Ordered our car in August last year. At the 7 month point the dealer in Seattle informed me the production number might be issued in March, delivery somewhere in May or June. I thought Grrr, I'm not waiting so I hit the phone and called MINI of the Hamptons NY.

They had the exact Cooper I wanted in stock with sport seats and the cold weather package as the only difference. The sales rep said they'd eat the difference and had no add on fees ($200 mystery fee in Seattle). I'm $500-$600 ahead at this point. They use and recommend AutoLog as the shipper. The total cost $900 to ship and with the discount I'm thinking out of pocket $300 to ship is sweet. Bought the car.

AutoLog sent me the contract with a damage amount up to $500, which they pay your deductible for any transport issues. They will cover any amount for an additional $100. I thought the $100 was a needless expense so I agreed to the basic.

The car shipped and had some front end paint and scratch damage from rubbing another car on the train they loaded it on. Yikes! I made some calls and shot photos in the train yard. AutoLog was very cool they said to turn in a claim and contact my insurance co. I was sure the consumer fight was on.

It turned out the damage looked minor but needed the hood and air dam re-painted as well a headlight ring, chrome bumper and wheel well trim adding up to $1060. I had the work done by the best shop I could find.

Here's the shocker... AutoLog paid the entire bill even though it exceeded the contract amount of $500. They sent a letter of apology for the incident. I highly recommend MINI of the Hamptons and AutoLog for West coast shoppers getting long wait times and paying over MSRP. Shipping damage is very rare, I talked to the guys at the train yard and they receive hundreds of cars each week.

 

AutoLog's response is certainly commendable.

However, you now own a damaged and repaired car. You are ethically bound to disclose what happened to anyone wanting to buy the car when you get ready to sell it. Given a choice, most buyers will think twice about buying a car with a repair history, especially if it involves repainting.

Have you considered asking for diminished value compensation?

I'm assuming that the AutoLog shipment involved at least two trucks and one train, and probably transfers involving more trains and trucks. That's a lot of handling -- I would be surprised if many vehicles arrive without being damaged!

 

>>Have you considered asking for diminished value compensation?

Hmm, good point and no, I missed that one. I thing the PPG paint is likely better than factory for chip resistance. The thing is, it's not a show car that I would go crazy about. I know factory paint is applied and cured perhaps better than a re-paint application but again I've read the stock paint is soft.

I have a lifetime warr. from the paint shop. You can look at the color match and finish in direct sunlight and not see any flaws. In seven to ten years would a buyer care if there wasn't any body work performed only paint?

I posted the thread for people concerned about transport for cheap. There are car transport outfits that use enclosed trailors for three times more cost. Most of the cars at the train yard were new and I'm sure they're repaired with little or no info passed on to the buyers.

 

Sounds like you had a positive experience that others should heed. Good to hear there are options for those of you on the West Coast.

Not sure I agree that you now have a "damaged car". I don't know how some repainting and repair of trim constitutes damage. I guess if that's true, every time someone uses touch up paint, they had better keep track so they can disclose it to potential buyers.

 

>>AutoLog's response is certainly commendable.
>>
>>However, you now own a damaged and repaired car. You are ethically bound to disclose what happened to anyone wanting to buy the car when you get ready to sell it. Given a choice, most buyers will think twice about buying a car with a repair history, especially if it involves repainting.
>>
>>Have you considered asking for diminished value compensation?
>>
>>I'm assuming that the AutoLog shipment involved at least two trucks and one train, and probably transfers involving more trains and trucks. That's a lot of handling -- I would be surprised if many vehicles arrive without being damaged!
>>
This is a joke right? Seriously, scratch repair is no big deal. Brand new cars on the dealer's lot get scratch repair. Oh an how do u think your mini go to the dealer? truck, boat, truck. Man you annoy me.
Ubercooper

 

Here's another Autolog story from a MINI purchser in the Northwest, who had his car shipped from NY by train and truck:

"Charlie
Hi, the company was autolog, and the dealer set it up for $700.They told me that from New york to Calif. it was covered and on a train. Then by truck from Calif to Oregon ( this was farmed out to another co). The paper work from the first Co. Noted that the car was very dirty, which makes me think it wasn't covered.The second Co. also noted a chip in the paint and air bubbles in the paint. At the time of delievery it was so dirty inside and out I couldn't tell. I washed the car and can't find any chips or air bubbles.

