Yes, this is a U-Pack Moving review. My readers are probably wondering why I am doing a company review about a company that has nothing to do with internet marketing. Well, the truth is, U-Pack engages in internet marketing quite effectively, and I think as internet marketers, we might learn something from their policy of “flex moving.”
You see, while I am immersed in the world of internet marketing, I’ve had cause lately to deal with quite a few “brick and mortar” businesses, and I think it’s been a bit of an education for me from a perspective I don’t usually have.
So I thought I’d bring a bit of that education over to my internet marketing blog.
It started when my wife, Donna, and I decided to move. We put our house up for sale and I instantly became a bit of a fish out of water, dealing with the world outside of the internet.
Who Is U-Pack Moving?
U-Pack moving is simply a moving company. But I have found it to be pretty unique in the world of moving because of it’s flex moving concept.
This very short video should give you a taste of what I’m talking about.
So here’s let’s review 3 of the basic “flex” principles I talked about.
Flexible Price Quote
First U-Pack uses the homepage of its website (upack dot com) to offer a price quote. Nothing unusual about that. What is unusual though is that its price quotes are truly instant. Enter your specs and your quote is there. Most companies call “instant quote” a whole song and a dance about leaving your email and phone number and a rep will get a hold of you to discuss. I don’t call that instant.
But even more, pricing is truly flexible. You choose how big a container you need. You choose if you need a container or an entire trailer. You choose if you want storage or not, moving labor or not, and on and on. You really control the pricing far more than with any other company I could find.
Flexible Sizing
You also have the option to choose a flexible size for your move. You can decide how many containers you want delivered for your move or, you can do something super flexible as I did.
I had a 28 foot trailer delivered to me. My contract price was based on my using 16 feet of the trailer. But here’s the really cool part. If I need 18 or 22 or even all 28 feet once I get going, all I have to do is pay more. I’m not restricted to just the 16 feet I contracted for. If I use only 14 feet, or 12 or 10… I pay less!
Flexible Contract
This was actually the most impressive part of the whole flex concept to me.
My contract specifies that I have 3 days to load the trailer, then a driver will come to pick it up and take it to my destination. But I got totally thrown off course when my closing was delayed once, twice and… well, I’m still waiting for a firm date!
When I called U-Pack to explain my predicament, I expected that, like any other company, they’d say, well, too bad. By contract, we’ll be charging you an additional $50 per day that you hold the trailer beyond the 3 days.
But they didn’t.
They said that even though the contract specifies those additional charges, “don’t worry… take the time you need and don’t worry about those charges.”
Wow… that’s flexible.
Lessons For Internet Marketers
U-Pack Moving does use the internet for marketing. And they use it very well. But that’s not what I want I want to teach you about here.
I want you to think of the flex concept.
We all know that as internet marketers, we don’t sell products, we build relationships.
How can your online business build stronger relationships by introducing flexibility into your business model?
If your return policy is 30 days, do you think it would be smart to give a customer a refund after 40 days?
If you offer training that promises to teach your client 5 specific things, do you think it would be a good idea to teach some different or additional things tailored to a specific client’s unique requirements?
If your regular consultation fee is $1,000 up front, do you think you could permit the payments to be broken up over time, or even reduced for clients who had also purchased your $497 video course?
Think It Over
Consider how being flexible in your business will greatly enhance your personal brand in the eyes of your customers, and how it will help you build relationships with your clients far more effectively than just updating your Facebook status three times a day.
As for U-Pack Moving, I’ll be updating you on their follow through once my move is complete.
Meanwhile, I’ll be reviewing some other brick and mortar businesses over my next few posts. Your learn a lot by staying focused on your online business, of course. But for the time being, I’ve been learning a lot even though I’ve been distracted with a cumbersome and complex move. Thank you U-Pack Moving.
Please share this article on your social sites as usual. I’m sure many of your friends and followers would be interested in it. And, of course, I’d love to hear what you think of the flex concept I learned from U-Pack.