The Limos.com Forum Has Moved!!!

Does any one have any info on the group that is starting to buy out limo manufacturers ,they bought up us coach and springfield coach ,does any one feel quality will go down just to crank out more cars and customer service will suffer?

Unfortunately Daryl your first point is ruined by the "show me the money" attitude, greed and the love of money always seem to rule over good plain common sense, its the old addage "take the money and run", it gets more serious if you are offered enough money to retire even with a clause "as long as you don't get into the coachbuilding industry again". Guess I'm just a cynic.

I would tend almost to agree with your theory Alan except for a few points. Unless they are getting genuine non-compete clauses (got to be hard to do) from the builders and thinkers behind each company, against the conglomerate being formed - then it is only a question of re-capitalization. There will always be investors to back a sound proposition backed by an experienced management team. Don't forget how many builders start out in their own garage at home. Yes, I suppose that they could artificially depress the capital cost of a limousine so as to lower purchase prices (maybe they will come with insurance, Ho Ho!!) and put the more reputable builders out of business. Then every man and his dog would try to get into the limousine business with the resulting chaos, putting many legitimate operators into dire straits. Then after all the chaos has ensued, are the lowball operators going to be able to afford the expensive limousines - NOT!!!.
Most limousine operators are in the business because they want to be (for whatever reasons of their own).The true operators know that a limousine business is built on service. When it gets expensive and stupid, they either make a mistake (that puts them out of business) or they manage to survive (and prosper) or they sell out.
My personal opinion is that there is a new player coming onto the block.They will have money and will hire the expertise required to operate as a serious coachbuilder. Yes, they may get big, but if they don't supply the goods and back them up consistently, they will not get the business.
To a really smart business oriented operator, limousines are just a tool. To others like myself, they are also a source of pride, joy and a pleasure to own. Whatever program this new conglomerate is on is not going to be stopped by you or I (now that I think about it, neither you or I live in their country anyway). But, we can choose not to do business with them if we so desire.There are many top of the line coachbuilders who are where they are because of hard work,pride, innovative products and they provide excellent service during and after sales. The world didn't end when Boston Coach started up - just a different player. This could be the same scenario.
My sincerest hope is that they are entering a level playing field - not entering to level it.
We will see what happens!

Daryl Frenette, Premier Limousine Services Ltd.Red Deer, Alberta, Canada

Nope, I think that they will try to take over the maximum amount of manufacturing plant they can afford to buy, then lower their prices to knock the remaining competition out, after that they will have the whole of the market to themselves and raise prices, and then we will ALL be driving the SAME cars with the SAME interiors. ALL of them being EXPENSIVE !
It happened here with the Funeral industry albeit in a different way, some smart ass rich guy bought up the majority of Funeral parlours and at first lowered prices, bought up those that could not compete leaving only a few independants after which he raised prices through the roof and put the whole business on the stock market, he got all his money back (and then some) and retired to ( Florida ?) !