I'm angry with my car shippers now...

I paid $7000 to have two vehicles shipped from Hungary to Tacoma. I feel like I've filled out way too much paperwork, there have been too many delays, and now it's looking like the cars are going to be delivered to the wrong address and no one can even tell me when that is going to happen. I'm thinking that I should at least ask for a partial refund because of all this.

The skinny:

• paperwork: I filled out a crap-ton of paperwork when the shipping was scheduled and paid for. I filled out most of that paperwork again when my case was handed over from "Peter" at SEFCO to "Elizabeth" at Clearfreight to "handle my european needs". I filled out that paperwork AGIAN when my case was handed from "Elizabeth" at Clearfreight to "Robert" at FCL Marine when the container got stuck in Slovenia and again with "Robert" when a GRM member gave me corporate sponsorship to expedite the process with Slovenian customs. This is all while US customs is sending me paperwork to prepare for the container's eventual arrival. In short, if I did all the paperwork, why did I pay them?

• Delays: Original ETA was January 21st in Tacoma. The car was delayed one month in Slovenia because of customs issues. There was a GRM thread about it, and the short version is a GRM member used his company as a sponsor for my shipment to expedite the process. Then there was another delay in Italy because a US customs agent wanted an "open container inspection" and the container missed it's ride. It was eventually moved to another boat and THAT boat was delayed 5-more days off the US cost for unknown reasons. Soon there will be another "Intensive Exam Inspection" delay by US Customs when it arrives.

• The wrong address etc: When I asked for a quote in August 2013 it was to Puyallup as I didn't own my house yet, but still wanted a price. When the booking was made it was to Tacoma because that is where my house is. Someone at SEFCO goofed and must have entered the Puyallup address in, even though all the paperwork specifically said "T-A-C-O-M-A". Don't know how that happened, but it's not an easy issue for me to work around.

• I'm being told TODAY that the truck company wont deliver to ANY residential address because there are "no loading docks". My container lands tomorrow and I'm just now being told this. The original quote was "door-to-door" with no mention of loading docks (there was a GRM thread about that subject too). Now I'm being advised to go find a loading ramp. (there is adequate access for a container bearing truck at my house)

• Time frame: No one can tell me when to expect my container. I was told today that it lands tomorrow, I was also told today that it is pending release after an "Intensive Exam" but no one can tell me how long it will take to go from customs to my house. That means I have to line up a tow truck company, find a loading ramp, and ask for a day off of work all without knowing WHEN TO DO SO.

So ye of GRM, please give me direction. What would you do, and how would you go about doing it?

Thanks for reading,

-Bill

Local freight shipping hub will be easy for everyone to find and get to, and will have a loading ramp.

I may have an "in" with a fork-lift mechanic at a Fred Meyers warehouse in Puyallup. I left a message on his phone, but I can't really hope for too much there...

I think what I might do is drive around the industrial area of Tacoma tomorrow and see what I can see. Maybe knock on a door or two and shake a couple hands?

The truck is not going to have the equipment to set down the container, hence the need for a loading dock. I got caught out by that too,when I shipped my bikes over from the UK.

Yeah, when they quoted me "door to door" I was skeptical. I even made a thread on GRM to double check before going through with payment. I don't remember who suggested it, but I was told that usually you can back a flat-bed tow truck to the container to get the cars out and down to the ground. (I still think this idea would work the best)

I used that idea with some success in Hungary where we used a tow truck to winch the vehicles up a loading ramp. I figured since everything was smaller there (the flat bed held my Impala by mere inches) that it was still a viable solution for when the cars got here. Heck, I think I even mentioned the plan to the shippers (and they made no mention then that I might have the wrong idea).

I dunno, I guess if they had told me about the "ok it's not really 'door-to-door'" part any earlier (from the get-go would have been nice) I'd be a little less irritated. But this "oh yeah, by the way..." stuff on the night before is getting really old.

Tim, aside from the loading dock did you have issues like this when you shipped your motorcycles? I mean I have a file about 2 inches thick (no joke) with papers I had to fill out to get these things here.

Here's a thought. A heavy duty roll-back tow truck is close in height to the back of a container truck, and they often have a stiff-leg on the rear that can raise the bed more. Call a local heavy duty towing company and have them meet you with said roll-back truck at your place. Tell the shipper you have a portable dock ramp on-site.

If the towing company is close to where you live maybe they could do the whole operation in their yard for a lower price.

One other thought. Full containers can be shipped on low boy trailers and dropped on a site. Probably costs more, but may solve some problems.

IMO, you should get something back from the shippers because they have failed to deliver the service that they promised.

Let see- Several different nations worth of customs officials, teamsters in Europe handing off to a shipyard full of longshoremen, handing off to sailors, handing off to another yard full of longshoremen who then give it to some teamsters.

What could possibly go wrong?

Welcome to international shipping. We imported LED signs and stuff from China and ran into these issues on a daily basis, even from companies who exported everything they made.

I think Contacting a towing company and sending the semi to their yard is a really good idea, or maybe a heavy equipment rental company - they often have roll-backs for delivery and large yards. If you find an amenable towing company you might even be able to leave your keys with them and have them handle it whenever it arrives given the mystery of the delivery schedule. They should know cars and be used to handling customer vehicles in a responsible manner.

Yeah, who am I kidding. I'd be standing there the minute they open the container doors, just for piece of mind.

