - 12:52
      +4

      Reminds me of the time I purchased my TV from JBHIFI in the city. I purchased it and it was raining and peak hour so I went to a local bar, had some wines and came back. Ordered a taxi 'wagon' and JB Hi FI helped load the TV in the back. Got a lift home (about $25 dollars) and got my housemate to help unload it… TV and me got home at cheap (instead of $99 delivery fee…) score :)

  • backpaqer on 11/12/2014 - 09:13
    +7

    Go down to Port Melbourne beach and find one of those German tourists who camp in their vans to help you…they're very friendly. They get a few bucks for petrol money, they get to meet a local, they might even do it for a hour of using your bathroom and having a nice shower and sharing a few beers on your new balcony (assuming you have one).

  • massafiri on 11/12/2014 - 09:27
    +2

    People will charge their services based on what the market values their services at.
    Not what you think their time is worth.

    In regards to your argument about advertising $35 per hour and charging $50 for 1/2 hour, they may have a minimum time frame they can offer this advertised price - there's nothing dodgy about it.

    A businesses goal is to turn a profit, not just to service their customers. If you don't want to DIY, then use your money to do the heavy lifting. Simple as that.

  • Euphemistic on 11/12/2014 - 10:15
    +1

    I'd strap it to the roof of my car for $50, but not in melb. I've strapped a few things onto the roof of my car without racks, only for short trips but open the windows, strap it down firmly and away you go.

    Surely you know someone who knows someone who has a van/ute/car with roof racks and would do it for a few snags and a beer? (or a coffee and muffin, or salad and mineral water depending on their preference)?

  • ahly92 on 11/12/2014 - 11:40
    +10

    On a side note. I think it would be great if Scotty and co could come up with an extra feature of ozbargain in which members post jobs needed and fellow ozbargainers if willing would do…WIN win situation for Ozbargainers…thoughts?

    • RockyRaccoon on 12/12/2014 - 06:11
      +1

      Airtasker does this already

      • ahly92 on 13/12/2014 - 09:07

        I now that these services exists. What i meant was One that is specific to the Ozbargain Community in which Ozbargainers could help each other out for a fee or even free!

  • bargdebarg on 11/12/2014 - 11:51
    +1

    You're too tight.

    • spacebanana on 11/12/2014 - 12:55

      I agree, 50 bucks is not too much for someone to come load it and move it.
      Seeing as they are also taking responsibility for your mattress, because I am sure if they damaged it you would not be impressed and expect them to fix the problem.

      If you're gonna do it your self then there are a lot of cheap options as stated above.
      But I wouldn't wanna damage the roof lining on my car, especially as it is usually made from a thin particle board.

  • SevenSmurfs on 11/12/2014 - 12:12
    +1

    Put an advert on gumtree for someone with a 4WD or ask your friends on facebook if they have a suitable car

    • timmypete on 11/12/2014 - 16:32
      +4

      Friends without a large car were the bane of my years as a 4WD owner. I think I averaged 30 direct requests a year for help, and at least 15 of these resulted in me moving stuff for them. Strangely, none of them seemed able to reciprocate when I needed a hand moving!

      One especially stingy colleague - who I'd helped move house (twice), collected a fridge for from the outer suburbs, and taken him and his bike to work following a puncture - sailed right past my broken down car on the Hume without stopping or calling to check if everything was OK. The next day at work (while I was still being towed home), he mentioned to colleagues he'd seen me and the missus broken down. Needless to say, not on the Christmas Card List any more.

      By all means ask friends, but I'd suggest a sixpack (or a stashed OzBargain special) would be adequate compensation for their time.

  • [Deactivated] on 11/12/2014 - 12:18
    +1

    Buy a new mattress with free delivery? I bought a Queen mattress for $400 from Prestige Mattresses (there is one in Malvern) and the mattress really is quite decent.

    You could also hire a GoGet van "A van on this plan costs $13.90 per hour plus $0.40 per kilometre, or $89 per day including 150km". Ikea members (free) get free GoGet joining fee.

  • color on 11/12/2014 - 14:22
    +1

    Do u have a Miata?
    http://stuffonmymiata.blogspot.com.au/

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