Limousine Company VS Limousine Builder

In the limousine industry, limo builders and limo operators are dependent upon one another to provide for the demands of customers worldwide. In some cases, there is a successful relationship between the two entities but most often, there are countless conflicts of expectations, contracts and reality. Due to the tough economy we are faced with in 2010, many things have changed and the rules of the game are still evolving. In order to prevent poor communication and frustration it’s important to understand the challenges each party is faced with.

CRAZY LIMO PEOPLE

THE LIMO COMPANY

The daily grind, the never ending bills, the pain-in-the-rear customer, the repair bills and the never ending competition are enough to push a limo operator over the edge. At the end of the day, is it too much to ask for a quality limousine? There is nothing worse than having to deal with broken components in a brand new limo conversion. Things like poor AC, no stereo and loud noises may not sound like a big deal to some but to a limo company, when these issues arise, it’s a tragedy. Customers nowadays have no mercy and expect total perfection. If something unexpectedly goes wrong, that company is sure to receive a complaint or demand for money back. Combine that with additional repair bills, tow expenses and whiney drivers, you have the receipt for a major heartache. It’s no wonder why limousine operators are the way they are…

LIMO BUILDERS

THE LIMO BUILDER

Well here it comes Mr. Limo Builder Man. You wanted it and now you got it. Your future relies on a grouchy limo operator who is tired of being yelled at by his of hers customers. To make matters worse, you have to contend with a dwindling financial market with several new rules and regulations. Banks have quit giving money the way they use to and most buyers in marketplace have become frugal and smart buyers. The bigger dilemma is that clients want more options and custom features. An inexperienced builder can get buried rather quickly for conforming to the demands of their customers without charging them a premium for each item. You can’t blame the limo operators for tying to take advantage but it is happening way to often these days. It’s only a matter of time before it all catches up to the builder and they are forced to closed their doors.  A limo builder is faced with trying to sustain payroll, fluctuating material costs, constant deadlines, employee moral and a shoe string budget at most.  If a builder is lucky, he may have a little left over to feed his children that week.  Now that customers are demanding more exotic builds, the builders must comply and it has become harder to turn a profit.

Recommendations:

1) It is essential that everything is done in writing.
2) Never rush into anything.  It is important that both parties are on the same page and understand the project and expectations.
3)  Don’t be so cheap!  If you want quality you should be prepared to pay for it.  On the other hand,  the builder should never take short cuts or impose less quality to get the job done.
4)  Keep open lines of communication at all times from both ends.
5)   Honesty is always the best policy.  Let’s face it, we are in the limo business and most of us in the industry can sense a bag of bull from a mile away.  We are all human and mistakes can and will happen.
6)  Word travels fast and if you are a builder you need to be prepared to stand up to your warranty and claims.
7)  Customers need to be clear about their vision and realistic about their time lines.  Provide pictures whenever possible and drop in on the builder once in awhile to assure everything is going as planned.

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