shipping problems leads to buyer complaints

914agogo · 12-21-2007, 06:13 PM

in light of what is going on on this board with the sale of a 73 E targa, I have information to relay to fellow enthusiast regarding the problems that can/will occur in transit when awaiting for their prized purchase.

Last year, I received a 912 that a friend purchased from back East. The car had apparently been picked up by the carrier with no problems. However, after the long journey on the top of a big car carrier...at an angle, front nose facing up, the fuel had run back of the tank towards the engine,past the mechanical fuel pumpand filled the carbs ( an electric fuel pump would not have let fuel go up to the carbs and fill them) filled them so much that the engine case was also full of fuel and began to exit thru the tail pipe

....out and down on cars below

the driver informed me that if there was any damage to the paint that I would be contacted by the "company"

also the car was next to impossible to move as the wheel cylinders appear to have locked up ...three big guys and we huffed and puffed (weed) and we gave it our best shot but it was really a big bust....

now go figure I get the gas thing but why would the wheels be suddenly stuck when 3 days before all was good????

Also when DAS sent to have the car picked up at the sellers location, it was an independent contractor with an unmarked banged-up pick-up pulling a homemade trailer (saying that he had to take the car to another location where they keep em in the yard til ready to go on the big rigs) (seller forwarded pictures as he was baffled at the fact that the trucker was rough and "chained down" the car at the axles)

also later found to have a 3 mile difference between pick up and delivery

joyriders ( remember Ferris Bueller's frfiends dads car???)

so friends/enthusiasts and Flippers...there is great risk out there...when entrusting the objects of our desire to a third party

I think it is high time to bring to light the pitfalls of far away buying

Cal44 · Cal44's Garage

DAS Ver Botten. Did I get the spelling correct? When I contacted them they wanted the seller to drop off the car at a shipping point and when they got the car to my city they were going to drop it off at another shipping point, not my house. When it comes to shipping, going on the cheap is not a good idea, I learned the hard way. Pay the extra dough for one of the advertisers in Hemmings or Excellence and go house to house enclosed and tip the driver.
I am about to pay a guy $750.00 (enclosed carrier) to bring a car from Tucson to San Diego. Seller can't understand why I won't drive the car 405 miles. The car has been inspected and is O.K but the thought of breaking down somewhere in the middle of nowhere is not my idea of a good time. If that were to happen I could end up spending a ton to have the car brought home on a flatbed. By the way, by paying the extra money your car is shipped flat.

MRA · 12-26-2007, 04:43 PM

2 thumbs down for DAS....
My car (one owner, 62K miles ,71 T)was delivered with the valances bent badly below the left and right rear bumpers. I was also told that they gave it a wash because i was so dirty....when it was supposed to be an enclosed carrier. No luck on the refund for the extra I paid for the so-called "enclosed carrier",as I couldn't prove otherwise, but after 2 months of insistence,and multiple arguements and estimates, I did get $1700 for the bumper damage.
Martin

mkaraoglan · 12-27-2007, 09:31 AM

My experience with DAS was a bit harrowing but i came out Ok in the end with some major stress along the way.
paid for an enclosed carrier from DC to LA for my then Boxster.
Dropped it off with an agent in VA which was basically an office with a parking lot.
I paid for expedited shipping (they refund you $100 for every day it's late)
They told me they wait until they have enough cars and then get the transport...

So, they tout their online "tracking" which showed my car sitting for 4 days (outside), then it was moved to NJ (

) where it sat for 3 days, then it finally started moving.

I watched that car "inch" across the US, take weird detours, send 2 days in some texas town and then take 3 days to get from AZ to LA (late!)
when i drove to carson city to pick it up it was very, very dirty. they offered to wash it (no thanks)

i DID see the trailer it came in on and it was one of those 'closed trailers" that is actually an open trailer with fabric/plastic sides that zip up.
I think the dirt was mainly due to sitting outside for all those days.
If you are more worried about dirt/bugs/debris from sitting out in the open then the enclosed option isn't so bad.
the car was undamaged and they deducted their 3 days of being late.

Mind you my Boxster wasn't a classic and if i owned a Carrera or any other classic i would have not used DAS.

My main complaint was the fact that i did not want my car being rolled on and off different carriers as they moved it from holding yard to holding yard.

I think DAS is basically like fedex. they get all the cars in one central location adn then parcel them out.

Also, beware, DAS does NOT carry coverage on your car a standard. You have to pay extra for that.

mkaraoglan · 12-27-2007, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 914agogo

"

the driver informed me that if there was any damage to the paint that I would be contacted by the "company""

fyi, their own fine print specifically says no coverage for damage and they make you pay for extra insurance so the other cars are wither SOL or were covered so you are indemnified. If it applies to you it applies to them too.

RPMClassic · 01-16-2008, 04:27 AM

There is only one solution to this problem guys - its called InterCity Vanlines

Even then you have to be careful, because the drivers will "test" the cars along the way when loading and unloading. Only solution is to pay the extra $200 to have th ecar go as a "non running" vehicle. Drain the gas out and remove the batteries!

white944cup · white944cup's Garage

My advice to anyone trying to set up shipment of a car.....go to www.transportreviews.com and check out any potential shipper before you use them. They rate all auto shippers based on the customer feedback posted on the site. I went through their list of 5-star rated shippers and picked Red Carpet Transport (based on customers feedback) to ship my '88 951 from New Mexico to Florida, and it turned out to be a pleasant, non-stressful transaction. Their price was very reasonable ($830) and it included door-to-door pickup and delivery and no-deductible insurance. Do your research first and you won't get burned.

budge96 · 02-14-2008, 04:45 PM

DAS lost my bronco I was having shipped after purchase on E-bay from jacksonville florida to
wash dc..
When they did happen to look around their yard to find it days later it was'nt running and it had sat out in a trucking yard 3 extra days!(transit paper lost or somesuch other ridiculous excuse!)
When my pristine '68 S arrived from the LA paint shop back in DC the rear valance was banged
like another car had pushed it coast to coast..the driver acted as though he never saw it!

914agogo · 02-26-2008, 04:22 AM

God I love CCTV!

last year when an absolutly stunning restored 911 I sold arrived at destination,

buyer claimed that wheels were locked, that he couldnt shift the car in any gear,
that something wrong with the transmission....that it will cost $4000 to repair...the brakes

...yes " the brakes are all wrong and seized" he said
and it would cost $4K to fix not to mention the transmission!!

he started a claim with Ebay not as described and demanded at least $6000

I offered to provide video surveillance proof of the day the transport of his choice, picked up the car!
never heard from them again!

check out the video below!
here's one for the books:

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=71b_1204028755