Duane U.
BEWARE
BEWARE — GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING AND WATCH YOUR FINAL CHARGES. I have used R+L Carriers several times in the past without a problem, but unfortunately this experience was completely different. I received a freight quote of $502.59 to ship an item I sold on eBay from Pennsylvania to Utah. I agreed to sell the item based in part on that shipping cost. After R+L picked up the shipment, I was notified that the freight charge was going to be approximately $1,560 — more than THREE TIMES the original quote. After several days, multiple phone calls, and a tremendous amount of time dealing with customer service, the amount was eventually changed to $617.80. I thought the problem was finally resolved. Then, when I actually tried to PAY the bill, I was transferred through multiple departments and was given yet another amount — over $743. One explanation was that the shipment supposedly weighed nearly 430 pounds. I seriously question that weight because an 82-year-old friend and I were able to lift and handle the item ourselves. I even met the driver at a commercial location rather than requiring residential delivery/pickup because I was trying to make things easier. I wasn’t even expecting a discount for doing so. In the end, a shipment originally quoted at $502.59 cost me more than $743 — approximately $240 more than the quote. For an inexpensive item sold on eBay, that difference matters. Had I known the actual freight charge would be that much higher, it could have changed whether the sale made financial sense in the first place. What bothered me almost as much as the additional cost was the amount of time and effort required to get answers. I spent hours on the phone, was transferred between departments, and received multiple different amounts for the same shipment: $502.59, approximately $1,560, $617.80, and finally more than $743. I had used R+L successfully years ago, which is why I chose them again. Unfortunately, based on this experience, the company now seems overly complicated and disorganized, with different departments apparently unable to give a consistent answer about what a shipment is actually going to cost. My advice: If you receive a freight quote from R+L, don’t assume that is what you will ultimately be charged. Keep every document, verify the weight yourself, and be prepared to question any additional charges before paying. I certainly wish I had known that before this shipment.