Better Business Bureau and cars Shipping

As we all know, online you don’t have an opportunity to look the person in the eye when you hand him/her your money. Ever try getting a Web site customer service representative on the phone for a refund/cancellation? If you haven’t had the luxury, I hope you like soft elevator music, the # key and lengthy double talk.

Unfortunately the car shipping business attracts many unscrupulous web site operators. Many simply set up business in their homes, buy a multi line phone and sales leads and go to work making promises they have no intention of keeping. Trust me, I could go on for days about these types of operations. Actually, that’s why I am writing this entry, to confront a widely held belief that auto shipping companies are dishonest.

As a car shipping business owner myself who does the majority of his business via online, who employs a full time staff to work phones, schedule pick ups and answer customer service calls we obsessed with upholding honest business practices and the highest level of customer service attainable. There just isn’t’ enough space to write about the number of calls we receive from disgruntled consumers who say they were burned from the last guy who promised to ship his/her car. In the bigger picture, this hurts our business. Why should anyone trust us to do the right thing when the last shipper ripped you off? We needed to start building meaningful trust and that’s where the BBB comes in.

In the spirit of providing and building trust with my customers Auto Transporters Online became accredited with the Better Business Bureau so we could clearly communicate our obsession with providing the highest level of honesty, customer service, and consumer confidence attainable. We pledged “in good faith effort to resolve any consumer complaint” filed against ATO. What this means is, as a consumer you have a place to file complaints against our business if we do not live up to our end of the bargain or if you simply do not like the way we do business. This provides you a voice and motivates us more to make your car shipping experience the smoothest and most painless process available.

The bottom line? We deliver the best service available. No complaint, concern or question too small is not worth our time. Simply pick up the phone during business hours, and a customer service representative will be more than happy to put things right.

Car Shipping Insurance all Matters

Insurance Checklist

• Get everything, from your initial quote to anything promised verbally, in writing.
• Ask the car shipper if you can see their insurance certificate to determine if they have one and if it is up-to-date. Again, no question should go unanswered. In many states, proof of insurance is the law. Ask particulars such as: Will your car be covered for any damages en route? Is there a deductible?
• Does your auto insurance cover the vehicle during on loading? On unloading? Is the coverage the same while the car is in transit? Do your need to notify your insurance company that you’re even shipping the vehicle? Call your insurance agent to find out the details, it may greatly determine your shipping options.
• Ship your car empty. Meaning, do not load up your car with personal items, as they are not covered for any damage or theft in transit. In addition, it will end up adding needless weight to your car and therefore your bill.
• Give your car the once-over before shipping. As your car will be thoroughly examined by the shipper before he or she even touches it, be sure you are there in person to agree or debate any such inconsistencies. There is nothing more aggravating than seeing a surprise scratch upon receipt of your car when it was listed on your inspection notice to begin with. When your car is delivered, be sure to do another thorough inspection BEFORE signing the condition report (also known as the bill of lading). This is important, as signing the condition report absolves the shipper from any damage that you may find later. Check the undercarriage and start it up to check for any mechanical failures. Be sure to perform the inspection in a brightly lit area, as nighttime light can hide damage that would have otherwise been visible under good or daytime light.
• If any damage was done during shipment, you must note it on the bill of lading and then get the driver to sign it. As soon as possible thereafter, contact the auto shipping company and begin the damage reimbursement process.
• If you feel that the auto shipping company is giving you the runaround (as it relates to your damage claim), be sure to contact the Better Business Bureau. Also, the Department of Transportation is a great resource for filing complaints against unscrupulous auto shippers. If you feel that it is necessary, get a court judgment. The Department of Transportation will take your claim much more seriously if you do so.

At the end of the day, only properly licensed, bonded and reliable car shipment companies carry the proper insurance required to reimburse damage claims that happen on their watch. Keep out an eagle eye, however, as it may be buried in the fine print who is responsible for that dented fender that got dinged while being loaded onto the shipping truck. Don’t be afraid to take your time to read and ask questions. A car insurance certificate review should not be treated as merely a formality. Do your due diligence.

