What to Expect When You Move with 1-800-PACK-RAT—Scott’s Move

1-800-PACK-RAT is one of our favorite moving container companies because it offers great pricing, unbeatable discounts, and some of the industry’s sturdiest moving containers.

But does 1-800-PACK-RAT actually provide good service? To find out, we helped one couple move long distance using a 1-800-PACK-RAT container.

Unfortunately, their move had a few problems. Their delivery was delayed more than a week (yikes!) and their container wasn’t in the best shape. That said, 1-800-PACK-RAT’s pricing was the best they could find in their area, the company delivered everything safely, and it even lowered its price to make up for the late delivery.

Overall, the move was more positive than negative. Keep reading to learn more.

Scott is a working professional in his early 30s. He’s interested in cooking, hiking, and traveling, and he has lived in six different countries. In 2021, he and his wife, Jaimie, decided to move from their apartment in Los Angeles, California to a house in Oakton, Virginia for new career opportunities.

They wanted a good value on a move that was hassle free and efficient, and they were willing to do all of the packing and most of the loading themselves. (They hired a moving labor company for a few hours of loading and unloading help.)

While they wanted a great price, they didn’t want to use a moving truck, so hiring a moving container company was the perfect choice for their situation.

Before deciding to hire 1-800-PACK-RAT, Scott gathered over half a dozen quotes to compare prices from several different moving companies—including a few of our favorite full-service movers. Here’s how the various quotes stacked up:

As you can see, 1-800-PACK-RAT’s price was the lowest by far. Since value was important to Scott and Jaimie, this low price along with the company’s good reviews convinced them to move using 1-800-PACK-RAT.

They booked a 16-foot moving container for a July 1 delivery, and then they bought U-Haul boxes, cushioning foam, shrink-wrap, and other moving supplies to pack all of their belongings ahead of time.

1-800-PACK-RAT’s final price for Scott’s move ended up being $600 cheaper than the original estimate, which at first seems like a dream come true. However, $450 of this price reduction is because Scott’s delivery was nine days late.

The remaining price reduction came from a waived service. The original quote included one month of rental time, which was waived because Scott and Jaimie didn’t need it.

So, even though Scott paid less than their original quote, it was mostly to make up for bad service or to properly charge for services they actually used. That said, it is nice to see that 1-800-PACK-RAT didn’t charge them more than the original quote, which is unfortunately all too common in the moving industry.

The bottom line is that 1-800-PACK-RAT’s pricing was honest as well as the best available.

It’s also worth mentioning that Scott’s original quote included a limited time 10% booking discount, so he was able to capitalize on 1-800-PACK-RAT’s generous discounts which we’ve often praised the company for.

Most of 1-800-PACK-RAT’s customer service was positive. The company’s call center employees and delivery drivers were helpful and professional, and the customer service staff at the facility in Virginia was especially communicative.

However, because of truck failures and communication breakdowns at 1-800-PACK-RAT’s California facility, the delivery took nine more days than originally planned. As a result, Scott had to purchase extra food and cleaning supplies while waiting for their container, and they spent the interim sleeping on an air mattress and using a Yeti cooler as a makeshift table.

But, like we said, 1-800-PACK-RAT lowered its price to make up for the late delivery, which displays an impressive commitment to customer satisfaction rather than bottom-line profit.

Would it have been better if everything had gone according to schedule? Of course. But no moving company can guarantee nothing will go wrong. All a company can do is try to make up for unforeseeable problems as they arise, and this is exactly what 1-800-PACK-RAT did.

If Scott had hired a less customer-friendly company, they still might have had a late delivery but no price reduction.

1-800-PACK-RAT’s containers are some of the sturdiest in the industry, so we were a little surprised to learn that Scott’s 16-foot container arrived with some noticeable rusting on the outside and a few small holes.

Luckily, this deterioration didn’t result in any water damage or weathering to Scott and Jaimie’s belongings. The container kept all of their furniture and boxes safe, and almost everything got to their new home unharmed.

Only one item—a bookcase—arrived with some cosmetic damage, and this probably wasn’t caused by the state of the container. The bookcase was loaded into the container uncovered, and its finish was mildly chipped and worn on delivery. This was likely due to normal shifting during transit, and it might have been prevented with some foam wrapping or a blanket.

Aside from this mild damage to the bookcase, everything Scott and Jaimie sent in their container arrived at their new home just as it had left their old home.

Scott gave 1-800-PACK-RAT three out of five stars for its service, and we agree with his assessment. While late delivery is certainly inconvenient and a run-down container can be a little concerning, 1-800-PACK-RAT delivered all of Scott and Jaimie’s belongings safely and for the best price available.

Despite the handful of problems that arose during his move, Scott said he’d be willing to hire 1-800-PACK-RAT for another move in the future.

Want to learn more about 1-800-PACK-RAT or see how it compares to its competitors? Check out our full review of the company’s services or see where it ranks on our list of the best moving and storage container companies.