HORSELESS CARRIAGE or should I say USELESS CARRIAGE | FerrariChat
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HORSELESS CARRIAGE or should I say USELESS CARRIAGE

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by kole, Aug 3, 2010.

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  1. kole

    kole Formula Junior

    Aug 27, 2005
    334
    #1 kole, Aug 3, 2010
    Last month, I contracted with the transporter of the famed mark to transport my Land Rover from Texas to Virginia. The car left Texas in pristine condition, and arrived with a diagonal scratch measuring more than a foot over the left door. At first, the driver tried to lie - "they gave it to me that way" but had to back down when I pointed out to him that the manifest showed it left in pristine condition. Now, it got scary. The driver then proceeded to tell me that even Ferraris that were transported got scratched in transit, and they would pull over and get it "fixed" before delivery to the customer - simply reporting a delay. Fixed means at a local paint shop - not a Ferrari dealer!. Apparently this happens often enough that there are touch up shops everywhere across the US that they use. I was horrified. When I asked whether owners noticed, he proceeded to tell me that most were too excited to get their car they did not check it properly. Hardly anyone even looked under the car for scuffs or damage - amazing.

    After some persuasion, the driver grudgingly agreed to take the car back to Land Rover in Texas. Days later, the car had not arrived. Apparently, they had tried to take the car to a local body shop to see if they could buff it out - proof of the behavior no doubt!

    Land Rover in Texas were superb. They got in touch with useless carriage and insisted the car come back to them. They even offered to replace the damaged door with a new one to be sure I got the new car I had paid for. Useless carriage refused to take the car down for more than a week. Even though the repair would not have cost them money, and they could have included the car with other transport at close to no cost to them, they insisted on being paid for delivering a damaged car! Many calls were made to Useless carriage by Land Rover but they could not speak with the owner.

    Did any of you know this company changed hands over a year ago? Do you know the new management has no interest in quality work? When they eventually reached the dispatcher, he refused to involve the owner because they were related by family. Amazing!!! He then proceeded to confirm what the driver had intimated. When he was told that Ferrari would be informed of their quality - he apparently scoffed and laughed citing that Ferrari were too lazy to care about any of this and that owner complaints were irrelevant. He alluded to some kind of sweet backhand deal. Obviously, that part of the story could not be confirmed, and I did not believe that.

    Finally, the car made its way back to Land Rover in Texas where they fixed it by replacing the entire door. Useless carriage were not to be trusted with the transport back to Virginia. I found another company. The moral of this story is beware of who you trust your car to. I shall certainly be writing to Ferrari so they are aware of this incident even though it did not involve one of their cars. I am sure they do not want their cars delivered and "touched up" or perhaps "botched up" before being delivered to their customers, nor do I expect they would be happy to learn of the callous disregard this company has for the property of others.
     
  2. MBFerrari

    MBFerrari F1 Veteran

    Jul 2, 2008
    6,057
    NoVA
    Full Name:
    Matt B
    #2 MBFerrari, Aug 3, 2010
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2010
    Sorry to hear about that. Consider us.

    MB
     
  3. sparta49

    sparta49 F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Mar 3, 2001
    7,804
    LA
    Full Name:
    Frank
    #3 sparta49, Aug 3, 2010
    If it was a scratch and not a dent why would they replace the entire door?
     
  4. kole

    kole Formula Junior

    Aug 27, 2005
    334
    #4 kole, Aug 4, 2010
    The scratch was so deep it had got down to the bare metal. To strip the clear coat off the door and refinish an entire door would devalue greatly the price of the car. The optimum replacement was a new door - which was a generous offer from Land Rover
     
  5. kole

    kole Formula Junior

    Aug 27, 2005
    334
    #5 kole, Aug 4, 2010
    Definitely next time! I suggest you let others know more about your service and provide testimonials
     
  6. mousecatcher

    mousecatcher Formula 3

    Dec 18, 2007
    2,116
    san mateo, ca
    #6 mousecatcher, Aug 4, 2010
    thanks for the report. it's rare that someone names names when pointing out bad service.

    i always use thomas sunday. on the last transport my car was damaged and the driver pointed it out. i wouldn't have even noticed. he offered to fix it but i just took care of it.
     
  7. SrfCity

    SrfCity F1 World Champ

    Nov 1, 2003
    10,142
    Orange County, CA
    #7 SrfCity, Aug 4, 2010
    I'm surprised the guy would fess up to their shenanigans? There'll probably be a few out there that will rethink their up and coming transport to Monterey if they've booked these guys.
     
  8. thecarreaper

    thecarreaper F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 30, 2003
    17,957
    Savannah
    #8 thecarreaper, Aug 4, 2010
    good to know, i will be sure NOT TO USE THEM.
     
  9. ace_pilot

    ace_pilot Formula Junior

    Sep 6, 2007
    919
    Long Island, NY
    Full Name:
    George
    #9 ace_pilot, Aug 4, 2010
    I feel for you. Had a similar story from another family member who used a cheaper service and had a dent in the door from delivery. They confessed to the dent afterwards.

    I still am not sure why they would replace an entire door. Do the doors come painted? Don't they have to painted it anyway or is this a new car.

    Ace
     
  10. of2worlds

    of2worlds F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 6, 2004
    17,513
    ON
    Full Name:
    CH
    #10 of2worlds, Aug 4, 2010
    Certainly a sad state of affairs. Sorry to hear about your Land Rover shipping experience. Hopefully others will learn from your experience...
    CH
     
  11. HotShoe

    HotShoe F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 3, 2008
    8,587
    Lake Worth, FL
    Full Name:
    Anthony Lauro
    #11 HotShoe, Aug 4, 2010
    Intercity.

