Company Response Review Report Review
Better off to drive your car

Steve Submitted this review about Specialty Mobile Systems
Review made Live: 11/23/2006 12:14:00 AM
This was probably the worst experience of my life. I chose to use Specialty Mobile Systems based on the favorable reviews posted on this website, even though they were about $200 higher than the other quotes I received. They brokered the shipping of my Infiniti G35 to Quality Auto Shipping Inc. of Temecula CA for the transport from California to Pennsylvania. It was a disaster from the start. The pick up was sceduled for 4:00 PM on Tuesday. I left work early to meet the truck, but it was a no show. I received a call that night about 10:00 PM to say they were still coming. We decided that it would be too late, so they asked to schedule the pick up for 5:00 AM the next morning. I thought that was too early, and could they come at 7:00 AM instead. We agreed on that. The next morning I stayed home from work to meet the truck driver, who was nowhere to be found AGAIN. Several phone calls to Quality Auto Shipping confirmed that they couldn't find their driver either. He wasn't answering his cell phone, and they had no idea where he was. Finally at 10:00 AM I gave up and went to work. I received a call that afternoon to inform me that they had located their driver, but he was stuck in traffic somewhere??. We rescheduled the pick up for the next morning, and he finally came and got the car. I was a little uneasy about the driver, but went ahead and let him load up the car anyway.
They estimated that it would take approximately 7-10 days to make the trip, depending on their other stops. That was when things really went bad. The truck and driver went missing with my car and nine others. They had no idea where he was. After about a week and a half, I received a call from Quality Auto wondering if my car was equipped with a GPS locater, to help them track down their truck. Unfortunately, it was not. Apparently though, they had every law enforcement agency on the lookout for the missing truck loaded with cars. After several days, they received a call from the driver demanding money. He was holding the truck and everyone's cars for ransom. They even flew to Philadelphia to try and find the guy. I could go on for hours about this, but to make a long story short, they finally caught up with the guy, and recovered the truck and the cars.
After they flew in a replacement driver from California, we finally received our car about four weeks later. And after all that, there was severe damage to the car. It appears as if it were on top of the trailer, and the truck got into some tree branches or something. There are numerous dents in the top of the car, the sunroof is leaking like crazy, and the entire car will have to be repainted. The body shop estimate was approximately $5500.00 for the repairs. We are still awaiting a settlement with their insurance company, two months later.
Anyone considering shipping their car cross country, I would think long and hard about driving it, as I would NEVER do this again.

<b>UPDATE</b>
An update to my posting on 11/23/06: After finally receiving my car with severe damage, I am as of today still fighting for compensation for damage. As for Specialtiy Mobile Systems' claims that everyone is doing all they can: WHAT A CROCK!!!!!! This has been going on for almost seven months now. Quality Auto Shipping offered to settle the claim for about 1/3 of the cost for repairs. I am awaiting a court appearance in June to hopefully finally settle this. Avoid these companies at all costs!
Shipment Details
Origin State:
California
Pickup:
Late
Destination State:
Pennsylvania
Delivery:
Late
Customer Service
Honesty:
Knowlegeable:
Promptness:
Customer Service:
Review Details
Quote or Order Id:
0608170085
Quote or Order Cost:
$1195

Car Condition
  • Vehicle was dirty
  • Vehicle was damaged
Company Response
Amy from Specialty Mobile Systems Submitted this response.
Response Date: 8/4/2008 5:11:00 PM
We at Specialty Mobile feel horrible for this customer, and other customers that were victim to this driver. I have talked extensively to Lorraine at Quality about this situation. Quality has went, and is continuing to go above and beyond in personally dealing with an issue of this caliber. The insurance company is handling the claim of damages to this customer