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Martian Movers

Mover · San Luis Obispo, CA · reviewed since 2018

How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%85+46.4Reliability 24%50+12.1Value 14%100+14.1Replies to reviews 7%49+3.5Craft & service penalty69−3.1Experts Score= 73Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.73SCORE
BGradeLetter from the Experts Score: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39, F = under 20.
#202 of 218 moversPosition by Experts Score among all companies we track in this category. · better than 7%
4.9 ★★★★★ 212 Google reviews · 23 photos
97%five-star reviews
15%1–2★, last 20 reviewsShare of 1–2★ reviews in the last 24 months — or the 20 newest reviews when the company had fewer than 20 in that time.
63%reviews answered by the owner
Jun 2024latest review

Martian Movers at a glance

Customers frequently cite efficient crews, careful handling of items, and responsive communication as key aspects of local moves, including POD unloads and office relocations. Pricing is often described as competitive, with staff noted for punctuality and friendliness. However, low-star reviews highlight significant issues with out-of-state moves handled by third-party partners, citing inadequate crew sizes, damaged property, and poor post-move support for claims.

  • Google rating: 4.9 out of 5 from 212 reviews (97% five-star).
  • Reviews on this page: 212 Google reviews (200 with written comments, 8 with photos).
  • Owner responses: the business replied to 63% of reviews.
  • Most recent review: June 3, 2024.
  • Service: Mover serving San Luis Obispo, California.

Data from Google, last updated November 1, 2026.

Score profile vs other movers

Score per factor (100 = best)Each factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (star average, share of 1–2★ reviews, price verdicts…); standing within the category can only raise it, never lower it.. Strongest: value and satisfaction; weakest: replies to reviews.

Satisfaction85Reliability50Craft & service69Value100Momentum–Replies to reviews49Satisfaction: 85 (median 93)Reliability: 50 (median 90)Craft & service: 69 (median 93)Value: 100 (median 100)Replies to reviews: 49 (median 81)
Martian MoversMovers median0 = centre, 100 = best
SatisfactionSatisfaction · 54% of the scoreRecency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.Martian Movers: 85/100 on this factor. Category median: 93.A
85
ReliabilityReliability · 24% of the scoreHow rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.Martian Movers: 50/100 on this factor. Category median: 90.C
50
Craft & serviceCraft & service · penalty only, up to −10 pointsGoogle review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.Martian Movers: 69/100 on this factor. Category median: 93.B
69
ValueValue · 14% of the scoreCustomers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.Martian Movers: 100/100 on this factor. Category median: 100.A
100
MomentumMomentum · penalty only, up to −10 pointsPenalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.Not enough reviews for this factor yet. Category median: 100.–
–
Replies to reviewsReplies to reviews · 7% of the scoreHow often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.Martian Movers: 49/100 on this factor. Category median: 81.C
49

Bar = this company · dark tick = category median.

Star ratings

212 Google reviews we collected

  • 5 stars20597%
  • 4 stars10%
  • 3 stars00%
  • 2 stars10%
  • 1 star52%

Praise vs complaints

Phrases our text analysis found in 200 written reviews

  • Praise45597%
  • Complaints133%

Topic share

How often each topic comes up in the written reviews

  • Staff & attitude13128%
  • Speed & response11024%
  • Would recommend7516%
  • Quality & results6313%
  • Price & value5211%
  • Communication266%
  • Honesty & trust112%

What customers talk about

We read 200 written reviews and marked every phrase about these topics. The same colors are highlighted in the reviews.

  • “The guys were friendly, worked fast, and were careful with our things.”
    “Multiple items were broken, unprofessional, hurried and careless.”
  • “Chris was fantastic for planning and the crew showed up on time.”
  • “Will hire them again without hesitation when needed!”
  • “My movers got my stuff from a pod to a more permanent storage in Santa Maria, and it was an excellent experience.”
    “TLDR; Bottom Line - Terrible Experience with Out of State Move”
  • “They were quick with an estimate and had very competitive prices.”
    “…from the second delivery team found out that National was trying to overcharge me for weight.…”
  • “They showed up on time, explained everything they were going to do in detail, executed and moved us to the new location.”
  • “Communication was very thorough upfront and the guys that did the actual moving were very careful and courteous!”

