Zippy Shell Incorporated

They market their long-distance service as being the solution to the associated stress of your move, however they've proven the complete opposite. As it stands, Zippy Shell is the ONLY source of stress involving my move, as I will have waited over a week for them to deliver the storage pod from the local warehouse (after promising an instant turnaround). Oh, and not to mention the fact that the pod I ordered was not what was delivered, and was partnered through a third party. Mind you, I was not informed of ANY of this. The communication with this company is the only thing worse than the service itself. Completely worthless. The icing on the cake though? After their sales team made countless guarantees about immediate delivery, I coordinated this move with 4 other people who drove from different parts of the country to help with the move, and they'll all be gone by the time the pod arrives! Amazing! Stay FAR away from Zippy Shell, and happily pay the extra 20% to go with a real POD if you have the chance. I fully intend to pursue this matter with the ICC and the BBB, and to spread the word as far and wide as I can. AVOID ZIPPY SHELL AT ALL COSTS!

Move size: 3 Bedroom Home Service cost: $2270

Boy, wish I had read these reviews before choosing them. Been 4 months since they took my stuff and I still don’t have it. Plus they are charging me storage for every month even though the delays are their screw ups. Just try to get someone on the phone. The last call took me 2 hours and 33 minutes on hold. Don’t be fooled by the auto message that they will call you back. They won’t. They hold your stuff hostage and you will pay much more than the original contract to get it back.

Move size: Partial Move Service cost: $3000

This review does not apply to the local branches, as they are simply storage facilities and do not schedule or deal with customer service. This applies to Zippy Shell on a national level. This company is HORRIFIC! Terrible service, terrible business model. Before you book with zippy shell you need to understand how the model works. A local branch is scheduled to drop you off a shell, you pack it and they pick it up. Next Zippy Shell starts to "bid" out a price to 18-wheeler freight drivers at a low price to have your stuff relocated. If no one takes the bid they increase the price until its picked up. Lastly once your stuff arrives at the destination they must schedule it to be delivered. The guaranteed delivery date is NOT guaranteed. They do not care about your stuff or when it gets there. They bid for drivers at the lowest possible amount, which takes more time than they estimate. It took our things over a month to get to our location (over 20 days after the guaranteed date). Every time we called for an update no one could tell us where our stuff was or when we would receive it. Once our stuff actually made it to the destination, Zippy Shell didn't even inform us, we had to drive to the warehouse to confirm our stuff made it because no one would answer the phone. They then proceeded to tell us we had to schedule a delivery date and hey were "slammed" at the moment. So tired of waiting we ended up renting a truck and moving our stuff out of the shell ourselves. We were told by management we would receive a Per Diem refund for each day it was late which did not happen. They also proceeded to charge us extra for storage because of how late they were. We've recommended to all of our friends and family that they use a different moving company. This company is an absolute nightmare.

Move size: 2 Bedroom Home Service cost: $1800

Zippy Shell is the worst company to choose for moving! Do not choose this company!

We have recently moved from Des Moines, IA to Phoenix, AZ and decided to choose Zippy Shell as the company to help us with this long distance move. We packed all of our belongings into a pod and it was picked up on 6/12/20. We were told that 6/26/20 would be the latest it would arrive in Phoenix. At that point, we thought that waiting until the 26th to have our things delivered was too long of a wait.

Unfortunately, we were wrong and our belongings did not arrive at the Phoenix destination facility until 6/30. Zippy Shell never told us that our stuff made it to Phoenix. Instead, we had to call to figure this out. During that call, we were given the opportunity to request delivery days for our pod to be brought to our house. However, we had to give the destination facility a 48hr notice (for unclear reasons). So it seemed that we would be without our belongings for another 2 days. Wrong again! We received an email shortly after that stating that the earliest availability to have our belongings delivered from the Phoenix facility to our house (Also in Phoenix) was July 14-16th. Another two weeks away! We were told we could rent a UHaul and go to the warehouse and pick up our things instead (again giving the warehouse a 48hr notice). Despite all of this, Zippy Shell has refused to offer any sort of adequate compensation (such as paying for the UHaul, etc.)

