Company Response Review Report Review
Not such a great choice for classic cars

Woody Submitted this review about Dependable Auto Shippers
Review made Live: 2/27/2010 9:53:00 AM
I used DAS a year ago to bring a rotissourie restored car to NY from CA. and although they were not overly intelligent in some things they did it did arrived undamaged so when a broker was getting no where picking up this vehicle I figured I would give DAS another shot.
They picked it up on the one day that Arizonia was literally getting more rain that day than they normally get in a year. I received a call from my DAS rep telling me that the driver could not get the car started and that there would either be a $97 dry run fee or a $ 250 inoperable vehicle charge. Although the vehicle was just driven 25 miles to the pick-up point since the seller was traveling and had a motor with 40 ( yes forty) miles on it I said charge me the 250, what am I going to do. I since found out that the woman at the pick up point offered to start the car but the driver told her he had "taken possession" of the vehicle and she was not allowed in it.
I contacted my contact person soon afterwards and told him I was not complaining about the dollars but concerned over the car getting winched up and down on and off car carriers and could he please put a note in the file that the personnel moving the car at least attempt to start it. He agreed and went so far as to say that he felt the car would start and that the miserable condiitions of the day probably made it a rough go for the driver. THe car sat in Az. for at the depot for at least a week and the GPS system on the web was not very good throughout the trip but who cares . I knew and expected that right around the holidays it will take some time. Who is going to drive a 40 year old convertible in NY in January anyway .
My true unhappiness starts now. They called to schedule delivery on the exact date specified once they picked the car up at the Arizonia depot. The driver then calls me. He tells me he is 15 minutes from my home do I have a place ready to drop the car. I ask him if it was running when he put it on the truck. He replies that just looking at this car it ain't running now or anytime soon. He drops his empty single car trailer up the street and puts the car safely just where I want.
IN our conversation he tells me that there were no notes in the service order to try and start it and looking at it, why would you? And basically, it is a piece of you know what and that during better economic times DAS would not even consider transporting such vehicles. NICE.
Well, I popped the hood and attached cables from my battery charger . Sure looks like a fresh engine. First thing, my hazard flashers start flashing . Guess they have been on for better than 2 weeks . At least I know why I have a dead battery. I give it a few minutes and holy cow she fires right up. The driver still has not left my block ! The motor not only looks new in every regard but runs quite well. As I say in my business, common sense is not that common. The car was dirty from the trip and from sitting at the previous owners home. It took about 90 minutes the next day to make it looks much much more than respectable. I didn't call my contact because I knew it would get no where . Pleasant guy, didn't always answer e-mail but generally picked up the phone. I found that whether with my pristine 40 year old convertible a year ago or the dirty looking finish, all straight clean metal body, 40 mile original engine ,ultra low production GM muscle car convertible I just shipped that my car both times was nothing more to DAS than an average box to a UPS driver ( no disrespect UPS you do great work !) Bottom line I don't know if for a fair price you can know you are getting a company that cares but I'll let you know within a year when I ship the next car with someone else.
Shipment Details
Origin State:
Arizona
Pickup:
On Time
Destination State:
New York
Delivery:
On Time
Customer Service
Honesty:
Knowlegeable:
Promptness:
Customer Service:
Review Details
Quote or Order Id:
29355214
Quote or Order Cost:
$1374

Company Response
J Krueger from Dependable Auto Shippers Submitted this response.
Response Date: 3/9/2010 12:14:00 PM
DAS has researched this move and certainly apologize that Woody didn't receive the service he expected. Regardless of the stature of the car, the shipment was booked as a standard vehicle shipment. So, although it is afforded the same high-level of care in which we treat every vehicle, it didn't receive any "special" treatment. At the end of the day, the vehicle arrived on-time and undamaged. DAS does, in fact, offer an enhanced service for classics and show cars through our Specialized Logistics division. Vehicles shipped through this program are handled outside of our standard fleet and receive more of the "extra" attention that this customer may have expected.