My wife bought a relatively light gun safe for my son Christmas present. We have always moved them ourself but he is very busy so she hired a mover.

They charged $850 and they were there 15 minutes with travel to and from the job it was 2 hours. So $425 per hour. As a contractor, this makes me sick. What say you?

Yes, have had a Gun Safe delivered.
Didn’t pay that much!
That’s about what I paid for the safe.
I bought the safe from Sportsman’s Warehouse and the Delivery Dude was a referral independent Contractor.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

I had one delivered, and delivery was included in the purchase price. I recently needed to move that one (and a new second safe) to our new house, and the quotes I got were as outrageous as the rate in the OP.

Instead, I bought a pair of hydraulic furniture dollies and moved it myself.

In 2016 I had my safes moved by the company that sold me the big one. I cannot recall the exact price. I know it wasn't cheap, but I'm damned sure it wasn't $850 either.

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Release the Kraken

Bought a 1000 lb Browning safe from H&H Shooting Sports in Oklahoma City about 8 months ago. It was a two hour round trip to our home. They charged $400 for delivery and placement inside our home. They have it down to a science, was very impressed with them.

Mine was delivered to the driveway "free." I used a borrowed pallet jack to move it inside. Now it's too small, and I really need to look for another one.

I was at a friend's house when his gun safe was delivered from a local Academy store by an independent contractor. I think he paid $200 for delivery and an extra $75 for bolting it down. This was a few years ago, so I'm sure it would be more now. I watched the guy (probably late 60s) tilt it off the back of his pickup onto an adjustable dolly, bring it inside, and set it up alone. That was pretty impressive. His dolly was one of those that tilts and has lots of wheels - whatever they're called. He made it look easy.

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Or something like that . . .

I hope they took you to dinner first.

I had a Liberty delivered, and placed where I wanted it. The company was around 50 miles away in Jax. I had to mount it to the floor, but it came with the anchors. It's fire resistant, so there were no mounting holes to bolt it to the wall studs.

I think they charged around $300.

Did they not tell you the cost of delivery when you bought it? That would have killed the deal for me. Last safe I bought had delivery included. Seems as though it should be. After all, how many people actually have the ability to go pick up a safe?

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What could possibly go wrong?

Delivery of my last safe, a Fort Knox weighing 1200lbs cost $150 5 years ago. Distance was 25 miles and 5 men were involved (2 rode in the delivery truck and 3 more in a pickup). Time to move it in the house, up one step, and set it in place was around 15 minutes from the time they pulled in the driveway. $850 seems very excessive, IMHO.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

When I moved, my neighbor bought my 2000 lb. gun safe which was in he basement. I told him I would move it from the basement to the garage and it was his job to get it from there to his place. Luckily there was a basement door to the outside and a slight incline up to the garage. When the movers came to move our furniture and stuff out if the house, I asked the guy in charge mover if they would like to make $100 each if they would move the safe from the basement to the garage. He looked at the job and said deal. They put the safe on one of their dollies and with in 15 minutes the safe went from the basement to the garage. Best $300 I had spent as it sure saved a lot of sweat and effort on my part.

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Bill

I had one delivered to my home about 30 years ago. They delivered it free. My how times have changed.

I say never agree to hire someone to do any job without discussing the cost beforehand.

Independent safe dealer.....

IIRC around $250 to deliver one [900lbs] 90 miles each way (with Turnpike tolls) and bolt it to the floor and install a Golden rod.

Pros ... set up was under 30 minutes.

When we moved to the lake I left the old safe in my previous house as part of the deal and bought a bigger (Fort Knox)for up here. I ordered a almost 1500 pounder from a outfit in NJ. Their prices were good and they arranged delivery at a very reasonably cost with a out fit that delivers safes.

Basically it was a easy delivery, drop the tail gate and move it inside by a palette jack. Two people on the truck, one being a pro wrestler sized person. He was about 6'9'' and 350+ #s. He nudge moved that big safe into its prepared (By me ) location. It was amazing to see him man handle that safe, I even jokingly said to him "please do not hurt my safe" I gave him a very good tip.

The owner driver of the truck told me he delivered 8 safes up here on this run. The next day I bolted it down well and dialed in my new combination.

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

I bought a Liberty safe and the store had a business card for a gentleman that would deliver it. I contacted him and I think I paid around $300.00 for the delivery. Well worth it to me.


When we moved into our new home, I asked the moving company if they would move the safe from the basement of our old house to the basement of our new home. No problem. They also moved my metal lathe from the garage of the old house to the garage at our new home. Again, no problem.


The company employed excellent workers and they knew their business. I gave the workers a nice tip too.

Yes, when using a "specialty company" to do something they charge up the wazoo! I agree $850 sounds like way too much, but I guess they have their minimums.

