Cheapest way to move a matress & Gumtree removalist ripoff/cartel.

Lalittlelewd on 10/12/2014 - 11:52
Last edited 10/12/2014 - 11:53

I'm in the process of moving from a house in Malvern to an apartment on St Kilda Road and have moved everything in my sedan apart from my mattress. This trip takes 20 minutes.

I've been sleeping on a $12 Kmart single blow up mattress the last week and I really want to get my bed to the new place but I'm willing to keep sleeping on the blow up mattress until I can find a removalist who isn't a ripoff.

I've spent the last few days trying to organise a removalist from Gumtree to move the mattress for me but every. single. one. has given me a price between $80 and $120 regardless of if their ad states $35 an hour for a van+man or $50, which is just a joke and makes me think that there is some for of collusion between them to advertise low but charge high.

I don't want to pay more than $50, as I think $50 for a 20 minute trip with a double mattess is even high.

Any suggestions? I'm even considering buying roof racks for my car and taking it that way, but all suggestions are welcome.

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Comments

  • GooseHoward on 11/12/2014 - 19:36

    I've folded a mattress before and made it fit in the back seat of my Honda Civic sedan.

    Then again you may not have the kind of mattress you can just fold like that…

  • SLAMMA1102 on 11/12/2014 - 19:52

    Blow the cobwebs out of your wallet and pay the $50

  • knk on 11/12/2014 - 20:27
    +3

    I have a ute, and a trailer. Even if you lived 1 street away, it wouldn't be worth my while to hitch the trailer (probably wouldn't fit in the ute) drive to you, load up, drive 20 minutes and 20 back for $120. They are doing this for a living, and if they were to charge $50 per job they'd be homeless pretty quickly.

    I'm sure when they are pitching the $35 for a man they mean for multiple men with a minimum booking amount, however misleading it may be.

    edit:
    That said I'd still workout a way to do it myself since it'll be handy in the long run. You could install a towbar yourself (it's not very hard), I installed one on my old car (VX Commodore) and it cost me $130 off ebay. From there borrow or rent a trailer for a few hours. Could also hire a ute from bunnings for a few hours.

  • ahly92 on 11/12/2014 - 21:01
    +1

    Goget is our best option. $8 per hour + $0.40 per Km traveled…
    say job takes u 2 hours from pick up point to drop off + Km travelled should get u to around $20

    edit…u must be a student in order to get fees waived

  • skd100™ on 11/12/2014 - 23:50
    +1

    I used this guy to get a large office desk moved from Croydon to Armadale last year. He was great and the price was very reasonable.

    http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/melbourne-cbd/removals-storag…

  • [Deactivated] on 12/12/2014 - 13:11
    +2

    bloody hell… this reminds me of people in my profession that own $100,000 BMW's but don't want to spend any more than $100 to have the vehicle properly detailed.

    • JimmyF on 12/12/2014 - 13:16
      +1

      Agreed…. He's like hey are $35/hr, I want them for 20 mins, so I'm only paying them $12 (after rounding up). His forgetting that there is travel time to and from, loading/unloading times either end.

      They might need to drive an hour there and back, 10mins to load, 10 mins to unload, 20 mins driving time. Lets call it 3 hrs all up. So $105! Quotes of $80-110 seem right. I mean his happy to pay $50, just pay the $80 and be done with it!

    • captobvious on 13/12/2014 - 09:12
      +1

      There is a reason why they own a $100k BMW, its because they are tight.

  • Abaddon on 12/12/2014 - 13:58

    Do you have goget there? Last time I bought a mattress I borrowed a GoGet van for ~$30

  • IIGnomeII on 12/12/2014 - 15:11

    You can hire a ute from Bunnings now, which isn't that expensive.
    Otherwise befriend someone with a ute/trailer/roof racks with a case of beer/wine/spirits of their choice.

    Bunnings hire costs:
    http://www.bunnings.com.au/vehicle-range?gclid=CjwKEAiAnqWkB…

    • Abaddon on 12/12/2014 - 16:09

      Check with your local store too because they don't all have them

    • Davo1111 on 14/12/2014 - 01:49

      some petrol stations have ute hire too

  • anonymous8 on 12/12/2014 - 15:49
    +2

    Go to this website. https://www.meemeep.com . They use a network of independent couriers to move stuff for you. Works on a reverse bidding system. So you post your job and the drivers bid to win the work. I am on their books as a driver but don't really bid much as I have a big truck so its not cost effective for me to do little jobs. Pretty sure someone will do it for under 50.

  • Morien on 12/12/2014 - 20:39

    Maxi taxi?

  • Dr Techno on 13/12/2014 - 00:56

    Use public transport, make a video of it, put it on Youtube = Profit $$$$

  • captobvious on 13/12/2014 - 09:10
    +3

    Here is your solution - $19 trolley from bunnings - http://www.bunnings.com.au/saxon-120kg-upright-hand-trolley_…

    push it with your mattress from malvern to st kilda.

    • WT on 14/12/2014 - 12:34
      +2

      why not load it ontop of 2 shopping trollies instead

      • captobvious on 14/12/2014 - 12:49
        +1

        ideas man! cant beat free LOL

    • Davo1111 on 14/12/2014 - 13:28
      +1

      If op was going to push it the 5km, he would need something like two of these. I'd be doing it at night though, where one can push it down the road.

  • aunet on 13/12/2014 - 13:54

    Everyone has to make a bit money to feed the family.

    Removalists charge minimum 2 hours for the service. If you are crying out loud poor, get a couple of mates, carrying the mattress for you, and do not forget stop by Mac's to refill.

    Money well spent, friendship priceless.

  • Minotaur on 13/12/2014 - 14:58

    Just do this:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1LAyTQRjp0
    :)

  • zooter on 14/12/2014 - 00:41

    have you tried posting an ad on www.serviceseeking.com.au?

  • Davo1111 on 14/12/2014 - 01:51
    +1

    If it was only a few minutes, i'd buy some ratchet straps (would need to be the 6m ones) and ratchet it straight to the roof of the car. Wedging towels in rubbing points.

    As for a 20 minute journey, i'd rent a ute from bunnings or a petrol station.

    Nothing takes 20 minutes.

  • mad__llama on 14/12/2014 - 03:27

    Wrap it up and mail it to yourself, but make sure you don't attach enough stamps. Also write your new address as the return address. Simples!

  • Zuban on 14/12/2014 - 09:15

    I know some one might help you. Let me know.

  • [Deactivated] on 14/12/2014 - 10:47

    Hey mate i haven't read through all the comments , so not sure if someone has mentioned this.

    Anyways what you can do is tie the mattress to your car. It's very easy and very secure. You open the doors and tie it around the top a few times. Front doors and rear doors. Piece of cake and heaps secure.

    If you think you'll look like a bum doing it (i admit i do) then just do it at night, less people on the road!

    Good luck ^.^

  • jellykingdom on 20/09/2017 - 12:44

    Airtasker?

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