I had a 10-month contract and had accumulated a few pieces of furniture which I wanted to keep and use in my guest room back home. All the moving companies were rather competetive, yet their price was way out of line because the amount of goods I was shipping was less than one-third of their minimum weight and volume. So, obviously, their price was 3 times what it "should" have been if they charged for the actual wieght and volume I was shipping.
Then, I discovered U-Ship. Door-to-door Maryland to Texas at a VERY affordable price! (Like I said, one-third of traditional shippers/movers).
What a pleasure!