Good Service, Left Me Feeling Uneasy During Process
BowToEd
Submitted this review about
Magic Carpet Auto Transport
Review made Live: 4/17/2011 1:52:00 AM
We shipped our car from MS to WA. Due to our schedule, we left the car with parents and headed toward our destination. The shipment was scheduled more than a month in advance. Before leaving MS to WA we contacted Magic Carpet Auto Transport to find out the status on finding a shipper. They had not found one yet.
Our original quote was $1,080, the driver collecting $850 upon delivery. We started getting offers on the first day our car was available for pickup. The first offer was at least $100 more than we were originally quoted. We were told that MS is a tough state for shippers to access. Declined first offer, asking to keep looking in hopes that a less expensive shipper might be found with time.
In the following week we were given two more quotes, each successively more expensive than the first. Upon discussion, we decided to take the third quote. This was based on the reasoning that the quotes seemed only to get higher, and we'd be better off taking it before the price rose to $1,500 or more.
The shipper was scheduled to pick up the car on Friday, but did not show up. Parents informed us of this fact. Magic Carpet contacted driver about this but I did not hear from them until Monday. Driver was able to make it to pickup on the following Monday, at which time I spoke to MCAT and asked about the status. I was given all the information. The expected delivery date was the next Monday, with the information that the driver would contact us on Sunday to schedule delivery.
I called MCAT on Monday after not hearing from the driver. They told me his situation and gave me his number. I contacted him and got an update, scheduling a pickup for Tuesday. He was very concerned that I had his payment ready and wanted to know what type of payment I would be making.
On Tuesday he called me to arrange the delivery. He wanted to meet at a location 20 minutes away, which was not an inconvenience. We arrived, looked over the car, and paid. The car was in good shape, albeit dirty. His paperwork (signed by my father-in-law) documented that it was dirty on pickup. The car was practically as it was before we left it.
Overall, the service provided was great. MCAT arranged our car to be shipped, which arrived in good condition and in a timely manner. The delays in shipping were not bad and the service staff was courteous and more than happy to keep us informed. Even when I couldn't get the agent that handled my order the other agents were helpful as well.
This is the first time I have shipped a car. The service was great but I am giving 4/5 stars because several steps in the process left me feeling uneasy about the result I might experience. The expanding price past the quote, the driver being late to pick up the car, and the fact that I didn't find out from the company weren't huge problems once the car was delivered. Before the process was complete, however, these events made me wonder if I was about to be ripped off.
I would use this company again because I believe, all in all, I got my money's worth.