When it comes time for a move, DO NOT choose this company.

Move size: 2 Bedroom Home Service cost: $1961

If I could leave no stars I would. Do not give them your business! Apathetic, rude, unprofessional, this company is just pathetic. Never have I had such poor service. Made a cross country move, paid for expedited shipping for delivery on our move in date. Was promised it would be delivered on our move in date. Move in day comes no pod. Call to find out where it is, nobody knows and they don’t know when it will be delivered all of a sudden. Please if you read this review take your business somewhere else. Nothing is worse then having all your belongings lost in transit without a delivery date known of when or if it will be delivered as promised. And then have to deal with unhelpful rude customer service reps awhen you are just trying to find your stuff. Oh yeah and they overcharged me and I still do not have my stuff! Worst company ever! DO NOT GIVE THEM YOUR BUSINESS UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE SCREWED OVER!

Move size: 3 Bedroom Home Service cost: $2800

I'm not even sure this is a real business. They dropped off our pod late, which is an error that we had to bring up to them. I shouldn't have to explain why this is a problem, but the biggest problem was that our movers were no longer available because the pod would not be there on the prescribed date. Now our pod is here in the new city. It took them two weeks to get back to us and schedule a date for drop off. During which time THEY CHARGED US FOR TAKING SO LONG. I REPEAT THEY CHARGED US a storage fee because they took over two weeks to schedule the pod.

Move size: 1 Bedroom Home Service cost: $40000

Should have seen reviews on here instead of other moving websites(somehow you can't write reviews on them), I can't believe I missed the >100 1 star reviews. In this context it becomes completely my fault but regardless they get a 1 star anyways.

Pushy salesman to try and lock-in the sale promised 10 days with unloading. The contract I signed did have 6-8 transit days and ASAP(no storage) but the delivery date written as TBD but I didn't think anything of it.No issues with the pickup. I call 2 days before the delivery date because I hadn't received any update and get told "it's showing to be at destination warehouse on "xday" (14 transit days) but we'll need 24-48 hours to get movers" after you pick a date. They put a note to schedule the unloading ASAP. I get billed 1 month storage at some point that week (stuff isn't even in storage as far as I know).

1 week after the supposed arrival estimate (21 transit days) I get an email that they were arrived at destination warehouse. Of course I'm not trusting them about delivery so I call the next day and nobody has scheduled anything yet or started the process. The next day I get a confirmed delivery date 1 week in the future (28 days total). I'm not one of those "bring me the manager" people that complain the problem is that at every point they've been the ones promising things and not following through. I still haven't gotten my stuff but I assume the local movers can do an okay job in a couple of days.

Move size: 2 Bedroom Home Service cost: $2000

I want to be 100% transparent. My issues with Zippy Shell/1-800-PACK-RAT are largely based off horrible Customer care and Customer Service. I got quotes from both PACK-RAT and Zippy Shell, and decided to go with Zippy because it was cheaper. The price was by far the best I found, and I did lots of research. I moved from Northern California to Texas in the middle of the summer (busy season). I looked at PODS, U-Pack, U-Box, and plenty of smaller-name companies. PACK-RAT ranged about average to barely below average, and Zippy was the cheapest. The day of container delivery PACK-RAT showed up, and so begin all the nightmares.

Now for the bad stuff which heavily outweighs the good:

- At first, I was glad I received PACK-RAT containers, since they looked to be much better quality and a tad bigger than expected. Little did I know it would be the beginning of a nightmare move. I received ZERO notice that I should expect PACK-RAT containers. So now I had to deal with Zippy Customer Service for PACK-RAT services. If I would've known how complicated it would all be then, I would've declined reception of the containers.

