Safeway Moving vs. American Van Lines (2024 Comparison)
Quick answer: In our Safeway Moving vs. American Van Lines comparison, Safeway takes the prize for its affordability, transparent flat-rate pricing, and added perks like free storage and price matching. While American Van Lines (AVL) excels in handling specialty items and offers a solid lineup of services, Safeway’s customer satisfaction and overall value put it over the top.
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Compare customer experiences
Our Better Moves Project gathers in-depth accounts of real moving experiences, showcasing the good, the bad, and everything in between to build transparency in the moving industry.
Read on to see what some of our readers had to say about their moves with Safeway Moving and American Van Lines.
Safeway Moving
Safeway Moving reviews highlight its competitive pricing and expert services, making it a good option for moving on a budget.
However, the communication issues and occasional discrepancies between estimates and final costs cited in some reviews are worth considering.
Customer praises:
- Competitive pricing: Marcel found Safeway’s pricing to be competitive and felt he got good value for the money. Christian also recommends Safeway for customers with modest moving budgets.
- Timeliness: Melissa and Shannon rated Safeway highly for timeliness, giving it a perfect score of 5/5.
- Professionalism: Christian appreciated how his movers acted with professionalism throughout the entire process.
Customer complaints:
- Communication issues: Joshua and Marcel experienced communication challenges during their moves and expected more frequent updates.
- Damage to items: Melissa noted some damage to her belongings, including cracks in her plastic bins, and Shannon reported two damaged mugs.
- Cost discrepancies: Shannon experienced a difference between the estimate and the final cost, which made her wary of using Safeway again.
rating
4.85 / 5
89% of users select this mover
American Van Lines
Most customers consider American Van Lines an affordable option for long-distance moves, noting their strong communication and careful handling of their belongings.
However, some readers reported issues with timeliness, inaccurate quotes, and communication challenges during the moving process.
Customer praises:
- Affordability: Jen and Allison chose American Van Lines because they offered the most affordable rates compared to other movers they considered.
- Good communication: Jen experienced great communication with her movers from day one, which put her at ease throughout the move.
- Careful handling: Phoenix noted that American Van Lines took good care of her belongings during the move, delivering them without damage.
Customer complaints:
- Timing problems: Jen experienced scheduling issues, with the truck arriving earlier than expected, which is a common pain point in cross-country moves.
- Quote accuracy: Jen and Phoenix’s final costs were higher than their initial quotes due to inaccurate estimates of the weight of their stuff.
- Confusing delivery: Because AVL used a partner company to handle unloading, Jen noted some confusion regarding which boxes in the truck belonged to her.
rating
4.5 / 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’s B– rating from the BBB reflects some challenges in resolving customer complaints quickly, but its 4.85/5 moveBuddha rating and solid Better Moves ratings highlight its overwhelmingly positive feedback from customers.
Many customers praise its transparent flat-rate pricing, military discounts, and smooth communication throughout the moving process. Despite its lower BBB rating, Safeway’s high satisfaction score with moveBuddha suggests that most customers find its service reliable and well-priced, making it a strong choice for long-distance moves.
American Van Lines
- BBB Rating: A+
- moveBuddha Rating: 4.5/5
- Average Better Moves rating: 3.3/5
American Van Lines’ A+ rating from the BBB suggests the company is a pro at addressing complaints and maintaining transparency. Its moveBuddha rating reflects solid customer satisfaction, particularly for its specialty services, such as handling pianos and antiques.
However, the average rating from Better Moves participants leaves something to be desired and doesn’t compete with Safeway’s score.
Round winner: Despite a lower BBB rating, Safeway Moving edges ahead with slightly higher customer satisfaction ratings and more consistently positive feedback.
Compare services
Safeway Moving
Safeway Moving focuses on long-distance moves and provides full-service moves with flat-rate pricing. It stands out for offering 30 days of free storage and GPS tracking for shipments, but it lacks vehicle shipping services.
Customers also have access to dedicated move coordinators who ensure clear and organized communication throughout the process. While Safeway doesn’t handle many local moves, its streamlined services are well-suited to long-distance relocations.
American Van Lines
American Van Lines provides a wide array of services, including local and long-distance moves, with specialty handling for items like pianos and antiques. The company also offers climate-controlled storage, vehicle shipping, and military relocation services.
Its ability to handle complex moving needs like custom crating for fragile items makes it a great pick for complex moves.
Round winner: American Van Lines wins for its broader range of services, including more extensive local moving services and specialty handling.
Compare state availability
Safeway Moving
Safeway offers long-distance moving services across all 50 states, as well as international moves. While it doesn’t promote local moves, AVL may be willing to coordinate your local move depending on the route.
Its broad national coverage and reputation for seamless cross-country relocations make it an excellent choice for interstate moves.
American Van Lines
AVL operates nationwide but excludes Alaska and Hawaii. The company’s ability to handle both local and long-distance moves is a plus, but its slightly narrower state availability is a drawback if you live in Alaska or Hawaii, along with the fact that it doesn’t carry out international moves.
Round winner: Safeway Moving wins for its broader availability and specialized focus on long-distance moves.
Compare cost structure
Safeway Moving
Safeway’s flat-rate pricing is a standout feature, ensuring you aren’t hit with surprise charges or fees. The company also offers price matching and discounts for early bookings and military members.
Safeway’s consistent focus on affordability and transparent quotes has earned praise from customers who value predictable costs.
American Van Lines
AVL offers binding estimates based on in-home or virtual assessments to provide you with accurate pricing tailored to the details of your move. AVL also gives moving discounts to military members and veterans.
That being said, it loses points for not price-matching offers from competitors. You also have to pay for temporary storage, which is on the house for 30 days with Safeway.
Round winner: Safeway Moving wins for its transparent flat-rate pricing, discounts, and price matching, which produce some of the most competitive rates in the industry.
Compare quote process
Safeway Moving
Safeway simplifies the quote process with virtual consultations and employs a triple-check verification system to ensure the accuracy of its quotes.
Based on customer feedback, this streamlined approach provides timely and accurate quotes, making planning a lot easier if you have a tight schedule or complicated moving needs.
rating
4.85 / 5
89% of users select this mover
American Van Lines
AVL requires an in-home or virtual walk-through to provide binding estimates, or you can opt for a ballpark quote without a walk-through. Just note that a ballpark estimate is subject to change on moving day if the estimated weight of your belongings is off.
rating
4.5 / 5
89% of users select this mover
Round winner: Safeway Moving wins for its reputation for having a faster and more accurate quote process.
Safeway Moving vs. American Van Lines: Final score
While American Van Lines stands out for its specialty services and local moving options, Safeway Moving takes the overall win.
Safeway’s flat-rate pricing, transparent quote process, and added benefits like free storage make it our top pick for most long-distance moves. For customers prioritizing affordability and convenience, Safeway Moving’s service is tough to match.
| Comparison category | Round winner |
|---|---|
| Company reputation | Safeway |
| Services offered | American Van Lines |
| State availability | Safeway |
| Cost structure | Safeway |
| Quote process | Safeway |
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