Mayflower® Transit Review

Mayflower^® Transit Review

Author: Francesca Di Meglio

Updated: Tuesday, October 3rd 2017

Mayflower Transit is among Full Service moving companies, which means it does everything from packing and unpacking your stuff to transporting it to and from your destinations. You serve as a manager of the process without having to do any of the back-breaking work.

Does Mayflower Operate During COVID?

This company views itself as an essential service, so it is operating during the coronavirus crisis with a new set of safety precautions derived by government and public health agency guidelines. Among the measures being taken are using a virtual survey tool rather than conducting in-home estimates, disinfecting moving equipment and your stuff, wearing gloves and masks, and making sure those involved are free of COVID-19 symptoms. This is not a guarantee they would have a negative test, but it reduces risk to some extent.

Let's learn more about the pros and cons of moving with Mayflower Transit and whether it is a good fit for your move.

What Does Mayflower Offer?

Types of Moves

• Local
• Long-Distance
• International
• Military
• Corporate
• Small Moves

Quotes will vary and depend on the size of your home and the distance to your next residence. But your full-package quote will include:

• Your personal move coordinator
• Full Value Protection (unless waived)
• Standard transport of appliances (service/disconnect/connect not included)
• Qualified drivers and equipment
• Load, transport, and unload of household belongings
• Disassembly and reassembly of bed frames
• Standard furniture placement

Add-ons that will increase your quote and ultimate payment include:

• Storage
• Debris Removal

You can bring down the cost of the full-service move by customizing your packing and unpacking options. Some people hire Mayflower for partial packing or unpacking instead of having the company staff do it all.

For the add-ons and protection of your stuff Mayflower has three basic full-service packages, known as:

• Essentials ($195)
• Plus 1 ($395), and
• Plus 2 ($595)

Their "Plus 1" and "Plus 2" offer any one or two of the following:

Services Offered

• Customized full-service options
• Packing and unpacking
• In-transit and permanent storage
• Debris removal
• PC and network disassembly and setup
• Home theater stand mount setup
• Home theater wall mount disassembly
• Move-out cleaning service
• Specialty items moving
• Electronics installation
• Car shipping
• Crating

Now, please recognize that you're not going to be paying a mere $195 for your move if you choose the Essentials package. This price is on top of the base, which includes all the basic services of the full-package move, and is based on the size and distance of your move.

Now, please recognize that you're not going to be paying a mere $195 for your move if you choose the Essentials package. This price is on top of the base...

Essentials is the most affordable and serves as the base package. It includes additional valuation protection, gold standard protection, claim assistance, and identity theft protection. The Plus 1 and Plus 2 packages offer all those services and one convenience service, such as PC network setup, or two convenience services, such as PC network setup and destination debris pickup respectively.

How much does Mayflower Transit cost?

Full-service moves are notoriously break-the-bank expensive, and Mayflower Transit is no exception. The average long-distance move costs $5,000, according to ConsumerAffairs.com. All packages include claim assistance, loading and unloading, full-value protection, and an assigned moving coordinator. You can also pay more to get other services added (more below).

How Do I Get a Mayflower Quote?

To get a quote, you must get a visual estimate, which means someone representing Mayflower or one of its local affiliates will walk through your home (either in real life or virtually) to see and measure what will be moved. While this provides a more accurate price, it makes the process inconvenient when you want to quickly compare options.

Here's what is taken into consideration when Mayflower gives you a price:

• Date of your move - The day of the week and time of year can change the price.
• Seasonality - Summer tends to be more expensive because that is when many people decide to move. Winter is cheaper.
• Distance of your move - How far will the driver have to travel to get your stuff from point A to point B?
• Size of your home - This is a good indication of how much stuff you'll have to have transported.
• Weight/volume of your belongings - The size and heft of your stuff plays a big role in determining the price of a full-service move.

Mayflower pricing includes base services:

• Loading/unloading
• Transportation
• Personal move coordinator
• Basic Full Value Protection option (unless waived)

On top of the base price, which is based on, among other things, the weight of your stuff and distance to your moving destination, these are package prices:

• Essential $195 ($5,000 valuation protection)
• Plus 1 $395 ($25,000 valuation protection, increased destination waiting time, one convenience service)
• Plus 2 $595 ($25,000 valuation protection, increased destination waiting time, two convenience services)

How a Mayflower Transit Move Works

You start by signing up for a free quote online. To get a real dollar amount, you have to answer a couple questions, including giving your contact information and key details of your move (e.g., ZIP Codes and date of move).

Then, a local representative gets in touch with you over the phone. UPDATE: Before the pandemic, clients would schedule an in-home estimate, but now you'll go through the virtual version, which a company representative described to me as a "visual survey of your items to generate a price quote."

..(T)hey will go above and beyond if you want to pay extra. You can get debris removal or storage...you can even have Mayflower set up your internet at your new place.

After you show the company what you have, a Mayflower representative will determine the weight of your stuff and consider other things like the distance of your move to provide you with an estimate. If you agree to hire Mayflower, you will then work with a moving coordinator to plan your move. At that point, you can consider what services you need and whether you'd like add-on services, such as storage.

How My Estimate Went

Before the pandemic (and maybe in the future), a representative walked through your home to survey the items that you wanted to move. For example, I had some things I planned on selling at a yard sale, a few things that belonged to family members, and stuff I was going to toss (hello baby toys for my 8-year-old son). Today, you'll be using your smartphone to conduct the home survey that will result in the estimate of the weight of your personal belongings.

