[FSPA] Pinball Move

[steve]

 Ken, as someone who has done moves of these sizes... this may be a lot taller order than you may realize.  One, a move of this scale requires a real boxtruck or bigger...  two, if you need to breakdown the machines and pack them.. that is a good 2-3hrs right there alone... three.. everyone's appetite to move games drops off a cliff after moving 3+ games.. and lastly, what about liability?  Are you willing to go with someone with no insurance, or just asking the business pros on the list?  Because honestly you'd probably have to be talking serious money to motivate anyone for this kind of move.
While people are scared of movers, if you leave them to do what they do best and supplement that with proper oversight, they are not a bad way to move games.
If you do the packing, protect the games, watch them as they move them, and plan ahead how they will be secured...  they will be fine.  A thing to watch up front is typically your moving truck doesn't operate with lift gates, or even ramps frequently.. and 10 games is a ton of space in a moving truck.  That would be something to discuss when quoting the move and making sure they realize these are basically refrigerators that need securing for the move.. not tetris blocks to stuff in the truck like they do for most pieces.  Movers will attempt to move anything by hand.. and treat it like a duffle bag unless explicitly told otherwise.
The hybrid may just be to do the packing yourself, rent the truck, and hire labors to do the hauling portions under your supervision with you supplying the tools.  
I've done up to 16 in single load in one day that included a mix of loading from steps, level, etc..  and not singling you out in anyway..  but no way would I get into that kind of scale of a move without making it a business decision with good $$ driving it.  We made it more managable in follow-on years by moving all the games to cart loadable space (like the garage) BEFORE the actual moving day.. to split up the work.  Securing the load in the truck takes way more time than anyone anticipates.
I've done the moves for FPO multiple times.. Magfest multiple times..  and unless you are moving the games without breaking them down and where you can use a cart the whole way..   the level of suck multiplies significantly for each game over 3.
When I moved homes.. I packed the games and had the movers move them.  Similar for other friends who have moved recently... because frankly in the big storm that is a move.. the last thing you want to manage in that tornado of activity is adding more loads you are doing by yourself... in the tight timeframe that normally happens with these moves.  I packed my games up weeks before like cocoons and just left them to be moved like packed boxes when the time was ready.
Just some insight from past experiences...  Good luck with your move!-Steve
    On Saturday, March 16, 2019, 8:32:38 PM EDT, Ken Gestiehr via FSPA <fspa at fspazone.org> wrote:  
 
 I have moved from the Glen Burnie/Millersville area to Columbia near Howard County General Hospital. I have ten pinball machines that need to be moved. I could have the moving company move them, but if someone on the list could provide the same service, I would prefer them be moved by someone who appreciates and knows how to transport the machines safely.

At the origin, 5 machines are in the garage and easy access to the driveway. The other five machines are in the living room right by the front door. It’s a step down to the front stoop and two more steps down to the walkway. From there, can be either ramped into a truck, go down a two foot embankment, or down about six more steps to the driveway.

At the destination, it is about 12-18 steps total with a few at a time with nice and wide outdoor steps. Then just the step up through the sliding glass door into the arcade room.

I can be flexible on the day and the time. Please email me directly at ken_chief_engineer at yahoo.com or call/text me at 443 889 3571.

Thanks,
Ken
Sent from my iPhone
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