Company Response Review Report Review
Can you say coercion?

Jason T Submitted this review about AmeriFreight Car Shipping
Review made Live: 9/17/2010 10:15:00 AM
There's a reason why Amerifreight has (by far) the lowest quotes in the business: You don't end up paying what was quoted! You are told that the vehicle will cost a certain amount, that it will be picked up within a reasonable time frame, you sign the contract, then wait... and wait... and wait. I chose the 5 day pickup window option, but 17 days after the window opened my vehicle had yet to be picked up. A week after my pickup date closed (and with my vehicle essentially abandoned on a neighborhood street on the other side the country) I was informed that I had three options:

1. Continue to wait for a driver to pick up the contract (which was $100 below the "going rate")
2. Increase the amount by $100 to achieve consistency with the going rate (why even have an contracted agreement for the amount ahead of time!)
3. Cancel the contract and find someone else to transport the vehicle.

Hmmm... hurry up and wait for more of nothing to happen while I sat in my house across the country without my vehicle, pay more, or start over (which likely meant waiting a minimum of another 2-3 weeks to get my vehicle; I had a new job to start and couldn't delay my vehicle any further). Amerifreight put me between a rock and a hard place and I ended up forking over another $100. The vehicle was picked up by a driver immediately after I agreed to pay more (the next day). Shocker. When I questioned them about this, I was told to refer to the fine print in the contract. Here's what the email said:

"I understand from your email that you said you felt forced to pay $100; however, on our order form it shows that you had read and agreed to the terms of the Economy rate. This does state that if your vehicle isn’t picked up within 5 days, you as the customer would have the options of continuing to wait, adding money, or cancel with a full refund. I apologize for not understanding your request for a refund of the additional money, when that was explained with the Economy order. If we have done something wrong, then we definitely want to make it right; however, currently your order was dealt with just as every Economy order post-5 days."

Every order beyond the five day pickup window is either required to keep on waiting (months?), pay more, or cancel. I wonder how hard these folks work to secure a driver after the window closes. I can tell they get right to work as soon as you pay more, however.

To top it off, Amerifreight offers you a rebate if your review on this website meets their requirements. When you're motivated to recover some of that extra money you didn't anticipate paying, it's much easier to write a "positive" review. I, however, am not interested in meeting Amerifreight's requirements for a rebate. Instead, I'll eat the $30 to let you know to be careful about hiring these folks, how much you agree to pay and how much you may actually pay, and what time line you choose. Amerifreight may have tons of good reviews, but I'm skeptical of them. Remember, they are paying people to write good reviews.

By the way, there's a check box next to the button to submit this review. It reads: "Being paid to submit this reivew?" Check yes if "I have or expect to be compensated by Amerifreight for submitting this reivew." I wonder why Transport Reviews.com includes this only for Amerfireight? Could it be because Amerifreight is the only company that pays for positive reivews? I do not expect to be compensated for this review because it will not likely meet the requirements for "reimbursement" by Amerifreight.

I'll never use Amerifrieght again.
Shipment Details
Origin State:
Nevada
Pickup:
Late
Destination State:
Massachusetts
Delivery:
Early
Customer Service
Honesty:
Knowlegeable:
Promptness:
Customer Service:
Review Details
Quote or Order Id:
920402519
Quote or Order Cost:
$985

Company Response
AmeriFreight from AmeriFreight Car Shipping Submitted this response.
Response Date: 9/17/2010 4:07:00 PM
We are always disappointed when a customer is unsatisfied with their experince with AmeriFreight. Our Economy rate is our standby rate. It is not a guaranteed rate. Our Shipping Agents will state that and it is explained on the Order Form. Economy rate is ideal for those who want to first try to ship at a lower rate and have the time flexibility to wait. If after 5 business days there is still not a carrier secured, AmeriFreight adds money to the price offered to the carrier. As the customer stated in the review, the customer then has the options to wait, upgrade to a guaranteed rate, add money in increments, or cancel. No deposit is charged until a carrier is secured. Carriers are willing to pickup the Economy priced vehicles when they have a spot or two to fill to complete a load. We offer every customer the opportunity for a rebate. Our goal is for every customer to leave a review. Customers will receive a rebate even if it is a bad review if we are given an opportunity to fix where we messed up. The questions for reviews are standard for all companies...including if a customer is being compensated for the review.