I find Plumber's even worse and since I do all my own plumbing I don't have to pay them, however I hear stories from friends and neighbors that get taken advantage of big time! I always help them out if I am able but sometimes that is not possible. I feel bad.

One of my neighbors just paid $400 to have her pool filter cartridge changed out. The filter cost me $65 when I did mine and took me exactly 5 minutes to do the job. When I showed her how easy it is afterwards (wish she had asked me before) she was furious! Yup - people take advantage.

$850 seems too high but don’t beat yourself up too much. Most of us don’t buy safes every day. And not every safe retailer offers reasonable service to deliver safe. Most important the safe is safely delivered with no damage to safe, house and persons.

You paid for delivery, nothing is free.

December 2017 in Palm Beach County, Florida I was dealing with a deceased cousin's house and contents. A very nice, nearly new safe was there. After a few calls to local shops with no interest I posted it here on the S&W Forum, free to any member who would take it away.

November 2015 here in Pueblo County we were retiring, selling the business, moving into a new home. Two safes at the old house, one at the business. Two men with a truck and dolly, two pick-up locations and one delivery, about 3 hours total. The safes were empty and unbolted, ready to roll. $400 plus a nice tip.

Donated one of the safes to the youth program at the local indoor range. Two of the dads picked it up and dropped it off.

All of these were several years ago; lots of inflation since that time. Just about everything is costing double what I was paying 8 or 10 years ago.

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Life of the party until 8:00PM

In 2015, purchased a Liberty safe. The safe vendor delivered and installed it for $100.

He had a special electric, stair climbing dolly. He was finished in about 20 minutes. Easy peasy.

Best $100 I ever spent.



,

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Death? Smile back...

I bought a Pendleton about 4 years ago. It weighs in around 1200. I paid 650 to have it moved into my basement. It was shipped directly from the manufacturer to the delivery company. He took possession of it then trucked it from about 50 miles away to my place. The cost included removing the sliding glass door in the walkout basement and taking it down a steep incline through our back yard and then bolting it to the floor. The safe has a rounded back so it was hard to wrangle. The guy was top notch and moved it without any marks etc. I honestly did not think they were going to be able to get it done, but they did. I was happy to pay that amount considering the work they had to do. It took them 3 hours which BTW included tearing apart the crazy shipping container the thing was in.

For a small light safe 850 seems high.

Looks like they took advantage of your lovely wife. They are
no better than used car salesmen.

About 5 years ago we moved my mon to Dallas. She had a small condo and we were going to pack a 12' U haul and then drive it to Dallas. Mom decided to get some "nice boys" from the furniture store to load the U haul. I asked her how much and she said they would let her know. Anyway the leader showed up with three guys, dropped them off and they made very quick work (45 minutes) packing the U haul. I kept asking how much to the leader and he said he didn't know but would wait until the boss (the guy who drove off in the pick up truck) came back. SO the guy finally showed up and said $750 I'm thinking that he is gonna pay each of the men $50 and put the rest in his pocket. Mom said just pay it, they've already packed the truck. By them I was pissed but didn't want to upset mom, so I told my wife to take mom and go on ahead. I pulled the leader off to the side and said $350. $100 for each of the guys who did the work and $50 to you for facilitating. He got mad and I said OK, then unload the truck and get the **** out of here. He took the money but gawd I was pissed at the way they tried to take advantage of an 80+ year old woman.
Next, I'll tell the story about driving from Natchitoches to Dallas in a U haul governed to stay at 60mph

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Forum consigliere

I recently bought an 800 lb. on sale safe. It took four guys and a fork lift to get it into my safe. Two weeks later, my son and two grandsons came out to house and moved it with a hand dolly to my room in the house. Son was pooped afterwards, he and grandsons are tough, and only cost me a few Pepsi's afterwards.

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Kevin in Oregon

I bought a Cannon from Costco a couple of years back , 45-50 gun safe , like 750 pounds . It was on sale with free delivery , a little over $650 . It was delivered and I paid the guy $50 to put it in my garage . This is my overflow safe , the nice guns are in the safe in the house .

I have to add this , it rates up there with being stupid . When I looked at the packing list , the safe came from Cali to Fl . The shipping costs were almost what I paid for the safe ! Now I would think they'd have at least one warehouse centrally located for things like my safe . So in reality , they made nothing off me . But having been members since 1986 , they've got enough of my money .

Last year. My sister had one moved. When she moved. $650.00.

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S&W Accumulator

When I put mine in my house years ago. I cut 5ea. 2 ft. rollers from 1 1/2 in PVC pipe. Wife in front. Me in back. Each time we came off a roller in the back. I would hand it her to put down in the front.......Easy as pushing a baby carriage through the house.

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S&W Accumulator

And you can rent them for $65-85 for 1/2 day from your local tool rental yard.

A safe delivered? How about 5?

