Cheap option for moving my stuff

[EconDiva]

I'm moving from Chicago to Atlanta in a month. 

I'm getting rid of all of my furniture and I hope to be down to only a small amount of boxes-enough to put into an SUV (I don't own a vehicle).

An SUV for like one day is $418.51 on Enterprise due to the 'drop fee'--that fee they charge for picking up in one city and dropping off in another.  I knew that fee was going to be high but that's ridiculous.  It makes having the vehicle for 2 days not an option; which is what I prefer to actually do (drive maybe to Nashville and stay the night, then get up the next morning and finish driving to Atlanta). 

What are my cheapest alternatives to moving my stuff?

[Dave1442397]

You could see how much Greyhound charges - http://www.shipgreyhound.com/e/pages/Home.aspx

[boarder42]

you could just ship your boxes UPS or FedEx or USPS. 

[EconDiva]

You could see how much Greyhound charges - http://www.shipgreyhound.com/e/pages/Home.aspx

Why did I not know that Greyhound ships?

[EconDiva]

you could just ship your boxes UPS or FedEx or USPS.

I'm thinking 2 large boxes, 6-8 medium ones, and I don't know...10 small ones? (Trying to remember the sizing of those Home Depot moving boxes).  I am selling all of my furniture, yes, however all of my clothes/coats/shoes/dishes/linens/everything else I own is coming with so I think that will cost close to if not more than the $417 SUV, no?

I shipped a box of dishes from Atlanta to Chicago myself once two years ago FedEx and it was like $60 for that one (large) box alone.

[mozar]

The only way to not pay to move stuff is to not have stuff. Do you really need all the stuff you want to take with you?

[boarder42]

you could just ship your boxes UPS or FedEx or USPS.

I'm thinking 2 large boxes, 6-8 medium ones, and I don't know...10 small ones? (Trying to remember the sizing of those Home Depot moving boxes).  I am selling all of my furniture, yes, however all of my clothes/coats/shoes/dishes/linens/everything else I own is coming with so I think that will cost close to if not more than the $417 SUV, no?

I shipped a box of dishes from Atlanta to Chicago myself once two years ago FedEx and it was like $60 for that one (large) box alone.

your company likely has better rates.  but you'd have to look into it.

[yachi]

Well, it's like $1,000 to $1,500 for a Uhaul or Uhaul container, so your rented SUV looks like a good price in comparison.  You still have to get yourself there too.

[Goldielocks]

Can you find a friend and offer to pay for their gas + accomodation (shared with you on the way down).

Turn it into a vacation -- take 2 night to get to atlanta.  Share your new home for a night, see a few sights, then pay for 1 night for them on their return?

Incremental costs would be about $200 for 2 nights accommodation, plus your food and entertainment, and you could get a mini vacation out of it. 

The other way is to look into less than load transportation costs.  If you can wait a few weeks for delivery, they fit your load (e.g., looks like 1 pallet?) onto a truck and deliver it to an industrial warehouse in Atlanta for you to pickup, or they deliver for a little bit more.   I moved a piano this way for about $300, for a similar distance.


Also look at the container / storage rental places, they often will move it for you.  e.g, pods.com; abf moving -- although some of these have containers that are too large.   Maybe just call them and state that you would like to ship 1 pallet of household goods?

ETA - found it!  here is a link to people posting for moving quotes... (you would need to find a pallet for most of these, and load and tie / tape your boxes together, on it.)

Note, this quote is for $550 to $600  in year 2005.

http://www.uship.com/shipment/1-pallet-of-bowling-balls/448843416/

[MayDay]

One pallet of lightweight frieght might only be 200$, if it's getting picked up from a dock and dropped off from a dock.

But you still have to get yourself there.

The SUV sounds like a good deal to me.

[aj_yooper]

I encountered the same issue in moving stuff.  I found Hertz was way better.  Ask for quotes and see what happens.

[BlueHouse]

I encountered the same issue in moving stuff.  I found Hertz was way better.  Ask for quotes and see what happens.

Costco's rental car site is amazing.  I just had someone walk me through all the features.  they price-compare and allow you to pick the lowest option.  then they watch it for you in case something else comes up cheaper. 

ETA:  MiniVans are usually cheaper because they are uncool and provide more room

[MicroRN]

I am a huge fan of Uship.  It's kind of like Ebay for shipping, but you aren't required to take any of the bids.  You post your ad, and people bid on what they can ship it for.  I've used it to ship a horse, furniture multiple times, a 30' sailboat, and 3 cars coast to coast, all for well under typical prices and with absolutely no issues.  Shippers will use it to fill out a load for where they are already traveling, and you can often get a good deal.  I'm not sure you could do better than the vehicle rental, but it's worth a shot.  The more flexible you are on dates, the better pricing you can get.

[EconDiva]

You know what?  I have about 130,000 UR points and I thought, "Hey!  I can just use those!"...but I just checked and apparently I can use the points (at least not through the UR portal) to do a trip where the return location is different from the pickup location.

That's ok though..those points are probably best spent on a trip somewhere anyways.

[EconDiva]

The only way to not pay to move stuff is to not have stuff. Do you really need all the stuff you want to take with you?

Well I'm sure I won't 'need' ALL of it...I will sell as much stuff as I can.  But I will bringing enough stuff to fit into an SUV since as I mentioned we're talking everything else outside of furniture basically.

[EconDiva]

you could just ship your boxes UPS or FedEx or USPS.

I'm thinking 2 large boxes, 6-8 medium ones, and I don't know...10 small ones? (Trying to remember the sizing of those Home Depot moving boxes).  I am selling all of my furniture, yes, however all of my clothes/coats/shoes/dishes/linens/everything else I own is coming with so I think that will cost close to if not more than the $417 SUV, no?

I shipped a box of dishes from Atlanta to Chicago myself once two years ago FedEx and it was like $60 for that one (large) box alone.

your company likely has better rates.  but you'd have to look into it.

Good point....thanks.

[EconDiva]

One pallet of lightweight frieght might only be 200$, if it's getting picked up from a dock and dropped off from a dock.

But you still have to get yourself there.

The SUV sounds like a good deal to me.

I'm looking around and the $400 SUV seems reasonable now actually.  I mean, reasonable compared to other options.

Not reasonable according to what "I'd" consider reasonable....