We know there is a lot to consider here, but if you simply print the above checklist, you can use it as reference when you are getting ready to ship. It just might save you a bundle of money and a whole lot of headaches. Better yet, if your ready to ship, give us call. 800-401-3356

Facts about How Diesel Price Spikes Affect cars Shipping

I read an article last weekend (in one of my trade industry magazines) about how the inflationary cost effect of rising diesel fuel prices has been trickling into the customer costs of shipping an automobile. It was interesting to read, as lately I have been hearing a particular horror story over and over again from customers who were previously quoted ridiculous prices from other shippers, only to have their car sit until they upped their contract payment substantially.

Sounds like some shippers are not paying attention to gas commodity price fluctuations. Some shippers will promise anything to get your business. As soon as you make a credit card deposit you are largely in their hands. Promising prices that do not factor in the rapid rise of diesel prices and then holding a customer’s car or contract hostage until they pay more is not a good way to do business; and it reflects badly on reputable shippers.

Remember, many auto shippers charge a deposit on your credit card before securing truck space. Do your homework.

Exactly what does this mean? It means that some shippers are knowingly making promises that they cannot deliver on. And what if you don’t pay the contract increase? That’s easy – your car will wait substantially longer to be picked up than you were initially promised. It sounds like a ransom ploy doesn’t it?

At the end of the day the people who pick up your car and transport it, truckers, are only interested in vehicles that have current fuel costs factored into the price of shipping. That means if diesel prices go up, car shipping prices go up. Conversely, if diesel prices recede, so too will shipping costs. As of 5/14/08, the average price of diesel per gallon reached $4.33. That’s up over 58% or $1.55 cents from last year. A 58% increase in diesel prices for the auto shipping business spells an increase in car shipping costs.

Everyone should shop for a good price, but in doing so please be aware of fluctuating gas prices, sneaky sales reps and their effect on an affordable, timely and safe delivery of your vehicle. Below are some fast facts to consider:

• All Car Shipping Quotes have a shelf life. If you get a quote, but are not ready to pull the trigger, make sure that when you are ready the quote is still valid. As you probably know, gas prices fluctuate from week to week. This has an immediate impact on contract quotes.
• You got an amazing quote that no other shipper can come close to? Chances are it is suspect. Most auto shippers charge you a deposit on your credit card and then try to secure transport space. Your car will sit for weeks and possibly even months before someone is even interested in picking it up. Make sure you research who you are dealing with. Check their background. Are they Better Business Bureau affiliated? Are they bonded? Review their terms and conditions.
• What if I live off the beaten path, or somewhere remote? Truckers like to pick up vehicles close to their preferred route. If they have to venture far from America’s main highways and byways, chances are they are going to demand a higher price to recoup the fuel costs associated with driving to your location.
• Auto shipping in winter? Just a note that nationally there are less truckers on the road than at any other time of the year. Winter for many truckers equals bad weather. That means the truckers who are driving cherry-pick the most lucrative shipping contracts available.
• When to ship? The busiest time to ship is in summer. Summer also means more truckers are operating. More truckers mean more competition for pickups, and therefore competition may put downward pressure on prices. However, if diesel prices keep increasing summer pricing may continue to increase.
• How long is my quote good for? That too depends on diesel prices. Because of weekly rising diesel prices, the sooner you act on your quote, the more likely you are to lock in your quoted price.
• What are Trucker Ratings? Reputable auto shippers only dispatch to reputable truckers. The last thing a good shipper wants is a trucker with a bad driving record, faulty rig, or just a poor attitude when picking up your vehicle. Good shippers want you to get your car shipped quickly, at an affordable price, and with the highest amount of customer service possible.

Whether you are driving for business or pleasure – or even when shipping your car, gas and diesel price increases have become an aggravating expense in everyday life. Please remember that finding the cheapest car shipper does not equate to purchasing reputable service. Reputable shippers understand that certain competitors lowball prices to get a shipping contract, but they also know that these vehicles are unlikely to ever move. The smart consumer is the aware consumer, so get into the details and ask all the right questions to ensure that you are not one of the many consumers being let down.

