Johnson Storage & Moving

Caution Caution! Paid 4000USD for moving our household goods from TX, USA to the Netherlands, Europe in February 2018. Initially they answer prompt and professional but that changes quickly.

After weeks waiting and several emails from us Denise at Johnson advised us of a customs inspection in the US. This was on March 22nd, Then they sent us on April 16th an invoice of 2700USD regarding this inspection we were responsible for, and with a very arrogant approach of Ayal Shany, also calls himself Alex Smith, probably of the scams Mr. Shany has done before, they forced us to pay quickly even if you don't have this money available. The inspection was finished April 2nd. They sent us this invoice 2 weeks later than the release of the customs inspection and then threaten to pay quickly otherwise additional charges will occur.

After paying the customs inspection charges the container arrived 2 months too late at port of destination and now they will not release the container because they want us to pay for another 11.000USD!! these charges according to Ayal/Alex at Johnson are because of my late payment of the customs inspection charges. It took me weeks to explain them that 2 weeks of late payment could never cause those charges. After contacting Sam Bassin, so called president of international moves, he was also not willing to help and confusing with his explanation, by saying for example: if you had paid for the customs charges immediately, we would be in this position. Of course I would be still in this position because the charges are for 62 days! not only for my 14 days of delay. Besides, as a normal customer you don't know how the shipping process works and which charges can occur. Now they changed their information and indicate those charges are demurrage and detention charges related to customs inspection. At this time, container storage and demurrage charges start to build up at destination port as Johnson will not release the container.

What is even worse, they act like they are on your side by saying they do everything they can to negotiate or reduce those charges, just pay upfront and any deducting will be refunded. Of course you can believe this ''refund'' will not happen and they act like everybode has thousands of dollars to just go ahead and pay for. After weeks and weeks emails explaining that they sent me the invoice too late MR Bassin sends me an email that their hard work resulted in a deduction of 14 days of charges, 14 days charges for the mistake that they made! that is not a deduction, but a correction!

They are good in sending you important information too late so other charges are already start building up and you have no time to act.

It seems they intentionally delayed the container before and after the customs inspection to create extra charges and then blame the customer on delaying the payment too late! 62 days as result of a customs inspection is ridiculous. They probably take commission from those charges or it is a non existing invoice while we contacted the steamship line and they don't know anything about this invoice. When I made a complaint on BBB.org the answered that in summer time there is a high volume om containers in queue. Well I did not know February and March were summer months.

Who will believe that a customs inspection in the US will change the agreed service of 4000 usd to total of 17000 usd? Costs will rise each day the container is at the terminal and they are not replying to emails anymore or are very rude. We have already paid 7000usd and have nothing, they threaten us with auctioning our goods if we don't pay for those 11000usd. This business is a scam, they don't advise you in time of costs they already know so they can force you to pay quickly. This is a scam moving company who will keep telling nonsense and lies to you in order to take much more money from you in exchange for your ''life'' Now we even have to make more charges by hiring a lawyer.

Wow, while I am writing this review I can see on the right all the negative reviews and there is only 1 positive reviews and guess what, it is Mr Ayal S, employee of Johnson Storage and Moving who is writing a positive review of his own company!! how good is internation move was to London blablabla. I really don't understand how this big company is acting like a scam moving company without license. This Ayal Shany, from Israel contacted me also by Whatsapp and very arrogant as he could be, he also had a profile picture with very insulting text.

Charges now already increased to 15.000usd they are ridiculous.

Will do everything I can to get reimbursed for the emotional damage our family is suffering.

Move size: 4 Bedroom Home Service cost: $7000

Richard Johnson is a crook.
My furniture was moved less than 15 miles and showed up damaged. Table legs were broken, whole rice beds gouged all over with the moving wrap worn off, nearly every large piece had a break or gouge on it. On the move back into the house, I was then told that it would be an additional $199 to move each couch and case good upstairs. I was not told this initially by Richard. One employee pulled me to the side to say that they did not have to put this on the companies bill if I instead would tip them $500. I called Richard to let him know how dishonest his staff was, thinking that they were making up this "extra charge", he berated me and told me "what did I expect from men who break their bodies moving furniture". They then added over $1,000. in charges. It does not pay to be honest with dishonest people. Stay far away from this company.