    We have used them a minimum of at least five times a year for the past ten years. ZERO issues.
     
  12. REMIX

    REMIX Two Time F1 World Champ

    May 25, 2005
    21,133
    Jacksonville & Sarasota
    #12 REMIX, Aug 4, 2010
    Wow, years ago I used Horseless. I always felt they were the standard. Too bad they've gone downhill. Maybe someone ought to send this thread to them. Ferrari Chat is certainly NOT the place you want all this mentioned. Sounds like a bunch of scammers now.

    Don't worry, my feeling is this kind of news travels fast in collector circles and eventually they'll be transporting POS cars to junkyards before they completely go under.

    RMX
     
  13. drgek

    drgek Formula 3

    Jun 21, 2004
    1,142
    Full Name:
    Gary
    #13 drgek, Aug 4, 2010
    Wow, and to think FNA has been using them to deliver new cars to the dealers. Pathetic. Would never do business with such a company.
     
  14. Ferraripilot

    Ferraripilot F1 World Champ
    Owner Project Master

    May 10, 2006
    17,745
    Atlanta
    Full Name:
    John!
    #14 Ferraripilot, Aug 4, 2010
    I have found the success of my auto shipping experience to be entirely dependant on the driver in question. For the most part, THERE IS A REASON THESE GUYS ARE TRUCK DRIVERS. I have had a couple good experiences with one high end shipping company in particular, but that's all. Contact me for further details. The rest have been garbage and the person is better off driving the car themselves than using one of these yahoos.
     
  15. BT

    BT F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Mar 21, 2005
    15,291
    FL / GA
    Full Name:
    Bill Tracy
    #15 BT, Aug 4, 2010
    I would try to contact Matt Brown first (MBFerrari) for your future transportation needs. He is based in the D.C. area and is a quality person / company to deal with (even though he hopes Ohio State beats Miami this September)...
    GO CANES!
    :)
    BT
     
  16. switchcars

    switchcars Formula 3

    Jul 28, 2005
    2,223
    Full Name:
    Doug
    #16 switchcars, Aug 4, 2010
    It is not about having ZERO issues with a transport company, it is about how they handle it WHEN an issue comes up....as they do, occasionally, no matter who you use.
     
  17. Highlow

    Highlow F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 3, 2006
    5,531
    LA
    Full Name:
    Tyler
    #17 Highlow, Aug 4, 2010
    +1

    That's what shows their true character.
     
  18. REMIX

    REMIX Two Time F1 World Champ

    May 25, 2005
    21,133
    Jacksonville & Sarasota
    #18 REMIX, Aug 4, 2010
    Yeah but it would seem a hell of a lot easier (not to mention cheaper and less time consuming) to just take care of the vehicles when they're being either loaded or unloaded. It just doesn't make good business sense to spend time and money having things fixed when doing it the right way to begin with would save a lot of headache.

    How do these people have the money to purschase a business like this when they're so obviously stupid? I cannot go around acting that dumb or I'd be homeless.

    RMX
     
  19. kole

    kole Formula Junior

    Aug 27, 2005
    334
    #19 kole, Aug 4, 2010
    This was a brand new car and they did not wish to depreciate its value by painting it. Actually, it is an autobiography sport - which is a limited edition of only 250 made
     
  20. stuckinkuwait

    stuckinkuwait Formula Junior

    Jul 25, 2004
    630
    Northern New Jersey
    Full Name:
    Lenny S
    #20 stuckinkuwait, Aug 4, 2010
    Go with Intercity and you will never go wrong!
     
  21. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
    Staff Member Admin Miami 2018 Owner Social Subscribed

    Dec 1, 2000
    63,288
    Southlake, TX
    Full Name:
    Rob Lay
    #21 rob lay, Aug 4, 2010
    a FerrariChat.com sponsor at that.

    actually, why did you use anyone else? ;)
     
  22. zeke_dog9

    zeke_dog9 Karting

    Jun 3, 2005
    144
    Texas baby
    #22 zeke_dog9, Aug 4, 2010
    so simple and true but yet so difficult. i never understand when these things happen.
    why is it so hard to find great service in many aspects of life? don't people care about
    what they do for a living. do your best is how i was raised, but i guess that is not true for many. sorry to hear about your troubles, at least the dealer cared enough to make it right.
     
  23. WCH

    WCH F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Mar 16, 2003
    5,181
    #23 WCH, Aug 4, 2010
    Have used HC several times before, but will not use them again. Thanks for the report.
     
  24. marco246

    marco246 Formula Junior

    Mar 25, 2004
    288
    Hawaii
    Full Name:
    Mark
    #24 marco246, Aug 4, 2010
    I'll be moving a car from A to B starting next week and am using Intercity Lines. They are an FChat sponsor and provide members a discount. All the preliminaries have been handled very professionally, and I expect no difficulties. We shall see.
     
  25. Ducman491

    Ducman491 Formula 3

    Apr 9, 2004
    1,591
    Mentor OH
    Full Name:
    Jason
    #25 Ducman491, Aug 4, 2010
    Doug is right, everyone makes mistakes. It is how you recover from them that matters. How many mistakes have HC covered up and the owner never knew about it. Maybe the paintwork was noticed months later and now the original seller has been blamed for misrepresenting the car. If HC had handled this properly there would have been no post and no problem.
     
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