Our Closing Verdict
We give CitizenShipper a ranking of 4.9 out of 5 stars.
Worth: 5/5
Ease Of Use: 5/5
Pricing: 4.8/5
Choices: 5/5
Reliability: 5/5
There are such a lot of explanation why somebody would wish a beloved pet transported someplace. Possibly there’s a large cross-country transfer? An animal rescue needing to deliver a cat to their new household? A breeder sending a pet to their new dwelling? An equestrian needing to haul a horse to a significant competitors? The checklist can go on and on. However as any pet fanatic is aware of, getting an animal from level A to level B will be one of the traumatic life experiences.
Fortunately, an organization like CitizenShipper goals to take numerous the stress and fear off of the shoulders of pet homeowners. By placing extra management and knowledge within the fingers of these needing transport, there may be assurance that the method will be a lot easier!
What Is CitizenShipper?
CitizenShipper is a pet and private merchandise transportation platform system. Now, earlier than explaining how CitizenShipper stands out from conventional pet transportation corporations, I feel we must always dive into what the typical course of for transporting a pet is.
Though many delivery corporations exist, what isn’t widespread info is that the delivery firm doesn’t really personal any of the autos or make use of any of the drivers or flight nannies. They subcontract autos and drivers—a dealer with out you being conscious that they’re a dealer.
After an inquiry is given to the delivery firm by a buyer, the corporate will select the transporter on behalf of the shopper and provide a quote – however the shopper doesn’t know something about this course of. There isn’t any capability to seek out out important particulars in regards to the car, the motive force, the flight nanny, or even when the quote offered is an correct illustration (or whether it is fluffed up for elevated revenue margins).
CitizenShipper cuts out the anomaly and middlemen by placing the hiring course of within the fingers of the client. As a substitute of going to an umbrella firm that then outsources, CitizenShipper supplies a listing of autos and transporters out there, and so they provide bids. You, the client, then determine who to rent.
I feel I communicate for many after I say we might most positively desire to be those making these selections as this very a lot impacts the security, well-being, and luxury of our pets. CitizenShipper’s system lets you have direct contact with the individual transporting, so you may prepare for sure perks and advantages in your pet. This supplies peace of thoughts for pet homeowners!
CitizenShipper Overview
CitizenShipper is a singular service in its sector and one which pet dad and mom completely respect.
Pricing
I really feel that one of many large ways in which CitizenShipper stands out is the value. Since you rent the transporters straight, you may see a big selection of quotes. If a bid appears too excessive, yow will discover one that matches inside your finances.
Most of the transporters may work with you on determining a fee schedule, resembling half up-front and half upon supply of your pet. This flexibility is useful for a lot of pet homeowners, versus different corporations that usually request the complete quantity upfront.
This being mentioned, CitizenShipper does take a price for his or her service. This price ranges from $30 to the triple digits (round $260) based mostly on the main points of your transport, resembling the quantity of animals moved and the miles traveled. This price is due upon reserving.
Ought to a cargo should be canceled, it is a little more difficult for refunds with CitizenShipper. It’s dependent upon why and when a reserving had been canceled and what charges had been paid (each to the motive force and to CitizenShipper).
The Course of
The method may be very easy and simple; no specific tech information is required. Merely sort within the pick-up and drop-off info on the principle web site web page, which is able to then populate a kind to fill out about your pet.
As soon as that is executed, you get prompted to make an account. When the account is made, you get your individual private web page that can populate with transportation quotes. By clicking on a quote, you open up a non-public chatbox with that transporter so that you could have a dialog with them previous to reserving. That is additionally the place you may view the entire particulars about that transporter.
When it’s time to guide, you employ the reserving system on CitizenShipper, and it walks you thru the method, together with figuring out the fee plan and construction with the transporter.
Obtainable Choices and Perks
For transport, CitizenShipper provides two completely different sorts of choices: VIP and the usual default. VIP is when your pet is the one one touring; the cargo isn’t shared with one other pet. The usual is when the transport could also be shared with different animals.
VIP is costlier, in fact, however it is a nice possibility for individuals who don’t want their pet mingling with one other animal throughout the journey.
In addition to this, some shippers provide their very own perks which you could view if you look by means of their profile. This could embrace GPS monitoring, pictures of your pet throughout the journey, and extra.
Communication
After making your reserving, be happy to trade contact info with the motive force (resembling cellular phone numbers or electronic mail addresses), so you may keep in contact in the best way that’s most handy to you. You even have a direct line of communication with CitizenShipper’s customer support.
In Abstract
Can transport all kinds of animals
Transporters are totally licensed and vetted
Can see opinions of drivers
You’re in full management of selecting the transporter
Quite a lot of quotes are despatched
Direct contact with the motive force
Some drivers provide GPS monitoring and frequent pet updates
Particular charges and perks for frequent customers
- CitizenShipper isn’t chargeable for a foul transporter
- Service price isn’t included within the transport quotes
- Refunds will be difficult
Key Options
These key options make CitizenShipper one among a sort.
Transporters Supply Perks and Choices
The transporters themselves can provide quite a lot of advantages and choices, resembling having your pet be the one one transported (the VIP service), GPS monitoring on the truck, frequent updates, and extra.
A number of Transporters to Select From
Transporters provide their bids on to you, and you may scroll by means of an extended checklist of populating provides to seek out the proper driver in your wants.
Direct Contact With the Transporter
There isn’t a third get together to undergo; you talk straight with the transporter.
All Drivers are Licensed and Vetted
CitizenShipper ensures that the entire transporters have their essential USDA license, car license, and registration, and are background-checked and totally vetted.
Is CitizenShipper a Good Worth?