Move size: 4+ Bedroom Home Service cost: $7400

Jhonson Storage & Moving initiated a move for a new owner on my floor in our downtown San Diego condo complex today, and they were extremely unprofessional. They were obnoxiously loud. Most importantly they were leaning/stacking dressers, boxes, hand trucks, and other items up against the walls in our hallways. Upon confronting them, and requesting that they respect our community, they told me off. I was not the only owner in our complex that was disturbed by their actions. I filed a complaint with management, and have video from my Ring Doorbell save to share with others. Do not use their services if you live in a high rise. You will run the risk of terrorizing your new neighbors, and most likely loose your moving deposit.

Move size: 2 Bedroom Home Service cost: $5000

If you only read one line, make it this one - DO NOT work with this company if you care about your things making it to a destination.. and in one piece.

We narrowed our options down to two companies, and at that point, price wasn't an issue. We chose Johnson because the salesman seemed like a really nice, down-to-earth guy, he said the company was very familiar with the building from previous moves and they were local. Next time I'll opt for the more established and trustworthy national company.

1. Packing day. Three people arrived.. 2 hours late. One person took inventory, one guy literally sat on the end of the truck and "kept watch" and the last guy - bless him - moved everything by himself. The move was supposed to last two hours. It literally took the entire day. Mind you, this was a one bedroom apartment with one very small closet. My husband caught them on smoke breaks and lunch breaks multiple times, which probably contributed to the 8 hour move. While they sat around and enjoyed their Brother's fried chicken, we starved. They cracked jokes pretty much the entire time they were lazing around in our apartment and I'd be willing to bet two of them have some sort of love affair going on with the massive amount of unprofessional flirting that was happening in place of getting the job done. They were all aware that they needed to take apart our bed and a table, but they didn't bring any tools. We had to get the apartment maintenance to bring some (ours were obviously packed). So they asked for an Allen wrench and got a pack with multiple sizes. After banging on our $2k bed for an unreasonable amount of time, they admitted they had no idea what they were doing. Maintenance came back and said nothing on that bed needed an Allen wrench and then had to assist them because otherwise, it wasn't going to get done.

2. The salesman asked us for a "preferred date" for delivery. We had a pretty traumatic family emergency that delayed our trip a couple of days (which clearly everyone would have preferred didn't happen). This guy was nice enough to push our preferred date back two days so that we wouldn't have to figure out a way to get across the country in a couple of days to receive the delivery. Biggest mistake ever. So basically "preferred date" means we'll get it to you a week after that, if we get around to it, and since we give you a time frame, we don't care about you or why you would need this shipment in less than 2-3 weeks. Our preferred date was on a Wednesday. No one called or gave us any indication of anything whatsoever. I called and left messages asking for updates and sent multiple emails to our sales guy. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. So my husband called some other number only to be told the day before we anticipated the delivery that we wouldn't be getting it until the following Monday. So that's great news since I was starting a new job on Monday and literally everything was on this truck. Again, no one called with any updates. Over the weekend, we called again to confirm the Monday delivery. Turns out they weren't going to let us know that it was being pushed back another day. Now Tuesday. We had already had to buy some pots and pans and things to make it through several days on an extremely uncomfortable air mattress. This meant buying new work clothes too. We were initially going to have it shipped immediately and put it in storage until we got to California. The salesman talked us out of that. What would have cost us a few hundred to store our stuff and have it when we got there ended up costing us a ton more in duplicated household items to get by until it came. So, thanks for that, y'all!

3. The shipment finally came on Tuesday. The driver gave my husband endless grief about everything. We didn't pack the boxes right. It's somehow our fault that the salesmen didn't give us the correct quote. Our bed is too difficult to put together. They didn't bring tools and that's also our fault. Turns out our delivery didn't leave because no one wanted to take it because it weighed twice as much as the sales guy estimated. I guess the driver was pretty angry because he beat up our boxes. They were wet and banged up. I appreciated finding an irreplaceable engraved glass from my parents cracked and broken. Not only did we use a box from a company that sells to movers that is specifically made for packing glassware, we used bubble wrap and wrapped each glass carefully and with care. Our dining room table is damaged. Our original, handmade bed is banged up. Lots of glassware was damaged. The word "fragile" was clearly ignored. Also, the mover couldn't stop trashing the company. He told my husband that he could note the damage, but the company wouldn't do anything about it. If your employees have nothing nice to say about you, you know there's a real issue.