Would I do this again? Yes because I love the car, but the next time I would find out up front a few things. Like a accurate deliery time, NO BS. At the start I was told a week to 10 days, than 2 weeks than 3 weeks and I finally got it 1 month from when the dealer said it was ready to ship. The people @ autolog seemed like I was bothering them if I called on a update.If I called the dealer,the dealers answer was it was up to the trucking Co.He made his sell and thats that . Which I really didn't care for because I payed for a service.

The last thing and the most important, is find out whose insurance covers the car while it's being shipped. The dealer told me I needed to insure my car for him to get a New York Trip permit. Well after my car was on it's way and and I found out who the Co. was I went to their web site and read that the way they keep there costs down is to have the owner of the car have it already insured and they would be liable up to $500. Which No one told me this and when I asked the dealer he said he new nothing about this. All I can say is just be careful, and ask questions. The dealer was pretty good except like most dealers once they get their money there interest in you seems to fade away."

ubercooper, you were lucky, but the last thing you want is to have to file a claim on YOUR insurance policy for a car being shipped by someone else...or risk being out of pocket for the damage.

Charlie

Buyer beware. You get what you pay for.

 

i'm expecting my mcs this week from autolog. i really hope there are no problems. i've read mostly good reports on them.

i also didn't get very good customer service from them at first. it took more than 1wk to get any useful status. even then, i had to first complain about the lack of information before i received better information.

all in all, it will take about 3wks from NY to CA.

 

I used autolog and they told me it would be 2 weeks. After three weeks I called and the lady told me that something had happened to the train car that my car was on (but that the rest of the train was ok). Come to find out nothing was wrong and because they had made a mistake (scared the crap out of me) they offered to deliver it to my house for half the cost it usually would take (it is 3 hours from my house and would normally by $150.) There were some scratches but I had them quickly buffed out. I'm glad to hear that they are willing to pay. I think autolog is doing a pretty good job, I wasn't the happiest with the scratches and the delay but they did compensate me for both of those, so I would recommend them.

Colleen

 

Just to add to this thread, when I lived in Ca, I bought my MINI from MINI of Hawaii. I had my car shipped by Matson shipping company and I had no problems at all.

I had the car shipped to the port of Oakland which was about 50 miles from my home. Total ship time was about 10 days once it left Hawaii.

I must admit I did have some reservations about shipping the car. I just knew I may have dents, scratches etc...but the car arrived in perfect condition.

Cost to ship the MINI was $908 and the buying and shipping experience was very good.

Matson has a web site where you can track your cars shipping status also.

Thanks also to Minihune who helped me with locating the car and keeping me posted on all the details.

 

Autolog shipped my car from the Hamptons to Fontana, CA where I picked it up. It was 7 days start to finish with no damage at all. I talked to them almost daily and they were very friendly. I would recommend them to anyone. :smile:

 

Well, I picked up my MCS today from Autolog and there was some paint damage on the front bumper. It seems the car may have bumped into something right on the license plate holder. The plastic holder was cracked and scuffed badly and the bumper was scuffed and scratched as well.

Oh well, I knew there was potential for this to happen and now I hope they will take care of it.

Based on my experience, I couldn't recommend them. Lack of information, lack of customer service skills, 21days transport time, dirty car(even with enclosed delivery service), and paint damage.

Perhaps, I'm the exception.

Car drives great though!!!

 

Cars are shipped with plastic to protect interior and sometimes exterior surface.
IF the dealer cleans car ,then ships it -well the trucker could care less,his job is not to deliver a Clean car. However they are to deliver them not damaged.
IF the protective coverings are removed then you are at risk-so tell the dealer to ship it in the wrapper. You can always hire a rollback, but for most people the cost
would be to high.

 

jwhcars,

i wasn't expecting immaculate, but when you pay extra for enclosed delivery, i would expect only mildly dirty and less risk of damage. i was mainly hoping for a cleaner car so i could do a better job of inspecting any damage.

by the way, there was no protective covering inside or out. i really think autolog could improve their service, but i guess they may have to charge more$$$. based on the forums, they seem to be on the low side for transport cost.

anyway, just throwing out my experience for future buyers who need transport service.

 

kcmcs,
If I might ask, where did you ship your car from (was it MINI of the Hamptons?) and where did you ship it to (City and State?)

Did Autolog bring the car to your home or office; or did you have to go to a terminal to pick it up? Was it a rail terminal or a truck terminal?

The reason I ask is because Autolog seems to use a combination of truck and rail to keep the cost down. In addition, their requirement that you provide the insurance, except the first $500 of a claim which they pay, is another way to reduce costs.

