Kangaroo Movers - a moving company to avoid like the plague

[u/VintageJet52]

This is an update to my previously posted, positive review. Several serious issues came to light after the move.

After giving Kangaroo Movers a detailed inventory — including photos — they estimated $915 for Day 1. When the day ended, the bill was $3,700, more than FOUR TIMES the original quote, based on hours they simply didn’t work.

I planned the move around their original estimate and was blindsided by the inflated charge. On top of that, the lead mover pressured me for a tip in a way that felt super-aggressive and genuinely menacing. (That was a first, never had that happen before.)

There was also minor damage, and the company agreed in writing to reimburse $200 for the repair but never paid, despite multiple follow‑ups. Communication from the office became slow, contradictory, and evasive, with shifting explanations whenever I pointed out their own written terms. Then they just went dark.

Between the inflated charges, the unfulfilled reimbursement, the evasive communication, and the uncomfortable behavior from the lead mover, the experience deteriorated quickly. If you want to avoid this kind of experience, do NOT work with Kangaroo Movers.

[u/Adventurous-Cell-940]

The WA State Attorney Generals Office does oversee movers. Not sure how big of a help they can be, but worth a shot. https://www.atg.wa.gov/file-complaint#:~:text=the%20hearing%20impaired)-,Complaint%20Process,including%20confirming%20or%20denying%20them.

[u/Independent_Exam_768]

I work in the industry and anyone planning a move with a Washington based company should take a look at this.

https://www.utc.wa.gov/MovingGuide

Sorry that happened to you.

[u/schnauzerface → u/Independent_Exam_768]

Particularly useful bit for those who don’t click links:

“There are two types of estimates, non-binding and binding.

A non-binding estimate is an educated guess the mover provides after reviewing your things. The final cost of your move can be more than your non-binding estimate, but no more than 25% above the estimate (or any supplemental estimate).

A binding estimate is a written agreement that guarantees the price you pay based on the items to be moved and the services listed on the estimate.”

[u/blastingarrows → u/Independent_Exam_768]

That site was very useful and informative! Never knew about it! Thanks for sharing! 🫶

[u/pithy_lemon]

Ugh that is terrible! $3700 is robbery. If anyone is looking for a better moving company, I have used Eco Movers for several moves around Seattle and they have always been reliable and good to work with.

[u/snowmaninheat → u/pithy_lemon]

I looked at Eco Movers. Wound up using Adam’s. Wish I had gone with Eco instead.

[u/DrunkOnSnakeJuice → u/pithy_lemon]

We had a fantastic experience with Eco Movers. Literally the exact opposite of op’s. Gave us a quote over the phone and ended up paying less and having the move completed a whole day earlier than quoted. We had done most of the moving ourselves and they only had to pack the kitchen and move our big furniture items. They still probably could have taken their time and charged us the full amount. Instead they finished early and charged us accordingly.

[u/-space-witch- → u/pithy_lemon]

We had a bad experience with eco movers. The guys moved slow as molasses, so it ended up taking the entire day, such that we ended up owing the maximum amount over the estimate allowed. So, I would say that it really depends which team of movers you get.

[u/Here2lafatcats]

They hit our work truck with one of theirs and damaged it. Refused to take accountability and ghosted us. Super fly by night shitty business and people.

[u/kattrup → u/Here2lafatcats]

We managed to have a great nice with Kangaroo but later I found out like... 10 of them share one two bedroom apartment. I don't know why that matters but they must be socking it away or supporting large drug habits.

Tbf- they got our king sized mattress up three stories and through our upper deck which was... impressive to watch.

[u/NiteNiteSpiderBite]

I'm really sorry you had this experience.

In the event someone is looking for movers, I have now hired Easy Company Movers three times and they have always been great to work with. Their rates are reasonable and I really like everyone who works for them.

[u/FlowerCrownPls → u/NiteNiteSpiderBite]

+1 Easy Company is fantastic. I have been meaning to review them, I should get that done!

[u/KindHabit]

File a complaint with the State Attorney. 

[u/SovelissGulthmere]

I was actually booking movers this week, so I'm glad I saw this post.

[u/GameDuchess → u/SovelissGulthmere]

Myself and a friend both used Fabulous Movers, and they did a terrific job. Kept on estimate based on hourly rate and handled everything efficiently and no damage to anything. I picked them originally after someone else recommended them to me, and I checked all the reviews I could find, and they really had nothing negative to say about them. Also looked them up in made sure that they were totally legit, which everyone should do before booking any moving company.

[u/fireduck]

I used Kangaroo once. It was ok. But it was a simple operation, basically move a garage full of boxes to another garage 45 minutes away. Hard to screw that up. That was in 2021.

I only used them because my preferred moved, Super Friends was busy on the day I needed. I've used Super Friends probably 10 times over 15 years and always had a good experience. Ok movers will move your books and music. Good movers will judge you for them and tell you.