The last one weighed 1100 pounds empty. The delivery people were recommended by the gun shop that was running a special on safes. The safe moving company came a long way to my house to deliver the safe. Yeah, I hate to think of what I paid, but they were definitely the best movers for safes I ever had. I didn't have to ask my neighbor to take down part of his rail fence like i had to for the first 4. Maybe I got hosed somewhat back then but I probably won't be buying any more safes. Getting them out of the basement will be my estate's problem.

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......included in the sale price of the safe. From a town about 45 minutes away and I told it would be going up the porch steps and then to second floor. He didn't 't blink.

Showed up with son and one of the son's friends. Got it in place in no time.

Must be a heck of a mark up in gun safes.

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LEX ET ORDO

Sold my Big one to the realtors husband when moved from Ga, bought a new smaller one from a locksmith/ safe business in JAX. that all my friends use. They are all gun guys too. Delivery was included in cost within 50 miles? When they arrived at rental house they had small plywood panels with 1”x 3” nylon bars screwed to them. They simply laid them down creating a “ railroad” to the back bed room. One guy pushed safe in. They charge $250 to move any safe within 150 miles after you have bought one. Will buy another safe from them.

We had both of ours delivered. They way somewhere near to 1,400 lbs each.

If we ever move - having professionals move them is just part of the moving costs.

The safe we bought was only 375 lbs. Took 15 minutes and $850. I am a air conditioning contractor, we move equipment that heavy every day. Piece of cake and part of the job. Me and my son left it up to my wife. That is a us problem.

Yes, I’ve had a safe delivered. Cost me $300.

I have also sold, delivered, and installed safes. Moving safes properly is highly specialized so you can expect to pay more. And the price goes up if you have stairs or tight turns.

But $850 is a ripoff.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

I'd have given you a fruitcake and a Christmas card for it. Maybe even a bottle Jim Beam if you helped.

When I bought my current house I went to Tractor Supply and purchased a nice Liberty, Revere Series. Not huge but weighs around 4 - 500#. HF does not deliver but hooked me up with a local who handles all of their deliveries.

The day we closed escrow he showed up with a low boy trailer and two guys. They backed most of the way into my garage and rolled it off the trailer and onto some steel rollers. He confirmed that I wanted it bolted down and used 4, 4" X 3/8" lag screws into the concrete foundation.

He had asked for $180 and I gave him $200. If I ever move it goes with the house.

yep $850 was a rip off. They actually refunded us $250 without us complaining said it was quicker than expected. That's my fault for letting my wife deal with it. On the other hand last year we bought a bigger safe and we couldn't handle it. My son called a buddy and was there in 30 minutes. He owned a moving company. He didn't charge me a dime and I tried to give him a couple hundred cash. Would not take it. I guess it all works out in the end. Next time I'll pick the mover.

AFTER negotiating the safe price BUT BEFORE signing on the dotted line, try to negotiate delivery price. Sometimes they will sacrifice making a killing on the delivery in exchange of a safe sale.

I bought a BIG used Winchester safe, 1200 pounds, and moved it myself with a set of “Jack wheels” just like those. The guy I bought the safe from added those in on the deal. Rented a ramped trailer from Home Depot, loaded and unloaded it by myself. Have since moved it once here in the house. Those wheels make it simple and easy. I’m 70+ years old.

In today's labor market your LUCKY to find someone to move a safe. That said, you payed the man so move on.

Seems like a chunk of change, but it’s not an easy job, and it’s done and everyone is safe (pardon the pun… .)

My first safe was a fairly small one, moved it myself, no problems. Second safe was a fairly large Liberty. Me and a couple of my buddies picked it up from the store and brought it to my house in a trailer behind my truck. We had to bring it down around to the back of my house into my walkout basement. I still joke with them that there were 3 of us doing a 5 guy job… Ha!

When I moved out of state a few years ago I was so stressed out with having to move my guns, ammo and safes. It all worked out, mover was a good help, but I don’t know if I’ve got that in me to do it again. Safes had to go in the basement, and the guys were very capable, but I did contract with a separate safe mover to handle getting the safes in the house into the basement. I had all the guns removed, so it was just moving the empty containers. Having the right equipment goes a long way towards good results! I think I paid a few hundred ($350?) for that part of the job. Well worth it.

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NRA Life Member

When I moved from LA I gave a friends widow my 1100 lb safe. Called a local company they charged 275 or so to move it 50 miles and set it up for her. I was shocked it was so cheap. Moved to a out in the country house 50 miles west of Forty Worth. Needed a good safe , bought a American Security it was the perfect size to fit the spot I had and matched the house 3800 lbs+ empty. I kinda choked and asked the delivery cost. Guy said only one outfit to deliver for them, that safe and the distance it was 800. I thought that was fine considering the weight and distance.

In some if not most cases the safe door can be removed. The door itself can be challenging but it can make moving the safe a lot easier.