I have two answers for this question.
1) If you're a dealer. Don't get involved in shipping.
2) If you are the buyer, I'll give you some insight on choosing an [tag]auto transport[/tag] company.
I advise dealers to steer clear of suggesting a shipper to your customers. If you pick the shipper, Mr. Dealer, the buyer will assume you have a "connection" with the company and you're recommending them based on that. Then if the shipper damages the car, guess who gets the flack and negative feedback? You.
I usually recommend a site called transportreviews.com to buyers so they can see what others are recommending. It's a user driven site that reviews transporters from all over the country. They currently have nearly 6,000 reviews. Don't be alarmed by negative comments - most people tend to only leave reviews when they have a complaint. You can sort by number of total customers, company name, location and even by 'popular routes.'
If you are a dealer, explain the process to your buyer. Let them know that [tag]moving a car[/tag] across the country can take a couple of weeks at times. Most buyers don't realize that shipping a car is not like sending a package through the mail. The vehicle may be loaded at the departure location on one truck, then put on a truck to haul it to a depot across country, then put on another 'local' truck to ship it to the destination. The buyer should also know that a vehicle transported a long distance can arrive rather dirty. Does the shipper clean the car at the end of the trip? Some do, it's something to consider.
Choices will face your customer as they choose a shipper. Choices include:
- Open or closed transport? (closed offers more protection)
- Guaranteed top-loading (less moving around on the trailer when delivering vehicles along the way)
- Door-to-door, or depot-to-depot shipping? (Involves driving to the depot to drop-off / pick-up the vehicle)
- What kind of insurance is available?
- Does the shipper own their trucks? or do they contract with independent carriers? (If they own their trucks, it's easier to track, and easier to figure out who's responsible for problems along the way.)
While it may seem confusing to ship a vehicle the first time, it's not impossible - it happens every day thousands of times. Educate your customer if you're a dealer, and if you've purchased a vehicle you should educate yourself.
Personal note: I've worked with the people at Dependable Auto Shippers for many [tag]eBay Motors[/tag] events. I personally trust them greatly and I'd use them if I had a car to ship. They are one of the few shippers that offer an online quote and they have their own trucks - which I like.
[tags]vehicle shipping[/tags]
Popularity: 3% [?]
0 comments ↓
There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.
Leave a Comment