PODS for Moving /Storage (Mart, China: fit in, rental, movers) - San Antonio - Texas (TX) - City-Data Forum

wellguy · 11-23-2010, 04:15 PM

Has anyone ever used PODS for a move or temp. storage. Was it comparable in price if you would have rented a U Haul Truck and a Storage Unit?

I hate the idea of packing up a U Haul Truck , Unloading, Storing in a Climate Controled Unit, and in a few months doing it all over again.

ShaneSA · 11-23-2010, 04:25 PM

It was cheaper easier, much less streesful. I moved my sister from Philadelphia to Chicago. Ordered a Pod, they delivered it, we packed it, they took it and kept it for 2 months. Then delivered it in Chicago. All intact, in good shape(nothing moved or fell)and we unloaded it and they took it away. All the while we could keep treack of where it was by computer. The cost was less than a regular cross country move. I'd even use it for cross town moves. The only problem was getting the people sceduled to help pack it and empty it.

GlorifiedMalcontent · 11-23-2010, 05:54 PM

we used a pod system when we moved here (it wasn't PODS, can't really recall the company.)

it was cost effective, but some of our stuff got damaged in the move. not really much you can do about it, just make sure you pack everything right, strap everything down, and cross your fingers. had trouble getting it delivered to our house on time for some reason. scheduled to have it dropped off the day we arrived but it wasn't delivered until the day after.

it was easy and pretty efficient and cost effective, but i am not sure how much i'd trust this particular company with a big move (again, it wasn't PODs, so i am not sure if this would be the case with other companies that offer pod services.)

mamatotex97 · 11-23-2010, 05:57 PM

We used ABF.....we hired local movers in each place to load up the "truck/pod". Had absolutely no problems and would do it that way again.

NJTransplant2008 · 11-24-2010, 08:59 AM

We used a POD to move here from NJ.

The price is less than hiring a moving company but more than if you rent a truck and do it yourself.

The positives of a POD:
1. You can pack it over time rather than all at once as you would a moving truck
2. Easy entry, it's basically at ground level so easier to load than a moving truck
3. Once it's done they come pick it up and you don't have to worry about it until it's to be delivered
4. You have time to unload it just as when you loaded it

The cons:
1. The POD is smaller than an average size truck you'd rent from Uhaul or others
2. You need a level easily accessible space for the POD to sit (no sloped driveways, or really tight turns for the truck/POD mover)
3. Cost is higher than a rental from Uhaul (or similar) for a typical move
4. You should buy a 4 x 8 piece of plywood to brace your stuff against so it doesn't shift in transit and jam the POD door. That was the advice we got from the guy that dropped ours off and it was good advice. If the door gets jammed you may have to call PODS out to fix it and they charge you for the labor and any materials (could be hundreds of dollars).

PODS gives online quotes so you should be able to get an idea of cost. I believe the actual cost we paid was a little bit better than the quote they gave us (far better that way than the other).

SilverCreek78250 · 11-27-2010, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJTransplant2008

4. You should buy a 4 x 8 piece of plywood to brace your stuff against so it doesn't shift in transit and jam the POD door. That was the advice we got from the guy that dropped ours off and it was good advice. If the door gets jammed you may have to call PODS out to fix it and they charge you for the labor and any materials (could be hundreds of dollars).

Wow - that is great advice! I'm finishing up with my first 1-800PackRat type POD today and I'll definitely get a piece of plywood for it. I wondered about all the stuff shifting around but was more concerned with crap getting broken - hadn't even thought about jamming the door shut.

By the way. Our driveway is not completely level. It isn't a ski-slope, but it isn't level enough to play basketball on either. Anyway, they put a few wood blocks on the front end of it to make it a little more level and that seems to have worked.

NJTransplant2008 · 11-28-2010, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverCreek78250

Wow - that is great advice! I'm finishing up with my first 1-800PackRat type POD today and I'll definitely get a piece of plywood for it. I wondered about all the stuff shifting around but was more concerned with crap getting broken - hadn't even thought about jamming the door shut.

By the way. Our driveway is not completely level. It isn't a ski-slope, but it isn't level enough to play basketball on either. Anyway, they put a few wood blocks on the front end of it to make it a little more level and that seems to have worked.

I think it depends on the driver. The one we had wasn't going to put it on our slightly sloped driveway and didn't have blocks at all. The driveway is in the shape of a slight "V" to handle runoff and he didn't want to set it down. In the end he did though and it worked out fine.

wellguy · 11-28-2010, 05:55 PM

Thanks to All of You for the information. As always I'm confused and am still pondering the move. It's either a POD and hire a few of my Son's friends or splurge for a local moving company. Since there is no house to move it in everything will have to go into storage for several months.

Although the house is under contract something may change this week since both the Appraisal and Inspection were done late last week.

wellguy · 11-28-2010, 08:15 PM

I just returned from WalMart and saw a Family packing one of the PackRat Containers. It looked as if they were / are having a difficult time arranging their furniture in it. The home was two story so I can only imagine how much stuff they have.

Can anyone suggest a Company that can properly load one of the units (for our move)?. After seeing that Family struggle I don't see how a Dining Room Table with 6 Chairs, China Cabinet, 2 Sofa's, 1 Loveseat, 1 Oversized Recliner, 2 Large Leather Chairs, Two Bedroom Suites, Washer /Dryer, End Tables, Coffee Tables, Misc Boxes, etc, etc, can be packed in one 16' unit.

NJTransplant2008 · 12-01-2010, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wellguy

I just returned from WalMart and saw a Family packing one of the PackRat Containers. It looked as if they were / are having a difficult time arranging their furniture in it. The home was two story so I can only imagine how much stuff they have.

Can anyone suggest a Company that can properly load one of the units (for our move)?. After seeing that Family struggle I don't see how a Dining Room Table with 6 Chairs, China Cabinet, 2 Sofa's, 1 Loveseat, 1 Oversized Recliner, 2 Large Leather Chairs, Two Bedroom Suites, Washer /Dryer, End Tables, Coffee Tables, Misc Boxes, etc, etc, can be packed in one 16' unit.

Dining room table legs come off, tabletop up against the wall. Dining room chairs stacked on top of each other (one upright and another upside down on it), sofas stacked on top of one another similar to dining room chairs. China cabinet along one wall, mattresses along the other, Leather chairs stacked on top of love seat, bed frames break down and can fit in various spaces. Headboards between the mattresses, other stuff in the center and in the remaining space towards the door of the POD. Depending on the size of the sofas everything might not fit but I think you have a shot at it (also depending on how many misc boxes and etc, etc, etc, you have).

The good thing about PODS or similar, they can store your stuff for quite a while just like a storage locker so no need to unpack it until you're ready. A friend had one for more than a year until he ended up in our rental house in NJ.