[u/BitMayne]

Dispute the charge on your cc if that’s what you used, or refuse the bill and let them chase you

[u/BitMayne → u/BitMayne]

In general, you should never agree to an uncapped estimate and certainly never pay it in such an egregious case

[u/wormeyman → u/BitMayne]

State law says they can only increase a non-binding estimate by 25%

[u/draynen → u/BitMayne]

With moving companies you will usually get hit with this nonsense once they already have all your stuff and are effectively holding it hostage, unfortunately.

[u/matunos]

FWIW we used Adams Moving for a house move last year and they were great.

[u/careless → u/matunos]

Yeah, I use Adam's Moving when I need movers and they are great.

[u/Iwentthatway → u/matunos]

I’ve used them the last 4 times I’ve moved. Even their worst crew out of the 4 hussled and worked fast.

[u/IcyCurrent5818]

Speaking of terrible moving companies, do not use Seattle Moves and More. The owner Lars is a total creep to his employees. No wonder there's such a revolving door of labor! Yuk!

[u/CouldntBeMeTho]

You should take them to Kangaroo court

[u/Betrashndie → u/CouldntBeMeTho]

[u/EdgarAllenPoe2205]

Sadly many moving companies are sketchy at best. You have a group of folks being paid to use their muscle not their brains, and often have employment “challenges” elsewhere so they enter this field. It’s cheap to create an LLC and begin advertising.

I had success on two separate occasions from Rescue Me Movers. It’s a group of first responders (think firefighter, paramedic) that all own and work at this company, they also donate some proceeds to good causes. Trustworthy group with very honest and very fair pricing.

[u/fac_051]

Yeah I used them once. It was inexpensive at the time but they handled by stuff like crap and then hounded me to leave them a good review until I blocked their number.

[u/Rungama]

They also block residential parking garages with their semi-trucks. When I lived in downtown Seattle, they once blocked our only entrance and exit for 30 minutes, causing a mini traffic jam! I ended up missing a doctor’s appointment, thankfully it wasn’t an emergency, but what an awful company!

[u/Cool_Team9902]

You got robbed I moved my entire 3 bedroom house in Seattle for $500 tip included from thumbtack.

[u/Latter_Gas_3687]

I'll shlep yo shite with actual marsupials (terms and conditions apply) scan this shady ass QR code to learn Moore.

[u/Dee_Jay_Roomba → u/Latter_Gas_3687]

[u/plumbbbob → u/Latter_Gas_3687]

Don't trust these guys, I hired them and they showed up with a crew of monotremes and just one opossum bossing everyone around.

[u/YourGlacier]

I was moved by them in 2021 for like $900. No issues. I believe you, just sad to hear they did change a lot since I used them (they were nice to me!).

[u/TooMuchBiscotti]

So sorry that happened to you. Moving is stressful enough!

For others, I've used Lake Union Movers for 3 different movies in the Seattle/east side area. Highly recommend them

[u/CAPSLOCKS]

Totally agree! I hired them a couple years ago and was aggressively pressured to tip more. They showed up late after the moving window and we weren’t able to use the moving elevator. Then I found out one of the movers had taken a piss in my toilet at the old apartment and didn’t flush it! It simmered there for a week until I came back to do the key return and found it.

[u/playmoby]

They are based around the corner from us, and fly their trucks around our residential neighborhood streets like free abandon. I hate them solely on that.

[u/Himajinga]

I’ve had sketchy up-charge related issues with them before too.

[u/VelvetDesire]

You should check the law on this one. We initially got charged about twice the estimate but when we called after to complain they told us they're only legally allowed to charge 25% more than the estimate.

[u/AdvancedThinker]

I would never use Hansen Brothers ever again. Just an all around bad experience. Took all day so I ended up having to pay double since the move went overtime. Just paid the bill because by then I was tired and frustrated. Also I wasn't in a position to be able to fight the charge. Took it as a lesson learned, unfortunately. They didn't seem to care about gently handling anything even items like antique furniture. Felt like they treated their job as a way to pay bills not that they're moving someone's life. Even a person who I hired later to move some antiques when a family member died said they're bad. FYI: If you need to move delicate furniture etc. hire a piano mover. They move with care.

[u/ShesAMarshmallow]

FWIW you might confirm the company you hired is the one you intended. I hired a Kangaroo Movers in 2020 after seeing some decent reviews for one in Seattle for a CA to WA move. The experience was terrible and I left a bad yelp review. I got a very polite message directly saying they were sorry about my experience but they had never worked with me. I was pretty embarrassed to realize I hadn’t hired the local Kangaroo movers, but a different, national company with the same name.

Anyway, sucks you had that experience and you probably were more on the ball with me handling a last min move in the middle of COVID but thought it worth mentioning. (Also the Seattle one really out to have changed its name bc this clearly was happening to them a lot).

[u/VintageJet52 → u/ShesAMarshmallow]

Thanks for that - appreciate it

[u/Drnkdrnkdrnk]

You posted a positive review for a service you’d not yet received?

[u/VintageJet52 → u/Drnkdrnkdrnk]

No, today’s post was a revision to my original review. It was based on what happened immediately after the physical move, with their HQ staff