VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION Hauling or Trailering Need some perspective, please

I live in CA and am attempting to buy a car located in TN, but seem to be having difficulty with the auto transporter I hired (a broker). I think I need some perspective, please.

Broker required a non-refundable deposit up front. First available date for the car to be picked up was May 7th. As of today (2 weeks later), the broker STILL has no idea as to when my car may be picked up. Last I spoke with them they explained they simply don't have a carrier (driver) identified yet for my job. That conversation was one week ago and there's been silence on their end since.

I've done this before, as a buyer and as a seller, and in neither case did I wait this long for information, let alone actual delivery. It is however, the first time I've hired via a broker. Was this a mistake? How long of a wait to at least hear when my car will be picked up is reasonable? Stories and advice welcomed and greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Glide-Aways

I had used a "broker" once and had no problems at all, they told me when they would pick it up and when they would bring it to me, and they were right on time.
I got my broker from looking on line at a web site that I found (I cant remember the name of it) This web site has all registered Carriers and a place for all folks to tell of there experience with using them good and bad.Try to find it. Look under "car Carriers comments"??? it is real interesting. I picked mine by reading the comments posted about them. There were no bad things said about them.
They were great...Good Luck...ED

Eastern Ed,

I think you gave "Glide-Away" real good advice here. I would do the same as you did. Nothing like using a tried and true vendor. He may want to get a recent copy of Hemmings Motor News. I think there are transporter listed there in the "services section."

Glide-away,

It is time to apply some hard pressure to the broker. Sounds like a "fly by night" outfit to me.

Charlie

Hemmings Motor News will also give you feedback on whether or not they've had complaints on their advertisers and final outcomes. I've used this service and found them very helpful. Sometimes you can weed out the fly by nights this way. Contact them (hemmings.com) and have them check out your broker. Maybe he was an advertiser and if so, they might have some feedback.
Also check the Better Business Bureaus where your broker/transporter is located. They will have ratings and feedback.

You might try uShip.

I am with Tim on Uship

Let me mention that it often takes much longer to arrange a transport when 1 location is off of the beaten path.

I had a 51 chev wagon picked up in NM and it took about 7 weeks to find a hauler to make the run.LA to NY is an everyday occurence, not so with every run.

I had a 1931 Chevrolet transported from Texas to California by a company called "76 Transport" run by Don Descatoux, they do have a website and they did an excellent job at a reasonable price. They specialise in old cars and regularly cross the U.S. I organised this from Australia and had no problems at all and would definitely use them again.