U-Ship

[mznb1u]

I wanted to get opinions/experiences with U-Ship.  My son went to see his girlfriend in Minneapolis and had some engine problems.  I think the dealership is jerking me around so I want to have the vehicle brought back to my local dealer where I know everyone in the shop.  Before I post an auction, I figured somebody on here must have used it.  How did it go?

Thanks!

  Tim

[mygoose101]

Great. Unfortunately there are many starving shippers out there so it is a buyers market for sure. Use it like e-bay as to read their feedback. It's also very quick as well.

[mznb1u]

I have opened an account on their site but their FAQ or "How It Works" information is extremely lacking.  If I list a shipment and am not happy with the bids, am I required to accept the bid--like on EBay?

Also, are there any other sites I should look at?

THANKS!

  Tim

[mygoose101]

List your item with your to and from Cities. Include a picture, helps. Use a target price that you are willing to pay, I always low ball that figure. Once you list it you will get a couple of automated bids, always extremely high. After that you will get real bids. You don't have to accept any of them. If you get a couple you like then check out the shipper, feedback, etc. If you agree on one you are then required to pay using Paypal and at that point you will get shippers phone number, impossible to get it until you pay, I've tried. Once you pay the shipper still does not get the money until item is in your possession where you would then release the funds to the shipper. Sounds a little complication but it works great.

[Sarman47]

Hi Tim

+ 1 with mygoose101. Great description of the process.

I used them once to see what it would cost to ship a coke machine from Los Angeles, imagine that ............

Jeff

[mznb1u]

Thanks guys!

  Tim

[Ross]

I have had good luck with UShip.  I like the "name your price" option.  You specify the price you are willing to pay and qualified shippers (a certain feedback rating) can accept your bid.  If they accept it, you must take it.  But, I find this is a faster way to get a good bid.  If a shipper wants your load, they are get it. But, they have to be the first to accept--thus it is faster.  This works well for the shipper that has a shipment in your area and want to add on to their load.

[Pixel]

If you agree on one you are then required to pay using Paypal.....

Meh, Paypal.  It's always something. 

[MaineT]

I tried to list a Pepsi 110 a couple of times and couldn't get a reasonable price from Kansas to Maine. Unless you consider $1700 a reasonable price... Yes, that was the automated bid. The auto bids are crazy so basically ignore them.

[Jim]

I'm right in the middle of my first u-ship transaction!
I having a Seeburg 1000 shipped to my uncle's house in PA; should be there later this week...
I'll keep you posted...

[kbareit]

I tried them when needing a couple sliders shipped from Washington state. I got one auto bid of $1200 and nothing else. It's probably hard to find someone coming from Washington to Ohio when I needed them shipped.But I will try them again in the future. I ended up using NAVL and cost me $480.00.

[BONOVOX]

I don't work for FedEx... but I keep saying that its one the better shippers out there!
There are FedEx's at every major city, their rates are really good (I've shipped Ideals, 33's 81's from all over the US to Buffalo....

They are professional, careful, etc.....  and you can get easy quotes online that they stick to their quote.

I've traveled far for many of my machines... wish I started to use FedEx earlier.... sometimes the entire cost of shipping is less than the gas for HALF of ONE WAY
(I had a machine shipped from Texas to Buffalo for 179 !)

[Jeffmon]

I don't work for FedEx... but I keep saying that its one the better shippers out there!
There are FedEx's at every major city, their rates are really good (I've shipped Ideals, 33's 81's from all over the US to Buffalo....

They are professional, careful, etc.....  and you can get easy quotes online that they stick to their quote.

I've traveled far for many of my machines... wish I started to use FedEx earlier.... sometimes the entire cost of shipping is less than the gas for HALF of ONE WAY
(I had a machine shipped from Texas to Buffalo for 179 !)


Ed you never have a problem with weight restrictions ? I agree, FedEx is definitely the way to go for most things shipped, although I believe mznb1u is trying to have a car shipped so I guess this doesn't pertain, but what I was asking is about the weight restrictions, you said you've had 81's shipped via FedEx ? They've always told me that they don't do anything over 150 lbs, and believe me I've tried lol... 

