PODS Moving Container Review

Stressed about moving? Whether you're heading down the street or the other side of the country, moving can be a difficult project.

There's a ton of logistics involved with packing, moving, storing, organizing delivery drivers—and that's on top of running your day-to-day life. However, there are some great solutions—moving help solutions that make the process run smoothly.

In this review, we’re going to check out PODS container moving and storage. An all-in-one moving and storage company with locations in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia.

PODS Overview

PODS, an abbreviation for "Portable On Demand Storage", is a company so synonymous with moving and storage that many businesses and individuals refer to storage containers as "PODS".

The company operates in over 20,000 cities across the US and is widely regarded as one of the best moving companies in the country.

Offering storage containers for both local and long-distance moving, PODS aims to take the stress out of moving and storing as efficiently as possible.

What Do PODS Reviews Say?

Across the internet, there are mixed reviews from PODS customers with some great experiences had by many to some very bad experiences had by others. For instance, one review states that PODS were very professional, quick to respond and a pleasure to work with. There are many reviews online that state how staff did everything they could to help customers and staff/delivery drivers were very friendly and easy to deal with.

On the other hand, another review states some of the storage pricing to be unfair. As the containers are not pro-rated, one customer expressed how unfair it was to have to pay for a whole month of storage container use when only using a few days.

What Are the PODS Pros & Cons?

Taking into account information readily available online for PODS storage containers, some pretty clear pros and cons are apparent.

Pros:

• Easy, all-in-one solution
• Affordable for local moves
• Good sizing options
• Driving taken care of

Cons:

• Can be more expensive than moving trucks
• Sometimes have limited availability
• Low security
• No 24/7 storage access to your storage container
• The 12' storage container can only be used for local moving and storage

What are the Different PODS Container Sizes?

Similar to 1-800-PACK-RAT, PODS offers three sizes of portable storage containers. Here’s a look at how much each container fits so you can decide which one is right for your moving needs.

8-foot container: This option is perfect for moving out of or into a studio apartment or moving out of your room if you're a student.

• 402 cubic feet in size
• Dimensions: 8' x 7' x 8'
• Fits 1–2 rooms of furniture (500 SqFt or less)
• Comparable to a 5'x10' storage unit or 10' rental truck

12-foot container: Perfect for moving out of/into a house with 1-3 rooms as well as one-bedroom apartments.

• 689 cubic feet in size
• Dimensions: 12' x 8' x 8'
• Fits 2–3 rooms of furniture (500-800 SqFt)
• Comparable to 10'x10' storage unit or 15' rental truck
• Only available for local moving and storage

16-foot container: Around the same size as your average parking spot, the 16-foot container is ideal for two-bedroom apartments and homes.

• 835 cubic feet in size
• Dimensions: 16' x 8' x 8'
• Fits 3–4 rooms of furniture
• Comparable to a 10'x15' storage unit or a 20' rental truck

How Does PODS work?

As PODS aims to keep things simple, the process whether you’re moving locally or long-distance remains very similar. 

In all moves, there are five main steps to the process:

1. Get It. First, you get your PODS container, which is delivered to you after ordering and payment. PODS does all the driving, so all you need to do is wait and they’ll do the rest. 
2. Keep It. PODS is pretty flexible with how long you can keep their storage containers. Containers are rented out by the month, so you can take as long as you need. This is one of the biggest appeals for PODS as many alternative options are a lot stricter with time limits. 
3. Load It. It's your job to load your belongings from your home into the container. However, if you require assistance with loading or unloading, contact MovingLabor.com.
4. Store It. If you’re moving long-distance, another huge draw for using PODS is their storage options. They have storage facilities all over the country, so it doesn't matter where you're moving to, PODS is going to have a place for it. 
5. Move It. PODS can deliver your moving container to your new home and, since they take care of all the driving, you don't have to stress about organizing delivery drivers. 

In addition, PODS can even help organize automobile transportation, which is a great extra service if you're moving cross country.

PODS doesn't provide loading and unloading help, but MovingLabor.com provides moving labor across the nation or just across town. Reach out if you require any lifting or loading assistance.

How Does PODS Work With Local Moves?

For local moves, PODS can drop your container off to be kept at your home or at one of their storage facilities. You can then load your container and PODS staff can drive it either to storage or straight to your next home.

How Does PODS Work With Long-Distance Moves?

For long-distance moves, PODS works in a similar way and also takes care of all the driving. This means you won't be racking up costs for fuel if you're moving across the country. PODS, when compared to other full-service moving companies, offers better value.

How Much Do PODS Moving Containers Cost?

While PODS doesn't publish a specific moving container price for long-distance moves on its website, PODS states on its pricing page that a local move is usually between $299-499 and a long-distance move can be between $1237 and $2999 or more. PODS states the best way to get an accurate figure is to request a personalized quote.

Pricing for PODS moving containers can vary drastically and depends on several factors, such as how far you're moving, container size, how much you're moving, how long you need storage, and even the season you're moving in.

Did you know? PODS doesn't provide loading and unloading help. If you need help loading and unloading your PODS containers, or just moving heavy furniture up/down stairs, you can hire movers by the hour on MovingLabor.com!

Downsides of Using PODS

As with any service, there are both benefits and drawbacks. Some of the downsides of PODS include:

• The price. PODS container prices often work out more expensive than a traditional moving truck. If you need to save money during a move, PODS may not be the best option. 
• No temperature controls. Antiques and other collectibles, as well as technical equipment, require temperature-controlled environments. PODS moving containers are not temperature controlled.
• Minimal security. Many online reviews point out the lack of robust security of PODS moving containers. If you are moving or storing expensive or one-of-a-kind items, this might not be the option for you.

Should You Choose PODS Over Other Portable Storage Companies?

There’s no doubt that PODS is one of the best moving and storage solutions available. An all-in-one service that really does take the stress out of moving. So, should you choose PODS moving containers over other moving container companies offering the same thing?

First, get prepared for moving day then weigh up the costs with the stress in terms of loading your belongings, moving them across the country, and unpacking at the other side—PODS has the storage and driving covered, while MovingLabor.com can provide you with moving labor to load/unload your things. 

The question to ask is—Do you want moving help that's affordable, but complicated, or a slightly more expensive but stress-free process? 

Moving help, tips, and advice is what we do here at Movinglabor.com. Contact us today to hire movers by the hour for your local or long-distance move.