NEVER AGAIN!
Steve Ayres
Submitted this review about
Best Auto Shipper
Review made Live: 5/19/2011 12:07:00 PM
Best Auto Shipper contacted Transport Reviews to have my review removed, claiming I am not a customer. My original review gave them 2 stars. Their attempt to remove my negative review proves to me they are untrustworthy, unethical and lie to keep their 5 star reviews. I have emails from Rick Kelley, and the debit on my card from Best Auto Shipper dated 5/11/2011, to prove I was a customer of Best Auto Shipper. If Best Auto Shipper attempt to remove this review I will post the review again, and again in necessary; as I do not appreciate BAS and transport review's attempt to censor my review.
My original review is as follows. I called Best Auto Shipper on May 5th to arrange for a 1982 Cadillac convertible (bought on ebay) to be shipped from MI to CA. They offered to transport for $50 more than their quote, which was a few days old, and I was happy with that. Transport Reviews give them 5 stars and other companies had inflated their quotes in some cases by more than 27%. They said there would be a $70 deposit and I gave my credit card details. Having read some horror stories on Transport Reviews I decided to attempt to strike a balance between calling Best Auto Shipper and allowing them to do their job and contact me. I called on friday May 6th to ask if any progress had been made and I was told a driver would be ready on monday. I was very pleased they could find a driver at such notice. They said they'd call me on saturday. Unfortunately that call never came. On Monday May 9th I called to check progress and was told the car would be collected on tue... - er - Wednesday. On Tuesday I received an email from Rick Kelley - the email said All Ways Auto Transport were to transport my vehicle. I wasn't very happy about this as All Ways have only a 3 star rating on this site. I was told that these people were experts in transporting classic cars and it would be an enclosed tranport. I decided that, if this was true, I had little to worry or complain about. My vehicle was not collected on wednesday. All Ways dispatch said the driver was sick. Best Auto Shipper said it was mechnical problems. The vehicle was not collected on thursday. I was now receiving text messages on my cellphone saying 'This is Bill (Bob/Jerry) a driver in your area. Loading now. Call my dispatcher to reserve.' None of the messages were from Best Auto Shipper or All Ways Auto Transport. I assume that my details are floating around the internet somewhere and people were texting me hoping to get my business. I emailed Rick Kelley explaining pretty much everything I've typed above and he said he'd 'handle it'. FRIDAY THE 13TH! I'm not superstitious but... The person who'd sold me the Cadillac emailed to say the driver was supposed to pick up at 3.30 today (I didn't know this!). At 3.25 the dispatcher called to confirm for saturday because of a driver delay. The seller was NOT PLEASED! He was a little tired of missed dates and was not available after noon on saturday. I called Rick Kelley. He put me through to Mike the dispatcher without telling me why. There was a long 'discussion' that turned into an argument; I started swearing and he put the phone down on me. I don't usually swear, but Mike did not seem to understand, or perhaps care, that I'd been given several dates and every time they'd failed to collect my car. I had asked for a refund of my deposit; I explained I no longer wished to do business with Best Auto Shipper. I called again. Do you know the 'tone' you get in someone's voice, when you know they aren't going to help or give an inch? Thats how Mike sounded to me. I asked several time for a refund of my deposit. He said I wasn't going to get a refund and I should look at my contract. AHA! This is where I explained, no one had sent me a contract. No email, no regular mail. I had not agreed to any terms and conditions that would leave me at a mercy of the broker. Mike asked to check, and after a short time he came back to the phone with an entirely different attitude, warm, friendly, helpful. He explained how he could have a driver for tomorrow (as noted above, the seller was not available), how if I cancelled the contract I'd have to start all over again, I could have a discount off my next transport... I said once again, I wanted a refund of my deposit and I would either find alternative transport of fly to Michigan and driver the car myself. Yes, I would trust a 30 year old car over Best Auto Shipper. Now Mike was full of apologies, excusing himself and Best Auto Shipper and putting the blame on All Ways Auto Transport. Finally a refund of my deposit was agreed. I hope that I get it, and they don't try to spite me because of this review. I have advised the bank, just in case. My experience with Best Auto Shipper was bad. Very little communication, and what there was was unreliable. If we assume the monday collection was a fantasy, it still seems they missed three pickup dates. Perhaps Best Auto Shipper underpriced, or were overly optimistic about their ability to find a driver. I know that I am left frustrated and angry, not just with Best Auto Shipper, but the entire US auto transport industry as a result of this experience. If anyone reads this in the next few days and can recommend a reliable transport company, do contact me, as I'd like to enjoy the convertible before the summer is over!
