PODS® Reviews
This is my second move with PODS. This is so much cheaper than a moving company and so much better because all your stuff is sealed in a container that you lock and keep the key. Total security and no mix-ups. I packed it all myself so I knew it was done right and then used Hire-a-helper to pack and to unpack. I had it stored in PODS temperature controlled facility at Burien, WA for 2 years with a lot of precious artwork and it all looks as good as the day I packed it. Storage cost was $238.94 a month, plus about $300 to deliver it to me when I was ready for it. So much better that any other way! And the bonus is that PODZILLA is really really cool.
Terrible customer service by phone while making initial pickup and transports from NY to NC; unexplained 2 week delay of transportation and extra monthly charge entirely due to their delay. Premature charges for delivery to my home when container was still in NY. Hours spent on the phone to confirm the contract and trouble shoot the whereabouts of the the container when not transported as specified. I accept some logistical delay due to realtime limits of trucking and drivers. But for "on hold" status be something that no one could explain despite calling daily and taking 1-2 hours on the phone each time with out success in locating the container nor confirming the original order for transport for OVER 2 WEEKS. NO PICKUP AS PLANNED FOR OCT 16 UNTIL EARLY NOVEMBER. I WAS BILLED THE EXTRA MONTH CHARGE AND INSURANCE OF $320 . I have made calls and emails without a complete resolution at this time, but one email from representative suggests there will be a cost adjustment due to the delay. If after the delay and hassle the account is corrected and I receive a refund, I would be willing to increase my rating. I am very discouraged at this time.
I had to carefully read through the entire online write-up & ended up having to amend the initial order 3 separate times because something wasn't right - directions, day of delivery to me & day of pick-up from me, etc. - but the woman who I spoke with each time, Kim, was very helpful in making the changes. Only 1 of the 5 different drivers who delivered or picked-up the PODs from each location was a bit surly & uncommunicative, It was a marvel to watch how their equipment drops off & picks up a POD. I used a 16' + an 8' POD. So total was more than I'd planned to spend.
When I arrived with the moving crew to unload the POD there was no POD available. The store was closed in spite of hours listed and it was nearly impossible to get someone on the phone. When I did, the representative showed complete disregard for my issue and did not even attempt to solve the problem until I was provoked to tears, at which point he was able to find a solution. Since that day, my experience with PODS customer service has continued to be below average. The account website is almost useless and wait times on the phone are 30 minutes or more.
The pick-up of the container was flawless. The driver communicates and let us know when he was dropping off and picking up; however receiving the Pod was horrible. The time frame that they gave us was what they said was an “estimate.” They were unprofessional and unyielding. But everything arrived safely and the pick up was flawless from our original pick-up location. Drop off and pick up from our arrival location was horrible.
This is our first experience using PODS and the process to rent a POD was very easy to follow. We were kept in the loop of all activities and payment schedules well in advance. Per POD's agreement, we were called prior to each leg of the process, to inform of PODS arrival and pickup after the POD was loaded. There were no issues with the placement of the POD or damages to our property in the process.
I selected PODS because of their name. Everything went smoothly until the state of California decided to require the Spotted Lanternfly form for containers being delivered there. Because this was new to PODS, their system had not yet been programmed to include said form and it was listed among my order documents as a second Gypsy Moth form. I had to deal a few times with other parts of the PODS organization who thought I had not completed the Spotted Lanternfly form. Apparently, and this is highlighted in negative reviews of PODS, internal communication and handoffs are not at all done well. The super stressful moment came when I received an email from PODS stating that my delivery had been cancelled because I supposedly had not completed the form. Finally, I found a customer service person who responded appropriately and thoroughly and the problem was fixed. My POD showed up on time and my belongings were in good shape. The moral of this story is: stay in constant contact with PODS because internally they do not communicate with each other so you may think everything is connected and running smoothly when it might in fact be broken.
Very convenient, but I lost the keys to the lock for the pods and when I tried to call the moving company, I was on hold so long that I ended up going to a hardware store to get a bolt cutter. Would have preferred to get a hold of someone to discuss the circumstances but all in all a great move, everything survive the trip.
PODS kept my stuff safely. However, when it was time to move to my new home they refused to move my stuff to Yuma, Arizona. "We don't serve that area," they said. Turns out they only serve major cities. The closest they could get my POD was Phoenix (200 miles away) for $4000. I ended up towing a trailer from Yuma and hauling it myself.
customer service was horrible. Our Pod was delivered in a spot on our driveway causing the driver to be unable to take it away. We had to go to closing and explain why our PODS were still in the driveway. I would NOT recommend PODS as no one helped us with their customer service team they have in place.