For Quebec, July 1st is not only Canada Day, but also moving day. Moving at this time of the year costs you an arm and a leg, but people do it because their leases are up and school ends. The move into my new apartment in Carlyle happened to fall at this time.
Moving stuff a 36 hour drive away on moving day, with last second notice good luck to anyone trying that one! Some movers actually had the nerve to tell me they wouldn't bring my stuff here because "there's nothing to do or see in Saskatchewan."
I finally ended up finding a moving company based out of Toronto. Everything seemed fantastic. They gave me the best quote from pretty much anywhere in Canada; they had great customer service and would get my stuff here July 2.
My aunt and uncle had just renovated their home, purchasing new a kitchen island and chairs and couches. I ended up receiving two loveseats which had been in my life for quite some years, as well as a kitchen table and four matching chairs that were perfect for an apartment kitchen.
My bedroom set was the most important thing to get here. It belonged to my grandparents and had a gorgeous dark oak finish. The bed was specifically made for the tall people in my family, therefore it's always been roomy for me and the matching dresser is every girl's dream with a mirror large enough to see five people.
Sure it was still pretty costly but the items I was having sent had sentimental value and I figured it would cost more to buy new items than to fork over the cash to get stuff which reminded me of home.
My family packed up a few things from my childhood room, my sister got everything ready at our old apartment and everything was ready to be picked up at one location.
The moving company contacted me saying they could bring my items a week early, I couldn't have been happier. This meant sleeping on an air mattress for a week less. Fantastic!
The company, which I really don't want to name because they do have some nice employees, was extremely late picking up my stuff from my parent's house. Apparently they had gone to the wrong address. It happens so again we weren't too upset. They then told my parents that I was well under the $1000 mark and that my estimate should be about right.
This is where the ticking off happened. The nice customer service lady called me on Wednesday to inform me that the movers would be at my house between 8 and 11 a.m. on Thursday, and that I owed $1,500. For someone who just moved and had perfectly calculated every cost, this was a little hard to handle. But of course it is rare for me to argue anything, and I put myself in debt for the first time ever. I have always sworn to never go into debt.
I pay my credit card off in full every two weeks, and have an excellent track record. To say a move, and an unreliable moving company have now ruined that record is upsetting to say the least.
Although I can't forget the mess, they did give me something extra. A beautiful hand made mirror that no one in my family owns was left at my apartment. On the back, two children's names are written. I sure feel bad for the owner of it, because the next delivery was in British Columbia, and I doubt the company will be sending someone back to get such a small item.
The moral of the story is if you are moving to or from Quebec; please do not do so on any time near the first of July. The moving system is a bit corrupt at this time of year.
To keep positive, at least my apartment is now feeling like home. And to say the least we live in a beautiful country where even the people who tick me off are quite polite!
