CMSA 93rd Annual Convention in La Jolla, California

http://members.thecmsa.org/communicator/2011/1105-CMSA-Communicator.pdf The Communicator from the CMSA .California Moving and Storage Assn. News letter

And the Winner Is.........

In honor of the CMSA and its just completed annual convention at La Jolla, California, Box Brothers held a drawing to give away an Apple I Pad, to those attendees who came by our
booth at the convention and dropped their card off for this drawing.

We are proud to announce the winner, Patti Anderson, of Anderson Bros. Moving and Storage, of Martinez, California, is the winner and will receive her new Ipad next week, compliments of Box Brothers.

Box Brothers, celebrating its Silver Anniversary, began servicing customers in 1985. We have been proud members of the CMSA since the time we opened our doors and we want to thank all of the membership for their continued support and patronage. Today, Box Brothers is largest independently owned chain of Box and Packaging Stores, in the United States, and our Shipping Warehouses (in Northern California, Southern California, Las Vegas, Seattle and Texas) offer
expert Small Shipment Services, top notch museum quality crates, expert packaging services and a full line of every packaging devices for every shipping need.

Thanks again for your support and congratulations to Steve Weitekamp, and the CMSA staff, for putting on a great convention and again to Ms. Anderson, for winning the drawing.

Its Snowing.......but this is California....

Well, here I am at our Oakland, California warehouse, and the weather forecasters are predicting snow at sea level, here in the bay area, between late tonight and noon tomorrow.
http://www.boxbros.com/oakland-california
I used to live in the Berkeley area, when I attended school there, back in the late 1970's.....and I recall a lot of different and unusual things about my time in the bay area, but never was there snow unless we drove to Lake Tahoe......

I had the opportunity to do quite a few things during this trip. I attended my first North Bay
CMSA Chapter meeting, which had, as its guest speaker, one of the heads of the Google Ad Program for Moving spoke and it was quite informative, and I even got a free Google Pen.
Ask me, I think it is the most expensive pen I did not directly pay for, but that is a whole other story, for another time.....

I got to also got to break some bread with our entire crew, last night. It was a chance for me
to reconnect with our staff up here, from Kiyoshi Foster who runs our San Francisco location, http://www.boxbros.com/bay-area-california
to Sharie Michalec and her family, as well as Ganzo and his family, too. Dan and his fiance, Carrie and our top comedian and musician extraordinaire, Bill Carter, kept everyone in stitches.

Today I am going to visit our San Francisco location and do so before the snow arrives.....and tonight, I am blessed to be attending a play that my niece has the lead in, up in Martinez. Nothing like a full agenda.

I just wanted to say that we have a great crew up here with so much to look forward to, and I want them all to know that I appreciate their fine work, commitment to customer service, but most of all, that we are one great team and family, all rolled into one-committed to giving our customers the best possible service in the whole wide world.

Three more days till March.......get ready....

How to find a licensed mover tips from the CMSA

Licensed:

Be sure you check that the mover is licensed with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) when you are moving within the state of California. This license number is a Cal-T (6 digit number) and is to be shown on all documentation and advertising materials. Please feel free to call the California Moving and Storage Association (CMSA) or the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to check license status. The CMSA consumer hotline number for calls within California is (800) 672-1415. Never move with a mover whose license is non-existent, revoked, and or suspended.

Estimate:

Make every effort to arrange for your move well in advance of moving day. If you have more than a couple of rooms of furniture to move, it is advisable to call two or more movers to obtain written estimates for moving within California. Yes, it is important to evaluate rates/prices, but you also want to evaluate the company through their representative to be sure they are qualified to move your personal possessions. The carrier may also want to see your belongings to be sure they send out the right equipment and personnel to handle your move.

Find prospective movers in your area: http://www.boxbros.com/small-moves

Find prospective movers in your area by contacting the CMSA (800-672-1415 within California, personal referrals, real estate brokers, and the yellow pages. Be wary of companies advertising on the internet, in certain local newspapers and/or handbills talking “cheap” price. Be especially careful in selecting movers over the internet. You want to make sure that you have a local address for the mover so that you know in fact that they are who they say they are and that they are a viable business in your community. Check to make sure that they are licensed and carry the required insurance coverage. Be sure they have evidence of workers’ compensation insurance as well as cargo insurance. If they injure themselves at your residence and do not have the required workers’ compensation coverage, you can be held liable. If they break or lose something, you want it fixed or replaced to the limits of their liability. http://www.boxbros.com/furniture-moves

Carrier/Mover Liability:

Make sure the mover explains their basic liability and transit protection options, and be sure to ask questions.