I'm curious about the "enclosed transport" What portion of the trip was supposed to be by enclosed transport? And, if you don't mind, how much extra did you have to pay? And what was the total cost?

I get asked quite often if it's worth the price for a transport that is door to door, from dealer to your "front door" so I'm just trying to compare.

I think that most of the damage and dirt comes from the rail portion of the trip and not the trucks, but I can't be sure.

As you've seen, there are some folks who got great service from Autolog, but I don't think it's consistently good---the exception rather than the rule.

Jwhcars:

You're right. Some truckers could care less about the condition of the cars. Those are the ones that go from one company to another because they won't last working for a reputable company that wants repeat business...companies like Horseless Carriage, Passport, Intercity, or Concours.

I'm proud to say that my two shipping experiences with Concours have been exceptional. True, it costs more, but it wasn't my insurance converage that would pay a claim if something had happened. And, the driver, Mike Peterson on both runs, REALLY CARES about the cars he hauls.

Happy Motoring

Charlie

 

charlie,

shipped from mini of hamptons(moth) to newark, ca(terminal) under enclosed transport service.

i believe this was the route and method:

by truck: moth to new jersey(~115mi)
by enclosed rail: new jersey to sf, ca.
by truck: sf, ca to newark, ca(~50mi)

i picked up the car from newark, ca, but delivery to my home would have cost another $80. i paid moth $850 for enclosed transport, but i think moth only paid autolog $780. i wanted moth to arrange everything and i guess they made an extra $70 profit.

i think enclosed transport adds another $100, but i'm not 100% sure, since moth probably gets special rate from autolog.

i wasn't comfortable with using my own insurance coverage, but i guess if the damage is less than $500, it won't matter.

hope this answers your questions.

 

I just bought my MCS from MOTH :smile: and I'm trying to find the phone number or website for AutoLog. Now, I have not asked MOTH for the number because I thought I would be able to find easily, its not...so any help is much appreciated. As soon as I get my MCS delivered to the NW I'll post my story for other potential buyers/Owners to evaluate.

 

>>I just bought my MCS from MOTH :smile: and I'm trying to find the phone number or website for AutoLog. Now, I have not asked MOTH for the number because I thought I would be able to find easily, its not...so any help is much appreciated. As soon as I get my MCS delivered to the NW I'll post my story for other potential buyers/Owners to evaluate.

the web site is http://www.autolog.net/
I went the same way. Bought from MOTH and shipping with autolog. I hope im lucky and I get my car scratch free...

Good luck to you

 

Thanks for the info. i'll call them next week. Good Luck to both of us and I hope we can both post happy stories about our experiences.

 

>>I just bought my MCS from MOTH :smile: and I'm trying to find the phone number or website for AutoLog. Now, I have not asked MOTH for the number because I thought I would be able to find easily, its not...so any help is much appreciated. As soon as I get my MCS delivered to the NW I'll post my story for other potential buyers/Owners to evaluate.


I also bought my JCW MCS from MOTH. Per AutoLog should be arrived WA this coming week.

 

a word of advice for those that are still expecting delivery.

if the car isn't clean, try to get it clean somehow before making the inspection. after i washed the film of dirt from my car, i noticed 2 additional nicks on the rear bumper and one of the wheels also seems to have been repaired. i didn't catch these two things during my initial inspection since the car was dirty and i even looked at the wheels twice.

the wheel repair could of occurred at the vdc, the dealership, or through autolog. i must now play the blame game. kind of shady tactic trying to pass off the wheel as new.

i'll update the my progress on this issue later.

 

I decided against the shipping when I got my MCS from Westchester MINI in NY, October 2002. I drove it to CA and got home with chips on the hood and a very small stone crack in the windshield....but I had an adventure, not just the car.. :smile: Bruce in Santa Monica

 

I also drove my Westchester MCS back to LA. Worst part was the hundreds of bugs smeared across the front from the midwest. Nothing better than 3,000 miles to get to know your new baby. Break in was completed by Ohio or so. :smile:

I also ended up with a chip near the left wiper which turned into a crack two weeks later. $400 later all was better. Still a worthwile adventure that I'd do again.

Sean

 

>>AutoLog's response is certainly commendable.
>>
>>However, you now own a damaged and repaired car.
________________
I don't see how you can call some minor scratches a damaged car. If it was a dent to the sheetmetal it's a different story.

 

I got the rock to the window just as i passed the 1200 mile mark, about to cross over the Mississippi River into Arkansas....bummed me out for a while. I've just left it, it hasn't grown. I suppose I'll have to discount for it if I ever sell it.......:smile: