Safeway Moving Review: Costs, Services, and Reputation

Here’s the bottom line: Safeway Moving provides quality moving services at an affordable cost, which is why they’re one of our top picks for best interstate moving companies.

Best Overall Value
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
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(855) 650-0657

93% of users select this mover

At A Glance
  • 30 days of free storage on all interstate moves
  • Veteran owned
  • Long distance and cross country moves only
  • A portion of every move is donated to charity
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(855) 650-0657

93% of users select this mover

At moveBuddha, we’ve worked with hundreds of people who’ve chosen this professional moving company to make their move and we’ll share some of their experiences here in our Safeway Moving review.

Sneak peak: They loved the competitive pricing, clear communication, and professionalism of the movers. Most issues that came up during the move are common in the industry or could have been avoided with proper planning.

In this Safeway Moving review post, we’ll lay out the general costs of moving with Safeway, what to expect on moving day (including pictures from actual moves), and tips to avoid some common issues.

But first, let’s make sure Safeway is the right choice for your move.

Pros & cons of moving with Safeway

  • 30 days of free storage on all interstate moves
  • 24/7 customer service
  • Triple-check verification system to ensure accurate quotes
  • Offer price matching
  • They’re a veteran-owned company
  • Highly rated by the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
  • Provides flat-rate pricing, so you don’t have to worry about hidden fees
  • A portion of each move is donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 
  • They don’t offer services for local moves
  • They’re not great for small moves like studio apartments or shipping 20-30 boxes
  • They don’t provide instant online quotes
  • Some customers complain about communication, because you don’t hear from your coordinator until just before the move
  • They require a deposit at booking
  • They don’t have any online shipment tracking options
  • Their company website is very bare-bones — you’ll have to contact them directly with any questions

Still not sure if Safeway is the right choice for your move? Check out how Safeway stacks up against other cross-country moving companies.

Key Takeaways

  • Safeway Moving (US DOT:3756000) provides full-service long-distance moving services at very competitive pricing, including a price-match guarantee, but they don’t do small local moves.
  • They offer everything from packing and unpacking your items to free storage and insurance.
  • You’ll need to contact them via phone for a quote or for any questions, but their customer service is known to go above and beyond for customer satisfaction.
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People love Safeway Moving for their accurate and competitive pricing, excellent customer service, and professionalism. Ready to move with Safeway? Get a quote from them today!

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Safeway pricing: How much it costs to move

One of the best parts of using Safeway is their free quotes and competitive, transparent pricing. Keep in mind that pricing varies depending on your specific move so it’s always a good idea to get a quote for accurate price estimates.

If you’re gathering quotes from other local moving companies, be sure to share them with Safeway, since the company has a price-matching guarantee. Safeway may also give you an early reservation discount if you book two months in advance.

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Christian's Move with Safeway
In the summer of 2022, Christian and his partner moved from NY to CA to start new jobs and be closer to their families. He wanted the best mix of service, flexibility, and affordability to make the most of his $5,000 relocation stipend so he chose Safeway Moving.
From
NY
To
CA
Cost
$4,730.52
Size
2 bdrms
Read The Full Story

In the summer of 2022, Christian and his partner moved from Brooklyn, New York to San Francisco, California to start new jobs and be closer to their families. We asked Christian why he chose Safeway and how it went.

Christian told us he wanted a healthy mix of service and affordability to make the most of his $5,000 relocation stipend. He said he chose Safeway based on the company’s positive customer reviews, professionalism, and cost-effective pricing.

Moving from Brooklyn, New York
Moving to San Francisco, California
Distance 2,900+ miles
Moving company Safeway Moving
Moving quote $4,300
Actual cost $4730.52

As you can see, there was a $400+ difference between Christian’s quote and what he actually paid, but it wasn’t due to hidden fees. There were valid reasons for the additional cost.

Christian's move with Safeway - two men moving boxes

In Christian’s case, he incurred an additional long carry charge because the moving truck couldn’t get close enough to his building. This isn’t uncommon for city moves, and it’s unfortunately something that’s hard to predict in advance.

Furthermore, Christian was also charged extra because his movers had to pack some of his household goods that hadn’t been packed ahead of time to ensure their safety. This can happen when a customer opts to take care of their own packing but doesn’t do it (or at least not well).

