We just had new carpet installed in our home. The contracting company refused to move the grand piano from room to room . . . , so we had to hire professional piano movers to allow the installation to proceed. Total bill was $348.

I spoke with the carpet installers. They said that years ago they would be willing to move a piano, especially just from one room to another. But -- repeatedly -- they got flack afterwards from the customers. More often than not, they insisted the piano needed to be tuned . . . at the store's expense.

According to the carpet store manager, after he had been stuck paying for the tuning the technicians would report to him the pianos had almost certainly been far out of tune before the carpet was even ordered.

I told the carpet people that if a piano does not undergo a change in the ambient environment, such as being temporarily stored in an unheated garage or something, I cannot see how a move would affect the tuning.

Am I missing something? Would be interested to hear what professional people say about this.

I agree with the carpet installers - not to mention the chances of injuries to them because they do not know how to move pianos.
The other thing is that the installers would probably just shove the piano - move it on it's casters. This could risk damage to the piano legs and dings on the case. They could easily push on the lid and bend hinges or damage hinge screws.
Some pianos with lesser reinforcing beams and weaker case assemblies could esily go out of tune when moved. But you are correct that a move should not affect the tuning - of a well made piano - that is.