- Since I booked through Zippy, I was told that I could not schedule delivery until my containers had arrived at the destination warehouse. They told me that once I received such notification, that I could call and schedule the delivery and that it would take between 72 hrs and up to a week for delivery. Well since I had PACK-RAT containers, once I received notification they were at destination warehouse, I called to request 3 different dates ranging from 72 hrs to a week later and they submitted the "request" to the warehouse to see what they could do, to which I got a response that it would be 3 weeks out instead. This would put me over the 30 day mark that's included, meaning I would have to pay for another 30 day rental on the containers. I called what seems like a thousand times to see if there was something they could do. For the first few times, I was told that it was definitely fixable and that they would submit a "request" to expedite delivery. At the end of the day, I had to wait the full 3 weeks, BUT I ended up calling PACK-RAT Customer Service directly and found out that they actually set up delivery at destination at the same time as they set up pick up at origin location..which just added to my anger.

- I get partially reimbursed for my move, and as such, part of the quote I requested included weight tickets for both full and empty containers. I called twice before receiving the containers to make sure everything was on track for delivery and weight tickets, and was reassured it was. A few days after they picked up the containers I called again to make sure they were weighed, since I hadn't received the weight tickets, and I was told that they would put a "request" in to inquire the status, to which I received an email back stating that the weight tickets were NOT part of the services requested, and that they would have to be completed at the destination warehouse and charge me extra for. At this point I was already skeptical of their ability to do anything right, so I was calling every few days to check on the status of everything, which every rep, and even a resolution specialist supervisor, reassured me everything was great every time. Once my delivery was FINALLY scheduled, I had to visit the warehouse on the scheduled day of delivery because they were MIA, and they told me that the weight scale was not open on weekends and that they did not know why my containers were scheduled for that day since they needed weight tickets.

- As you noticed, I put "request" in quotations. Both Zippy and PACK-RAT only have one number you can call. No option for different departments, or information on HQ. Just Customer Service. Anytime you want anything done, these reps have to put in a "request" to the department in question and that's all they can do. One rep told me he was frustrated with the system because they have no way of contacting someone from those departments to follow up, they are just able to submit the request and hope that department gets the request and fulfills it in the time that the reps are trained to relay to us. Which, let me tell you, they never do. Anything you try to do (request delivery date, pick up date, get billing information, even requesting to talk to a freaking supervisor/manager) always takes at least 3 days due to their dumb request system. Which brings me to my next point; Customer Service.

- I am not saying that all customers are always right, but when you see the amount of mess-ups in my account made by the company, if I request to talk to a supervisor or manager who can do more than a phone rep, they should at least say they will forward my "request." Yet I had 2 reps who just kept repeating that "a manager will not be able to change the dates anyway" over and over to me.

Move size: 4 Bedroom Home Service cost: $4800

TLDR: Zippy is cheaper than other moving services, but if you want a company that accurately keeps track of your stuff and delivers it in a timely manner, GO ELSEWHERE.

I hate to be a Karen, but I have a LOT of complaints to get off my chest. I signed a moving agreement several months ago, from NC to MN. I told them I planned to move in the week of 7/1. We planned for my container to be picked up for transit on 6/24, and they gave me no reason to think that date wouldn't work with my arrival expectations, and gave me an estimate of 8-10 days for transit. Tbh, I can't recall if they said "business" days or not, but they definitely said 8-10. I will say my moving agreement listed "8-12 business days" as the transit time, so when it didn't arrive the first week of July like I'd hoped, I didn't complain. But it has now been almost THREE. WEEKS. and my things have yet to arrive. I would've been fine with scheduling pick-up earlier in June, but again, they gave me no reason to think 6/24 pick-up wouldn't get my things to MN by the time I got to my new apt.

