Safeway Moving vs. Allied Van Lines (2024 Comparison)

Quick answer: In our Safeway Moving vs. Allied Van Lines comparison, Safeway Moving reigns victorious for their transparent flat-rate pricing, streamlined quoting process, and expertise in long-distance moves.

While Allied Van Lines excels at offering extensive services and has a broader global reach, Safeway’s overall value and reliable customer satisfaction make them the best all-around pick.

moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.85 / 5
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  • Best overall value
  • Portion to charity
  • Veteran owned
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.75 / 5
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  • Specialty packing services
  • White-glove reputation
  • 80+ years' experience

Compare customer experiences

Choosing the right moving company is easier with real customer feedback that details the good, the bad, and everything in between.

moveBuddha’s Better Moves Project sheds light on customers’ experiences with companies like Safeway Moving and Allied Van Lines. Here are their takes on moving with each company.

Safeway Moving

Most Better Moves participants who moved with Safeway considered the company to be a reliable option with flexible deliveries, expert care, and detailed instructions. However, some customers complained about their inconsistent communication, lack of coordination on special requests, and delayed deliveries.

Customer praises

  • Attention to high-value items: Melissa praised Safeway’s careful handling of her delicate cabinets and bins, highlighting their mindful approach to her fragile belongings.
  • Flexibility: Shannon appreciated Safeway’s willingness to store her items until she determined her move-in date.
  • Detailed pre-move instructions: Joshua found Safeway’s pre-move preparation guidelines clear and helpful, saying they made the process more efficient and less stressful.

Customer complaints

  • Inconsistent communication: Shannon found reaching Safeway’s representatives difficult throughout her move, which created unnecessary confusion and frustration.
  • Lack of coordination on special requests: Shannon also noted that a piece of artwork she requested to be specially wrapped wasn’t handled as promised.
  • Long delivery windows: Joshua’s delivery was delayed beyond the quoted time frame, adding stress to his move.
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.85 / 5

89% of users select this mover

Allied Van Lines

Allied Van Lines stands out for their expertise in handling specialty items, thorough pre-move planning, and transparent communication. Even so, some customers have experienced minor damages and unexpected cost adjustments during their Allied Van Lines move.

Customer praises

  • Exceptional communication: Pavan and Stephanie appreciated Allied’s consistent communication throughout their moves.
  • Specialty item handling: Allied excelled at transporting delicate and high-value items like Pavan’s TV and Stephanie’s family heirlooms and antiques.
  • Punctuality and efficiency: Pavan was impressed with Allied’s punctuality — the packing crew and moving team arrived on time and his belongings were delivered, as promised, within seven days.

Customer complaints

  • Minor damage: Stephanie reported that a couple of her items got scratched and dented in transit but says it didn’t overshadow her overall positive experience.
  • Initial sticker shock: While the final cost was lower than the estimate, Pavan noted that Allied’s initial quote was surprisingly higher than competitors.
  • Inaccurate quotes: Pavan rated Allied’s quote accuracy as a 4 out of 5. While the binding not-to-exceed estimate worked in his favor, it wasn’t the most accurate.
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.75 / 5

89% of users select this mover

Compare company reputation

Safeway Moving

  • BBB rating: B–
  • moveBuddha rating: 4.85/5
  • Average Better Moves rating: 4.3/5

Safeway Moving has built a strong reputation for providing reliable services with budget-friendly pricing. Their high moveBuddha rating and Better Moves rating demonstrate consistent customer satisfaction, with a lot of customers praising them for their simplicity and transparent quotes.

However, Safeway’s BBB rating is lower than that of the other best long-distance moving companies and reflects some unresolved customer complaints.

mover
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Isabel's Move with Safeway
“I chose Safeway Moving for their amazing customer service and they also gave the best quote. I would absolutely recommend Safeway. Everything happened on time and went smoothly. Considering I was moving cross-country and to NYC, it was very low-stress.”
From
CA
To
NY
Cost
$4,730.52
Size
apartment
Read The Full Story

Allied Van Lines

  • BBB rating: A+
  • moveBuddha rating: 4.75/5
  • Average Better Moves rating: 4.9/5

Allied Van Lines boasts an A+ BBB rating, which reflects their longstanding commitment to quality and customer trust. Customers often highlight their professional teams and specialized services for complex moves.