[sc1101]

I shipped my back bar through u ship from Alabama. I also read the reviews and found the person I thought I could trust based on the large number of good reviews. He picked the back bar up and delivered it packaged like it was worth a million dollars and helped put it in my house. To this day he still continues to pick items up all over the US for me. All I have to do is send him a text to get a price. It turned out to be a great experience for me.
On the other hand be careful of STI Delivery. I shipped a very expensive machine through them and it was delivered damaged. I called them up and explained the situation and they told me that they would only pay for damage up to what I payed for the item. I thought that made sense for an item that can be purchased off the shelf. This is not that type of item. I said so what was the purpose of me giving you a declared value when I shipped it? I received no good explanation for that. When I booked the shipment they made it sound like it would be covered for the declared value in case of damage but in actuality its only covered for what you paid for the item.  I explained to her an item can be more valuable then what someone may have payed. She said it didn't matter, they were not paying a penny more than what I paid the seller. My example I then gave to the woman was "So if this item was being donated to a museum for free then you feel that your not responsible for any damages because they paid nothing for it". What BS. After about 4 months of arguing my point they sent me a check in the amount I wanted. So the moral of my story is when using STI don't believe your item is covered for the value you declare. It is only covered for what you payed for the item. Just thought I may save someone some headaches in the future.

[BONOVOX]

First off, yes, sorry I was using machines as an example, yet Tim needs a car shipped.... So, yeah, FedEx is NOT the way to go to ship a car lol.

With that said, FedEx FREIGHT and FedEx are two different companies so to speak.

FedEx ships up to 150 lbs or so... more than that its considered FREIGHT (Less Than Freight ((LTL)).
With Freight you need to put the item in a CLASS (machines are rated a CLASS 85).... so a 300 lb machine is a Class 85 and has a rate different than say a 300 lb rock (as an example) that has a lower class of 30 (ie) so even though they have the same weight and or size.. class determines cost.

Go to FedEx Freight .com for machine quotes....

it gets even cheaper when the item is brought right to the Freight center and then picked up from a Freight center.

[mznb1u]

Thanks for the additional advice.  Jim--I will be interested to hear how your shipment goes.  Ed and Jeff--FedEx and UPS are always my preferred shipper.  I have always been a big fan of UPS since I worked for the University Mail Services when I was a student at the University of Michigan.  UPS never let us down no matter what we were shipping.  In my current line of work, my customers and my company use both UPS and FedEx hundreds of times per day for time critical packages and they never fail.

Unfortunately, neither of them ships vehicles.  I have opened an auction and so far it would appear that I have only received automated bids because they are all much higher than the automated quote feature.  If the auction does not go well, I will probably try out the name your price feature.  We shall see.  I don't need to get the car back here tomorrow but hopefully by the middle of March.  Looks like a new (remanufactured) engine due to an oil pump failure but I will wait to see what my local Chrysler dealer says first.  I think they guys in MN were jerking me around because they knew that my son was stranded and I could not be there to see the vehicle first hand.

They called me on Saturday and said that they had dropped the oil pan and there was no sign of engine damage--just sludge build up that had clogged the oil pick up tube and siezed the oil pump.  The guy's exact words were "The good news is that we dropped the oil pan and there is no sign of any engine damage so it will just require a new oil pump and pick-up tube."  Estimated cost of the job was $1,250 but the parts would not be in until Tuesday. I ran that by the mechanic who works on all of my cars and he said that it sounded correct and that the price was not bad based on the amount of labor involved to change the two parts on a Dodge 3.9L V-6. So I authorized the work.

Then a different guy calls this afternoon and says that they were tearing the car down so it would be ready for the parts tomorrow and they discovered metal shavings and other signs of engine damage in the oil pan.  When I told him what his guy said on Saturday, he pretty much said that he did not know about all that and that he did not think they pulled the oil pan on Saturday--so somebody is lying to me. But he had gotten a couple of quotes for a remanned engine and the cost would be between $5,000 and $5,500.  I told him to put the truck back the way it was when my son brought it in and I would have it picked up.  Now they want to charge me $264 when they told my son that the diagnosis would be no more than $134.  They are supposed to call me back tomorrow to work things out.  No way in hell am I paying for their mis-diagnosis because had they told me the engine was shot on Saturday, I would have not authorized any work.

I checked with the parts manager at my local dealership and he can get a remanned engine for $1,600 that they would retail for $2,100.  The dealership in MN is quoting 20 plus hours of labor and between $2,400 and $2980 for the engine.  I am not a certified mechanic but I changed an engine on my friends car--there were three of us who had no idea what we were doing--and it did not take anywhere near 20 hours.  And yes, the car did run!  Anyway, had these guys played it straight, they would have gotten my business.  I don't care if it costs me more to get the car back here and have the work done locally.  At least, I know it will be done by guys who are honest and do good work.  Sorry to vent but I had to get it off my chest.

  Tim

PS--I will keep you posted on the progress of the auction.

[davethebirdman]

"Shipping Wars" is one of my favourite TV Shows. Lets hope you don't get Jarrod turn up and ship that cars of yours. Nice but Dim.

Watch out for Roy too, he 's an arse...

[mznb1u]

If Roy shows up I will be more than a bit concerned because he passed away from a heart attack last month!  I guess if I had to have somebody from that show deliver my truck back to me it would be Jennifer.  She seems like she is very qualified and an excellent driver. Not too hard on the eyes either!