The estimate includes:

• Your personal move coordinator
• Load, transport, and unload 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

Once the rep had a clear picture of what Mayflower would have to move, he used a formula to determine the weight of my goods. Then, he considered services, add-ons, and the distance (I was moving a 3-bedroom home from Fort Lee, New Jersey to Kissimmee, Florida) to determine an estimate of about $10,000. The average cost of a move is $5,000 and long-distance moves of bigger homes obviously can cost even more.

The one thing to keep in mind is that you cannot get a ballpark figure to compare prices with other companies. But even in the chat, the representative was adamant that estimates are only given after getting a visual of the stuff you'll be moving.

While you can't get an idea of the price beforehand, you do have the benefit of speaking with someone and asking questions in real time.. (Do you really need that heavy china cabinet in the new place now that the rep informed you it will be super heavy?)

How Mayflower Transit Insurance Works

Here are the options Mayflower offers:

• Minimum Liability Valuation
• Full Value Protection - Increased Declaration
• Claim Assist
• Pairs & Sets Waiver
• Mechanical Malfunction Waiver
• Acts of God Waiver
• Additional Delay Payment
• Increased Destination Wait Time
• Identity Theft Protection

Every quote includes the basic Full Value Protection option. Full Value Protection is the promise to compensate you if something happens to your belongings as Mayflower is moving for you. The company wants you to know that this is very different from insurance. You should talk directly with your homeowner's or rental insurance provider about options with them regardless of what kind of move you end up making.

Our Full Value Protection option is not insurance, like the insurance coverages that may be provided by your homeowners policy, because you don't have to prove our negligence caused the loss or damage. Instead, subject to certain limits, we will be responsible for your claims; our Full Value Protection option reflects the monetary value of that responsibility.

Now, to take full advantage of this option, you must complete the high value inventory form, which is a reflection of how much your high-end items are worth. The standard amount of full value protection is calculated by multiplying the estimated weight of your shipment by $6. You can dispute that and change the amount before the actual move. With the inventory form, you are protecting yourself from the loss or damage of expensive items that don't weigh much. For instance, a piece of your jewelry could be worth $1,000, but if it's not declared beforehand, it would result in a refund of a few dollars because of its miniscule weight. Yikes!

You can always opt in for more protection, but not all the options will apply to your move, so check with your coordinator for details.

Pros of Moving with Mayflower Transit

Mayflower Transit is an industry veteran.

This company is an elder of the moving industry. As a result, it has garnered years of experience transporting people's stuff - all sorts of stuff - from state to state and even country to country. They also have a massive infrastructure that local moving companies could never compete with. Mayflower's history gives customers confidence. After all, in an industry rife with fly-by-night organizations, Mayflower is a standout for its nearly century long endurance.

You can take advantage of add-ons.

As is the case with any full-service moving company, Mayflower will take care of every detail of your move while you serve as a supervisor. But they will go above and beyond if you want to pay extra. You can get debris removal or storage, for instance. You can even have Mayflower set up your internet at the new place. You truly won't have to lift a finger if you're willing to pay.

No matter where you live, you're likely to find Mayflower near you.

Customers can receive service from one of more than 500 locations. As a result, you can get help from Mayflower from almost anywhere. In addition, Mayflower even conducts international moves, so its reach is clearly far and wide.

Mayflower now offers "Snapmoves"

In the last few years, Mayflower has built in more flexibility for its customers. The company offers Snapmoves, an option for when you might need Mayflower to move a few items or make a small move. You can mix and match services and only pay for what you need. Even if you're making a big move, you can work with the company to ensure your move entails the services you need and nothing else. This customization is a pro because it helps you get exactly what you need and it can influence the cost of your move.

Cons of Moving with Mayflower Transit

You will (probably) bust your budget.

Full-service moves are notoriously expensive and Mayflower Transit is no different. The cost may be worth it to you if you cannot physically participate in your move or if you just don't want to do the work and can afford it. More power to you if that's the case. Most people, however, will find it hard to justify the costs when there are other options. That was my experience with Mayflower.

Getting an estimate is an inconvenient process.

To get an estimate, you must have some sort of walk through either with a live representative or virtually. It's rather inconvenient because most people would much rather get an idea of the price before calling for an estimate. After all, you can easily rule out other options as you determine they are way out of your price range. Full-service moves of all stripes are notoriously the most expensive moving option, and Mayflower is not an exception. But customization allows you some control over the final price, and it all depends on the weight of your stuff and the distance you're moving. So, the only way to know for sure is to go through the entire estimate process. Ugh!

Reviews of regional agents vary from place to place.

Truly, you cannot make generalizations about Mayflower agents. The good news is that Mayflower has such a wide reach that you're likely to find an agent nearby. The bad news is that you could have a different experience depending on where you are. The quality of service and some of the details of your move could change from place to place. This means you'll have to research reviews and learn about the differences among local Mayflower agents.

Should you choose Mayflower over other moving options?

The answer to whether you should use Mayflower really depends on your situation and budget. If you can afford a full-service move, and you don't want to do much more than plan the move, then go for it. If you have a physical disability that prevents you from helping much with your own move and you're willing to spend more, then go for it. On the other hand, if you're willing and able to put in more of the work and you want to save money, then I would look elsewhere with help for my move.

Like its full-service moving counterparts, Mayflower Transit doesn't come cheap. It's hard to justify the cost when you can hack a full-service move at a fraction of the price, or get a long distance quote for cheaper elsewhere. And if you're trying to make a decision quickly, the commitment required just to get a quote can be a big turn-off.

Then again, if you have the money for the full shebang, Mayflower is an enduring moving company with the experience and reputation worth your consideration.One caveat to that is you have to do your homework about the local Mayflower agents with whom you will be working because experiences vary from place to place. The effort up front might seem gargantuan, but in the end ,you'll save your back and have far less to do in the final stages of your move.