Review Report Review
Never use these guys - should be called Zero Stars

dz Submitted this review about 5 Star Auto Transport
Review made Live: 4/6/2007 5:15:00 PM
My experience with 5 Star was very negative. When I called these guys, they quoted me a price of $1500 to move 3 cars. They aggreed to pick up my cars on Friday March 30. Before I put down a deposit, these guys were calling me frequently. Once the deposit was placed, these guys were never to be heard from. 5 days before the scheduled move date, I called them to confirm the pick-up date. Guess what? NO answer. I left messages and emails trying to confirm the move. Of course, no one ever returned the calls. I thought maybe they were on vacation (spring break). So I had my wife call them asking for a quote. They called back the same day. When I got on the phone with them to ask about my order, they said it was still on schedule. So I asked for the name and number of the driver. They only gave me the first name and not a last name. 5 Star wouldn't give me the number of my driver -- supposedly because of "security" reasons. I knew now that something wasn't right. The day before the aggreed upon move date no one from 5 Star or the driver called. No one showed up to pick up the cars. To this day, no one from 5 Star has shown up or have called. I am still waiting.

An aquaintance in the car moving business explained to me how the car moving process works. Brokers (ie 5 Star) arrange the deal and work out the price with the customer and put out on the central dispatch/bulletin service a bid the amount the broker is willing to pay a driver to deliver the cars. In my case, I aggreed to pay $1500 to have 3 cars delivered while 5 Star placed an ad on the bulletin offering $1100 to drivers to haul the cars. The $1100 to haul 3 cars was too low...no drivers interested. So, my cars never go anywhere. But, in the meanwhile, 5 Star collects the deposit ($400). Now, I wonder how many of these sorts of deposits a company like 5 Star takes. Who knows, maybe this a standard practice. Collect deposits (even if you know that no driver will likely accept the bid) and use the cash as operating cash.

I would never use them again. What I find very deceptive is that 5 Stars website has a Better Business Bureau insignia on it. I don't know why they have it there because when I checked to see if 5 Star was part of the BBB, I could not find them listed as a member. There is a 5 Star Auto in Missouri, but the 5 Star I dealt with is from Florida.

Overall, it was a learning experience for me - albeit negative.
Shipment Details
Origin State:
Iowa
Pickup:
Never
Destination State:
Louisiana
Delivery:
Never
Customer Service
Honesty:
Knowlegeable:
Promptness:
Customer Service:
Review Details
Quote or Order Id:
Perez
Quote or Order Cost:
$1500