Moving Experience: Sree’s Move with U-Pack

In April 2024, Sree got an exciting new professional opportunity. The only catch was that his new job meant he and his wife would have to move from Houston to Maple Grove, Minnesota — a massive cross-country move of more than 1,200 miles.

Sree played it smart and got quotes from several of our picks for best moving container companies. However, he ultimately chose U-Pack because of its competitive prices and variety of equipment.

In exchange for a $500 relocation stipend, Sree documented his experience with U-Pack through our Better Moves Project. The good news for everyone involved is that Sree gave U-Pack high marks for pricing accuracy, timeliness, and overall value. He didn’t have quite so much praise for Top Auto Logistics, the auto transport company he hired to ship his car to Minnesota.

Read on to get an in-depth look at Sree’s experience before, during, and after moving day.

Move-day takeaways for U-Pack customers

• Communication: Sree described U-Pack’s communication as prompt and seamless from start to finish.
• Pricing accuracy and transparency: Sree was thrilled to find out that the price U-Pack quoted initially turned out to be more than what he was actually charged.
• Timeliness: Sree’s household goods arrived in Minnesota right on time.
• Professionalism: U-Pack’s customer service representatives and drivers were helpful, professional, and prompt.
• Loss and damage: Absolutely nothing was lost or damaged during Sree’s move.
• Would Sree use U-Pack again? Yes, Sree would U-Pack again on a future move, and would recommend them to others, as well.

Sree needed help moving from TX to MN

Although Sree was moving for work, he also wanted a change of scenery. Trading in the sprawling metropolis of Houston for the picaresque tree-lined streets of suburban Minneapolis, he wanted his move to be as zen as his new surroundings.

Sree and his wife needed to move most of their belongings from their one-bedroom apartment to their new home. This meant that Sree did not have to spend a ton of time downsizing. On the downside, they had a lot to move — about 35 boxes, or an estimated 3,500 pounds of stuff. Sree was especially concerned about the safety of his fragile TV and LCD screens.

Sree wanted the best price possible but didn’t want to drive a moving truck himself. As a result, he considered either hiring full-service movers or using moving containers. Moving containers are kind of a hybrid full-service/DIY approach — you have to load and unload everything yourself (or hire third-party help) but the pros still do the driving and delivery.

As much as an affordable move was important to him, he was most concerned about efficiently moving his family’s belongings and keeping everything intact. Given that they were moving such a long distance, he also wanted to avoid losing any items along the way. So, finding a moving service with a solid reputation was a priority.

Sree’s move details

Sree got multiple quotes

Sree only spent two weeks researching services and compiling quotes from full-service movers like American Van Lines and moving container companies like U-Pack.

His efficient vetting process included Google searches, consulting social media sites like Facebook, and utilizing free resources like our moving cost calculator.

As eager as he was to plan his move, Sree got quotes from five different full-service movers and moving container companies. Since he was unsure how much space he would need, U-Pack’s “only pay for the space you use” policy appealed to him the most. 

Here’s how his sample quotes stacked up.

Sree had last-minute car shipping needs

After choosing a mover, Sree decided not to drive his 2023 Mazda CX-50 to his new home, so he needed to find reliable auto transport.

The same as with moving, we recommend getting quotes from at least three car shipping companies. Sree gathered quotes from Top Auto Logistics, SGT Auto Transport, and Mr. Car Shipper.

SGT gave him the lowest estimate, and Mr. Car Shipper was the most expensive. Sree went with Top Auto Logistics, which was in the middle.

Here’s a breakdown of the available estimates:

U-Pack had the right services at the right price

With the added car shipping costs, Sree’s could not spend thousands of dollars on full-service movers. While 1-800-PACK-RAT gave him a lower price, he was concerned about getting charged for space he might not use.

Sree also liked that he:

• Could get a quote — and do almost everything else — directly online
• Could choose to hire local moving labor, if desired
• Had up to 72 hours to pack up a U-Pack ReloCube
• Could speak with a knowledgeable customer service representative by phone when he had questions
• Found lots of positive online reviews for U-Pack
• Could order a second container but wouldn’t be charged for it if he ultimately didn’t need it

The easy quote process made Sree more confident that U-Pack would not make his move any more complicated than it had to be. After booking his move, U-Pack contacted him several times before the move — not too much or too little, but just the right amount of checking in for Sree.

