Mayflower Logo
star star_border star_border star_border star_border
LAST UPDATED: August 6th, 2020

Conrad M. Gentry and Don F. Kenworthy founded Mayflower Transit in Indianapolis in 1927. With over 90 years experience, Mayflower is a full-service, national moving company with a full line of customizable moving services. After more than two decades serving American families, Mayflower expanded to include corporate employee relocations and in 1961, Mayflower began supporting America’s government and military moves throughout the world.

Mayflower joined UniGroup, Inc. in 1995, forming the nation’s largest moving and storage services provider. United Van Lines is also a member of UniGroup, Inc. 

Further embracing change and expanding its reach, UniGroup Shareholders voted in 2018 to become a cooperative (co-op) to better serve its agents and customers by providing centralized support functions, products and services, purchasing power technology, and information networks.

Mayflower is a full-service moving company and offers the following services to its customers:

  • Long distance moves
  • Small moves
  • Local moves
  • Corporate moves
  • Military moves
  • International moves
  • Car transportation services
  • Full-service packages
  • Packing and unpacking services
  • Storage services

Mayflower makes it easy for customers to customize their move and receive quotes for full-service move packages. The company even offers unique services like debris removal. No matter the size or distance of your next move, you will find full-service moving packages that save you valuable time and money. 

Services include the following: 

  • A personal move coordinator
  • Loading, transport, and unloading of household belongings
  • Full-value protection (unless waived)
  • Disassembly and reassembly of standard bed frames
  • Standard transport of appliances (service/disconnect/connect not included)
  • Standard furniture placement
  • Qualified drivers and equipment

Top Ranked Companies

thumb_up

The Good

  • SnapMoves℠ for Smaller Dwellings
  • Helpful Resources and Blog
  • Solutions for College Students
  • Variety of Services
  • Full-Value Protection Option Included in Every Initial Quote
  • Faster Move Quotes
  • Cancellation Policy
  • Track Your Truck

SnapMoves for Smaller Dwellings

Mayflower introduced its new Snapmoves℠ program in January 2020, which offers fast, easy and convenient pick-up and delivery for customers moving to and from smaller homes, apartments, or condos. According to the National Apartment Association (NAA), demand for apartments is at an all-time high to meet the needs of young adults ages 18–34 and retirees who like the convenience of apartment living. Mayflower saw this growth in demand for small moves and over the last couple of years; More than 40 percent of Mayflower booked moves were for households moving less than 5,000 pounds. 

Snapmoves℠ by Mayflower offers an alternative solution for those who are moving less than 5,000 pounds or who are part of the 78 percent of movers who either rent a truck or move unassisted. This service is ideal for customers making an apartment move (one to three bedroom), moving from a one-bedroom house, or moving just a few items. 

Helpful Resources and Blog

Mayflower’s website offers a variety of helpful moving resources and a well-written blog filled with helpful moving information. Its 8-Week Move Planner is incredibly detailed and lays out what a mover should focus on week by week whether it be searching for a new home, transferring important documents, or looking into veterinarians in your new city for your pet. Check out Mayflowers’ handy move checklists to stay organized during a move. There is also an extensive video library.  

Solutions for College Students

In response to rapid move-outs on college campuses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayflower launched a new company, Handled, that manages and solves local relocation challenges. From booking a mover to changing utilities or mailing addresses, Handled offers hassle-free, seamless solutions through its innovative, proprietary technology, backed by the quality, trust, and security of Mayflower. Handled offers a fundamental solution for college students as well. Those displaced from their dorms or apartments can appoint Handled to take on and manage an all-inclusive college move and free storage offering with end-of-summer delivery.

Handled has rolled out this all-inclusive, simple storage solution nationwide, providing packing services, four boxes, packing tape, labels and the option to include three bulky items. Pick-up and drop-off services are included, as are six months of free storage. Alternatively, home delivery is available for customers who prefer residential drop-off. 

Variety of Services

Mayflower offers a large menu of moving service to its customers. This can be highly valuable to a customer looking for a smooth, one-stop move option with services like packing, unpacking, cleaning, debris removal, car transportation, and more. 

Full-Value Protection Option Included in Every Initial Quote

Unless customers waive the option or they choose to declare a higher value, Mayflower offers a standard level of Full Value Protection option in every initial quote, meaning the company repairs or replaces lost/damaged items with some limitations. The standard amount of Full Value Protection is calculated by multiplying the estimated weight of your shipment by $6 per pound. 

Before a customer's shipment is loaded, they can always increase the amount of their valuation as well. When a customer elects for the Full-Value Protection option, they’ll also need to record items that will be included in the shipment that are valued at $100 or more, per pound, (such as artwork, jewelry, high-end furniture, designer clothes, antiques, collectibles, electronics, etc.) on the High Value Inventory Form. 

In addition to the basic Full-Value Protection option, Mayflower has an additional protection option and other programs that customers can select and add to their moving quote. Potential customers should be aware that not all options are available for every move.