How $100 dollars can go a long way insurance

As an auto shipping broker we get access to online independent trucking boards that specifically cater to the automobile shipping industry. Typically, when a customer contracts an auto shipper to have his/her car shipped, the broker will post a purchase order to an online shipping board for all independent truckers to review, and if interested, reserve. The process goes something as follows:

• John Q. Public contacts various auto shipping brokers to get a handful of auto shipping quotes
• He agrees to the cheapest quote, obtains and signs a contract agreement and his credit card is charged a deposit fee. Keep in mind that most brokers have already charged your credit card BEFORE securing truck space to ship your car. (At Auto Transporters Online, our standard practice is to only charge the deposit AFTER dispatching the vehicle for pickup.)
• The auto shipping broker then posts a shipping purchase order on an online trucking Website/s that truckers use to view/reserve available national auto shipping orders.
• If the purchase order is priced right (higher the better), the first trucker (in the area) to see the ad will ignore all others and reserve the pick-up. When the trucker confirms the reserve with the auto broker, the ad is removed.
• If the purchase order is priced too low (which is typically the case), truckers will ignore the pick-up in hopes of finding a higher paying load. Thus, the order has a higher probability of sitting for days and weeks. Keep in mind that most brokers have already charged your credit card BEFORE securing a trucker to ship the order.
• Fact. On any given day there are hundreds of open purchase orders posted. The best priced ones get picked up quickly, the worst sit for ages.
• Fact. The recent spikes in diesel fuel prices have crimped many a truckers’ ability to turn a profit.
• Fact. Many auto shipping brokers make promises that they cannot keep.

Auto Transporters Online provides a competitive pricing structure to get a car picked up and shipped in a timely manner. When we post our purchase orders, truckers compete to get the pick-up. In the majority of cases, the difference of a car being picked up quickly and a car sitting idly for days is usually around $100. Yes, you read it, around $100.

This is how Auto Transporters Online does it:

• John Q. Public contacts various brokers to get a handful of auto shipping quotes
• He agrees to Auto Transports Online (ATO) quote because he needs his car shipped affordably, quickly and safely.
• ATO then posts a shipping purchase order on an online trucking Website/s that truckers use to view/reserve available national auto shipping orders.
• The purchase order is priced competitively to get a trucker interested and the car is shipped quickly. The first qualified trucker (in the area) to see the ad will reserve the pick-up and if he/she meets our shipping standards, the order is reserved. When the approved trucker confirms acceptance of our stringent terms and conditions, the vehicle is dispatched for pickup and the ad is removed.
• Fact. On any given day there are hundreds of open purchase orders posted. Our purchase orders are priced to attract quality trucker interest and to get your car picked up and thus, delivered quickly.
• Fact. The recent spikes in diesel fuel prices have crimped many a truckers’ ability to turn a profit.
• We evaluate the industry rating history of all of the truckers that we use to ensure that they meet our requirements and therefore treat your car with care.
• We price our auto shipments competitively so as to generate trucker interest and thus get you your delivery affordably, quickly and on time. With four shipping plans to choose from, we offer a pricing structure that will accommodate any reasonable budget and shipping timeframe requirement.*

*The above information related to timeframes does not necessarily apply to remote locations.

Considering Car Insurance

1. Remember always. You are statistic.
   To a car insurer, you’re not Ricky Jones, 27 years old from Bethesda Maryland, you’re statistical risk profile, a policy number coded A067YY56. Put simply, a car insurer bases its premium (or its decision to insure you at all) on your “risk factors,” including some things that may seem unrelated to driving a car, including your occupation, who you are and how you live.
2. Car insurers differ.
   As with anything else you purchase, what appears to be the same product will have different prices, depending on the company. Be smart, shop around.
3. Don’t just look at price.
   Like car shipping, a low car insurance price is no bargain if an insurer takes forever to service your claim or worse, denies you. Research the insurer’s record for claims service, as well as its financial stability.
4. Go beyond the basics.
   Most states require only a minimum of auto-insurance liability coverage, but you should look for more coverage than that.
5. Ask for a discount.
   Insurers provide discounts to reward behavior that reduces risk. However, Americans waste some $300 billion a year because they forget to ask for them!
6. Ask for the real thing.
   Insurers cut costs by paying only for car parts made by companies other than the car’s manufacturer. These parts can be inferior. Demand parts by the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
7. At claims time, your insurer isn’t necessarily your friend.
   Your idea of fair compensation may not match your insurer’s. Your insurer’s job is to restore you financially. Your job is to prove your losses so you get what you need.
8. Before you file a claim, be prepared.
   Keep your policy current, and re-read it before you file a claim so there are no surprises.
9. Always carry car insurance
   Duh
10. If you own a home, see if you can bundle (umbrella) your home and car insurance with one carrier.
    Many offer sizable discounts to those who com

