[GR82DRV]

Nine days ago I booked transport with a broker for open trailer shipment of a MINI Cooper from an independent dealer in Jackson Mississippi to my address in Central Wisconsin. The broker quoted $750 and is the preferred shipper/broker of the dealer. Monday of this week was listed as the "available" date but so far no transporter has even accepted the order.

Yesterday I made this email inquiry:

We are still waiting for pick-up of the MINI Cooper from Byram, MS to Central Wisconsin. The request was placed early last week for shipping Monday of this week and we still have no updates. Is this anywhere on the LMR priority list?

Here's the response I got:

Why, yes it is a top priority, along with several hundred other units. We will update you ASAP when we have a truck scheduled. The unit was first available on Monday & it usually takes a few days for scheduling.

So, as much as I'd like to tell them to kiss my @$$, I don't want to go the back of the line with another broker. Can I double book with another broker and just accept the first broker who matches a haul?

 

[LotusGuy48]

Now that was a sarcastic response, I'm sure it didn't make you feel like a valued customer. Have you already paid them? If so, I wouldn't suggest double booking.

 

[GR82DRV]

Now that was a sarcastic response, I'm sure it didn't make you feel like a valued customer. Have you already paid them? If so, I wouldn't suggest double booking.

No, no money down yet. I'm just wondering if the same car appears on multiple brokerage listings whether that red-flags the whole thing...

BTW, I shared the email response with the dealer and they were shocked. They said it "would not go unnoticed"...

 

[qu1Z]

Drop them and find somebody new. Lazy and bad attitudes.

 

[sirnonz]

I would drop them and go with someone else if no contract has been signed.

 

[GR82DRV]

This is an old thread now but here's how it ended. After almost three weeks nobody would take the car. They all said nobody wants to transport cars north-south even though I volunteered to drive 3 hours south to a major auction lot in Milwaukee to pick the car up, they all acted as if Wisconsin was located somewhere in the Arctic Circle and they were afraid to come here. One place quoted $1500 if I was willing to wait another 30 days!

Long story short, I flew to Memphis where the seller trailered the car and I drove it home. The seller was fantastic and the car is excellent. The irony was that I passed several transport trucks on the route home with empty spaces aboard...

 

[DrinkMan]

I have shipped 4 cars. I've had experiences that are similar to you - "can't find anyone shipping from Boston to Atlanta" (translates to "can't find someone who will ship for the price that maximizes my brokerage fee"). Once you sign the contract (just be glad you didn't sign one), they will drag it out to the last day to book the shipping and then come up with excuses why the truck with your car is delayed.

The actual drivers and shipping companies have been very good but the brokers horrible. My last experience that did not involve a broker went great. One man show but he goes north/south all the time (Mich to GA was mine). For future reference. His webpage sometimes does not work but his Facebook page works (I'm the Model A on his page dated November 12):

https://www.facebook.com/Coast2CoastCarriers

 

[philethier]

Never wait for a transport broker. Never hire a transport broker. Hire only transport companies. I have had good luck with Passport.