This whole process is just completely unreal. When I first inquired about a "quote" (meaning 1), i get onto a site apparently who sends out leads to every transport broker in the world, with some of the mos aggressive and abrasive salesmen i've ever seen (think robert deniro selling cars in "analyze this/that"). So, when you hear all the bullshit and mudslinging that these guys (not just A.R.E.A.T.), you have to sit back and decipher what is true and the best possible person/broker/carrier to choose from. James, seemed like a calm, honest guy on the phone; no mudslinging, straight and to the point, had concrete answers, gave me his personal cell phone #, had the quickest pick up time, quickest delivery time, cheapest price. -Apples to Apples, right? Transporting "A" car, cheapest price works. WRONG! I had James holding his price from early December (this was now mid Jan.) at $995, $195 broker fee, $800 to ship....promises me there wouldnt be any additional charges. WRONG! I had another guy already set up before james and AREAT, who was going to do it for $1100 even, (in which the driver had already called to schedule the pick up before i bought the car), but, apples to apples, right? I go with james at $995, the car will be picked up tomorrow, 1/15/15, and delivered to my door in 5-7 days. So, i give him my CC info, before getting a "contract" , he charges my card, and states that he will return my $ and he says "ive been doing this for 17 years, if I don't get your car shipped, I don't want your $." I never sign a contract, but he charges my card (to this day i havent signed it). Catch a flight that morning back to pittsburgh from Idaho, call AREAT to confirm that the car is being picked up, NO! the closest thing i can compare this to is buying an engagement ring;there for you every step of the way during the sale, don't give a shit about you if you want to return it. Its going to be an additional $125, now, $25 more than I wouldve already paid initially. (james: "its not going to be more than $995" is ringing in my head). So after reading the contract I didn't sign, I look and see that 20% will not be refunded, which on $995 is already 20%, so james makes $195 no matter wtf happens, so of course, my best bet is to just stay on the ropes and pay the additional $, rather than start over. Now, i'm talking to Lourdes, because james is nowhere to be found. She was really nice, despite what these other reviews say. Now i get the carrier information, i call, they say car will be delivered in 12 days now, sweet! I am pressed for time, because I am going on vacation the 31st, which is why i went with james, because of the 5-7 days, I'll have plenty of time, right? So, on the 26th carrier and driver both call to say he will be here tuesday between 6am and 7am, ok fine, better window than comcast. So i wake up at 5:30, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, finally i call the driver 5x, no answer, then wait till pacific time for the carrier to open, call them, they give me the list of "applicable excuses to the modern moron" from 3 different people as to why nobody has shown up, called, called back, etc. So, at this point, i take off work to wait some more. In the meantime, i realize, i just lost a days wages of waiting for this guy to never call or show up, so i call dispatch and complain, I want some $ taken off the shipping price, he agrees to take off $100....AWESOME! Driver calls and says he will be here at 9 pm, only 14 hours late, but who cares, i got $100 off. Guy delivers the car, car is dirty, but is to be expected when you drive across the country in and open carrier at this time of the year. I explain to him, i am supposed to get $100 off, he says "i don't know about this" and calls dispatch, this lady who sounds like she smokes about 4 packs a day demands (in an ignorant manner) that i pay her driver in full! Unreal! At this point, im so exhausted from this experience i pay these lying, cheating bastards anyway. I have never seen such poor, ignorant, rude customer service from the brokers to the carriers, worst experience ever! But, the car arrived and wasnt damaged, so I guess i can't be that pissed.
