Hiring movers for a local move feels like it should be simple. It’s cheaper, it takes less time, and there’s less room for things to go sideways. Even if you’re moving just a few blocks, though, everything still comes down to who you hire.
In a TikTok video that got more than 928,000 views, New York City-based DJ Petie (@imthemime) recounts what he describes as a nightmare experience with Piece of Cake Moving and Storage.
What Went Wrong During The Move?
Petie films the video surrounded by boxes branded with the company’s logo and makes it clear he’s frustrated from the start.
“I got a bone to pick with this company right here called Piece of Cake,” he says, gesturing behind him. “It actually should be called piece of s—.”
He says the problems began the moment the movers arrived.
“From the second the guys show up to my apartment, they’re shaking me down,” he says. “From the second they walk in, before they even touch a piece of furniture, they’re asking me about a tip.”
Petie says that immediately raised red flags. Things escalated further when it came to clothing bins, which he says he confirmed in advance.
“The day before, I confirmed with the attendant that I emailed, and I told them I’m not gonna have much furniture, but I have a sh– ton of clothes,” he says. “Please bring clothes bins. I asked for five to six. They confirmed it.”
According to Petie, the movers arrived without the bins and then told him he’d need to pay extra.
“The guy shows up. He says, ‘I don’t have that in my list, so you’re gonna need extra clothes bins,’” he says. “He’s telling me it’s gonna be $600 or $700 extra.”
Petie breaks down the math on camera, explaining that renting 25 bins cost him $375. To justify the higher amount, he says, the numbers simply don’t add up.
“So it’s like, you’re trying to rip me off off the jump,” he says.
He also claims the movers pressured him over items that weren’t listed on the itinerary, despite him doing most of the packing himself.
“I packed everything up,” he says. “They’re looking at the bags like, ‘If I contact the company, it’s gonna cost you extra.’”
Petie describes the suggestion as an under-the-table deal.
“So basically, you’re saying you’re gonna rob your company, and I’m gonna pay you under the table,” he says.
Then Came What He Calls The Final Straw
“Eighty percent of the s— that I needed moved wasn’t even moved,” he says, showing items still left in his apartment.
Despite that, Petie says he still tipped the movers.
“I give him $250,” he says. “Two guys. Cash. That’s over 20% of what I was quoted.”
He says he sent the money via Zelle. Moments later, he says one of the movers returned.
“Two seconds later, he’s knocking on my door,” Petie says. “‘$250? That’s not enough.’”
Petie says the mover told him the amount was only the “base tip.”
“What f— base tip?” he says. “I don’t have to give you nothing.”
He adds that he would have disputed the payment if Zelle allowed it.
“What I am doing is making this video,” he says.
Commenters Share Their Own Experiences
In the comments, several people say Petie’s experience sounds familiar.
“I had the same experience,” one person wrote. “They once tried to tell me that an office chair was not in the original quote but if I paid them an additional $300 they wouldn’t tell the company.”
Another commenter described a chaotic arrival. “I had them scheduled for 9:30am they arrive at 6am and woke me up banging on my door,” they wrote. “Scratched my walls and everything.”
“They are banned from my building (239 units) bc they are so horrible,” another claimed.
“Piece of cake is the worst!” one person added. “Did exactly that and when we wrote an honest review about our horrible experience they offered us 50% off to delete it.”
Others focused specifically on tipping.
“Tipping for movers is different than tipping your server,” one commenter wrote. “When it comes to movers 5–10% of the total move is common.”
Another joked, “I swear they’re just a money laundering business for the mob lol.”
@imthemime never again #nyc
What Do Other ‘Piece Of Cake’ Customers Online Say?
Online ratings for Piece of Cake Moving and Storage paint a more positive picture. The company has nearly 12,000 Google reviews with a 4.8 rating, a 4.6 rating on Yelp with over 2,300 reviews, and a 4.9 rating on Trustpilot with more than 11,000 reviews.
Still, personal stories shared online vary. One TikTok user has gone viral offering her services as a “supervisor” during moves to make sure customers “don’t get extorted,” charging $15 for the service.
Another TikTok user says she hired the company for a move from New York to Miami and claims the process was disorganized and that items went missing.
A Reddit user from last year also alleges movers asked for tips upfront and later called requesting a “minimum 20%.”
BroBible has reached out to Piece of Cake Moving and Storage via email for comment and has also contacted Petie through TikTok and Instagram messages.