I’d argue that CitizenShipper is definitely the very best worth of any delivery service on behalf of an animal! The anomaly of hiring a transporter is totally lifted and positioned straight in your fingers.
When inquiring about transporters, the out there transporters provide their quotes for the service. This enables these needing their animal moved to price-shop and decide what quote works finest for them.
Throughout this course of, transporters will be contacted and spoken to, which lends to quite a bit much less nervousness a couple of beloved pet being transported. To me, that is a completely invaluable function – my canine is my child, and I wouldn’t need her being pushed by somebody I couldn’t communicate to beforehand.
With CitizenShipper additionally vetting the transporters and making certain they’ve the entire correct licensing, that’s one other added worth to what this firm supplies. The price that CitizenShipper takes for brokering the deal between shopper and transporter remains to be lower than most could be paying a transport firm.
FAQ
Does CitizenShipper have customer support to assist with a problem?
Sure! CitizenShipper has 24/7 buyer help. There’s a straightforward dwell chat possibility.
If one thing goes incorrect, who’s chargeable for refunds?
Refunds are a bit extra difficult with CitizenShipper. As a result of funds are executed straight with the transporter, CitizenShipper might not all the time be capable to help.
Nonetheless, there’s no price owed if the cargo is canceled at the least 72 hours earlier than the agreed pickup time. There’s additionally no price if the cargo is canceled because of the driver’s incapacity to finish the cargo as agreed. For shipments canceled inside 72 hours of pickup, there’s a cancellation price.
CitizenShipper’s charges are topic to a special refund coverage than the motive force’s reserving. For essentially the most half, there isn’t a refund. If the motive force cancels, customer support will help in procuring a brand new driver.
There are solely 4 situations wherein CitizenShipper will refund their price:
The driving force is having car hassle and is unable to finish the journey.
The driving force has an emergency and can’t full a cargo.
The driving force fails to contact you inside an affordable period of time after being booked.
The driving force fails to indicate up.
What sorts of animals does CitizenShipper assist transport?
Any (authorized) animal! Canine, cats, parrots, horses, you identify it!
Our Expertise With CitizenShipper
I’ve moved round quite a bit – with the toughest one being from California to Texas. Predominantly as a result of my Texas dwelling wasn’t completed, and I really wanted to go there, dwell on the property, begin my new job, and work with the contractors – leaving my pup behind with expensive mates. As soon as the home was at some extent in its development the place it was safe to move my dog in, that’s when transportation turned a necessity as a result of I didn’t have consecutive days to drive my canine from Southern California to Dallas.
For this transfer, I really used a contract Pet Nanny (a person who transports animals by being your pet’s “nanny” on the street or on a flight) that I knew personally. I’ve just a little 10lb blended breed named Lorelei, and he or she has numerous well being points and wishes. That is why I opted for somebody I knew personally somewhat than a delivery firm as a result of I didn’t like that I couldn’t have direct contact (within the quotes I acquired) with the transporter.
Doing the pet nanny route was a somewhat costly endeavor, costing me properly over $3k. She additionally might not have been as licensed as knowledgeable transporter, and I admit that that is very a lot my fake pas and a mistake I gained’t make once more. Though nothing went incorrect with the transport, the ‘what ifs’ are sufficient to make anybody go mad – and at the least a service like CitizenShipper would take full accountability ought to an emergency come up.
I bear in mind how a lot it price me to maneuver my pup from Los Angeles to Dallas, so I assumed this could be a superb take a look at for CitizenShipper. Though I wasn’t going to undergo with reserving, I wished to take a gander at how the system works – particularly if I used to be going to maneuver once more within the close to future (with my line of labor, it is a risk!).
The method was quite simple. On the principle web page of the CitizenShipper web site, I enter the pickup deal with, drop-off deal with, and electronic mail. This then led me to a digital kind to fill out, which was fully about my pup – her description, an choice to add a photograph, and a field to sort in additional about my pup. I loved how thorough this way was; it felt like a really private expertise. Making an account was easy as properly; not a lot private info was wanted – simply methods to contact you.
As soon as I chose to receive quotes, a pop-up appeared, providing me the choice of boosting my itemizing by paying a couple of bucks. Though I didn’t decide to do that, I can see this being a worthwhile possibility for these needing pressing transport of their pets.
The outcomes populated in a short time, with an increasing number of bids coming in each couple of minutes! The quotes had been considerably lower than I paid for my pet nanny – even for the flying choices!
When opening a outcome, you get a direct chatbox to speak to the transporter. I beloved this speedy direct contact! I additionally preferred that if you clicked on a bid, you instantly had entry to the entire info you’d need to know – resembling the quantity of transportation that particular person did, their opinions, and extra.
For instance, I opened up a driver’s profile web page, and it confirmed me every thing I wanted to know, together with a few of the options – resembling providing VIP service and even GPS tracking!
For any questions, there was a Assist chat button on the backside of the web page always, so I might instantly get in contact with CitizenShipper for any questions, feedback, or considerations (in actual time).
Between the simple entry to customer support and the power to view every thing in regards to the transporter, my confidence in CitizenShipper elevated tremendously. All-in-all, this course of was tremendous easy.
Conclusion
There are such a lot of perks to CitizenShipper that it appears somewhat foolish to not use them for transportation wants. I actually preferred the power to decide on my very own transporter, have a dialog with the transporter previous to reserving, and nonetheless have entry to CitizenShipper’s customer support ought to one thing go awry.
I’m assuming that the transporter facet of the web site permits them to view all of my pup’s info, and vogue a customized quote only for me.
I’ll positively be recommending this platform to my mates who’re in want of transporting their pet, because it truthfully looks like essentially the most no-brainer possibility on the market!