Dumbo Moving and Storage: 5 Things to Know

This New York City moving company charges flat rates for most moves. Deposits are required.
Amy Beardsley
By Amy Beardsley 
Updated
Edited by Claire Tsosie

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Dumbo Moving and Storage is a company that specializes in full-service local and long-distance moves. Based in New York City, the company offers flat-rate pricing and requires upfront deposits. It serves all 50 states, and services deliveries to Great Britain, India, Austria, the Balkan Peninsula, Italy, Egypt, Israel and China.

Here are five things you need to know if you’re considering Dumbo.

Dumbo Moving and Storage
Handles local and long-distance moves in 50 states; services deliveries abroad.

1. It charges a flat rate for most moves

Dumbo offers flat-rate pricing for most moves, rather than charging by the hour. You can request a quote online by providing information about your move, such as the distance between locations, building type, moving date and an inventory of your belongings.

The quoted flat-fee price can include:

  • Self-packing or full-service packing.

  • Disassembly and reassembly of large items.

  • Plastic bin rental fee to reduce waste from moving boxes.

The company also recently introduced a new pricing option, PriceByTruck, where you pay a flat fee based on the size of truck you need. This is only available for local moves at this time. When you request the PriceByTruck option, the company will recommend the right-sized truck based on a discussion about your belongings, and your price is guaranteed.

Hourly rates are available upon request. But Dumbo recommends hourly rates only if you’re relocating within the same building and don’t need a moving truck.

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2. You have to put down a deposit

Major moving companies generally don’t require deposits. However, Dumbo requires you to pay a deposit of 10% of the total cost for all types of moves.

What if your move falls through? The company will refund your deposit up to 48 hours before the move without charging a cancellation fee. But you may need to pay an additional fee to reschedule the services if your moving day changes. The rescheduling fee applies only if your new moving date has a busy schedule.

Full-service moving company overviews from NerdWallet

3. Add-on options are available

Dumbo has options to customize your move. Keep in mind that scheduling additional services will increase your total price. Add-on options include:

  • Full-service packing by movers.

  • Moving boxes.

  • Plastic bin rental to reduce waste.

  • Furniture disassembly and reassembly.

  • Piano moving services.

  • Storage for your belongings.

  • Handyman services.

It’s also worth noting that the company does not relocate pets, food, vehicles or anything with gasoline. However, if the gas is drained first, Dumbo can move lawn mowers, all-terrain vehicles, scooters and motorcycles.

4. To finalize your quote, you'll need to talk to a rep

For a finalized, locked-in quote, you'll need to talk to a company representative or, in some cases, schedule an in-home or video survey of your household inventory. That's because online quotes rely on self-reported inventory, which can be inaccurate. Your total price can also change based on mover availability.

5. Additional charges may apply

In some cases, your costs might increase on moving day. For example, Dumbo has an additional “push charge” if the moving truck has to park more than 75 feet from the premises. You may have to pay this additional cost if parking is hard to find in your neighborhood.

You could also end up paying more if your items need extra crating or packaging. For instance, televisions larger than 62 inches may require the company to make a custom crate if you don’t have the original box, resulting in an additional $50 charge.

Hourly moves can also cost more if the move goes over the time you booked. And, while not required, Dumbo states that a 20% tip is standard and can be added to your final bill upon request.

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