That door to door shipping quote went from $900 to $2200 after they picked up my car

I booked a transporter through a broker for my old Civic from Phoenix to Seattle, they quoted $900 firm. On pickup day the driver showed up and said the broker lied about the route and it was actually $2200 cash or he was leaving my car in the driveway. Has anyone else dealt with a bait and switch like this on a cross country haul?

2 comments

2 Comments

angelac631mo ago

Nah, "common scam" is a bit generous - it's basically the standard operating procedure for a lot of these sketchy brokers. They know the driver can just walk away and leave you stranded, so they bank on you folding under pressure. Next time, maybe pay a bit more upfront for a company with a solid rep instead of playing this stupid gamble.

fiona_sullivan291mo ago

Must be a pretty common scam in this industry from what I've read online, the broker lowballs you to get the booking then hands it off to a driver who demands a lot more on pickup day. A buddy of mine had almost the same thing happen with a load from Denver to Portland just last year, had to pay the extra $1500 or his furniture was stuck at the terminal. Next time it might be worth checking reviews specifically about hidden fees and asking for the carrier's direct contact before the truck shows up.