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Safeway Moving Systems is middle of the road compared to other companies we reviewed. Although the company is a full-service mover that can also handle international moves, you may be able to get better service elsewhere.
on Safeway Moving Systems Inc.'s website
Headquartered in Hobart, IN, and Fort Lauderdale, FL, Safeway Moving Systems is a full-service moving company that does local, cross-country and international moves. (One thing we learned while researching for this review is that there are several companies around the country named “Safeway Moving,” so be careful.) Here are some of Safeway Moving Systems' major offerings and what we think you should know.
Safeway Moving Systems loads, transports and unloads for cross-town, interstate and cross-country moves.
We don’t like some of Safeway Moving Systems’ payment policies. First, the company requires a 20% to 30% deposit, which is unusual compared to other competitors we reviewed. Second, the company charges a fee (2% to 3%) to pay with a credit card.
You can contact customer service via phone and email, which will probably work for most people in most situations, though some competitors also offer customer service via chat, app and online forms or portals. Those methods can be useful for getting quicker answers to simple questions.
Safeway Moving Systems does international moves to all European countries, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Canada. The company told us it plans to expand in 2024 to more countries.
For international moves, movers typically load your packed items and take them to the departure point (where that is depends on whether you’re sending your things via land, sea or air). Once your things get to the international destination, customs processes the shipment and clears it for transfer to a moving crew that delivers and unloads your items.
Many people who move need extra time to find or prepare new homes, which is why movers that offer storage can be life-savers.
Usually, there are two ways to go about managing storage with a mover:
Have the mover take some or all of your stuff to a storage unit that you’ve rented.
Have the mover store some or all of your stuff at one of its own warehouses.
Storage costs extra, though, so be sure to tell the mover what you need so you get an accurate quote.
For an extra fee, Safeway Moving Systems sends people to your house to build boxes, disassemble items (if needed), wrap items, seal boxes and label boxes. If you want, you can have the company only pack or unpack certain rooms or certain things. This can reduce the cost.
Safeway Moving Systems can pack antiques, pianos, fragile items and similar things that need special protection.
Safeway Moving Systems can move motorcycles on its trucks, but it refers customers to another company for shipping cars and other vehicles.
Safeway Moving Systems scored low in the customer ratings portion of our rubric. We evaluate customer service based on Better Business Bureau rating for the company and the number of complaints per 100 vehicles to the BBB and Department of Transportation. This company had a very high complaint ratio relative to other companies we reviewed.
Like most moving companies, Safeway Moving Systems doesn’t provide reliable price quotes online. But you can request a binding quote, which guarantees your costs won't exceed the estimate. The quote takes several factors into account, including how far you're moving and how much stuff you have.
Getting a quote from Safeway Moving Systems typically starts with making an appointment for a walkthrough in your home so the company can see what you’re moving and how hard it is to get those things out of the house and onto the truck.
Beware of websites that claim to tell you how much your move is going to cost. None of the full-service moving companies we reviewed provide reliable price quotes online. Virtually every moving company requires contact with a salesperson and a visual survey of your belongings to provide a reliable cost estimate.
Here are sample prices for a move from Miami to Dallas, according to the company:
Home size | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
1 bedroom. | $2,200-$2,700. |
2 bedrooms. | $4,000-$4,900. |
3 bedrooms. | $7,600-$8,500. |
4 bedrooms. | $9,000-$11,000. |
Professional packing. | Add about 10%. |
Safeway Moving Systems allows customers to track shipments in real-time. The company told us it tracks its trucks with GPS and that customers get notifications when the truck is moving and can see where their belongings are. We like this feature because moving is already very stressful, and not knowing where your things are or how close they are to your new place can be nerve-wracking, especially if you need your things within a certain window.
Safeway Moving will transport most things, but not these things:
Cleaners.
Explosives.
Flammables.
Liquids.
Paints.
Perishable materials.
Moving companies are liable for loss or damage to your stuff during transportation. But the extent of that liability depends on which kind of liability coverage you choose. Federal law requires movers to offer you two liability options:
Released Value. This protection is free but only pays you 60 cents per pound for damage. So if the movers ruin your 300-pound couch, you only get $180.
Full Value Protection. Under this option, the mover is liable for the replacement value of items that it loses, damages or destroys. You have to pay extra for this option, but unless you explicitly choose the Released Value option, movers must automatically move your stuff under the Full Value Protection level of liability. In this scenario, if the movers ruin your 300-pound couch, they have to repair the couch or pay the replacement value of the couch.
Another option is to get third-party insurance for your move. Sometimes movers will sell you a policy. Your homeowners insurance might also provide some coverage.
Liability coverage isn’t the same thing as insurance, so state insurance laws don’t apply to the coverage.
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