Faster Move Quotes

Looking for a quicker and easier quote process? Mayflower, similar to other major industry competitors, offers virtual move quotes. Customers use its Virtual Survey app which allows them to video chat with an estimator and get their move quote faster. 

Cancellation Policy

Mayflower does not charge for a move until 24 hours before the move-out date. This gives customers 48 hours before their move-out date to cancel. Of course a customer would have to pay for any services rendered by the company up to that point (packing, moving supplies delivered, etc.). Customers should be aware that local moves may be conducted by a local Mayflower agency with its own policies, so they should ask to speak to them directly to get answers to policy questions like cancellation policy. 

Track Your Truck

Many major moving companies now allow customers to track their shipment and Mayflower offers this service on its website. Customers can enter their order number and last name to view their shipment’s progress toward its destination. They can also opt-in to receive text messages with updates on the truck’s progress.

thumb_down

The Bad

  • Mixed Customer Reviews
  • Pricing Information Not Immediately Available
  • Regional Agency Quality Inconsistency
  • Payment Hold Placed on Credit Card Before Delivery

Mixed Customer Reviews

Customer reviews of Mayflower’s moving services were mixed and seem to depend on which region, and therefore which Mayflower coop partner, conducted the move. There were many reviews that complained of items damaged, or moves that weren’t completed at a high standard. Potential customers should be sure to ask questions about what will or won’t be included, who will conduct their move, and what protection coverage they are purchasing.

Pricing Information Not Immediately Available

While it is hit or miss to find pricing information on moving service company websites it is still frustrating to find very limited pricing details for Mayflower moves. The only pricing information offered is on its three full service moving packages which provide add-on options such as home theater set up and move-out cleaning service and run from $195-$595. 

Regional Agency Quality Inconsistency

Mayflower is a carrier and not a broker so the move will be conducted by Mayflower equipment and employees. That being said there are reports of inconsistency in the quality of moving services between its regional local agencies. Some customers have reported that Mayflower has hired a third party to help with part of the moving process. A paying customer is typically not thrilled with this when they are paying Mayflower to do the job. In some of these circumstances, furniture, personal belongings, fragile items, and other household items have been damaged during the moving process but the company has refused to accept responsibility. 

Make sure that a Mayflower team will be doing the work for your relocation in order to avoid this issue. Potential customers should also be aware that Mayflower is a co-op and that their move will be completed by a local partner company. This is made clear on Mayflower’s local moves website. Different Mayflower local agents may have different policies, so customers should speak with the local move provider directly. 

Balance Payment Limitations

Mayflower agents don’t charge a deposit for moving; however, if you plan to pay with a credit card they will place a hold on your credit card for the full estimated move amount 24 hours before loading. Customers should be aware of this charge, so they aren’t surprised to see their move charged before delivery. If you choose to pay with cash or a certified check, then you will hand that to the driver before they start unloading upon delivery.

gavel

The Bottom Line

If you are needing any size move and heading somewhere local, long-distance, or even internationally, this full-service moving and storage company is a great option for you to check out. Mayflower experiences vary by location, so it’s a good idea to read reviews for the local agents in your area. Still, Mayflower might be a great fit for those looking for a moving company that offers all the bells and whistles. 

We recommend that you take the time to get a moving quote using Mayflower’s virtual move quote process to check pricing and services. Customers should ask to speak to the local Mayflower agency that will be conducting their move directly to clarify any policy differences or questions that may be unique to that local agency. 

View Best Moving Services Companies

Was this content helpful?
thumb_up Yes thumb_down No

Star Rating

info
star star_border star_border star_border star_border

1 Reviews

Review Breakdown

5 grade

0%

4 grade

0%

3 grade

0%

2 grade

0%

1 grade

100%

Sentiment Criteria

Value

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

Quality

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

Service

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

Trustworthiness

star star_border star_border star_border star_border
cancel

Filter by:

arrow_drop_down

Sort by:

arrow_drop_down
info
star star_border star_border star_border star_border

anon

This company sends you an initial contact who comes into your home to look into your closet as well as underneath your beds. And not just your laundry line! You see, he wants to get a head count of your goodies to see if it is worth for his company's time to charge you for special sized boxes. For boxes which you have already prepack, he becomes indignant and demands that you open them up so that his men can do the repacking. He agrees to a certain date at the start and later gives you a surprise in changing it at the last minute while holding it as your responsibility for reading the fine prints by yourself! The payment you send his company is returned undeliverable and then you receive another email from the company telling you off that you have underpaid them. The five men packers come early to allow them sufficient time to pack as many layers of paper into large boxes while splitting your items into two separate boxes. Once they are done tearing your house apart, you get a sweet gas lighting reminder from the Moving Coordinator informing you that she is the only one person who can help you! And that you are required to contact her via text for her next instruction! Once that happens, you can be sure that you will no longer hear from them at all. Should you dare to contact the main headquarters to complaint, you will immediately get a response from her with a new date for delivery! Your large furniture will be delivered in a total wreck and not just your smaller chairs, porcelain figurines used conveniently to convey a message!

4 years ago