Limousine Service

When you think of a limousine service, several things may come to mind. It is important to break up each major component to truly get to the information you are looking for. The following are important categories in the limousine industry.

GOING TO THE CHAPEL...

The Clientele

The average limo patron is diverse. They can range from a 17 year old Prom student to a professional business client looking for a ride to the airport. Mixed in all of this you have your wedding parties, crazy nights on the town, Sweet Sixteen parties, anniversaries, concerts, sporting events and funerals.

Whatever the occasion, most will turn to a limousine service for assistance with their transportation needs. Customers have come to expect the very best from a limousine company no matter what the demographic. You can never be too young or old to enjoy the luxury of a limousine. Even celebrities have been spotted riding around town in specialty limos.

Limousine Fleet

Most companies will cater to a specific market and will build their fleet to satisfy their target customer. Airport transportation companies will most likely focus on providing black car sedans and stretch Lincoln Town Cars. Some will carry a wide selection of mini busses to handle shuttle service needs for their clients. A wedding transportation company will specialize in having a wide selection of vehicles which cater to handling larger parties. Most of their vehicles will be white and larger in size. Also popular for weddings are the more exotic vehicles such as Hummer limos, Mercedes, Porsche and Party busses. These companies usually focus on special events and enjoy much of the charter business available to the industry. When considering a limousine service be sure to always see their fleet in person. Sometimes pictures on the web can be deceiving and are not that of the actual vehicle. Lean towards a company that partakes and in Open House event or is readily available to showcase their line of vehicles. Ask the company about their back-up limo policies and maintenance programs. It is important to understand that when dealing with vehicles, it’s always a matter of when one breaks down and not if?

Your Ride Awaits

Professional Chauffeurs

Most limousine services will contract or employee a staff of trained drivers/chauffeurs. Their services are essential to a successful service and an important liaison between company and customer. Most chauffeurs need to be trained and certified to comply with all state and local government requirements. A special license is sometimes required and needs to be maintained by the individual driver on a periodic basis. Internally, a good limousine service will instruct their chauffeurs to drive with caution and avoid any dangerous situations. There is no cargo more precious then a human live. A smooth ride is always recommended to assure the comfort of all passengers. Most professional chauffeurs will be there to help each customer get in and out of the limo and will always know their way around town prior to each stop. A top notch chauffeur will go a step further any carry a bag of goodies to assure that all bases are covered for their customers. Such extras include movies, music, bottle openers, fragrance sprays, first aid kits, emergency bags, decorations and ice to cool the beverages.

Lastly, a good chauffeur should always be on-time and well groomed. By leaving themselves with enough time, their charters are sure to be a success and your day will be stress free.

Customer Service

Sounds easy enough doesn’t it? There are countless things that can go wrong when operating a limousine service. How you handle each event is what determines your success. Very rarely do you get complimented for doing a great job. Why? That’s what’s expected of you each and every time. When a customer contracts a service, they feel as if they are paying for perfection. As a limousine operator, that’s what they deserve. There is a certain perception about riding in a limousine so a limousine company should be prepared to provide that service or face the consequences.

With respect to the reasonable customer, limousine services should be prepared for the clients that are never happy. They are out there in full force and will pull just about anything to get a free-be or money back. Unfortunately it comes with the territory but services should prepare to be patient and deal with each situation as properly as possible. A good client and service relationship always begins with a thorough contract that is reviewed and signed by both parties. This prevents the opportunity for miscommunication. The company should remain readily available for questions and be flexible to the customers needs when possible.

Always Inspect Underneath

Maintenance Programs & Safety

Preventative maintenance and safety programs are vital to a limousine service. In order to keep the fleet in working order and the cost for repairs down throughout the long haul, a good system will assure the longevity of a vehicle. Limousines should be equipped with a safety kit and a spare tire for last minute emergencies. Chauffeurs should be trained to deal with such emergencies and be prepared to make the right call when needed. Companies should maintain a proper log and save records to determine when a vehicle should be serviced. It’s less expensive and safer to do the little things in advance vs. waiting for the wheels to fall off. Limousine services should always have their vehicles inspected whenever possible. Not only do certain municipalities require it, but it is imperative to inspect the entire vehicle for the safety of the passengers.

Rates & Packages

When considering the price of your next luxury ride, you must consider what goes into developing that fee. Limousine services must construct a rate that is fair to the customer yet keeps them in business. Usually the best values come in the form of a package. Most packages will give you extra time, services and options vs. simply booking the vehicle by the hour. Be sure to not always shop for the cheapest price. This will usually get you the worst service. Many services offer upgraded vehicles and amenities at your request. A proper limousine rate will usually consider the vehicle, time, fuel, number of passengers and date of each event. These rates will vary form service to service.

Lincoln Navigator In 2

Manufacturing

When a limousine service is considering building its fleet, it will be faced with whether to build new or purchase used. There is pros and cons to both. When purchasing used, a service must be extra cautious not to be picking up someone else’s problems. Always closely inspect the vehicle to be considered and have a third party shop do a review/inspection. Be sure to check the title is free and clear and get a clear bill-of-sale.

When building new, be sure the builder has experience, references and a website to see their work. Only work with a builder that offers a good warranty and system to cover future problems. Builders are notorious for making it difficult to claim warranty issues. Always take the time out of your day to visit the establishment your vehicle will be stretched at and get everything finalized in writing. NEVER WORK WITHOUT A CONTRACT.

Technology

Limo services are always faced with changes in technology. Some of these changes can be vital to success in the limo business. Usually services that fail to adapt will usually be left behind. Some of the more recent technological changes have been web based reservation programs and online booking. These features make it easier on company and customer to management and organization.

Internet

The Internet has revolutionized the limousine business on many levels. First and foremost, internet marketing is now the primary source of advertising for most successful limo companies. Unlike phone books and magazines, the internet can search for multiple services with the push of a single button. Companies can list their entire fleet with ease and showcase their packages at any given moment. Most customers won’t deal with a company unless they maintain a professional website. The internet also provides several on-line programs to assist limousine services with reservations, financials and main stream media. With social networks at their prime, it’s almost mandatory for a company to partake in setting up profiles on MY Space, Face Book and Twitter. It’s also becoming more and more popular to submit movies to networks such as You Tube and specialized PR websites for better rankings and status. Even the technology in manufacturing has changed immensely. Now customers riding inside a limousine can enjoy fully automated touch screen climate control panels, computer controlled lighting and enhanced features such as mobile internet.