Hello everyone. I just want to let everyone know of a very poor experience I just had getting my Vette moved from MI to NH. I hired a company I found in Hemmings Motor News. Before I go any further, I did find out that you can call Hemmings to check up on any supplier they have in their publication. I did not know this until it was too late.

The company (which consists of one guy) is called PC BEAR; the ad in Hemmings does not state the company’s name (Red Flag #1). Here is their information:

PC BEAR
260 E Walnut St
Ephrata, PA 17522-2531
(717) 859-1585 phone
(717) 380-1707 cell

When I called to get the quote, I only got a verbal quote, not a written one (Red Flag #2). I didn’t push it; he sounded nice on the phone and sounded like he could move the Vette quickly. I sent the down payment. I asked for a receipt and a formal quote at this time. He said I should just write it on the check as the receipt (Red Flag #3).

Weeks went by, no word. I called him. He couldn’t get to Michigan yet, but as soon as he finished the current trip he would head up and be there in 2 wks. Three wks went by, no word. I called him. Truck problems (Red Flag #5); he’d be in Michigan in 2 wks. Three more weeks went by; I called him. Truck problems (Red Flag #6—see Red Flag #5). This went on for 4 months!!!!!!!!!!!!

To make a really long story only kinda long, I got an offer on my house in MI, where the Vette was. I called him to ask for my down payment back because I wanted to go with another company. We discussed this for a bit and basically he said no to giving my down payment back. He said he’d just turned down a “good job” so he could make a “special trip” for my vehicle. I gave him one more chance and he did pick up the Vette the next week.

Since the interior is torn apart, I asked him to quote it as an inoperable vehicle. My real estate agent was there to let him into the garage. My agent called to tell me he was there and that there was no key. I thought I gave her a copy, but I guess not. Mr. PC BEAR was not happy. My agent called a locksmith and he made a key for the ignition (he had to get the Vette out of reverse to be able to turn the wheel).

Once the Vette was on the road to NH, he called with an ETA and mentioned that it was going to cost an extra $100 for the 2 hours he had to wait at my house while the locksmith made a key. I did not argue at this time. By the way, he had to have the remaining money in cash—no checks, cash only.

He arrived in NH. Everything became clear when I saw this POS truck of his. It is a van with a white box on the back. Kinda like the shuttle vans, but with a box. He tows another closed trailer behind it. He pulled in with his hood propped open by a coffee can. Dirty van. Has big Lamborghini ad on the side. The front top corner of the trailer he was pulling was rounded over and duct taped; must have hit an overpass. The side of the trailer has a huge dent in it; I think the fiberglass was torn in that area also.

The Vette was is in the back of the van. He opened the door and there she was. He was storing all kinds of stuff under the Vette, including the POS repaired metal ramps to get the Vette out. The tailpipe was resting on the ramps in a free state; I can only imagine what happened when the Vette was bouncing down the road. Some night I have to get her up on stands and see if there is any damage.

To get the Vette out, he drove his van up on some more ramps. Got inside to release the straps in front. I had to sit inside on the floor of the Vette, with the clutch in and my foot on the brake to slowly coast down the ramp. Halfway out, the Vette stopped. He looked underneath and one of the exhaust bolts was hitting the cross-member of the van. The weight of my entire Vette was supported by one exhaust bolt. He said this happens to him every time he moves a Vette. THANKS FOR TELLING ME THAT!! He tried to lift the Vette enough with a screwdriver for the bolt to clear. He started banging on the bottom of my car, and I made him stop. I told him to pull it forward. I placed 3/4” MDF under the front tires and he slowly let the strap out and the bolt cleared. I got the Vette on the ground and got out. The nose was covered with greasy, and I mean greasy, handprints. I look at his gloves and they were covered with oil and grease. I washed it after he left but the grease is into the cracks of the 30-year-old paint. I am glad my Vette is still a fixer-upper.

When he was shooting the chit, he openly admitted he does not pay taxes, not something you should say to a hardworking taxpayer. I was biting my tongue the entire time because I did not want a “scene”; plus, for 95% of the 2 1/2 hours he was here, the Vette was still in the van. When I paid him is tax-free cash, which I had to do BEFORE he would unload the car, I asked if he was really going to charge me the $100 after the 4 months he took to get the Vette. He said he lost money because he was not on the road for those two hours (after 8 p.m.) and I was not out any money for waiting for 4 months. I told him my personal time is worth a lot, but he was not going to give. I told him he did not deserve it when I gave it to him. I should have charged him for the 1 hour I sat in the Vette helping him back it out. He also used my bathroom and it still smells 24 hours later, no joke, no exaggeration.

I know this is a long post, so I will call my rants to an end. Has anyone considered making a sticky or a forum catalog for POSITIVE experiences with auto transporters that have GOOD experience with Vettes or other specialty cars (like not having them hang up on their van)? That would be really helpful to people out there who don’t know which of the hundreds of transporters out there to hire. I know I will do a lot more research next time, if there is a next time!

 

That seems strange. You have to wait 4 months to get him to do the job he paid you for, and he wants extra for the 2 hours that he waited. What about the 4 months that you waited.

kdf

 

another "Red Flag"....just a phone number/cell number....no fax..no web site...no references...??

 

Leason learned. I have to check in the monring, but I think the phone number in Hemmings is different from the one on the card.....

This is the third time that Vette has been shipped and I have not had a problem with any other transporter. Can't reminder any of thier names, but I will remember this one.

 

Since you have his address and phone number, maybe an anonymous tip to the I.R.S. might be in order.

Rick B.

 

This guy pisses me off. Sorry to hear of your hard time, but at least it made it there in the end.

 

I would have NEVER paid him the extra hundred. The vette in your driveway, what's he go'in do..

 

what an A-HOLE!

 

I am working on it. I haven't found a good place to file a report. I would like to do one at state level and at federal level.

I am working on posting the pictures also....I think everyone will enjoy them.

 

Where's Red Flag #4?

-Peter

 

Love the IRS idea. Just call them on the IRS 800 number and ask for a revenue agent. They may or may not have an interest in him, depending on how much income and tax non-payment is involved.

Spike

 

The IRS is ALWAYS interested in non-payment. The only question is if they are interested in fining his azz off or putting him in prison. If he hasn't paid taxes for a long enough period he could very well be looking at jail time. If he just skipped for a few years they'll just put him on the never-ending-payment plan.

I knew a guy who was a well-paid engineer at a computer company. Turned out that he had never paid income taxes. He ended up doing a few years in prison for the oversight.

I'd guess this auto transporter has seen the inside of a jail cell more than once already.

Rick B.

 

I wanna see some pics!

That totally sucks..
-=Rick

 

no way i would have given this guy any extra money. still i would be reluctant to call the IRS on my worst enemy.

 

I wish my wife took more pictures during the 2 hour process of unloading my Vette. Here is a quick website I put together, I hope everyone enjoys it.

PC BEAR

 

This kind of business requires good references and alot more than just an Ad in Hemmings...I used a short haul carrier once but the person who made the referal knew first hand the carriers reputation.To many wannabes out there in this type of business...

 

Sorry for your troubles, but I loved the video!

Scott

 

Zach,
Sorry to hear that you had trouble with this guy. Had I known that you had moved or needed any help with the Vette, I would have helped you out in any way I could. Why the move back to NH?

 

File a complaint with the state. He has to have a license to transport a vehicle throught each state he travels. You should have ask to see his company license before paying him anything. Why would he call himself P C Bear, sounds false anyway to me.

 

Well, I sent a letter to the IRS today.....their website mentioned something about a potential reward!!