The Real Deal about Moving your Car
John W
Submitted this review about
EZ Auto Movers
Review made Live: 7/20/2008 3:45:00 PM
My Background: First of all my family has been shipping our cars across the country for some time now, typically from NYC to Florida (Naples or West Palm usually). So I knew what I was getting into when I did this. I also have a legal education and I have a relatively good understanding of contracts, how they are formed, what the terms, when they are breached and remides availble to both partie.
My Transaction: I initially dealt with Phil, very knowledgable, and offered me a good quote. Originally the price determined was 1000, he sent me a bid after our phone conversation confirming this, I later called an accepted the bid upon which he sent me confirmation email with document memoralizing the contract. This is the most important document as it has a merger and integration clause, which if you understand what parol evidence in, you will relize that in a court this is the only document that will matter. Your conversations previous to this will mean nothing and are inadmissible in court. Understand this document because this is what you will be bound to.
I found the contract/document to be fair. There are no guarantees on time dates, they merely promise to ship your car as promptly as possible. In realtion to the industry and the price it was not unreasonable (keep in mind the industry you are dealing with - they are brokers, not carriers, and not drivers they never see your car, the driver or the carrier, they merely are a link in the chain of coordinating everything). So as a broker they charged $125 to begin to find me a carrier within the dates and times I wanted. This is thier job, do not for somereason believe that are so intamately involved with this whole transaction that they can discipline the driver for his screw ups or somehow just make them show up when ever you would like - understand reality, and understand the price you are paying (which for me was the same as gas and hotels would have been plus the wear and tear on my car, mind and body).
So I agreed to the terms, fully aware of what everything meant. I was told I would recieve a call around the 8th or 9th. I'm called on the 7th or 8th, spoke with woman. Sandy maybe was her name. She was easy to deal with, not as knowledgable as Phil, but adequate. There was not a driver assigned to me yet, but she did get that done that day, she called me back confirming this within a half hour of my call. Then she called me back a half hour that and asked told me that the current driver wanted $900 to ship my car (Quote was $1000 less the $125 deposit with easy auto was $875) which was a $25 increase. I fully consented to this.
Was this a breach of the contract? NO - they could have easliy have looked and waited to get a driver for $875. But I was more than willing to pay $25 to secure my pick up date and know that I would have my car where I needed. Considering the constant fluxation of gas right now, and it did increase between the date I signed the contrat and the date of pickup, you should exepct this to happen. Its reasonable to expect this at this cost. If the increase was more than $100 maybe I would have been slightly erked, but I probably would still understand, plus I didn't have to pay I could wait. So $25 to not play the waiting game, in light of our economy and fuel prices was well worth it. So far now I have a contract formed, and have a carrier and driver who will be picking up my car.
The day my car was picked up: I was told to expect my car to picked up around noon to 3 P.M. . This was not done. Did this bother me, yes alittle. Did I expect it, Yes (who can predict when someone not employed by them is gonna get through interstate traffic?). Because I expected it did I make myself available all day - Yes. I was contacted by SJO Inc. the carrier around 9:00 P.M., they told me they would pick up my car about 5 blocks from my address. They had transportation back to my house available for me. They arived 2 hours later. The driver was pleasant and easy to deal with. I had a bunch of stuff in my car. Contract calls for up to 150lbs, although SJO told me in California that they only do 75, then I showed them the Ezam Inc. Contract (EZ Auto's corporate name) which said 150lbs, one of the guys laughed at the other and said something along the lines of "he's right 150." They were cool about it anyways. I had stuff in the front seat, back seat and trunk full. Nothing was to be in the front seat. They were not responsible for anything at all, and yes cars on car carriers do get broken into. Mine was not, but had it been it was my burden to bear, no one elses, I took a risk fortunatley wasn't burnt. Should you do this then understand that it is your risk, don't complain if something goes wrong.
So my car was enroute to California. I contacted Phil about halfway through the time (around 7 days was the transport time, I wouldn't be there for 9). My contract stated not be delivered before the 19th of July. The bill of laiding said there were charges for anytime the car was held by the carrier (this did not involve EZ Auto, it was a document from teh carrier to me). I wanted to make sure that I wouldn't be charged for a day or two of holding. Phil called me back in less than 15 minutes, said everything was fine, that the carrier was aware that my car was not to be delivered until that day. When I got to California my car was delivered at 12:30 on the day I had agreed on, all for the price of $1025. I was satisfied with this transaction. I wouldn't say very staisfied, I'm a picky person, If I'm very statisfied I wouldn't to do business with other people, but I wouldn't not do business with ez auto again, they were fair, price was great, customer service was adequate, Phils customer service was exceptional.
My last comments - if you want more security, greater expectations on delivery dates, ship by rail. Watch the price triple when you do this though. Its like anything else in life, what you put into it is what you get, this includes $$$, your own time, being able to work with people, and understanding the situation. If you can take these things into account then you'll have a move at a satisfactory price and time. Remeber what you pay for is what you get in everything, if a deal seems like it is too good to be true, it is. All the people who are knocking this company on this site I imagine are rather ignorant to many things, not just in moving thier cars, but probably many other things. This is business, theses are real people, they are not slaves or servants of yours, they are not at your mercy either so don't treat them like that. If you treat them with respect and respect the logisitics and factors involved they will treat you with respect back and work hard to get the job done for you. They did for me. If you can't do this then pay more and go by rail or accept the consequences of late move or losing your deposit. If you can't accept that, then get a psychiatrist, a box a klenexes and maybe one day you can get rid of both of those and enter reality with everyone else. Lastly thank you Phil and EZ Auto, you gave me what I exepected and most importantly you got the job done, good work.