Price/Rates:

While always a factor in buying anything, do not select a mover on price alone. Permitted carriers are obligated to carry the above referenced insurance, to provide trained personnel, and clean and safe moving vans. That all costs money. Extremely cheap rates are a red flag that the service will be less than adequate, and the carrier will not have the mandated insurance and/or trained moving personnel.

Remember:

This company is sending movers into your residence to handle and move your personal possessions. The lowest price, especially if it is far below the average price of other movers, may be a red flag. Be careful! Don’t move priceless heirlooms on the cheap! http://www.boxbros.com/antique-shipping

Storage:

If you require storage space for your household effects for a short period of time prior to moving to a new residence, your CMSA member mover can assist you. The California Public Utilities Commission regulates storage rates for short-term storage, less than 90 days, through a maximum rate tariff.

Long Term Storage (more than three months) is unregulated and rates can vary. Most household goods storage facilities store personal effects in wooden containers referred to as vaults. Common industry practice is to charge by the vault or by weight per month plus valuation protection. http://www.boxbros.com/storage

Some self-storage companies offer storage and require you to load/unload your own vaults. This widely advertised service sounds inexpensive. However, be sure to check the monthly vault storage rates with those of a conventional household goods storage warehouse. Conventional storage facilities pricing is often far more reasonable. The possessions are stored in the same manner as self-storage vaults and yourself can access your belongings in the same manner as self-storage.

If you need information on reputable, safe, clean, and reasonably priced storage facilities, call or write the California Moving and Storage Association.

Not to Exceed Price:

For moves within California, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) regulations require all movers to provide each consumer with a written “not to exceed price” before the move commences. This price will be clearly disclosed on your Agreement For Service. The mover will have you sign this form before the move begins.

Important Information for persons moving within California:

This is a booklet mandated to be provided at the first-person contact between the consumer and the mover, unless the consumer has received the booklet from another mover.

Evaluate Service Presentations:

Listen and evaluate the mover’s presentation of services and price. Usually an individual presentation stands out in clarity, and your questions and concerns are professionally answered to your satisfaction.

Visit the Mover: http://www.boxbros.com/

Drive by, stop in the office and buy a box. Make sure the mover has a business. See the trucks at the business site. Look around to make sure these are the kind of people you wish to invite into your residence to handle/move your personal possessions. http://www.boxbros.com/packing

IF SELECTING A MOVER ON THE INTERNET OR ANY MOVER,
BE SURE YOU KNOW THEIR PLACE OF BUSINESS
AND KNOW THAT THEY ARE WHO THEY SAY THEY ARE!

A CMSA Member:

Select a mover with the CMSA designation. You should want a mover who abides to a code of ethics, operates clean and safe trucks, and utilizes trained personnel. They will provide the quality service at fair and competitive prices.

For more information or assistance call
(562) 865-2900 or (800) 672-1415

Holidays from the Heart

We unfortunately have to close our collection boxes for the "Holidays from the Heart" campaign. All the toys we collected will be turned over to the California Moving and Storage Association tonight, so they can pass them on to the Childrens' Hospital of Los Angeles. I am proud to have been a part of this and equally proud of everyone who participated in this most worthy cause. For the past week we have had several conversations about this charitable act and the response we have received from our customers. Most of you mentioned to me today that you want to start the collection earlier next year, so we'll see...

While we had several stores that received toys for these children, it became a close race at the end of the collection time. Geoff Colcord in Tarzana collected 13 toys and Dave Collins in Brentwood received 20.

When we decided to make each store a collection point, we offered our customers discounts for any contribution and a $25.00 gift card to the Cheesecake Factory to the Manager whose store collected the most toys. When I told Dave this morning it looked like he was probably going to be the winner, he asked me if we would take the $25.00 and buy more toys for the kids instead of giving him a gift card. As you can imagine, I accepted his offer immediately and we dispatched Mark to get more toys, which he did right away. We all want to thank Dave for his efforts and his unselfish act of kindness.

We hope this brings a few smiles to the faces of those poor kids that will have to spend the holidays in the hospital.

To everyone who participated, thank you so very much. I believe your efforts and actions will be returned to you.

Charles

Children's Hospital of Los Angeles

Please donate a new , unwrapped toy for the HOLIDAYS FROM THE HEART fundraiser for the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. Box Brothers is collecting toys now through Dec. 8th . Drop off gifts at any Box Brothers Location in Los Angeles , South Bay and the Valley . For a list of our Locations go to http://boxbros.com or Call us at 800-842-6937 for more info ...And Thank You for your Support ....

Small Moves

Small moves have been a Box Brothers specialty since our inception 25 years ago. As pioneers and innovators of the “small move”, we have tailored our service to those who would be at a disadvantage using a full service mover. Whether your move is personal/residential, or a small business/office move, Box Brothers’ moving experts will design a personalized service to accommodate your specific needs, budget, and time frame.