Moral of the story here.. this company needs to be shut down before they ruin anything else!

Service cost: $3120

They told us to give them 2 weeks notice to get our stuff out of storage and transported to Atlanta, GA from San Diego, CA.  We gave them 3 weeks notice and the stuff was delivered late.  In addition to this they lost 1/3 of my stuff.  How do you lose a dining room table, couch and queen size bed and mattresses?  They kept refusing to commit to a delivery date until the day before they delivered which made it very hard to plan our move.  They paid for an air mattress for us to sleep on while they tried to find our stuff.  Are you serious?  It has been over 10 days.  How long are we supposed to sleep on an air mattress while they try to find our stuff?  By the way, they are Monday thru Friday 9 to 5 - so don't even think about having a problem with a weekend move - you can only leave a message!!Letter to the CEO was useless - he just sent it on to customer service who had offered the air mattress.   So the end result is we lost about $15000 worth of stuff, we are still sleeping on an air mattress and they are going to give us 60 cents a pound - probably about $500.

Service cost: $3500

Johnson Storage & Moving-United (Denver/Centennial) will NOT reimburse for furniture they lost or damage they caused. Johnson Storage & Moving-United (Denver/Centennial) believes they have NO RESPONSIBILITY to return ALL FURNITURE in good shape. Our items, damaged beyond repair, were packed by the moving company and they will not reimburse us to fix it. Some of our bedroom furniture was "lost" and Johnson Storage & Moving-United (Denver/Centennial) have informed us they will not make-good on losing our furniture. They do not believe the payment received to move your belongings means they have to return your items in good condition or at all. So, buyer beware. In addition to nearly a $6K move, we now will pay an addition $2,500 to replace the items that Johnson Storage & Moving-United (Denver/Centennial) destroyed & "lost". We will never use them again, and we will ALWAYS warn our family & friends against doing business with a company that has business ethics this low. Given their philosophy, they can take all your belongings, dump them over a cliff, receive full payment from you and say "we apologize for your negative issues but we are not responsible. Good luck." Their company motto is "NOT RESPONSIBLE" but pay up.

Service cost: $6000

International Movers, Stay Away From Johnson Storage & Moving Co.. Johnson Storage & Moving Co is not responsible, reliable and accountable at all and you will be charged much more than you expected. I wish I could give negative stars.

Johnson Storage & Moving Co. will estimate volume low to get the business but charge you much more at the end. Even worse, they do not update you the volume/ size change after measurement until you see the humongous surcharge on the invoice. They will tell you that as you agreed to pay for the actual, so you have to pay for what is shown on the invoice. I was charged 30% more for this part. The sales is called Helen Shany. Be careful!!

During the shipment, DO NOT expect any timely update from Johnson Storage & Moving Co. Although you are proactive to ask for updates, you only get vague answers.

Johnson Storage & Moving Co will easily delay your shipment. My goods were loaded 45 days after packing. Don't forget! They won't update you about the delay. My shipment was packed in September, but I have got them delivered yet in the late of December. They were threatening me that they only deliver my goods when I paid in full. However, even I paid, the goods have been still holding by them and I do not know when I could get them. Even worse, I have to pay demurrage caused by their holding.

Johnson Storage & Moving Co will put your goods at high risk of not being released by Custom. This company failed to collaborate their partner in China, result in missing documents required by China Custom. Thankfully, China partner is helpful to sort out the issue and the goods were released. However, Johnson Storage & Moving Co. asked me to pay for all surcharge caused by their misconduct and mistakes. I am charged another 15% more for this part.

Throughout the process, nobody in Johnson Storage & Moving Co would listen to what customer says. The only thing that the president of Johnson Storage & Moving Co (Sam Bassin) cares is Money, Money, Money. I guess it is because I am just a onetime customer that they do not value.

I have to pay for whatever they charge as they are holding my goods and not releasing them. Also keep adding surcharge on it.

I would never recommend this company and would never use them again.

Move size: 2 Bedroom Home Service cost: $7000

If you read nothing else:
1. Don't expect them to be on time.
2. Don't expect them to return any phone calls about when they will get there.
3. Don't expect to have a response to any emails in less than 7 days.
4. Don't expect that any of your questions from the email in 3. will be answered.