Given the circumstances in this scenario, Safeway’s additional charges were actually quite reasonable. But it’s always a good idea to read the fine print of your moving contract to see what scenarios will result in extra fees.

And to revisit Isabel’s story, she told us she also found Safeway’s pricing to be competitive. For her full-service coast-to-coast move, she paid $5,425 for Safeway to pack and move approximately 20 boxes and furniture that collectively weighed about 2,000 pounds. She was thrilled to report she ended up paying exactly what she was quoted.

Safeway offers a wide variety of services

Safeway offers competitive pricing and has access to a national network of moving trucks, which makes them one of the best moving companies for people moving across the country. Better Moves Project participants like Christian found them to be professional and efficient, and the moving crew he hired even provided some last-minute packing services.

  • Long-distance moves: Safeway offers moving services within the U.S.
  • International moves: Safeway provides some international relocation services, although its specialty is interstate moving. Safeway has limited information about international moves on its website. If you are making an international move, you should contact a customer service representative for more information.
  • Custom crating: Safeway can provide custom crates for packing your heavier items to ensure they’re not damaged during shipping.
  • Loading and unloading: Crews will load your packed items into the moving trucks and unload them at your new destination.
  • Packing and unpacking: Professional movers will wrap, pack, cushion and label your household goods and fragile items and will also unpack them at your destination.
  • Insurance: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires all carriers to have insurance. Safeway offers limited liability insurance and also offers custom insurance packages through their partner companies.
  • Storage options: If you need to store your possessions before moving them into your new home, Safeway will keep them in a climate-controlled storage facility for up to 30 days free of charge. They also offer long-term storage solutions for commercial or personal goods with no term limits. You can cancel at any time to avoid charges for the upcoming month, which will then be prorated.
  • Flat-rate pricing: Safeways moving experts use virtual walk-throughs to provide accurate quotes and prevent any hidden fees at the end of your move.
  • Price matching: Safeway guarantees that it will meet or beat lower quotes from competitors.
  • 24/7 customer service: Safeway’s moving experts are available at all times to ensure any questions or concerns you have about your move are addressed immediately.
  • Senior moves: Safeway specializes in moving services to meet senior citizens’ unique needs. The company trains staff and moving crews to provide additional assistance to seniors throughout the moving process. Safeway also has moving information and resources for senior citizens on its website.
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
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89% of users select this mover

What people who moved with Safeway say about the company

At moveBuddha, we’ve worked with hundreds of people who’ve chosen Safeway Moving for their moves. While not every move went smoothly, most customers had a good experience and would recommend Safeway.

We talked to Isabel about her experience using Safeway to move from San Francisco to New York City. She told us she knew she wanted to hire a full-service moving company for her 2,911-mile move across the country.

Isabel also knew she and her boyfriend would need packing services and wanted professionalism at a competitive price. After shopping around, Safeway’s affordable quote and professional reputation played a large part in her decision to entrust her move to them.

In the end, she felt her move was a success, despite one hiccup that had nothing to do with Safeway.

movers packing boxes for isabel's moveHere’s what she had to say:

“I’ve been planning this move for 6 months but booked the movers 3 weeks in advance because I had to find an apartment first. I chose Safeway Moving for their amazing customer service and they also gave the best quote. I received multiple emails, phone calls and texts from both Safeway Moving and the local movers they contracted. I would have loved a text morning of giving a better time estimate of when they were arriving. I was told the day before it would be anytime 8-11 am. I would have loved to be told morning of it would be around 1030, just to narrow it down. I would absolutely recommend Safeway. Everything happened on time and went smoothly. Considering I was moving cross country and to NYC, it was very low stress.” – Isabel P.

Here’s what other customers had to say about moving with Safeway

Shannon headshot during Safeway move

“I would recommend Safeway to others depending on the circumstances of their move and/or their priorities.

If they want clear point of contact and consistency on the price then another company like JK Moving (who I used in the past) might be a better choice.

But if their priority is their belongings being well packed and arriving undamaged then yes, I’d recommend Safeway Moving.” – Shannon M.

Shayndel headshot

“My move with Safeway went pretty well. Once I booked the move I didn’t hear from anyone until right before the move and I would have liked a little more lead time. They were good at getting back to me, but the quote was less than what we paid.

In hindsight, I wish I had done a video visit to go over our items since I underestimated. That way we would have had a more accurate quote at the beginning.