• Complete moving service, including fully guaranteed packaging of anything from dishes & books, to televisions & furniture.
• Guaranteed pick-up dates & times.
• For your convenience, our services are available seven days a week, and same day service is available upon request.
• Delivery dates as soon as 48 hours from time of pick-up!
• Don’t wait 5-7 days to find out your costs! On-site weight calculation will determine your price with certainty, on your move day.
• Various insurance options! Find one that suits your individual needs.
• Free storage for up to 10 days!
• Over 25 years experience in the industry! Box Brothers is a member of both the California Moving and Storage Association (CMSA), and the American Movers and Storage Association (AMSA).

(READ MORE)

Not all moves are large moves. If your move is of lesser volume than full service movers usually tend to, you may find yourself paying for services that you don’t need. At Box Brothers, we understand that every client has their individual needs, budget, and time frame. We work with our clients to design a personalized service plan, allowing them take advantage of the services they need, without paying for those they don’t.
Box Brothers’ professional team of packing experts is available seven days a week, providing packaging services both on and off-site. Our industry-renowned packaging service ensures maximum safety for your items, and is covered by our insurance firm. We handle items of any size and nature, including: dishes, electronics, furniture, antiques, artwork, sculptures, china, glassware, televisions, and more.
For your convenience, our on-site team will inventory all items being moved, so each item, along with the condition it’s in, is accounted for. The items are then packaged (if necessary), containerized, and moved to their final destination.
Our insurance offerings include: actual cash value, replacement cost value, no extra cost standard valuation. Third-party trip transit protection is available as well, and we maintain full liability insurance.
We work with specialized carriers, each with their own strengths and specialties. This provides the client with a multitude of transportation options, including expedited services.

A long term profitable and invaluable relationship

As a person who was working in the moving industry prior to joining Box Brothers, I became
aware of a trade group that promoted the entire moving industry, in California, the CMSA, or
the California Moving and Storage Association.

I was a senior manager out of graduate school, and the moving firm I was employed at, was
having some issues with the Public Utilities Commission, the agency who regulates movers,
among other industries here in California. I can only tell you that, at that time, we had minimum
rate regulation, that all licensed carriers were not allowed to charge less than the prescribed prices.
I believe Tom Hays, now deceased, was the head of the organization at that time, and my first
chapter meeting was at an Italian Restaurant, Little Joes, in Chinatown.

I will never forget that meeting, as I believe there were a few people from Relocation Systems,
and a few from Bekins and some others. I recall Tom informing those present that the CMSA
medical plan had to, at the time, raise the monthly medical premium from I believe, $58.00 for
a single member, to $69.00 (yes, for an adult)….those present were complaining that Blue Cross
was taking advantage…..if they only could see it now…….

Anyway, I thought that they were going to kill Tom Hays. I don’t know how long these members
were in the bar before dinner, but they did not hold back in anyway. I thought maybe there would
be a brawl or something. I think that was in the early 1980’s, when Mayflower was briefly in the
school bus business and I think Doug Hill was still selling at Beverly Hills Moving & Storage, if
my memory is still working.

Maybe a year or two later, I became Chapter President of the Los Angeles Chapter, and Tom Hays
had moved on, and Doug Hill became the director of the CMSA. I recall going to the CMSA conventions
at the Del Coronado…..many years ago, when I recall former chairman, Armour Smith and Ralph Meyer
as the incoming chairman. I was a rookie, but I know the value of the organization due to the fact that
it was a place where you could sit down with your competitors and your suppliers and talk about ideas
and hear what was going on. I was a good Chapter president and I worked the members for good
attendance. I think Doug was surprised then, but more telling was the fact that while I was serving
as President of the Chapter (I was also the treasurer—since no one volunteered for the job), I took
on a member to handle the treasurer’s job. It was, in fact, our current Chairman of CMSA, Steve
Wittenkamp. I have to apologize to him one more time for the condition of those books…….enough
said on that point.

To me, this story illustrates how people from differing backrounds, can come together to communally
make things better for all industry participants. It is true sometimes, that there are cliques that exist
in groups like the CMSA, and I think that has something to do with organization activities, but you
cannot find a better ally than the CMSA organization, as they are a great resource, a great source
of information and an ally when you have an problem move or shipment.

I was always proud of the fact that Box Brothers is still, 25 years after we started, an operation that
cares about its customers and the service we provide. That is one reason why we align ourselves for
many, many years with the CMSA.

When Box Brothers opened locations out of the state of California, I was able to speak to people in the
moving industry in New Jersey, Florida, and Illinois. They were all impressed with the CMSA and its
magazine and its reputation all over the United States—was simply unparalleled.

There is great value in a relationship with this fine organization. It has been a pleasure to be one of its
long term members. Mark Frydman