Allied’s slightly lower moveBuddha score suggests occasional issues with delays and higher costs, but overall, they’re still one of the most reputable names in the industry.

mover
moveBuddha icon
Pavan's Move with Allied
“I would definitely use Allied again, thanks to their excellent communication, on-time service, and safe and timely delivery of my belongings.”
From
MI
To
FL
Cost
$8,798
Size
2 bdrm
Read The Full Story

Round winner: Allied Van Lines wins this round for their superior BBB rating and extensive reputation for handling high-value and specialized relocations.


Compare services

Safeway Moving

Safeway Moving focuses on long-distance and cross-country moves, offering services like full packing and unpacking, GPS tracking for shipments, and free storage for up to 30 days.

The company emphasizes simplicity and transparent pricing, making them an excellent choice for straightforward moves. While they don’t specialize in local or international relocations, their long-distance moving services are top-notch.

Allied Van Lines

Allied Van Lines offers a wider array of services, including local, long-distance, and international moves. They’re also licensed to ship vehicles and excel at handling fragile items, making them an ideal choice if you have complex moving needs.


Round winner: Allied Van Lines takes this round for their more expansive service offerings, particularly for customers with needs that go beyond Safeway’s capabilities.


Compare state availability

Safeway Moving

Safeway Moving operates across all 50 states, providing reliable coverage for cross-country and long-distance moves. While they mainly focus on domestic relocations, Safeway can accommodate limited local and international requests depending on the route.

Allied Van Lines

Allied Van Lines also serves all 50 states with local and interstate moves and offers international moving services in over 135 countries. Their global reach makes them one of the most versatile options for clients moving outside of the US.


Round winner: While Allied Van Lines has a bigger international presence, Safeway Moving wins for their extensive nationwide coverage, which makes them one of the most dependable picks for domestic moves.


Compare cost structure

Safeway Moving

Safeway Moving is well-known for their flat-rate pricing model, which ensures customers know exactly what they’ll pay upfront. Their video survey process minimizes surprises and helps customers avoid unexpected fees.

Additionally, Safeway offers military discounts and a price-matching guarantee, solidifying their position as a budget-conscious moving company.

Allied Van Lines

Allied Van Lines also offers binding estimates following a virtual or in-person walkthrough. Customer reviews suggest that Allied is open to negotiating prices, but they don’t have a price matching guarantee.

Allied has also been known to offer promotions, such as a senior discount, to help lower costs. Customers often report that Allied’s services are expensive, but most say the quality justifies the cost.


Round winner: Safeway Moving takes this round for their predictability and affordability, which cater to customers looking for straightforward, budget-friendly pricing.


Compare quote process

Safeway Moving

Safeway Moving simplifies the quoting process with virtual surveys that produce binding estimates. Customers frequently praise Safeway’s streamlined approach and say it provides accurate prices while being quick and efficient.

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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.85 / 5

89% of users select this mover

Allied Van Lines

Allied Van Lines also requires a traditional walkthrough, either in-person or virtual, to determine their binding quotes. Based on customer reviews, Allied’s quotes are detailed and tailor-made, although they aren’t always as accurate as Safeway’s.

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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.75 / 5

89% of users select this mover


Round winner: Safeway Moving wins this round for their quick, accurate, and user-friendly quoting process, which gets shouted out time and time again in customer reviews.


Safeway Moving vs. Allied Van Lines: Final score

Allied Van Lines stands out for their breadth of services and ability to handle local, long-distance, and international moves. However, Safeway Moving wins the overall comparison with their reliable flat-rate pricing and dependable service for long-distance moves.

If you’re looking for simplicity and affordability, Safeway might be a better fit, while Allied is an excellent choice for complex or international moves.

Comparison category Round winner
Company reputation Allied Van Lines
Services Allied Van Lines
State availability Safeway Moving
Cost structure Safeway Moving
Quote process Safeway Moving

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