The moving staff were great!  They wrapped things carefully and needed to do extra wrapping due to the very wet weather.” – Shayndel K.

Marcel Miu, a real Safeway Moving Inc customer

“Overall, I think my move with Safeway went mostly as expected. All my goods arrived in the same condition and the pricing was reasonable.

I purchased a professional full-service move including disassembly and reassembly of all standard furniture, wrapping of all furniture with specialized moving blankets, and all transportation, taxes, tolls, mileage, labor, and fuel surcharges. The sales rep at Safeway, Jake, was incredibly helpful. He was very thorough and professional.

Throughout the move, I wish the mover had been more communicative especially as I moved during the busy summer months. Be sure to read the contract and base your pick-up around the “first date of delivery” to minimize the time you spend without your items.” – Marcel M.

Laurel

“I would recommend Safeway if you can get an in-person moving quote. The price was very affordable, and my moving consultant Andrew was great. He explained the process to me and he put together a detailed quote for me over the phone. He answered all my questions and was very friendly and helpful.

When the movers arrived, they did a great job pulling the truck up the hill in front of my house. We then went through the house and I told them where everything was to be placed. They followed instructions and were very helpful and pleasant. My items were delivered safely and the team did a good job keeping fragile items on top, and took care handling my large furniture upstairs. I was pleased with the timeliness of the delivery.” – Laurel H.

How Safeway stacks up against the competition

There are many reasons movers choose Safeway compared to another moving service like United Van Lines or American Van Lines, two of our other best moving companies. Isabel chose Safeway because she wanted a company with lots of online customer reviews, good communication and transparent pricing. She’d work with them again thanks to their prompt delivery and clear communication.

Christian chose Safeway for their great pricing (half of what competitor’s were charging!) and based on their professionalism during the quote process. He felt the drivers were top-notch and he’d recommend the company to other people as long as they have a flexible time frame for relocating.

Plus, customers can feel good knowing a portion of their costs go toward supporting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital — a unique feature that sets Safeway apart from all other movers.

moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
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  • Best overall value
  • Portion to charity
  • Veteran owned
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(855) 650-0657

% of users select this mover

moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.45 / 5
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  • 24/7 cust. service
  • Competitive rates
  • 15% discounts
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(855) 929-4120

% of users select this mover

moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
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  • 20 yrs experience
  • Flat rate pricing
  • Family owned
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(866) 835-2392

% of users select this mover

moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.25 / 5
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  • White glove
  • Expensive items
  • Guaranteed delivery
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(703) 972-1772

% of users select this mover

moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.25 / 5
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  • 74 years in biz
  • 1,800 trucks
  • Storage available
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(844) 950-2963

% of users select this mover

How moving with Safeway works

Safeway tries to guarantee customer satisfaction throughout the moving process, from quotes to delivery. Let’s walk through that process now.

Getting a quote

Obtaining a price quote requires speaking directly with a company representative or filling out an online contact form. There’s no instant or ballpark pricing available from the Safeway company website.

By speaking directly with you, Safeway is able to get a more accurate idea of the amount you have to move. They promote their binding estimate that contains no “hidden” surcharges or fees.

Getting an accurate quote is key to a happy move, so be sure to provide Safeway (or whichever company you choose) with the most accurate, complete information possible.

We spoke with Ryan, who had just graduated from medical school and was moving from Glendale, Arizona to Wilmington, Delaware to start a new job. He told us he spent two weeks researching movers and getting quotes before deciding to use Safeway Moving.

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Ryan's Move With Safeway
Ryan just graduated from medical school and was moving from Glendale, Arizona to Wilmington, Delaware to start a new job. He spent two weeks researching movers and getting quotes before deciding to use Safeway Moving.
From
AZ
To
DE
Cost
$27,995
Size
5 bdrm
Read The Full Story

When the moving foreman arrived for the walk-through, he determined there were an additional 147 boxes Ryan had not added to his box count for the quote. This added more than 1,000 cubic feet to the size of the move and resulted in an additional cost exceeding $11,000.

Ryan's move with Safeway: selfie

Since Ryan’s move, Safeway now requires video surveys for all moves as part of their triple-check verification process to avoid snafus like this, so be prepared to do a virtual walk-through with one of their moving experts when getting your quote. They’ve also changed some of their training methods to help improve box count accuracy.

