Looks can be deceiving.

Sometimes what seems like a simple statement is not always so simple.  “We’ll beat any container price,” a Google Ad touted by our competitor 1-800-Pack-Rat®, seems pretty straightforward.

Packrat Ad

Like I said, looks can be deceiving.

I ran a quote on the 1-800-Pack-Rat® site for a 16’ storage container to be delivered to Suffern, NY with storage at the customer location– using the online code Book25. I received a total price of $695.97 (plus tax).

Packrat Quote

I ran a quote at iCan Storage, same 16’ container, same location (no discount code – we don’t do that). I received a quote for $319 (plus tax).

iCan Quote

The 1-800-Pack-Rat® ad suggested I call to have them “Beat any Container Price”.  And that’s where it got even more interesting.

After waiting on hold for 5 minutes, I was put in contact with a Moving and Storage Specialist.  I gave the representative my online quote number (it was emailed to me and on the screen as well).  I then shared the competing quote and asked for a match.  I emailed the representative the competing quote and then waited some time while she consulted with a “pricing specialist.”

When the representative came back on the phone, I was told that 1-800-Pack-Rat® would not beat the quote. I asked why – since “we’ll beat any container price” certainly implies that they would.  I read aloud the price guarantee on the 1-800-Pack-Rat® website:

Best Price Guarantee

I was given the following reasons:

  1. Depends on the other container company
  2. Depends on the distance 1-800-Pack-Rat® needs to travel to deliver the container
  3. iCan is “not a company we compare with” (that’s for sure!)

and believe it or not,

  1. Depends on the time of the year
  2. Depends on the price that was quoted

 

I was offered an additional $25 discount.  1-800-Pack-Rat’s® price guarantee was still more than double iCan’s price.

Let me summarize: at iCan Storage, our pricing is fair and consistent (we have not changed our prices since Day 1 – let alone change them by season), our containers are state of the art with doors on both ends, and our customer service is second to none.

Now that’s a straightforward statement – no excuses, no loopholes.