We chose to use Johnson as we were impressed with the professionalism of the salesman, Scott. He also quoted us a very reasonable time frame for delivery of 6-8 weeks. He told us that all we had to do was set aside the goods which we wanted to have transported and they would then take care of the rest.

The day before our pick-up, the dispatch center left me a message that the movers would arrive between 9am and noon on August 9th, so I took the morning off of work to assist. When they still had not arrived by 1pm, I had to leave. We called the dispatch center to find out why it was delayed, but could only leave a message. We left several, and no one ever returned the call. We eventually reached out to the coordinator, Sam Bassin. He got ahold of the truck, who then called me and said that they would be at our home in a few minutes. This was at about 5pm. A little Nissan showed up at about 6:30pm with a couple guys to do the packing. The truck didn't show up until about 8:30pm (over seven hours outside of the quoted window).

My wife was flying out of town that evening, and was getting ready while our goods were still being packed up. She was almost late for her 11pm flight due to the movers being so late.

I was ready to tell them to return our items and that we would go with another company, but foolishly allowed Sam to talk me into staying with them. He offered me a meager discount of about 5%, comped insurance, and his personal assurance that he would contact me each step of the way and keep me informed about the status of our shipment.

On September 13th, I emailed Sam asking him about the status, as I had not heard anything from him. After he still did not reply, I emailed again on the 15th. This time he said "checking and will get back with you". I emailed again on the 21st after he still did not reply. Finally, after over a week had passed since my original request, he did reply only to inform me that our shipment was delayed due to the pair of hurricanes that hit the eastern U.S. He told me that he would advise me of the shipping schedule once he had it. This never happened.

I did receive an email from the company that would be receiving our shipment in the EU. They had a couple forms for me to fill out with customs info. I was lucky that I just happened to be browsing my spam folder, or it would have been missed. Johnson never informed me that I would need to complete any additional paperwork.

Another status-update episode happened starting on October 11th. This time it only took five days and two emails to get a reply that the expected arrival into the E.U. was Oct 24. It should take 5-7 days for processing there and then two weeks for delivery to Krakow.

On Oct 25th, I again emailed Dawne (the International Coordinator) asking her if she had any info. She forwarded me an email from Oct 16 from another receiving company with the same paperwork that I had to fill out. As I wasn't expecting it, this one also went to spam but I didn't catch it this time. She never did reply to my question about why I had to fill it out a second time or if they were using a different company.

I completed the forms again and sent them in again. Having learned the lesson that trying to get any info from Johnson was a frustrating and fruitless exercise, I contacted the receiving company in Rotterdam, NL for an update on November 5th. They told me that our shipment had arrived on Oct 24 but a "hold" had been place on the shipment by Johnson. Email again to Sam, who said that he would check into it.

An email from the E.U. receiving company a few days later told me to expect my shipment on November 18. The local company that completed the final leg of our shipment did a fine job of helping carry our belonging up three flights of stairs.

During this process, I realized that I did not factor in the small discount that Sam offered me when paying the invoice.. Several emails later, I am still waiting.

Our shipment that was supposed to take 6-8 weeks ended up taking over 15 weeks. I understand that the hurricanes that hit the U.S. were devastating, my major concern was that I could not get any info from this company. Especially after receiving the personal promise that I would be frequently updated.

I will never do business with this company again and strongly advise that nobody else does as well.

Move size: Partial Move Service cost: $4200

Unfortunately this was the worst moving experience we have ever had. With previous interstate moves (different companies), there were few issues, and those were promptly addressed. With Johnson, our load took two days. Our move was from Colorado to Indiana. The Day One guys were great, very professional, loaded things correctly. The Day Two crew was just the opposite. It looked like the Day Two guys threw our things in the back of the truck, very unprofessional packing of dish packs and wardrobe boxes especially. Unprofessional behavior at my home. Furniture damaged, parts missing. Their representative visited almost two months ago to assess the damages, and since then I have heard nothing from the company about repairing my damaged items. I expected better for my $18K move. Fortunately the United Van Lines crew that unloaded us in Indiana did a fabulous job in unloading us into two locations and were very professional and courteous. They were embarrassed at what they found inside the trailer.

Move size: 4 Bedroom Home Service cost: $18000