Company Response Review Report Review
Don't Believe The Hype

HF Submitted this review about Specialty Mobile Systems
Review made Live: 7/15/2004 5:33:00 PM
I placed an order with SMS to move my car from OH to CA in June 2004. The order was booked over 2 weeks ahead of the move date. I had several offers to move my car that were $100-150 less than Specialty Mobile. The ready date was June 23, 2004. I was explicity told that a pickup date would be set-up before the move and that the chances my car would end up sitting for weeks was highly unlikely. Judging by the ratings here I though I was getting extra service for the money I was spending, however I didn't.

In the end SMS picked the car up 16 days after the ready date on July 8, 2004 and then took another 8 days to deliver the car on July 16, 2004. That's right I waited 23 days for the car to be delivered from the ready date. SMS contracted the move through A1 Autotransport. While the staff at SMS is pleasant and easy to reach by phone, I didn't think talking to them made any difference.

It's hard to imagine why I waited so long. From my discussions with SMS I was offering more $$$ than anyone else in Ohio at the time, yet at least 10 other cars were moved before mine. How was this possible?

In the end, SMS couldn't find anyone to move my car. They even offerred me a new pickup date on July 20 something that was nearly 4 weeks after the original "ready date." In the end, SMS resorted to using a "new" carrier (A1 Auto) to run my car to CA from OH. The guy at SMS told me he was previously unaware that this actually would pick up cars in my area a and take them to CA. This is pretty ridiculous given that my car was located in the same state where SMS is headquartered. I mean your only job is to move cars from point A to point B and you aren't even sure which companies are running which routes, what's the problem here?

In the end, I see no reason to use Specialty Mobile Systems. I would not recommend them nor would I use them again. If I had to do this over, I would have paid extra $$$ for a covered car carrier booked directly through the shipping company.


While all the praise on this site is nice, judging from my experience, I don't know how true it is. Bottom line, Buyer Beware!
Shipment Details
Origin State:
Ohio
Pickup:
Not Provided
Destination State:
California
Delivery:
Not Provided
Customer Service
Honesty:
Knowlegeable:
Promptness:
Customer Service:
Review Details
Quote or Order Id:
Quote or Order Cost:
$940

Company Response
Amy from Specialty Mobile Systems Submitted this response.
Response Date: 7/15/2004 5:33:00 PM
It is unfortunate that the outcome of all vehicle moves is not perfect in every way. We work diligently to assure that factors within our control run as efficiently as possible. Every move is unique and poses different challenges. Specialty Mobile is both a broker and a carrier; however, all moves can not be done solely by our trucks. Even with the rapport we have with other professional carriers’ it is not possible to know all their specific routes. Every move has variables in distance, location and time; therefore our job is not merely determining moving a vehicle from ““point A to point B.”” Our primary function is to provide a safe and secure move. It is also our goal to ensure that the move is completed as promptly as possible. We at Specialty Mobile rely on honesty, integrity, and constant communication with all parties involved. We apologize that this move did not meet the expectations of the customer.