Originally published on April 29, 2019.
Updated December 2021
Updated July 2023
When you’re starting a new, family-owned and operated business, you often look to the bigger businesses to see how they’ve done it and where you can improve. It’s then important to continue to do your job to make sure you still stand out. When you’re a smaller business, you always have to try and do it better!
iCan Storage Containers and PODS® Comparison
You might automatically think of PODS® for portable storage and frankly, we thank them for being the first on the ground and introducing the concept to the marketplace. However, there’s no escaping the fact that big businesses aren’t always the best.
In our ongoing commitment to being the best in the areas we serve in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, we did a quick comparison of the local PODS® operation here in Rockland County on the following three criteria:
- Price
- Service
- Container Construction/Quality
iCan Storage Containers and Storage PODS® Cost comparison
Let’s start with the one most people use as a first comparative criteria: price. Below is a quote from PODS® for delivery/pickup and one-month rental of a 16’ container to Suffern, New York. The total comes out to $497.
And here’s something worth noting – they cleverly imply a price of $388 instead of $497 by stating, “You can reserve now and pay later.” At first, it may seem like a great deal, but upon closer inspection, it becomes apparent that they conveniently omitted the pickup fee from the highlighted total.
In comparison, iCan’s price is $426. Our instant quote clearly states the accurate total so you know your all-in cost. PODS® pricing is 16.5% more expensive. We continue to bring our customers fair pricing and value.
Comparing the Service of iCan Storage Containers and Storage PODS®
Now let’s talk about criteria number 2; service. This can be a fairly subjective subject, so we decided to let the customers do the speaking here. We thought it was fairest to choose the latest 3 reviews on Google (at the time of writing) for PODS® and iCan.
Reviews for PODS® (at the original time of writing):
We can’t help but be proud of our reviews and are thankful to our customers for leaving them. Here are the latest three Google reviews of iCan Storage:
When it comes to service, iCan is coming out on top for customer satisfaction.
How do iCan Storage Containers and PODS® Storage Containers Compare?
The final comparison is the container itself. The truth is, we already know the winner here, and are really happy with our offering, but let’s dive into the details. PODS® containers have steel beams, aluminium skin and vinyl semi-transparent roofs. They are constructed with a roll door on one side.
PODS®
- Steel beams, aluminium skin, vinyl, semi transparent roofs (not as strong or durable as the all steel structure of iCan)
- Roller door (Takes up space in the container, less efficient for packing and removing items)
iCan Storage containers are all steel. The steel frames, walls and doors of our units offer durable protection that wooden and plastic storage containers just can’t match. Its metal structure, unlike wood, prevents the absorption of moisture, decreasing the likelihood of mold and mildew.
Our containers are built with swinging doors instead of roll doors. Swinging doors are harder to break into than the traditional roll-up doors used by PODS®. Additionally, our doors won’t jam if there is ever a case where the contents shift. And swinging doors offer 30 more cubic feet of packing space than the equivalent 16’ PODS® container, because you don’t need to dedicate overhead space to the roll drive.
Finally, iCan Storage’s containers have doors on both ends of the containers, making loading and unloading much easier.
iCan
- Steel frames, walls and doors (to ensure durable protection all round)
- Swinging doors at both ends (to assist packing and removing, and avoiding door jams)
- More space (no space needed for the roller door drive)
Our unique delivery systems means we have been called into help on many jobs where PODS® could not do the delivery.
We offer so much more than storage containers similar to PODS®. Our storage containers are dropped at your home and you are free to fill it up at your own pace. Then, simply contact us and we’ll pick it up and transport it to your next destination.
If you’re looking for some competitors to PODS®, consider using iCan today! If you are in the areas of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut and are in need of moving and storage containers, just call 888-543-ICAN (4226) or request on online quote and we’ll be right over!
