Auto Transport is a new industry that has exploded since the advent of a powerful internet. Before the internet, the auto transport industry mainly specialized in transporting vehicles back and forth from Car Manufacturers and Car Dealerships.
But, thankfully, with the power of information that the internet provides, new markets have been created, such as this one. A service that normally would only be provided to large dealerships is now being made accessible to the ordinary person.
Unfortunately, there also is a lot of risk in dealing with such a high stakes industry. AM Express Auto Transport focuses on being the best. We want to provide the best service we can for our customers, and we stand by our “A-” rating in the Better Business Bureau. Which leads me to point 1…
1. Check Your Auto Transporter’s Better Business Bureau Rating
This is the best way to check on your companies legitimacy. If your company doesn’t belong to the Better Business Bureau, then you should definitely begin asking yourself, “why not?”
There are other “unbiased” rating companies, such as Transport Reviews, or others – but, a known secret is that Transport Reviews posts up reviews of paid customers and also will remove bad reviews of their gold and silver rated members.
Also, the power of the internet has drawn closer the information gap between companies. AM Express recommends that you do your homework before choosing an Auto Transport company, and we have the confidence to know that you will see that we are a superior, and honest, company.
2. Upfront Deposits
Unfortunately this little habit of bad Auto Transport companies is really putting a smear across the industry.
It would make sense for a company to ask money upfront to arrange vehicle transport, but some companies are using this as a scheme to get money before providing service, then ignoring customers. If the Auto Transport company you are dealing with asks for an upfront deposit, then we urge you to do a simple search of the company in Google or with the Better Business Bureau.
Again, if you inform a company that you want to do your homework about them, and they use pressure tactics to get you to contract their company, this should raise a huge red flag.
AM Express Auto Transport never asks for upfront deposits until we have actually arranged a driver that will pick up your vehicle.
3. Pressure Tactics
“I have a truck in your neighborhood right now!” or “If you don’t do this now, then you’ll lose out on a great deal!” Are two common phrases among Auto Transport companies that will do whatever it takes to get your money, and deliver as little as possible.
Honest companies will be patient with customers and understanding if they need time to make a decision. There’s a difference between informing you that there is a truck in your neighborhood that can pick up your vehicle, and pressuring you into making a decision on transportation.
4. “Low Ballers”
My mother raised me to believe that any deal too good to be true, probably is. AM Express loses a great deal of clients to Auto Transport companies that offer a “lower price”, only to have the customer call back a week later incensed that their vehicle was never picked up, and they can no longer get in touch with the other company.
To give a slight explanation to the Auto Transport business’ inner workings — most Auto Transport businesses compete with each other to contract a small amount of drivers. It is rare that an Auto Transport company has their own trucks, and when they do, they don’t give outrageously low prices to ship your vehicle.
The low price is the same exact tactic of Bait and Switch scam artists. The Auto Transport company will promise to be able to do the transport for an absurdly low amount and then call you a week or two later saying that to move the vehicle it will take an extra amount of money.
Typically, you’ll find, that extra amount of money will equal to the original quote that an honest company, like AM Express Auto Transport, gave you in the first place.
Except now you’re dealing with a company that not only lied to you, but also put you in a rushed position, and have no choice but to pay out money you may not necessarily have wanted to spend in the first place.
Don’t fall for this trap. Again, check the Auto Transport companies’ Better Business Bureau rating to make sure that you have are dealing with a reputable company.