Despite the price I paid, this was an AMAZING service!
Michelle "WORKED" this move! I was thoroughly impressed!
My move was originally scheduled with Crowley Auto Transport on 9/17/09 and TO THIS DAY, (10/22/09), I STILL HAVEN"T HEARD A WORD FROM THEM!!!!! When I did contact them about 10 days later, they let me know that they underbid it and weren't having any luck getting anyone to move it, although THEY supposedly are also a carrier!
The vehicle I purchased (on eBay) needed to be picked up in order to prevent it from being towed and having storage charges add up because the seller HAD to get rid of it, due to it having expired tags. The vehicle is a High-Top Conversion van that MOST told me they couldn't move or were also into the mid to upper 4 figures. (I did have a quote of $1000 from another company who assured me the quote was "reasonable" and would allow the vehicle to get picked up so I did place an order with them as well).
So, at the time I scheduled with Cascade, I had 3 carriers contracted to move the vehicle and I was going with whoever got it done the quickest.
The day I talked to Cascade, Michelle had actually quoted me a lower price. Later that same day, Michelle began blowing my phone up, to let me know she had a carrier that could pick the van up the next day! Needless to say, I didn't believe her, considering how long I'd been waiting with Crowley. She also stated that the vehicle would be delivered, 4 days later, ALL THE WAY ACROSS COUNTRY! (Of course, I didn't believe that either). She then dropped the bomb that the price was quite a bit higher. (Ahhh, there was the catch, I thought). The big selling piont though, was the fact that I HAD to get the vehicle moved and Cascade doesn't accept EVEN A PENNY until the vehicle is actually picked up, unlike most others who either want all of the money upfront, or, want what is essentially, a non-refundable deposit. I also believed that they wouldn't be able to deliver on the pickup date and SURELY, Crowley would get to the vehicle before them. So, I told her to go ahead and cement the order. The news was reporting some pretty nasty weather in the Northeast the day the vehicle was supposed to be picked up (10/12/09) by Cascade's carrier and as a result, he didn't pick it up the day she told me. However, he was there the next day (10/13/09) and he DID deliver the van to me, 4 days later just as she stated he would do, (though, logically, one day after Michelle told me I would get it)!
While I had NO INTENTION of paying that much to have this vehicle shipped, the fact is, two other carriers had it scheduled AT LEAST 10 DAYS PRIOR. Michelle had it picked up within a couple of days, of our initial contact! I was also in a pinch to get it moved since I wasn't sure if I could drive it across country, though that was my next plan of action since I had to get it out of the hands, and off the property of, the former owner.
The van showed up on the top rack of a standard car carrier which MOST carriers told me it wouldn't fit on due to its height, (and was the reason they all gave me for the higher shipping price. I now know I should have never told any of them that it was a high-top conversion van and could have gotten "standard" van pricing as the vehicle sat lower than the highest point on the back of the truck that pulled the carrier).
The driver that delivered the van was VERY personable and from the pictures I saw of it on ebay, it looked good upon arrival.
The reason for the well deserved rating I'm giving to Cascade is, from the time I first spoke to Michelle and explained my dilemma to her, she stated how diligently she would work to get my vehicle picked up, and CLEARLY followed through on her word! And though I gave her my credit card information upfront, my card was NOT charged, until AFTER the vehicle was confirmed to be ON the carrier, not just "dispatched" out, (which is the point where most others will charge you and have about a 20 day window "from the date they tell you they'll have it picked up", to actually pick it up without refunding your deposit). Also, the vehicle was delivered in the 4 days she said it would be, ALL THE WAY from one coast to the other. I now wish I could remember the name of the actual carrier so I could recommend that Cascade ENSURE they continue to use them as that's the best service one could ask for going coast to coast, even though I wasn't pressed to receive it. My urgency was getting it picked up.
THANK YOU MICHELLE!!!!
And though Michelle did tell me that they would reimburse me $50 for posting a review, I didn't mark that block on this review so others could read it as trusted feedback. You CAN contact me for verification. I DO NOT work for or otherwise have any affiliation or interest in Cascade. The review above is 100% my true experience with them. The $1500 shipping fee let's you know this CAN'T be a "paid endorsement". (Actually, I'm still a little pissed about that - but, I have Crowley to thank for that)!!!!
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND USING THIS COMPANY and would DEFINITELY use them again. If you can, I'd recommend also, that you ask for Michelle. Not saying that others there don't have the same work ethic, but I have to believe, she raised or set the bar!