The company also sent an email outlining the container moving process and a video tutorial about loading a ReloCube container to minimize shifting and prevent damage.

Moving day went as planned

Sree booked loading services from Roland & Co., a lesser-known mover he sourced from Facebook Marketplace. We do not typically recommend going this route, since one of U-Pack’s perks is working with HireAHelper, a service that connects busy professionals like Sree with qualified local movers.

Sree paid $200 in packing materials provided by the moving company and an additional $450 for loading and unloading services. It’s possible that HireAHelper could have found him a better price.

Despite the added cost, this made moving day much more manageable. U-Pack’s three-day U-Pack for loading and unloading allowed Sree to break up the process into smaller doses. U-Pack dropped off his ReloCube on April 11 and Top Auto Logistics picked up his car on that date, as well. His movers arrived the following day.

On April 12, movers took three hours to pack up Sree’s belongings. He was pleased with the care they showed in packing up his TVs, LCD screens, and other belongings.

Then, on April 13, a U-Pack driver picked up his container and he conveniently paid for their services via credit card. The car shipper charged him a partial deposit via credit card, with the rest to be paid upon delivery.

Car and container delivery was quick and easy

U-Pack delivered Sree’s container to his new apartment in Maple Grove seven days later, well within their estimated delivery window. Sree liked that he could use GPS tracking to check on his container while en route and that additional customer support was available whenever he needed it. He also appreciated that U-Pack did not inundate him with unnecessary updates.

To Sree’s disappointment, his car shipper did not display the same top-notch communication as U-Pack. Top Auto Logistics did not provide any online tracking, but he could call customer service for updates on his Mazda. Top Auto estimated that his car would be delivered within three to four days but it actually took five.

This isn’t uncommon in the auto transportation industry — companies will usually give you a delivery window (unless you pay for a guaranteed date) to allow for potential unforeseen logistical and weather-related delays.

Although his car was a little dirty from open transport, it was returned safely and without damage. Sree also paid his remaining balance in cash after his car was parked at his new home.

Our take on the move

Sree’s moving experience with U-Pack was exemplary, with few complaints, but we aren’t surprised. With decades of experience, their track record speaks for itself.

We rate U-Pack among the top moving containers in the industry, and other Better Moves Project participants like Chloe and Ryan have also had positive experiences with U-Pack.

It’s important to note that U-Pack doesn’t handle local moves, but if you’re moving 100 miles or more, you may want to consider U-Pack. You can use our cost calculator tool to get an idea of how much your move with them would be.

If, like Sree, you need vehicle transport as part of your relocation, check out our picks for best car shipping companies, then compare quotes using our car shipping calculator.

The verdict: How does U-Pack stack up?

From pricing accuracy and superb customer service to on-time pickup and delivery, Sree’s move with U-Pack was a massive success. He was initially concerned about his car and expensive electronics getting damaged along the way. Ultimately, his possessions were packed and handled with professionalism and care, and he said he’d consider using U-Pack and Top Auto Logistics again in the future.

Sree was concerned about moving costs, but in retrospect, investing in the services of a quality moving container company and local movers was absolutely worth it.

Here’s how he rated U-Pack on a scale of 1 to 5:

• Pricing accuracy: 5
• Timeliness: 5
• Communication: 5
• Overall experience: 5

While Sree also gave Top Auto Logistics an overall score of 5 out of 5, he did note that their tracking and communication could be improved. But with all the things that could go wrong in a cross-country move, Sree doesn’t consider that a big deal.

Sree’s advice for anyone planning a move like his

A move that includes a container company, local movers, and a car shipper can seem overwhelming on paper. However, Sree was lucky to learn that a hybrid move like his can be simple.

Along with planning ahead, getting multiple quotes, and doing enough research to avoid common moving scams, Sree’s main advice is — don’t be afraid of a hybrid move. In his experience, they can be cost-effective and stress-free.

Before signing off, check out these helpful resources:

• Moving Cost Calculator
• What is a Relocube Container?
• How Much Can You Fit in a Relocube Container?
• Best Interstate Movers