And for a quick personalized quote from top movers, check out our moving cost calculator.

Booking and moving

Safeway has a nationwide network of carriers, which means they have the ability to offer affordably priced full-service moving services year-round. So even in the summer, when peak moving season is in full swing, they can get a moving truck to you.

We should point out here that while Safeway is currently classified by the FMCSA as a moving broker (meaning they work with smaller moving companies across the U.S. to book moving trucks and crews), they also identify as a carrier.

So depending on the location and size of your move, Safeway may perform your move themselves. This applies for most moves, especially those made on the East Coast, while they tend to act as a broker for moves made in more remote locations such as Utah and Arizona.

This hybrid status as a broker and carrier allows Safeway to offer quality moving services for cross-country and long-distance moves either by themselves or in tandem with smaller (but still trustworthy) companies, all at an in-house and price.

Note: Starting in August 2023, Safeway will transition to being 100% a carrier rather than a hybrid carrier/broker.

Christian told us he was happy with the crew Safeway sent, which arrived at 10 a.m. and finished loading by 1:30 p.m., but he was surprised to learn his items would be stored in New Jersey until a truck bound for California showed up. It took 60 days from Christian’s moving date for his items to finally arrive at his new home in California.

Overall, Christian said he would use Safeway again and believed he found the best pricing for a cross-country move and that the moving team itself was professional and efficient.

If you’re planning to use Safeway for a cross-country move, be aware of the possibility that your items may go into storage while another truck is procured to transport them to their final destination.

Safeway is perfect for people who…

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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
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89% of users select this mover

People making cross-country or long-distance moves who want full-service treatment should consider Safeway as a very competitive option. Safeway is perfect for customers who:

  • Are making a long-distance or coast-to-coast move
  • Aren’t sure of their exact move-in date and may require storage services
  • Want a full-service move (and don’t wish to do any of the loading and unloading themselves)
  • Need help packing and unpacking

Because Safeway partners with moving companies all over the country, they’re able to get you the most efficient and professional moving services at a fantastic price within your moving date range.

What’s unique about Safeway is they’ve built a system of followup and quality assurance to reduce the likelihood of any problems and to make the moving process as seamless as possible. The company’s focus on quality is a big reason why they made our list of best interstate moving companies.

Remember: When shopping for a moving company, it’s important to check out all the available options, compare prices and get instant quotes from multiple professional movers you can trust.

In their Better Moves Project surveys, Isabel and Christian told us they would use Safeway again. They were each very happy with the accuracy of their quotes, the communication of the company, the professionalism of the movers and the overall great service. They each had minor issues with delivery but felt the value and care they received from Safeway was worth it.

If you’ve done any research on the moving industry, you’ll know moving rarely goes perfectly. There’s almost always some kind of snag — some worse than others. And these problems typically stem from some kind of miscommunication. The BBB gave Safeway an A+ rating and the company earned 5 out of 5 stars on the BBB review site.

FAQ

Is Safeway a moving broker?

Yes, Safeway is a licensed and insured interstate moving broker. By partnering with trucking companies all over the country, they’re able to get you the best possible price for your move.

What is a moving broker?

A moving broker is a company that arranges for the transportation of your cargo, utilizing for-hire carriers to provide the actual truck transportation and labor. Moving brokers act as middlemen who try to find the best deal and labor for your move from a vast network of moving companies.

What is a binding estimate?

A binding estimate is a fixed-cost estimate based on the total weight of household goods, so you’ll pay the exact price you’re originally quoted if you agree to it. Under this pricing model, the mover isn’t permitted to increase the final cost for any reason. However, if your items wind up weighing less than anticipated, you won’t get a discount either.

Where is Safeway Moving located?

Safeway Moving is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and offers moving services in all 48 states (excluding Hawaii and Alaska.

Is Safeway Moving a scam?

No, Safeway Moving is not a scam. As mentioned earlier in this Safeway Moving review, they’re registered with the FMCSA (USDOT # 3756000). However, there are various other moving companies who also use the name “Safeway” who unfortunately are shady. To make things simple, this is the correct website for the Safeway Moving company we’re talking about. Be wary of any other sites that use the name Safeway Moving with small tweaks to the website or company name — this is a common sign of a moving scam.

How do I contact Safeway?

You can call them directly at (844) 509-6491, or you can request a phone call by filling out a form on their website.

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