  Tim

[BONOVOX]

Wow, I did not hear about Roy's death!  Too bad.

As for Jennifer, I agree with you Tim.... very easy on the eyes 
I like it when her truck hits a bump 

 

[SIGNGUY]

I've used it 3-4 times so far, but most of those are with the same guy and interstate... but was good

[sc1101]

 Did either of you guys have something picked up by Jennifer lately? Not sure if one of you gave her the package but If so I just want to let you know shes going to make a delivery of a different kind. Shes Pregnant!!    She's my favorite also!

[MoonDawg]

       Tim, when you say the "Dealership", do you mean the Chrysler dealership? If so, that is the biggest broblem so far.They seem to think they have the service market cornered. You could have it towed to an independant mechanic that needs your business. A few metal shavings is not evidence enough for me to determine that the whole engine is shot.
       If it is, could your parts guy order the engine and have it shipped directly to them? Have you priced low milage used engines from wrecking yards in that area? And it seems like the money you will pay for shipping would be better spent directly on the vehicle.

[MoonDawg]

       My brother used U-ship to bring a motorcycle from Washington to California. The best rate he got was from a company that only deals in motorcycle transport.
       A vehicle would best be shipped in a multi-vehicle transport truck. Unfortunately without being able to drive it on or off the trailer they would decline and you are back to the tow truck dillema.
      Can you drive up there and rent a car trailer or tow dolly to bring it back?

[Sarman47]

If Roy shows up I will be more than a bit concerned because he passed away from a heart attack last month!  I guess if I had to have somebody from that show deliver my truck back to me it would be Jennifer.  She seems like she is very qualified and an excellent driver. Not too hard on the eyes either!

  Tim

+ 1 on Jennifer Tim.......... My favourite as well.

Unfortunately there are good and bad dealerships.

Personally I would be cutting open the oil filter to see what's inside.

Jeff

[davethebirdman]

Oh No,. not Roy.. He was secretly my favourite. Would love to tell people what I really thought but wouldn't work too well in my job.

Lets hope he's pushing that big rig in the sky..

[mznb1u]

      Tim, when you say the "Dealership", do you mean the Chrysler dealership? If so, that is the biggest broblem so far.They seem to think they have the service market cornered. You could have it towed to an independant mechanic that needs your business. A few metal shavings is not evidence enough for me to determine that the whole engine is shot.
       If it is, could your parts guy order the engine and have it shipped directly to them? Have you priced low milage used engines from wrecking yards in that area? And it seems like the money you will pay for shipping would be better spent directly on the vehicle.

Moondawg--I hear ya!   I know everyone at my local Chrysler dealership from the porters to the owner and they always take good care of me.  I have bought my cars and done most if not all of my service there for 20 plus years and they have a specific mechanic who works on all of my vehicles.  This truck was a new (used) vehicle to me and unfortunately, it has crapped out away from home.  On the other hand, I don't know the dealer in MN from Adam.  I also do not have any contacts in MN and if I had the work done up there and there were warranty issues then where am I?  That is why I want to get the car back to guys I can trust who are not going to replace the engine unless it needs it.  My best friend at the local dealership is the parts manager so I typically get my parts at cost plus a minor mark-up.  I coached the Service Manager's kid in junior football so she always discounts the labor as well.

The real challenge is finding a shipper.  I have some decent quotes from U-Ship and have been mulling those over.  I just remembered today that a friend of mine works for an auto transport company and I have a call into him to see if he can assist.

Then I made the mistake of requesting a quote through a website called American Auto Shipping.  To get a quote, you had to enter your email and phone number.  That was about 15 minutes ago and I have already gotten 4 calls including a guy who reminded me of the car salesmen of the past.  He hands me over to the dispatcher to see if "we can get you a better deal" and then this guy gets on the phone with the hard press closing tactics.  Sheesh!  I am in sales so I appreciate his position but after telling him nicely several times that I was not going to make a decision based on his call without checking him out, I finally had to tell him to email and I will call him.  He tried to get a time to call back and I reiterated that I would call him!  Mygoose101 was correct--there must be a lot of hungry truckers out there!

In any event, when the truck gets back here we will decide if we go with a re-manned engine or a salvage engine.  Or hope of all hopes--an oil pump and pick up tube!

Quite an adventure!

  Tim

PS:  sc101--It wasn't me!

[Jim]

To follow-up on my first U-Ship transaction, my uncle received his Seeburg 1000 without a problem!

[mznb1u]

As it turns out, a cousin of one of my friends works for an auto transport company.  They quoted a price that was inline with what I was getting on UShip plus I know a guy who works there if something goes wrong.  Probably could have saved $100 and went with a company on UShip, but I think this is the safest route.

Thanks again for the input.

Tim