Bait and switch

pylemj1 Submitted this review about Boss Auto Transport , Inc.
Review made Live: 2/18/2016 2:14:00 PM
I needed my car shipped from PA to AZ, so after submitting my job, I starting receiving bids from dozens of different shippers. I chose Boss Auto Transport based on many positive reviews and because their price quote of $851 was among the lowest I received. I needed the car shipped preferably on February 4th but no later than February 5th. I spoke to Kelly who seemed very knowlegable and assured me that she could get the car shipped in my desired timeframe. Sent sent me paperwork to sign which listed my "price quote" of $851. The next day I received a call from the "dispatch" person at Boss saying that they couldn't find any shippers willing to accept to accept my job for the price they quoted me. They said that if I wanted it shipped, I would have to pay $900 instead. Incredulous, I told them that this sounded like a classic bait and switch...get a customer to sign a contract based on one price, and then change that price later. They said that unfortunately, that's just the way the auto shipping industry works. They quote a price and try to get a shipper to take the job for that price. In cases like mine, they said that the customer can occasionally end up having to spend more. I told them that in most service industries, if you quote a price to a customer, you deliver your promise/service to that customer for the price upon which you agreed. I felt that they should have stuck with their signed "price quote" (not a price estimate...the actual contract reads "price quote") of $851. They said they couldn't do that. Furthermore, the shipper wasn't able to pick up my car from the origin until February 8th. Staff at Boss Auto Transport were reasonable over the phone and clearly they had no malicious intent. However, I feel that their use of deceptive business practices to lure customers in with one price quote and then change that quote if it suits their company better...that kind of practice is just despicable.