Advice: movers & arcade cabinet

[Flip_Willie]

Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to see if I could get some advice from someone on the forum who may have had prior experience with paying movers to transport an arcade cabinet.

I am moving for work, and I have one arcade cabinet that I need to move: Dynamo cabinet like this. The issue is that I can't seem to find any first floor apartments available in my time frame, so I would need to move it into a second floor apartment. I am fine with paying movers to do this, but I am not sure what to expect. Specifically, has anyone had movers haul a cabinet up a flight of stairs? If so, what problems/issues might I expect?

Also, does anyone have a rough idea of what a dynamo cabinet weighs (so I can tell movers).

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks!

[Yenome]

i find uprights weigh in bout 300-500 lbs depending on the monitor and size. The best way i have seen to move an upright is to strap it to a dolly and wheel it out. course your other option is too remove all the electronics and box them up that way the cab is just an empty shell and easier to move and if they drop it. then it wont be the electronics your out of. i would say it will be bout the same as them moving a big couch up a flight of stairs. when i got my cab we lifted it up one step at a time. and them placed it on a rug to slide it across the hardwood floor.

[Flip_Willie]

i find uprights weigh in bout 300-500 lbs depending on the monitor and size. The best way i have seen to move an upright is to strap it to a dolly and wheel it out. course your other option is too remove all the electronics and box them up that way the cab is just an empty shell and easier to move and if they drop it. then it wont be the electronics your out of. i would say it will be bout the same as them moving a big couch up a flight of stairs. when i got my cab we lifted it up one step at a time. and them placed it on a rug to slide it across the hardwood floor.

Thanks. That sounds good. I have had pretty good luck moving mine with a dolly in the past. I am just worried about stairs.

Thanks for your input!

[Le Chuck]

My movers dropped a cabinet I had built.  I had FRV insurance, full replacement value, they told me to go online and find a cabinet that was similar and give them a link to the price.  They cut me a check for $2700.  If you want to keep the item in perfect condition help them pack it and give them instructions.  If you don't mind rolling the dice let them do their job and let them be responsible for damages.  I help pack my pins but I just show them the cabs.  If something gets trashed I come out ahead every time.   

[HaRuMaN]

When I moved into my new house, the movers carried my arcade games up into the 2nd floor loft.  Full size MK, old EM pin, cocktail cab, and candy cab.  Didn't have any issues, I removed anything loose before they touched the games.

[saint]

I would personally remove the monitor, but I'm paranoid. However, make sure you completely go over the cabinet before they move it. Loose screws, quarters/tokens, etc can become missile weapons if they bounce around inside the cabinet and can damage something. You don't want anything loose in the cabinet when they move it.

[Turvey]

Get a mate and one of these....


If you do it yourself you'll know it's done right 

[nakeworks]

My movers dropped a cabinet I had built.  I had FRV insurance, full replacement value, they told me to go online and find a cabinet that was similar and give them a link to the price.  They cut me a check for $2700.  If you want to keep the item in perfect condition help them pack it and give them instructions.  If you don't mind rolling the dice let them do their job and let them be responsible for damages.  I help pack my pins but I just show them the cabs.  If something gets trashed I come out ahead every time.   

Hmmm, mine has been giving me some trouble and I was thinking about having it moved...j/k

[DeLuSioNal29]

Head to home depot and buy that "Saran Wrap" type stuff that comes on a roll.  Goes for about $20 for a roll.  This will prevent scratching, which is almost inevitable no matter how careful they are.

D

[Arimack]

I'm in the military and have moved a ton of times, frequently overseas and back.   A couple words of advice:

-check with the movers before wrapping/packaging your cabinet.  Most require that they wrap anything that they are covering with their insurance (and follows Le Chuck and get a company with FRV).

-identify it on your moving inventory as a name brand item not as a generic cabinet and make sure to list it as a high value item (frequently a separate sheet from the inventory).  I have always built my own high end gaming PCs but I always listed them as the comparable Alienware rig on the inventory sheet.  When it came time to claim any damages, you get the value of the item listed.

-have them unpack at your destination and then plug it in before they leave.  If it doesn't work annotate on your inventory sheet.  DO not wait until they have left to find out it doesn't work.

-do not leave them alone with your stuff.  Most are honest but some are not.  Stealing happens during moves, watch them like a hawk.

-if you are hiring movers they are a mixed bag.  Some are great, some are not.  Do not hesitate to stop them if they are doing something wrong with your stuff.

-have drinks for them (cokes and water NOT beer) and if they are packing your whole place out over a whole day, buy them lunch.  You would be amazed at how a small gesture like this will pay off with most people. 

-treat them with respect but remember you are hiring them for a job.  They should do it to your standard not theirs.

-do not worry about a flight of stairs with respects to the movers. Part of their job. 

-do worry about the stairs to ensure you measure your new place before you move.  We moved to a place once that was built in the 1950s and the stairs were too narrow with a bend halfway up that our queen size box spring would not fit up.  Ensure your cabinet can make it up the stairs size wise before you move.

Hope these help.  Good luck

[Seith]

Arimack:  knocking it out of the park with the good advice!

[Flip_Willie]

All right. Thanks for all the tips everyone. You have been extremely helpful.

Booked some movers. Hopefully, all goes well.