Get Info on Your Military Moving Company Before Your Next PCS
by Allyson Miller - August 5th, 2022
PCS season is always crazy, and it feels like the last thing we need is one more task on the to-do list, right? As my military spouse friends rush about, trying to find a new home for every kitchen item and picture frame, I gently remind them to take a moment to review their movers on PCSgrades. Unfortunately, it’s not always a priority, but as the PCS horror stories pile up, it should be. Because military family reviews can make a difference.
Seeking info on military moving companies
Of our eight active-duty moves, this PCS to Southern California is only the second painless military move we’ve experienced. Most of my friends claim that it’s because we were ahead of the summer PCS cycle. Relocating in early May meant working with the top tier moving companies. However, from the beginning, I treated this military move just like the last five: PCSes where movers left trash in our house, made racist remarks in front of our son, stole a furniture dolly, left multiple items unwrapped, and took four days to complete a two-day job.
Our movers for this military PCS did not appreciate my attitude. In their eyes, it was undeserved. Additionally, they felt they were being penalized for someone else’s unprofessionalism. But how could I know what to expect from them? I had searched military websites for some clue as to who would be packing our house and moving it from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast. But there were no reviews. There were no indications of whether I should be relieved or worried.
Why moving company reviews make a difference
So, after all the boxes arrived, and everything unpacked and accounted for, with only one cracked Mason jar and a busted Dollar Store basket to show for it, I did it. I sat down and wrote a review of everyone who had been involved with our PCS.
I wrote how quickly and carefully the packers worked. Additionally, I told how the driver patiently noted every scratch and dent already on our furniture. Included was the frustration the movers felt when I followed them around all morning, assuming they were going to steal or miss something. They weren’t grumbling about how hot it was. There were no complaints about how heavy our stuff was. They simply wanted me to trust them to do their jobs.
Old habits die hard, my friends. Perhaps my suspicion and doubt are hard-earned, justified even. But why is that fair to this set of packers and movers who had proven themselves to be trustworthy and disciplined professionals? I believe the only way the moving experience will improve is by using our voices to rate real estate agents, moving companies, and landlords.
The reviews we write not only benefit military families looking for some kind of reassurance during a tumultuous time, but can also give credit where credit is due. As my team of all-women packers from Armstrong Moving said, “We pack a lot of homes at Carlisle Barracks. Some women cry when they see us at their door. They’ve heard about us through the military word of mouth and they are so happy.” And that is just one example of the grapevine that crisscrosses military installations all over the world. We need to turn those military word of mouth testaments--bad and good--into researchable reviews.
Share the good, the bad, and the ugly of a military move
If Allyson’s moving company had been reviewed on PCSgrades.com she might have been able to relax a bit. That is the beauty of paying it forward and sharing the good, the bad, and even the ugly of a military move.
Leave your Moving Company Review here!
Leave your reviews for your fellow military and veteran families where they can find it when they need it most. PCSgrades.com is easy, accessible, exclusive to the military and veteran community, and best of all, it’s FREE. It’s the military word of mouth that has existed for decades, updated for the digital, fast-paced, information-obsessed age we live in.
Allyson Miller is an Army spouse, mother of one and a blogger for The NeighborGood, a blog that focuses on finding and sharing the experiences that make each duty station unique. The Miller Family is currently stationed in Los Angeles, where they have developed a new appreciation for Cali-Mex cooking and how to navigate the 110 freeway.