Research Your Car Shipper insurance

Car Transport Carrier

When it comes to shipping a car, a common oversight by customers is the failure to consider service and needs responsiveness. Think about it for a minute, you are entrusting your second most valuable asset (after home ownership) to a total stranger. Many customers are so obsessed with getting the cheapest quote that they fail to ask the most basic background questions. Like many auto related businesses the auto shipping industry has its fair share of con artists and dead beats. Take the time to perform a background check on any car shipping service provider:

• Are they reputable?
• What do people saying about them?
• Do you read online reviews about them?
• Can you get someone on the phone?
• Do they even pick up the phone?
• Do you ask for references?
• Are they courteous?
• Do they answer billing questions correctly?
• Do they call you back in a timely manner?
• What is their deposit policy?
• Do they charge before or after they dispatch your car for pick up?

Before you supply a car shipper your credit and personal info (possibly to have them charge you and disappear with your identity), research them. Learn to recognize a car shipping operation that has your best interest at heart. Your best interest should be:

• Affordability
• Reliability
• Safety
• Customer Service

Check the BBB Web site; search the community boards (Yelp.com, Angieslist.com, etc.). Before you pull the trigger on a shipment order, learn your chosen car shippers reputation. Typically, there is more than meets the eye.

Before you go with that Quote:

USA

A significant percentage of Auto Transporters Online business comes from customers who previously contracted with other companies/brokers, were guaranteed a short pickup window, were charged a deposit upfront, and still didn’t get their car shipped. The stories are endless. “They charged my credit card and disappeared”, or “they keep promising that they are going to pick the car up but nothing happens” or we can’t get them to respond to our calls.”

The vast majority of incidents revolve around the old bait-and-switch. You know, sweet talk, provide a low quote, and then they secretly tack on hidden costs and have you wait until “2012” to get your car. Yes, some do get their money back, but many don’t. Sometimes I hear myself sounding like a parrot, repeating the same tips (over the phone to customers) of what to look for when receiving a phone quote or one online.

So, in the interest of saving you headache, misery, time, and money, I submit for your consideration the top 7 things to look for and demand when receiving a car shipping quote.

• Is it a basic quote that includes everything? Fuel costs, insurance, etc? Or does it lack the proper information, therefore designed to hook you then add extras. Many times the extras become payable at the delivery point. Be alert!
• Does the price look too good to be true (e.g. very low)? If so, it probably will never be dispatched for pickup
• Know this. Brokers list your car for pick up on trucker boards. Truckers pick the best paying deals. Does you price feel low to other quotes? Trust us – no reputable trucker will transport a vehicle for a cheap payment.
• If you are required to pay a deposit upfront? Run, bad idea, don’t do it.
• If you do/did pay a deposit and paid upfront, is your deposit refundable if they can’t get the vehicle shipped in the quoted time window?
• Before seeking a quote, determine this. Do you want a quote (really, anyone can give one), or do you want to have your vehicle shipped in a timely affordable manner? Anyone can give you a quote – many can’t deliver!
• Does the quote provide you shipping options? Like expedited, enclosed, express, or economy? Having options greatly allows you to compare price to packages to suit your shipping time frame.

If you at least keep the above in mind, chances are you will sniff out the good shippers from the bad. So until next time, keep smiling, drive carefully, and make it home safe.

Can my cars be shipped with a cars cover on?

For some reason, many customers ask if they can ship their car with a car cover on. Well, not usually. Most truckers are not interested in the responsibility and effort to put it on and take it off. Also, you need to think about what a cover can do to a car’s paint job while in transit. It could flap, rub, or scrape the paint. It could also tear, rip, and fly-off (possibly causing an accident). It could get stolen. Moreover, people are always interested in cars under cover. If you are that concerned about your car’s pain job, I would suggest enclosed shipping.

Remember, the only thing your car is going to suffer (upon arrival) is a dirty look. Simply wash and polish her, and she’ll look just as beautiful as she did when you saw her loaded on the trailer. Besides not covering your car, I would also suggest not to shipping any expensive items inside the car. Wait! Do yourself a favor; leave the car empty. It will save you a lot of worry and headache.