People customers mention

  • Cal 44 reviews
  • Ron 12 reviews
  • Chris 9 reviews
  • Ernest 8 reviews
  • Jason 8 reviews
  • Safe 6 reviews

praise complaint · found by our text analysis, Google review wording unchanged.

Reviews for your job

Customers hired Martian Movers for 5 kinds of job. Pick one to see what they paid and said.

Recent reviews

KangLocal Guide · 19 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 2 years ago★★

I moved at end of June 2023 using Martian Movers' service. The movers are nice but inefficient. It took three people an entire day to move our stuff (2 bedroom apartment) from Atascadero to SLO. I eventually paid $2,000.

KarenLocal Guide · 19 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 2 years ago★★★★★

Easy to work with. Chris was fantastic for planning and the crew showed up on time. They were friendly and efficient. Highly recommend and would 100% use them again.

Josh4 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 2 years ago★★★★★

Martian Movers was awesome. We hired them to unload a POD we had delivered to our new house. The guys were friendly, worked fast, and were careful with our things. They double checked that everything was just where we wanted it. Thank you for being so good at what you do.

dene3 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 2 years ago★★★★★

Great team that worked quickly. Was able to call them and get help the same day. They were life savers!!!!!

JoAnne6 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 2 years ago★★★★★

The men representing Martian Movers were personable, professional, and pleasantly courteous. I would reach out to, and recommend, this business for any moving needs in the future. Great job James and Cannon!

HeidiLocal Guide · 58 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 2 years ago★★★★★

My movers got my stuff from a pod to a more permanent storage in Santa Maria, and it was an excellent experience. They were professional, nice, and amazing with stacking my stuff in a way that works with room to spare. Thank you to the two gentlemen that helped me, and thank you Martian Movers!

Customer photo from Heidi's review

Photos

Customer reviews

4.9 ★★★★★ 212 reviews on Google · rating breakdown

Reviews from Google, shown as published (original wording, unedited).

Jobs customers hired them for — from Google's service tags and the review text
Team members customers mention
Filter by topic — each topic is highlighted in the reviews in the same color
Kang ZhengLocal Guide · 19 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews Kang has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

I moved at end of June 2023 using Martian Movers' service. The movers are nice but inefficient. It took three people an entire day to move our stuff (2 bedroom apartment) from Atascadero to SLO. I eventually paid $2,000.

Ken Mahar8 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews Ken has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

TLDR; Bottom Line - Terrible Experience with Out of State Move We were moving our 4 bedroom home from Shell Beach to Helena Montana. Martian is a “reseller” of a larger national company National Van Lines. Martian was clear that it would be National moving us, but that they were the reseller. Chris came over to the house to carefully review all the items we needed to ship, including a garage full of gear. He calculated we would need a 26’ truck. I called Chris days later to double check that as it seemed light to me and he said they are really good at packing stuff up. This was a pretty full service move as they were going to take apart our beds, including bunk beds, wrap up all our furniture and we even paid extra to have our artwork expertly packed. "Ok, I guess you guys know what you’re doing" I said, and I let it go. The day the moving truck showed up and I saw the size of it I was immediately thinking - no way this is all going to fit. I brought that up immediately with the driver and his team and we walked through the house. He said it was going to be tight but said they could get it all in. So we waited and watched ALL DAY and at about 6 pm after repacking a couple of times finally admitted they were wrong and it wasn’t going to all fit. So they called Martian and about an hour later two guys showed up from Martian with a 12’ truck that again looked too small for the remaining items. The guys from Martian manhandled our stuff and started stuffing our belongings into this too small truck (why would they make it so hard on themselves and our stuff knowing they were going to be taking it to a warehouse where it would be unloaded and labeled “overflow”). They wrapped nothing and acted like they were two guys in overtime on an emergency job. They assured me that it would all get shipped with a small delay and I had nothing to worry about. It was going to take us a few days to get to Montana ourselves so I wasn’t overly concerned. Google won't let me paste in the email thread due to character limits, but basically the balance of our stuff arrived over 6 weeks late. Upon arrival the National driver (who was great) told me I had to pay before they would unload. So I called and I was told by National that I didn’t have to pay until the balance arrived so they unloaded. Later, Lori at National that I had to pay 80% since 80% of our stuff had been delivered before they would BEGIN to ship the last 20% (and that no one would have told me differently - effectively calling me a liar), that my flat rate wasn’t really a flat rate because I may have been “overweight”, had to negotiate with National Van Lines on my own because Ron had disappeared, and only through carefully reviewing the paperwork and getting the weights from the second delivery team found out that National was trying to overcharge me for weight. When the second delivery crew arrived with our stuff that had been shipped from Ron's warehouse to theirs in a crate they said “this was the worst intercarrier shipment they had ever seen.” (Apparently the 5 weeks that Ron and crew had our stuff in their warehouse was not enough time to pack it properly). The delivery crew said that when they opened the crate that our stuff just spilled out. Stuff that should have been wrapped and securely packed. We had multiple items that were damaged including a handmade tiffany stain glass lamp (made by my mother) that was packed in a box clearly labeled fragile that was just smashed. I declined the extra insurance knowing my homeowners would cover any major losses but it had a $1000 deductible. The owner Ron Snyder failed to fight National Van Lines for me like he promised, failed to follow through with any communication (just like the rest of his team including Chris Babcock who failed to return 6 calls, and Ernest who promised to keep me updated), and had a bunch of excuses about how hard his life was with all the moves that had gone wrong. Suffice it to say I’m not happy having spent $13K with this company and endured their carelessness.