Additionally, at NO POINT when scheduling my move did they tell me that the "transit time" is just from warehouse to warehouse- only during one of my calls for updates did they tell me there is an ADDITIONAL 3-4 days from when it arrives at the local warehouse to when it's brought to my apt in the "busy season"- I have no idea why it takes that long when I'm self-unloading, so all they'd need to do is drive it out and drop it off. They also made no mention of the fact that they do NO work over the weekend, so it can only be dropped off at my place M-F, AND of the fact that they don't provide tracking of your stuff!! What kind of moving company can't track your stuff, when darn near everything shipped these days can be tracked?? I called multiple times over the weeks to see if they could give me any updates, and they gave me no indication of where my container was at, or any idea of when within that 8-12 day range it might arrive. Finally when I called on 7/8, I was told it would arrive Friday, 7/10 at the warehouse (the 12th of the "8-12 business days"), but that they don't do same-day drop off, and even though I already knew that I absolutely needed it to arrive by Monday 7/13 and so wanted it dropped off then, she could only make a note in my account, and I would still have to call after getting email confirmation of its arrival on Friday to ask them to bring it to my apartment on Monday. Only, Friday rolled around and I didn't get an email. I called Friday afternoon with no response (not the first time, I've left messages before and they've literally taken up to two days to get back to me), and did not hear back again until I called and left another message today (Sunday). Then I was told that not only had my things not arrived yet (proving their "8-12" is a load of BS), but they STILL could give me no idea when it would arrive or where it's currently at, and the employee I spoke with again told me transit is “8-10 business days”.

So I've been living in my empty apartment for 2 weeks already, still have NO idea when I'll be getting my things, and my family who came from out of state to help me unload furniture tomorrow won't be able to help, so I'll have to figure out other arrangements for unloading heavy furniture that won’t cost hundreds. All of this is without going into detail about several other issues I've had with Zippy:

- Multiple agents have said 8-10 business days instead of 8-12 for transit, so clearly even they have no clue what's going on with their company.

- Charged $159 for "storage at the destination warehouse", even though I'd made it abundantly clear I didn't want storage, and it also said in my contract "Monthly storage charges will occur on the 31st day your items are in storage", not any time before then, and I had to call twice to get that charge refunded.

- Had to call multiple times to get my updated invoice with proof of insurance when I added that.

Plan to update my review when my things finally arrive.

Move size: 1 Bedroom Home Service cost: $1442

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY! This company is a joke and the worst company I have ever dealt with in my entire life. When you are moving cross-country, the services you get promised and pay for should be delivered, especially when EVERYTHING you own is literally put into their hands.

I should have known there were going to be issues when any of the days I requested for the container to be dropped were not available. Oh, and not everything fit in the container either. Estimates on their containers are a bit small.

Initially received email confirmation that my container arrived to its destination on 7/5. Call on Monday to schedule container delivery..didn't hear anything for two days from them. I call on Wednesday and come to find out, it was coded wrong and it actually didn't leave its origin until 7/8, which was 10 business days (all info provided states typical transit time to arrive to its destination warehouse in 7-10 business days). Container didn't arrive to destination warehouse until the 12th (though ZS told me the 11th..called the receiving warehouse myself to find out accurate information). My container was picked up on June 23rd (technical first business day by them was the 24th..how is it acceptable for it to sit at its origin for almost two weeks? ZS tells me "limited truck availability." B.S..Houston is a hotbed for truck services (but the sales rep also told me when I scheduled service, trucks are easy to schedule in Houston; therefore, conflicting information within the company). When I finally get a confirmation email from the moving team of a delivery date, I was never told or updated on a delivery time. Again, had to call the receiving warehouse (their 3rd party contractor) myself to get any correct information.

What makes it worse is you can barely get the customer care team on the phone and they are unresponsive to emails. I am still waiting on my delivery time info from them (when the container actually unloaded this morning). And to boot, the customer care supervisor (Brandon) is one of the people that gave me inaccurate information on Monday and then dodged my calls the remainder of the week when I asked to speak directly to him.

Do yourself a favor, either rent your own moving truck you can drive yourself or go with a completely different company (not even 1-800-Pack-Rat..this is their parent company). Moving long-distance is already stressful enough and this company provided such a bad customer experience that is made it even worse.

Move size: 2 Bedroom Home Service cost: $2330