What My Oregon to Ohio Container Move with 1-800-PACK-RAT Actually Cost
As told to moveBuddha
- Desmond moved from Lafayette, Oregon, to Waynesville, Ohio, in September 2022 for a new job, a 2,300-mile move covering a three-bedroom home of about 2,000 square feet.
- After comparing five quotes, he hired 1-800-PACK-RAT, and his Oregon to Ohio move cost $7,310.44, about $262 more than his original $7,048 estimate.
- This is Desmond’s story, shared as part of moveBuddha’s Better Moves Project.
This account is based on a conversation with Desmond, who moved from Lafayette, Oregon, to Waynesville, Ohio, in September 2022 using 1-800-PACK-RAT. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
I had an exciting new job offer waiting for me in the Buckeye State, but I only had a month to find a mover and get my household goods packed and shipped across the country. To make things harder, I was moving during the peak summer season, when capacity gets tight even with the best full-service movers and moving container companies.
Price mattered, but I was willing to pay more for an experienced, reliable company. I packed everything myself to save money, though I worried I wouldn’t have enough time to finish before my move date. My antique heirloom table, made by my great-grandfather, a few vintage video game systems, and some large framed artwork all needed extra care.
I used moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator to help compare my options and find the right company for my move.
My 1-800-PACK-RAT experience at a glance
rating
4.45 / 5
- Communication: 1-800-PACK-RAT communicated with me well throughout my move.
- Pricing accuracy and transparency: My final cost landed within a few hundred dollars of my original estimate.
- Timeliness: 1-800-PACK-RAT moved my household goods within the agreed-upon timeframe.
- Professionalism: I appreciated the company’s overall professionalism and attention to detail.
- Loss and damage: A few of my items got damaged during a minor delivery mishap, which I’ll get into below.
- Would I use PACK-RAT again? Yes. My estimate was accurate, and my household goods arrived on time and in generally good condition.
Why I chose 1-800-PACK-RAT
I got multiple quotes before choosing 1-800-PACK-RAT, and even though I’d known about the move for a month, it only took me a week to compare estimates and settle on a company.
I relied on moveBuddha, This Old House, Google, and the Better Business Bureau during the vetting process, and I ruled out full-service movers after reading about common moving scams.
I also considered renting a truck, but a 2,300-mile drive with my partner and four cats in a moving van wasn’t appealing. 1-800-PACK-RAT wasn’t the cheapest quote I got, but I liked that the company had a good reputation and that its containers were made entirely of metal and delivered by custom trucks that minimized tipping and shifting.
The main drawback was cost. My 1-800-PACK-RAT quote of $7,048 was $378 more than the full-service quote I got from Interstate Van Lines. I decided the extra peace of mind was worth the difference, and I chose not to buy the additional insurance coverage 1-800-PACK-RAT offered.
My move at a glance
| Move date | September 19, 2022 |
|---|---|
| Moved from | Lafayette, Oregon |
| Moved to | Waynesville, Ohio |
| Distance | 2,300 miles |
| Move size | 3-bedroom home (about 2,000 square feet) |
| Moving company | 1-800-PACK-RAT |
| Moving quote | About $7,048 |
| Actual cost | $7,310.44 |
If you want to see how your own move might compare, moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator can get you free quotes from vetted movers.
Quotes I compared
I gathered five quotes before deciding on a mover. Here’s how they stacked up:
| Company/move type | Estimated weight/equipment type | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|
| Allied Van Lines (full-service) | 5,695 pounds | $8,337 |
| 1-800-PACK-RAT (moving container) | 16-foot container | $7,048 |
| Interstate Van Lines (full-service) | 4,264 pounds | $6,670 |
| American Van Lines (full-service) | 3,717 pounds | $5,783 |
| U-Haul (DIY) | Rental truck | $4,119 |
Though I got some of my quotes online, with 1-800-PACK-RAT, I called in and spoke with a helpful account manager who walked me through the process.
Pickup day
Before pickup day, I hired movers to help with loading, rented pads, straps, and a dolly, and spent weeks slowly packing boxes room by room. My empty container and my loading crew from Cherry City Movers both showed up on time on the scheduled days, and each company communicated proactively about when to expect them.
After a quick walkthrough, the movers got to work padding loose items and loading everything into the container. I answered their questions, checked in occasionally, and mostly tried to stay out of the way.
It took the Cherry City crew three hours to load everything, an hour longer than I expected. That modest cost increase didn’t bother me because I couldn’t have been happier with how they performed.
Delivery day
My moving container arrived at my new home in Ohio just 14 business days after it left Oregon, a fast turnaround for a 2,300-mile move.
The delivery driver was new, and one of the securement chains slipped off the container while he unloaded it from the truck. That caused it to tilt to one side more than it should have, though he eventually got it offloaded safely and positioned where I wanted it.
My partner and I spent the weekend unloading the container and getting everything situated in our new home. A few items were damaged, though nothing out of the ordinary.
Some of the damage may have happened when the container tilted, but I also didn’t rent enough moving blankets for the crew to pad everything properly. If you’re moving with a container, rent more moving blankets than you think you’ll need. It’s better to have too many than not enough.
I called 1-800-PACK-RAT to schedule a pickup once the container was empty, but it sat in my driveway for two extra days because one of the company’s trucks was out of service. I had to leave town for work, and 1-800-PACK-RAT picked up the container while I was away without charging me for the extra days.
Final thoughts
1-800-PACK-RAT delivered a positive experience on a tight schedule at the tail end of peak moving season.
I spent more than I wanted to, but I got good value working with 1-800-PACK-RAT, and I liked the peace of mind that came from working with a well-known national company. I’d consider using 1-800-PACK-RAT again, though I’d look at less expensive options, too.
Looking back, I wish I’d been more selective when I decluttered and downsized before the move. I got rid of a few things I shouldn’t have because I didn’t think there would be enough room in the container, but the Cherry City crew was so efficient that I ended up with extra space left over. I also thought I could fit more into my car than I actually could, and because the loaded container had already been hauled away, I had no choice but to get rid of some things.
If you’re comparing moving container companies for your own move, start with moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator to see real quotes from vetted movers.
My ratings
- Communication – 4
- Timeliness – 4
- Pricing accuracy – 5
- Overall experience – 4
Tips for future movers
- Hire professional movers to help with loading and unloading if there’s room in your moving budget.
- Rent more moving blankets than you think you’ll need. It’s better to have too many than not enough.
- Be selective when you declutter and downsize. Don’t assume you’ll run out of room, since an efficient loading crew may leave you with space to spare.
Before signing off, check out these helpful posts:
- Best Moving Container Companies
- Batool’s Long-Distance Moving Experience with 1-800-Pack-Rat
- How to Establish Residency in a New State
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