what first timers need to know
Rasha
Submitted this review about
AmeriFreight Car Shipping
Review made Live: 6/2/2013 5:44:00 PM
After going around, calling and being called by numerous number of people to quote the shipping of my mazda cx-7 AND FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE here are what I realized:
99% of those who offer to ship your car are brokers.
Your car will be posted on a board to be seen by drivers, the higher you offer them, the faster your car will be picked up.
There is a slight chance a driver loading up and ready to go while still have an empty space, so he may accept to take your car for a little less than the average, however, he will negotiate till reaching as close as possible to the average.
There are some factors that make your car a preferred deal, such as: pick up location, the further from the city the better and easier for a driver to pick up a car, if your car reaches the point at which a driver wants to pick up and negotiates a price, I think you may have a better chance to stick to the lower price BY offering to drive the car to the driver's preferred location. I think when is another factor that affects your price: as you get closer to the end of the month and the summer time it gets more expensive.
Honestly, it doesn't matter how much time you give them to post your car, you can post it one day before your requested pick up date or months ahead of time, eventually it's all about the price you are willing to pay.
Make sure to get the contact info for your driver and follow up with them.
Make sure you close all windows and sunroof otherwise your car will need to be shampooed when you receive it.
All that being said, here is a brief review about Amerifreight:
It's the only company that will accept to put your car out there way less than the average price on the board, they then increase the price offered with time till a driver accepts to pick up your car. Graham started me at $1150, average was $1390.
Now this is a great opportunity for those who may get super lucky and get to save few dollars ( let's be realistic here, drivers are not going to take your car for way less than the average) When I approved $1400, the car was picked up the same day
They take your info, request to have a credit card info on file, which I didn't like as I was afraid I would be charged before I agree to terms, however, they don't charge you till you accept a deal and give the ok to charge the card.
They take a deposit after you agree to the deal and before a driver picks up the car, WHICH I DIDN'T LIKE. Again first timers get worried whom to trust. If other co do it without taking a deposit, why are you taking a deposit from me?
Graham used to call me and email periodically since I requested the car to be shipped till the moment he charged my car for the deposit then he stopped answer my calls or call me back, which VERY MUCH WORRIED ME.
I was told the driver will pick up the car between 4-7pm, and that I will receive a receipt for the deposit and a new agreement that includes the new price update but I haven't received either of them. I emailed him and called him about one hour before the end of his business hours.
When the driver didn't show up till 7pm I was really worried, Graham took the deposit, didn't send me the driver's info.
I called amerifreight and left a message on the general line, but they were already closed.
at 7:30pm the driver called me and said he will be here shortly.
after that everything went smoothly.
the car arrived after 4 days only which was unbelievably great.
The overall, MY worries were because it was my first time and I couldn't put my trust in any ones hands and if I am to ship another car I know exactly what to do now.
At the end I can say that my car was shipped with no damages other than the cost which would have been the same with any of the brokers but what matters is to use someone who you can trust giving your credit card to.
I WOULD USE THEM AGAIN NOW THAT I LEARNED.