KarenLocal Guide · 19 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews Karen has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

Easy to work with. Chris was fantastic for planning and the crew showed up on time. They were friendly and efficient. Highly recommend and would 100% use them again.

Response from the owner · 2 years ago

Hi, Karen. We appreciate the kind words and are glad we could provide you with a positive experience!

Josh Hillis4 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews Josh has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

Martian Movers was awesome. We hired them to unload a POD we had delivered to our new house. The guys were friendly, worked fast, and were careful with our things. They double checked that everything was just where we wanted it. Thank you for being so good at what you do.

Response from the owner · 2 years ago

Hi, Josh. Thanks for taking the time to share your positive experience. We truly appreciate it!

dene thompson3 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews dene has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

Great team that worked quickly. Was able to call them and get help the same day. They were life savers!!!!!

Response from the owner · 2 years ago

Hi, Dene. We are thrilled to learn that you had a positive experience with us!

JoAnne Jackson6 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews JoAnne has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

The men representing Martian Movers were personable, professional, and pleasantly courteous. I would reach out to, and recommend, this business for any moving needs in the future. Great job James and Cannon!

Response from the owner · 2 years ago

Hi, Joanne. Thank you so much for leaving us a stellar review!

Heidi MoffettLocal Guide · 58 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews Heidi has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

My movers got my stuff from a pod to a more permanent storage in Santa Maria, and it was an excellent experience. They were professional, nice, and amazing with stacking my stuff in a way that works with room to spare. Thank you to the two gentlemen that helped me, and thank you Martian Movers!

Response from the owner · 2 years ago

Hi, Heidi. Your feedback is highly appreciated. Thank you for the review!

Deborah KiefferLocal Guide · 15 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews Deborah has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

Booking was a cinch. The guys were great at keeping me informed (both phone call & text) when they were delayed and when they were on their way. It was a small job and they got it done quickly but they took the time to properly wrap and pad my furniture to prevent damage. Really friendly, capable, and professional. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

  • Positive: Professionalism
Response from the owner · 2 years ago

Hi, Deborah. We appreciate the kind words and are glad we could provide you with a positive experience!

Mike Pereira3 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews Mike has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

We recently relocated our office within town. Martian Movers did a fantastic job. They showed up on time, explained everything they were going to do in detail, executed and moved us to the new location. They even worked around us while we packed up the last few remaining boxes. The truck was clean and organized, the unload was painless and the guys worked with urgency. We will use them again if we need another move.

  • Positive: Responsiveness, Quality, Professionalism, Value
Response from the owner · 2 years ago

Hi, Mike. Thanks for taking the time to share your positive experience. We truly appreciate it!

Wendy Giusti3 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews Wendy has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

The two young men who came to help us were polite, respectful, full of energy and willing to help out with our situation! We had hoped to get everything done in two hours and they powered through and got it all done in less than that! I would highly recommend this business. Super responsive and willing to do small jobs!

  • Positive: Responsiveness, Professionalism, Value
Response from the owner · 2 years ago

Hi, Wendy. We are thrilled to learn that you had a positive experience with us!

Martian Movers on Google Maps →

Business details