(Austin, TX – JAN. 7, 2009) uShip.com and Copart, Inc. (NASDAQ:CPRT) announced today they have entered into an agreement to feature uShip as a preferred transport solution for Copart’s buyers on www.copart.com, which accounts for more than 1 million vehicles sold annually. uShip is an online shipping marketplace that enables users to find the best transport companies and prices for transporting hard-to-ship items such as cars, boats, freight and furniture.
The agreement enables Copart customers to estimate transport costs for specific vehicles using uShip’s Shipping Price Estimator, a uShip innovation that calculates average prices paid by other uShip members for comparable shipments. Using the Shipping Price Estimator, prospective buyers can instantly get an accurate estimate of the cost to ship a vehicle anywhere in the US and Canada.
After purchasing a vehicle from Copart, buyers can easily import the vehicle details into the uShip marketplace to receive competing quotes from feedback-rated transport companies. Copart buyers will be able to save significantly on transport costs using uShip’s reverse-auction format and search functionality, which dramatically reduce shipping costs by enabling service providers to find shipments along their routes and fill empty cargo space.
According to uShip and Copart customer R. Michael Ferrell of Vanguard Auto Sales in Scottsdale, AZ, uShip’s shipping marketplace provides a perfect complement to Copart.
“I needed an engine for a C5 Corvette and finally found one through Copart, but it was located in California. The car was extremely damaged and did not roll – I was afraid that no one would be willing to ship it,” Ferrell said. “I’ve had trouble in the past shipping damaged cars. I decided to list the car on uShip to see what options were available. The car was picked up on-time and delivered for no more than the cost of a non-wrecked car. In the past, when we needed to ship a car we purchased, it was a challenge finding someone to do it on our timetable. Now we just create a free listing on uShip.com, and we are always able to find multiple options and great prices.”
uShip CEO Matt Chasen believes the new agreement will bring the practice of shipping remarketed vehicles to the next level. “Copart’s massive inventory and legendary customer service, combined with our network of quality transportation providers will create the best possible experience for those who need to move vehicles and equipment all over the country. With the difficult economy, customers are watching every cent, and we’re here to help connect them with a transport company that can get the job done for the best possible price.”
Copart President A. Jayson Adair said connecting customers with uShip is the latest example of how Copart continues to lead the industry in simplifying and streamlining the remarketing process. “More than 100,000 buyers from more than 100 countries use Copart to purchase vehicles not only because we offer one of the largest selections of vehicles available anywhere, but because we are constantly introducing new innovations designed to improve the speed, efficiency, and convenience of purchasing vehicles online. Adding uShip’s shipping tools and services into www.copart.com is one of those innovations – and we are happy to be working with them to help our buyers become even more efficient and successful.”
ABOUT USHIP.COM
Founded in 2003, uShip is the first and largest online marketplace for shipping services. Members list anything they need shipped, from household goods to vehicles to freight, and receive bids from thousands of feedback-rated service providers, including movers, carriers, transporters, van lines, freight brokers and independent service providers. On any given day, there are thousands of shipments listed on uShip representing millions of dollars of business. It’s completely free for members to list shipments and for service providers to place bids. uShip’s reverse-auction format and patent-pending search technology dramatically reduce shipping costs by allowing service providers to find shipments along their routes and fill empty cargo space. uShip’s feedback system holds service providers accountable for their service and rewards those that perform well. Please visit www.uship.com for more information.
ABOUT COPART, INC.
Copart, founded in 1982, provides vehicle sellers with a full range of remarketing services to process and sell salvage and clean title vehicles to dismantlers, rebuilders, dealers, exporters and, in some states, to end users. Copart remarkets the vehicles through Internet sales utilizing its proprietary VB2 technology. Copart sells vehicles on behalf of insurance companies, banks, finance companies, fleet operators, dealers, the general public and others. The company currentlyoperates 145 facilities in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Salvage vehicles are either damaged vehicles deemed a total loss for insurance or business purposes or are recovered stolen vehicles for which an insurance settlement with the vehicle owner has already been made. For more information, or to become a registered buyer, visit www.copart.com.
