So PO'ed at Uship!

[Cord]

I need to ship a mower from South Carolina to Wisconsin. Shouldn't be that difficult, right? Well, the bidder didn't realize the mower won't fit on a rented Uhaul trailer. Uhaul trailer? Yea, the guy doesn't even have a freekin' flat bed to haul it on! So I cancel the shipment and the shipper agrees to it. Now the way Uship works, you have to pay when you award the bid. Uship then holds the money until the shipper delivery the item. Makes sense because the shipper knows he'll get paid if he comes through on his end. Well, Uship is only refunding me 90% of the shipment amount. They're keep $113 as a "credit" - but it's my money! Of course the "credit" expires in a year. I doubt I'll be shipping another item like this in a year (I use mostly LTL) so if this mower doesn't move, then I'm out the money.

 

[aczlan]

Have you called them and explained that you canceled it because the shipper was not prepared to handle the load?

Aaron Z

 

[JBourquin]

Shipper should be held responsible. They bid on a load they were not equipped to handle. Why do they get off scott free.

 

[kennyd]

Sorry...may not help now but next time try shipping through Fastenal.

Here is a recent thread: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/344904-fastenal-shipping-thumbs-up.html

 

[Stimw]

On the TV show- Shipping Wars they show them getting paid on delivery from the receiver!
I don't know who is worse, the shipper or the client on that show!!
AND if someone tells me I have a deadline or I don't get paid I would be telling them to take it their self!!

 

[s219]

The guy who bought my boat used U-ship to get it to Florida, and it turned out OK, but there were some darn sketchy people bidding on the job, with vehicles I wouldn't use to tow across town, never mind 900 miles.

 

[Todd727]

Wait, you mean an online shipping website that anyone can bid to carry your load is fraught with amateur haulers? Who would've thought?

 

[MossRoad]

Sorry...may not help now but next time try shipping through Fastenal.

Here is a recent thread: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/344904-fastenal-shipping-thumbs-up.html

Interesting and good to know. Here's a direct link to the 3rd party logistics....
https://www.fastenal.com/en/22/third-party-logistics-(3pl)

 

[Copperhead]

One of the specifications in commercial shipping contracts is that the actual trailer be specified. For instance, when I haul a load, the shipper has already specified that the trailer be a 53' dry van, swing door, air ride. They may also specify other things. If one wants to ship something thru any broker service (3PL), which is what UShip is, they need to specify the trailer that you require for the shipment. You should, at a minimum, specify the dimensions and weight to better assure that someone doesn't show up with an inadequate trailer for the load. Then issues like this could be greatly reduced or eliminated. Outfits like UShip play a little fast and loose with shipping compared to the major players, so you have to do more in setting the standard. The concept UShip is using is a good one, but it is very amateur. The shipper and receiver have to play more of a role to make sure things are done right. But then, that is why it generally costs less to use something like UShip than a major 3PL.

 

[Copperhead]

Shipper should be held responsible. They bid on a load they were not equipped to handle. Why do they get off scott free.

Definitions are critical. The shipper is the OP. Who hauls it is the carrier. Who takes it at the other end is the consignee. If the Shipper does not specify the load properly, the dimensions of the load, the weight, then it is easily feasible that the wrong carrier equipment will show up to haul it.