My New Jersey to Louisiana Move Cost $5,100, Not $4,300
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Jersey City, NJ → New Orleans, LA
$4,300
One-bedroom apartment
$5,100
+$800 in add-on fees
1,303 mi
Long-distance, interstate
- I compared five quotes before I hired Safeway Moving for my New Jersey to Louisiana move.
- My final bill landed $800 over the estimate after I added more items on moving day than my original phone quote accounted for.
- I shared all of it, my quotes, my bills, and my ratings, as part of moveBuddha’s Better Moves Project.
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This account is based on a conversation with Joshua G., who moved from Jersey City, New Jersey, to New Orleans, Louisiana, in June 2023 using Safeway Moving. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
My move from New Jersey to Louisiana
I’d known for more than four years that I’d eventually make this move, so I was ready for a fresh start when my partner started a medical residency program in New Orleans. I went from a 675-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment in Jersey City, New Jersey, to a 1,350-square-foot, two-bedroom place, along with several boxes of specialty art, paintings, and photos that needed extra care.
Clear communication mattered most to me going in. I also wanted movers who’d treat my belongings, especially the art, with real care.
I found moveBuddha through Google and submitted my information once instead of calling company after company myself. moveBuddha lined up several options right away, and I found a few more of my own through Google. According to moveBuddha, users who compare quotes this way save more than 30% versus booking the first one they get.
My Safeway Moving experience at a glance
Here’s what stood out most about moving with Safeway Moving, good and bad.
- Communication: I had great communication with Safeway’s sales team, but the actual mover, All City Van Lines, was spottier. Safeway doesn’t handle every move directly, it often works with vetted local partners across the country.
- Pricing accuracy and transparency: I miscalculated my square footage and added more items on moving day, so I ended up paying more than my original estimate.
- Professionalism: Safeway’s team was friendly, professional, and helpful throughout.
- Timeliness: All City Van Lines arrived right on time, and it took 16 days to get my things to New Orleans, well within the 30-day window in my contract.
- Loss and damage: The move damaged a candle holder and the legs on a chest of drawers. I submitted a claim for the damage.
- Would I use Safeway Moving again? My experience was positive overall, but next time I’d choose to work directly with a local mover.
over my original Safeway Moving quote
Find out what a move from New Jersey → Louisiana actually costs before a mover tells you.
Why I chose Safeway Moving
After I submitted my information, movers started calling right away, but Safeway stood out because they texted me before calling to set up a time, which let me clear my schedule for a proper conversation. Their sales rep gave me an estimate over the phone and offered me $400 off if I booked on the call, which I took. Out of five quotes, from $1,620 to $5,800, Safeway had the most competitive rate among companies with acceptable Better Business Bureau ratings, so I went with them even though $4,300 was more than I expected to pay.
The one thing I didn’t realize until after I booked was that Safeway would partner with a local company, All City Van Lines, to actually handle my move. Safeway manages some moves directly and coordinates others through partners in its network, and mine turned out to be the latter.
rating
- GPS tracking en route
- Veteran-owned
- Dedicated move coordinator
- Flat-rate pricing
- Donates a portion of moves to charity
My move at a glance
Here are the basics of my relocation, including what I was quoted and what I actually paid for my New Jersey to Louisiana move.
| Move date | June 28, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Moved from | Jersey City, New Jersey |
| Moved to | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Distance | 1,303 miles |
| Move size | One-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment |
| Moving company | Safeway Moving |
| Moving quote | $4,300 |
| Actual cost | $5,100 |
We found that when you use moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator, you can save 30% on moving costs compared to customers who go with the first quote they receive.
Quotes I compared
I got quotes from five full-service moving companies before I booked. All of them were pricing the same 2,500 pounds of stuff, and the numbers still ranged widely.
| Company | Estimated volume/weight | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|
| Safeway | 2,500 pounds | $4,300 |
| Top Rated Moving Van Lines | 2,500 pounds | $1,620 |
| US Relocation | 2,500 pounds | $3,100 |
| Jersey Moving Pro | 2,500 pounds | $5,200 |
| American Van Lines | 2,500 pounds | $5,800 |
Top Rated Moving Van Lines’ number looked great on paper, but a much lower quote usually means a much lower service level to match. I went with Safeway for the balance of price and reputation instead.
Pickup day
All City Van Lines called me on June 26 to say they’d arrive at noon on June 27. I would have liked a bit more notice, but Safeway manages hundreds of moves a day, especially during peak season, so I tried to stay flexible.
The crew showed up right on time and was thoughtful with my things. I stepped out briefly for a work call, but otherwise I made myself available, which turned out to matter because the movers had plenty of questions for me. Staying around gave me more control over how they handled my stuff.
Loading took three hours. All City Van Lines increased the price by $969 because I added several items at the last minute, and my original phone quote had also underestimated my space and weight. I paid 50% of the remaining balance in cash on the spot. I’ve since learned that a phone estimate almost always undershoots the real number, so scheduling an in-person or video estimate is worth the extra time.
Delivery day
It took 16 days for my things to arrive in New Orleans. The sales reps had told me it would be closer to seven days, but my actual Safeway contract allowed 30, so they were well within the window they’d promised on paper.
I got automated notifications saying my things were in transit, but I would have liked real-time updates instead. I’ve since heard that other Better Moves Project participants pack an Apple AirTag in one of their boxes for exactly this reason, since a mover’s tracking link often doesn’t update in real time.
There was a miscommunication when my things reached New Orleans. All City Van Lines had told me they wouldn’t deliver on an eighteen-wheeler, but that’s what showed up, so I had to persuade my apartment building to let them park and unload in a tight space. Once they agreed, unloading went fast. Unfortunately, one box went missing and another arrived with real damage. I lost a wall candle holder, and the move damaged the legs on a chest of drawers. I submitted an online claim with Safeway right away, and it’s still under review.
Final thoughts
I had sticker shock over the price at first, but I’ve since learned that $4,300 is actually in line with other moves that cover around 1,300 miles. The $969 increase was harder to accept, but that’s what happens when you add items at the last minute after a phone estimate.
I also wanted more communication between booking and moving day, and while my things were in transit. But I’ve learned that it’s very normal not to hear much from your mover during that stretch, since there’s not a lot to report, and it’s even more common during peak season when a company like Safeway is handling hundreds of moves at once.
Making myself available during loading gave me more control over the process, and I’d recommend it to anyone. A 16-day delivery wasn’t bad at all against a 30-day contract window, even though a salesperson had originally told me nine days. I’d tell anyone in my position to read the actual contract and take a sales rep’s number with a grain of salt.
Planning a long-distance move? Use moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator to compare real quotes from vetted movers before you book.
My ratings
Here’s how I scored Safeway Moving on a scale of one to five based on my move.
- Communication: 4 out of 5. Great with Safeway’s own sales team, spottier once All City Van Lines took over.
- Timeliness: 4 out of 5. The crew arrived right on time and delivery took 16 days against a 30-day window.
- Quote accuracy: 4 out of 5. I paid $5,100 against a $4,300 estimate, partly because I added items on moving day.
- Overall experience: 4 out of 5. A friendly, professional crew and a positive experience overall, despite the price bump and some damage.
More moving resources
Tips for future movers
These are the practical steps we recommend based on Joshua G.’s experience:
- Ask if your move will be subcontracted: Most people don’t think to ask, but a national mover like Safeway sometimes hands the actual move to a local partner. Ask upfront whether the company quoting you will perform the move or contract it out.
- Get an in-person or video estimate instead of a phone quote: A phone estimate asks you to guess your own cubic footage and weight, and unless you move often, you’ll probably undershoot it.
- Add cushion to your own inventory estimate: Add at least 50 cubic feet to whatever you think you own before you get quotes, especially if you’re packing specialty items like art or photos.
- Stay available during loading: Being around to answer the movers’ questions gives you more control over how your things get handled, even if it means stepping away briefly for something else.
- Pack a tracker in one of your boxes: A mover’s tracking link often doesn’t update in real time, so an Apple AirTag or similar tracker can tell you more than the official updates do.
- Read your contract, not just the sales pitch: Your contract’s delivery window is what the mover is actually bound to, not whatever number a sales rep gives you on the phone.
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