I wouldn't expect to get anything back from the shipping company. They've got you over a barrel and they know it. Same with customs inspections. We had shipments delayed over a month sitting in customs waiting for inspec, and they had all the right papers.

Hungary Bill wrote: Tim, aside from the loading dock did you have issues like this when you shipped your motorcycles? I mean I have a file about 2 inches thick (no joke) with papers I had to fill out to get these things here.

My file was a lot thinner for three old motorcycles, but other than the surprise re getting the container, it was reasonably smooth once it had cleared customs. The customs agent selected by my shipper was super helpful, so that wasn't that big a deal.

I did have the short notice delivery as well, I'm beginning to think that's normal because the shipping company doesn't really know how long customs is going to sit on the containers. Once they're cleared they'd normally want them out of the port as quickly as possible - I had to pay them something like $50/day to hold onto my container for the weekend so I had time to build a ramp for the bikes.

I'm still toying with the idea of having a friend in the UK source a car for me and have it shipped over, but for that I'd be looking at something I can pick up at the port and drive home, rather than shipping a car that doesn't run as that complicates matters considerably.

Call a couple towing companies and ask what they recommend. Being near a port there is someone there that does this regularly. I did it fairly often for a moving company that did many overseas moves. Most trucks will be a few inches low. I had a small stack of 2x12s I would back the trucks rear wheels onto to make up the difference.

Screw the rollback idea, you should be able to access a dock from a local business for a round of beers.

Well, it took me from 7am to 11am, but I got a local towing company on standby. They're fine with meeting me at a commercial location or at my residential. I found a moving company "World Wide Movers" and they were the only people who said "sure" when I asked for help. They are asking for $50 per vehicle to use their facilities. I figure that'd be no problem, especially as I didn't find any other options.

Now the trucking company wants to charge me extra for the "Puyallup versus Tacoma" screwup. I haven't been given a number yet, but I'm of the thinking that the shipping company should have to foot that bill.

Streetwiseguy wrote: Let see- Several different nations worth of customs officials, teamsters in Europe handing off to a shipyard full of longshoremen, handing off to sailors, handing off to another yard full of longshoremen who then give it to some teamsters.

"... and that's how my mother-in-law came to America!"

Rimshot

In reply to Hungary Bill:

Yes, they should pick up the difference.

It keeps getting better.

I was told yesterday that my container would be released pending an "extensive exam". Today there was an e-mail waiting for me at work letting me know that the "extensive exam" could run as much as $2000.

That sent me through the roof. I feel kind of bad because I was very close to giving the poor customs messenger "both barrels" and he really has no control over anything.

Looking over the contract, it says the shipping company will cover DHTC fees for the port of discharge, but do not cover "Govt exams or X-rays" which they mentioned would be a minimum of $75...

In hind sight they never mentioned what the "maximum" fee would be, but with the current info, it just seems downright deceitful. I'm told that if the box gets through customs with only an X-ray, then I'd only be on the hook for $250 (which is what I was expecting).

The customs broker says that my box has been subject to so much scrutiny because "I never import stuff, and I have no experience".

mother berkeleyers.

Genes Towing, locations in both Puyallup and Tacoma.

Tell him Rick from A&B in portland told you to call

Hungary Bill wrote: The customs broker says that my box has been subject to so much scrutiny because "I never import stuff, and I have no experience".

Was he talking about him/herself or about you?

Normally the returning citizen/returning resident imports seem to be handled fairly leniently, at least that's been my experience and some of my fellow permanent residents'...

I'm not familiar with such things, is it standard practice for customs to charge you for their suspicions, or is that a uniquely American thing?

2 grand to walk a drug dog and an explosives dog around your can?

Sounds like extortion....

bentwrench wrote: 2 grand to walk a drug dog and an explosives dog around your can? Sounds like extortion....

Those dogs have wives and puppies to feed, you leave them alone!

Curious to see how this pans out, hopefully without seeing you lose your pants in the process.

Bentwrench: "Genes" was on my hit-list, but I was able to talk a bit to T-Town towing this morning. They're currently on "standby" but if things fall through, I'll give Genes a hollar. Thanks!

SnowMongoose said: Curious to see how this pans out, hopefully without seeing you lose your pants in the process.

I am too man. I gave the shipping a one month grace period on the "send off" side, and the damn thing made it on the boat with hours to spare (before I boarded a plane to head to Tacoma).

I thought two-months on the receiving end would be sufficient but I'm not sure if it will clear customs in time... It was originally supposed to arrive on January 21st, and we are going to San Antonio on March 8th. I'm being told it could possibly maybe clear customs by March 7th (friday).

I'm stinking exhausted with this crap.

No word back yet from the shipping company I paid to see who's going to foot this customs bill though. They're on the other coast, so I might have missed their office hours today.

The customs bill has grown (overnight) to $5980.93

Right now the customs agent is e-mailing SEFCO (the shippers I hired and paid) to find out if they plan on paying the bill. I tried to call them but only got an automated system.

The good news is that my cars have "cleared" customs!

Well.. This confirms it..

I won't be doing any importation..

I looked at the breakdown of the receipt from SEFCO (the shipping company) and the amount from the customs agent (above) is $10 more than what I paid SEFCO for the "shipping costs" (things like ramp rentals, insurance, tow trucks, etc brought it closer to $7000) before I left Hungary.

I'm very curious to see how this plays out. If I'm on the hook for the full $5980 then I'll be forced to sell the Impala