russ a.

I learned a lot about how this deal works, and it has been a nightmare. I needed to have a snowmobile shipped from Maryland to Maine. Read the reviews, most were positive, got a quote and an education. What they do: they post your shipping needs and get bites from independent shippers. Once they get one, they send you a quote, and ask you for a deposit to "lock in your rate". Lock in your rate sounds good, but in reality, it means nothing. In my case, I hadn't purchased the vehicle, until I had a "guaranteed" shipping rate.(notice the quotation marks). Once I had the guarantee, I wired the money to the dealer. Now the snowmobile is mine, I had a fair price to have it hauled in an enclosed car hauler trailer. What could possibly go wrong? The shipper bailed on me. Had two different reasons. Don't know if either was true. FDS said they could re submit the info fro another quote, or refund my money. They already withdrew the whole amount from my card. Now I'm stuck with a vehicle 7 states away. I have to go along for the ride now. They get a new shipper, for almost 50% more than the first. 2 weeks has gone by now, This is a seasonal toy, so much for their 5 day window. I have a gun to my head, so to speak, so I have to go along with it, or start over somewhere else, and wait further. I finally got it shipped in an open trailer, covered completely with 700 miles of road grime. AND, for the extra 50%, I had to drive 2 states away, to meet up with the shipper, because he couldn't come to my state. What a deal!
What they don't do: Stand behind any of their promises, your deposit means nothing. Lock in your rate, just a line. Answer your messages, return calls promptly, good luck with that. FDS has been more like Fully Dysfunctional Shipping.( I thought of another one, but it's not suitable for all eyes)
If you choose to ship with them, I wish you better luck than I had.