Zippy Shell Reviews 283

Booked through 1800 Pack Rat, who had slightly better reviews than some other services. The gentleman who sold to me was lovely, promised my container would be picked up in Denver on 5/18 and arrive in Chicago on 5/29. It went smooth in Denver, nice guys who had to pack it in terrible weather. 10 days later, I still haven't gotten a timing update, so I call and was informed that it is late and hasn't left Denver. I was promised that it would arrive this Friday morning, so I had the loading dock reserved and was excited to sleep on something besides an air mattress. They told me to call the service dispatch team for compensation to get a hotel. After almost an hour on hold, a very very rude person told me it still won't be "late" even if it arrives on Tuesday - 15 full days after it was packed. They were rude, unhelpful, provided no compensation, not even an apology. They contradicted everything I'd been told by the last 3 people I spoke with. Truly making a bad experience worse with awful customer service.

I would like to express my gratitude and respect for your service. I was told that a $420 of additional fuel surcharge has been imposed on my order. I felt it was totally unfair and unexpected. I protested with the customer service agent but knew that it is probably a corporate policy and cannot be avoided. To my surprise and pleasure, I spoke to a supervisor (Jashua) who listened to me, understood my point of view and was able to provide a relief. He took care of the surcharge. While I was a totally unhappy customer, I am now a fully satisfied and very happy customer. I appreciate PackRat/Zippy to hire such professional and courteous folks who care about business future and customer relationship. Best Regards

I used Zippy to move across the country.
Initially they sounded great, matched costs.
However then they hit you with hidden fees that bring your total up by 1k. They show up late and pick up late. I had to spend $300 on an airbnb because they were so late and then they wanted to charge me for same day delivery after already being late. They said the 8-10 days didn’t include weekends yet their driver picked up 2 days late and on a Saturday.
Thought I was done with Zippy shell and their nightmare just to receive a random charge tonight on a Saturday at 10 pm when I can’t call to resolve it over a month later for “storage”. For a box that was already unpacked, picked up, and done with.
That was my grocery money, I’m a single mom. Probably won’t be able to buy groceries until Wednesday with how long a refund will take by the time it’s Monday and someone deals with this.
Extremely displeased with this company and should be refunded for every dime I spent on them.

As someone who has moved across the country several times, this was, by far, the worst moving company/experience that I’ve ever had. If you value your belongings, do yourself a favor and use a different company. This wasn't just a "bad move"; it was a masterclass in deception and incompetence. They are experts at selling you a dream of professional service, only to deliver a total cross-country catastrophe the moment they have your signature.

The "service" failed at every single stage.

Despite multiple confirmation calls, they still managed to screw up the pickup date.

After a month of storage, getting my items delivered was like pulling teeth. They blocked every attempt at a resolution—even when I offered to hire my own movers to retrieve my things. I was told their facility was "closed" for "unknown reasons," which felt like a blatant excuse to keep my property held hostage.

When my delivery finally arrived, it looked like my life had been put through a trash compactor. Boxes were crushed and filthy. Even worse, high-value items—including a brand-new air fryer—were stolen. Items that I had meticulously packed were returned to me crumpled and covered in grime.

When I reached out to report the damage and the missing items, customer service essentially told me "too bad." They took absolutely no responsibility for the theft or the destruction of my property.

I have moved across the country several times, and I have never encountered a business this predatory or disorganized. They are unprofessional, unreliable, and they clearly have no respect for their customers' property.

If you value your belongings and your sanity, stay as far away from this company as possible.

I got emails saying that my order had been cancelled. I had NOT cancelled my order so I called and the person was helpful and confirmed my order was not cancelled. Luckily, she mentioned that someone had put in we needed the shell for 3 days on the front end. When I originally made my order, I had said that I wanted same day pickup. The lady changed it.
When my shell made it to my destination, I was asked for 3 days for the shell to be delivered to my house and they picked none of them. It was a whole week after the shell arrived in my city for it to be delivered. Unacceptable.

The drivers on both ends and the phone people were very friendly.

I just called to get a quote for a 1 br apartment long distance move. The customer service rep gave me pricing and I was trying to tell her that I would call back after I looked some things over because I had other services I was looking to use. She wanted me to walk her through the other services I was looking to use and was trying to rush me into making a sale. I let her know it was pricing. She then proceeds to say “I don’t think you fully understand, those services can quote you one price and it could be more later”. I told her I understood but in needed to take a second and fully solidify my plans, she then rushes me off the phone saying the quote is good for 7 days, and hangs up on me. I get that it’s your job as a sales rep to make a sale but I do not appreciate the condescension and being rushed into making a purchase, especially when I told you I’m just looking to get a quote.

I would strongly urge that you do not use Zippy Shell or Pack Rat for moving and/or storage. Because of how they handle and load furniture and other belongings there will mostly likely be damage during loading, transit and unloading. They do have a claim process, but it is worthless. The process is set up to default towards denying claims unless you have definitive proof they caused the damage. If you do make the unfortunate decision to use this company, then you will want to video the entire process to be able to provide the level of proof they need to pay the claims for the damage they cause.

I hired Zippy Shell (1-800-PACK-RAT) for an interstate move from Florida to San Francisco, which included transportation, storage, and full loading and unloading services. I paid for these services expecting items would be handled safely and delivered in good condition.

One of the items transported was a 65-inch television that was fully functional prior to the move. It was packed in a purpose-built TV moving box with appropriate padding. From the moment the item was packed and placed into their container, all handling, loading, transportation, storage, and unloading were performed by Zippy Shell (1-800-PACK-RAT) and their personnel. I had no involvement in handling the item during transit.

After delivery and storage, when the TV was first removed from the box and powered on, it displayed significant internal screen damage (flickering, lines, and display failure), rendering it unusable.

The damage appears to involve the internal display panel (LCD), which is typically not cost-effective to repair and often results in the television being considered a total loss.

I filed a claim within the required timeframe and provided documentation, including photos and a detailed description. The company denied the claim, stating the damage was due to “improper packing” or “normal shifting,” and claimed there was insufficient evidence. However, they provided no evidence or documentation to support this conclusion and refused to share details of their internal investigation.

The television was properly packed, and the damage is consistent with handling or transport-related impact. The company maintained exclusive control over the container and its contents throughout transit and storage, including all loading and unloading operations.

I attempted to resolve this directly with the company, including disputing their decision, but they upheld the denial without additional justification or transparency.

I am seeking reimbursement for the damaged television.

–

UPDATE: In response to the company’s reply, I want to clarify that I have been actively working with their claims and support teams to resolve this.

I provided all requested documentation, including receipts for the packing materials used, but the company has continued to deny responsibility without providing any evidence to support their conclusions. Their responses have remained consistent regardless of the information submitted.

At this point, I have made a formal request for resolution and have not received a satisfactory outcome. As a result, I will be proceeding with a small claims filing.

I would strongly encourage others to carefully consider how claims are handled before using this service.

If I could give zero stars, I would. At first, business with them wasn't so bad, they had the cheapest rates we could find. But don't let this fool you, the hidden fees are in what damage they do to your property and how if you need a second pod for moving, they jack up the price and don't explain it. I paid roughly 1900 for a 16 foot pod, and 1600 for an 8, tell me how that makes sense. We're only getting to the worst part.

The worst part of it? They destroyed my fencing and tore up my landscaping. Dear reader, you may think this could just be a complication of where I live, how my property is situated, or whatnot, it isn't. The first driver we got successfully dropped off the first pod with no issues. The second, however, caused immense damage to my property. The driver that tore up my property refused to talk to us, drove off as soon as they could, and took absolutely no blame for their terrible driving skills.

Okay, fine, that sucks, but what about compensation for what happened? Well, at first Zippy Shell acted like they were going to make good on fixing what they broke. They made us get numerous estimates on fixing the damage, which we did. Upon receiving the estimates, they decided they'd rather squirrel their way out of responsibility rather than pay for their mistakes. They then proceeded to trick us by making us admit there was another vehicle on the property (which apparently could have been the cause of trucker's terrible driving) but I have over seven acres of property and my vehicle was nowhere near where he was operating. Nonetheless, they used this excuse to weasel their way out of paying us for their mistakes.

So, you may wonder? What can you do in a situation like this? The answer is pretty simple. Nothing. If you've made it this far, here's some advice. Video record every interaction you have with ANY moving place. Be sure you don't have a vehicle ANYWHERE on your property, it doesn't matter if it's out of the way. And the best advice of all I can provide, DO NOT EVER PURCHASE ZIPPY SHELL'S SERVICES!

Avoid Zippy Shell / 1-800-PACK-RAT at all costs
After paying for transportation of our storage container through Zippy Shell, part of 1-800-PACK-RAT, we were promised delivery of our container on 1/26. It never arrived.
When we called to find out what happened, we were told the facility “must have missed it,” and they assured us it would be delivered on 2/3 instead.
When the container finally arrived, the driver immediately noted that the lock on the unit was not his and not ours. He said it was already on the container when he picked it up, and that there was a key sitting in the lock. The lock was labeled 1-800-PACK-RAT.
When we opened the container, half of our belongings were missing, including:
* Bed frames
* Six televisions
* Kitchen island
* Purses
* Kids’ mattresses
* Dining chairs
* China cabinet
* A family bed frame passed down for over 30 years
* And most devastating, personal belongings of my deceased son
These are not just “items” — they are irreplaceable.
When we called PACK-RAT for help, we were repeatedly transferred, told we needed receipts for every single item, given no real answers, and eventually hung up on.
We have filed a police report with the sheriff’s office and are now obtaining legal representation.
Do not trust this company with your belongings.

The worst experience!
These are the positive words too!
I booked my containers 4 and 1/2 months before I moved. Contact the sales team every week to make sure no unexpected issues ( I had used POD, in the past…issues at the last minute) and the sales team is truly helpful and unfortunately they have a script that is misleading and totally faults …. They promised 7 to 10 business days for my things (my life) and when they finally found my things (Yes, they lost my containers) I got my items 5 business's days later! Total number of days my things were over 21 days… and no support from any one or any part of the company… and this is part of U-Haul! Don’t use this company unless you’re a person who wants to have unlimited, unneeded stress in your life for 21 days!

This has been the worst customer experience I’ve ever had. I have paid thousands of dollars for moving services — including a shipping container and movers — to relocate my belongings from Denver, Colorado to Eugene, Oregon. The unit was loaded on January 9th in the morning, but the movers arrived unannounced, with no prior communication by phone or email. Literally woke me up knocking on my door. Since then, I have received no status updates, delivery information, or any meaningful communication from the company. When I called for information, I was told my items would arrive on Friday, January 23rd, and that I would receive a call regarding compensation for the delay. That call never came, and my container did not arrive as promised. I had to reach out again on Monday, January 26th, only to be told that my delivery might arrive on Tuesday, January 27th. As of now, I still haven’t received my belongings, any updates, or communication from management to help resolve this issue. This entire experience has been frustrating, disappointing, and completely unprofessional. I feel taken advantage of by a company that seems to show no concern or accountability toward its customers. I do not recommend Zippy Shell to anyone looking for a trustworthy moving company — they have caused immense stress and inconvenience without taking any responsibility.

Do not use Zippy. Unexpected charges. Several delays in moving. Poor customer service. I’ve done four cross country moves and zippy was by far the worst experience. Pod is also essentially a big metal cage so all of your stuff is exposed to potential pests

When I requested a quote, I clearly explained that I might need access to the container to add items, but wouldn’t know for about three weeks. I shared very personal details about my situation and was assured it wouldn’t be a problem, the container would remain in my origin city until I confirmed I was finished.

When the container arrived, it looked like a practice unit, with multiple dents and holes that raised serious concerns about long-distance transport. Once the door was opened, I found an actual cage structure inside also in poor condition with broken bars pointing every which direction. Due to rain, the interior of the container is wet. And all the floors are filled with dirt and debris. Upon discovering the cage is when I learned that my belongings would be “wrapped” at a facility two hours south of me before being shipped the 1,500 miles, something I was never told upfront. This basically prohibits my access since it will be somewhere in Los Angeles, not local as advised where I can add items by transporting them in my small car.

In short, they misrepresented the process to secure my contract, and I feel I was outright lied to. $549 to get this junk off my property.

Moved from SC to MI and they were timely and efficient. The loaders and unloaders they hired on each end were knowledgeable, fast, and professional. Would definitely recommend. No issues, no damaged items.

Forget that they told me my stuff would be here 3 days ago. Forget that calling them for customer service can take literally hours. Fine, they are a bad company.

But I hired their helpers to load and unload my containers. When they loaded mine, they locked it and handed me the key. I didn't check that the key worked. When they delivered it, it did not work. The movers are 3rd party, and they told me they would sort it out with zippy shell. Later, I got an email telling me I would be charged $640, and they did immediately without talking to me. I called their customer service and they told me that I should have rented a sawzall to cut the lock myself. What kind of moving company expects you to rent power tools to get your stuff? Absurd.

I filed a complaint with BBB. I'll never hire them again, if anyone ever asks me about moving, I'll tell them whatever you do don't hire Zippy Shell

Be warned! Zippy shell reputes to be the lower cost option compared to Pods or U-Haul… but the quote you agree to and sign—that’s cheaper—is NOT what you end up paying. I was charged over $2000 in miscellaneous fees from moving blankets to a gas surcharge. In the end, using another company would probably have been cheaper and I wouldn’t have needed to constantly call customer service about all the hidden fees. They charge you rent for the container from the minute they drop it off for you to fill, so the time in transit, that you already paid for? You also need to pay rent for the container during that time. Truly, how can that be considered a good business practice?
The quote that they give you is never itemized and will usually be the same as pods. Make sure to get quotes from other companies first, or they’ll overcharge you from the very beginning.

Be warned about Zippy Shell! I had a very disappointing experience with Zippy Shell. When I booked, the salesperson quoted me a flat fee of $3,000 and assured me there would be no hidden costs. In reality, I was charged $3,502.62 with extra fees for storage ($278.42) and gas ($224.20) that were never disclosed or agreed to.
On top of that, I was promised delivery within 7–10 days. What I later found out is that this only meant delivery to Zippy Shell’s facility in the destination city, not to my actual new address. My container didn’t arrive at their facility until September 3 after being picked up on August 21, and then they refused to deliver to my new home until September 8.
Customer service was dismissive and repeatedly hid behind “policy” instead of addressing the clear discrepancies. After researching, I found other customers reporting the same issues. I believe this reflects a pattern of deceptive business practices, and I cannot recommend Zippy Shell.

I contracted with Zippy Shell to ship a 15 foot container from my home in Texas to Oregon. I was told it would arrive by 8/21. My pod was dropped off on 8/5 and I had it packed and ready to go on 8/7. per our contract, and it was picked up.

I did not hear anything else from between 8/7 and 8/19 when I called at 5:04 PM PST to confirm that my belongings were in transit and would be delivered on time. I was told then that my pod would arrive and I could have it delivered on 8/22, a day later than agreed. On 8/20 I received two emails indicating my pod would be at my new home on 8/22. On 8/21 I was charged the remaining $2558 of a ~$4500 bill to transport my belongings. I also received a phone call from the local delivery crew stating that the pod would be at my house between 9 and 12 on the morning of 8/22.

I called back to confirm where the pod would be placed and was informed that the warehouse did not have my pod at all and I needed to contact Zippy Shell directly. In my 1 hour + phone call, more than half of which was on hold, I was informed that my pod had not left Texas and would not be arriving
here until 8/28, a week after it was scheduled to arrive. I was told that there could be compensation for any expenses that I would normally not incur had my stuff arrived on time but the Team Leader refused to elaborate on what would be reimbursed. Further, during this conversation I asked why my things had not left Texas, yet, and his
reply was "Why do you need to know that, it doesn't change anything?". He did admit fault on the matter, though.

Zippy Shell has not offered any solutions and only vague compensation; how can I spend money on anything to fill my temporary needs if I don't know that they will pay me back for? They have failed to get me my goods in the contracted time. They have failed to offer an explanation. They have failed to
demonstrate an ability to internally monitor their own business to even be able to offer an
explanation.

⭐☆☆☆☆
I am extremely disappointed with my experience. I was given a confirmed delivery date for my POD, even receiving a confirmation text message that it would be delivered. The delivery never happened, and now I have been told it will be significantly delayed.

Because of this, I am left without my belongings, and my special needs children are without many essential items they need every day. The lack of communication, reliability, and urgency in resolving this issue has caused serious hardship for my family.

I chose this service because I believed it would be dependable, but unfortunately, that has not been the case. I hope they improve their scheduling and communication so other families do not go through what we have.