The Limos.com Forum Has Moved!!!

My market seems to be charging a 20% fee on the base rate which includes the gratuity. What portion of this is the norm that goes to the driver?

Oh, my gosh. Someone get me a bucket!

This industry is not about bling, bling, stupid TV shows or flashy cars for most of us. This industry is about servicing the luxury transportation industry and doing it with class and privacy.

We don't talk about our clients or share their business on TV. We buy vehicles from QVM and CMC dealers. We are interested in promoting our services - not the bling of the industry.

I can't figure out if you are a coachbuilder, an operator or a wannabe Limo Bob. It is obvious you have issues with him and truly he is a spectacle but a staple at all limousine shows.

It may just be me but I have a really hard time following your posts and trying to understand what you are conveying. I am clear you don't like Limo Bob. What is the name of your coachbuilding company?

A man of class is someone who walks the walk and talks the talk and honors his or her promises ALL OF THE TIME and not just some of the times

He promised me 10% commission after a limo sale and he turned around and told me that he would pay me $500 from a $50,000 sale off his profit of $5000

Then he tells me I can take it or not

lots of people hide behind hype and fascades and it is shameful

How do you know that money he spent on you wasnt part of a commission that belonged to someone that worked for it?

If I made $4500 off every sale for profit I'd feel like a king too.
He tells me if I'm a good salesman I'll sell 2 a week.
lol
Shit, that's $9000 made off 1 sales person a week

you say he probably isnt hurting for money.
Then why the hell is he telling me that he owes almost 300 grand on the plane limo and that this person screwed him and that person screwed him,etc

I was talking about a Harley limo and he shows me the anacondalimo.com and then tells me the guy didn't pay his commission.
But he still promotes it??

The business license dept has his status as
NOT GOOD STANDING
http://www.ilsos.gov/corporatellc/

If he's such a millionaire 4 times over he can honor his committments

Alan


I never pay for advertisement. I never have to pay, the only thing I have ever paid for is yellow pages for my limo service and 1 ad in the limo magazine to show the people that I am here for limo service, here for sales and here for providing you a service (= Royalty Lifestyles my newest company to cater to the world, and everything in it!)
WHICH THE SITE STILL ISNT PUT UP AFTER A MONTH

People I have been told should pay me, to cover my limos, my builds, my rentals, my LOOK! (Yes I mean all the Bling Bling!) for the bling and my outrageous limos go hand in hand. jacuzzi limo, bed limos, Ferrari & Lambo limos, jet and boat limos, you get the picture?

PEOPLE PAY ME! even when i tell them they don't have to.
That's right, i have been offered money in addition to free room and board in 5 star hotels and great food (That is why we added "BIG" Limo Bob
i love food all over the world) Ha ha, I do!

This year 2008 has demanded me to share my look, my knowledge, and my 35 years of Blood, Sweat & Tears with the WORLD! but this time we have producers, promoters & networks spending $50,000.00 for a PILOT of a TV Show called "LIMO" etc..... And a script for a made for the BIG SCREEN movie ready to roll. And a BIO that could make a best seller for a book, is our dream for 2008 and we shall make it happen.

So you see now if people want me to appear, or show them my builds in process, cruise them around in limos and show them my VIP clients etc,.... they can sell me & my posse, and my limo world to their audience, and now i need the players to make it all happen

I have my own:

1.) Bling Bling with a smile (ME)
2.) The most beautiful woman in the world My princess ~ (MO) In and out!!!!!!!!!!!
3.) The Aire to the Throne (Bobby) my son who throws the hottest MTV Parties worldwide, Bar None!
4.) The Aire to my princess Mo's thrown (Jennifer) Make up for all the super models (Spa Extraordinare)
5.) My Bodyguard (Tank) got my back! I got my front, and the insurance co. likes to protect the Bling Bling!
6.) My Midget Maturdee (Shorty) He will serve cocktails & orderves as he walks up & down the long isles.
7.) My original Midget Maturdee AKA Baby Gangster, there is not a club he cant enter in Chi Town.

Meet LIMO!

Here comes that beef with Limo Bob again who is such a great guy. In short, maybe he doesn't feel like putting up with the b.s. that goes along with airport rides. While I make money doing them, they are a flat out pain in the ass and here is why:

I have to pay for an annual business license in cities I neither live in nor operate regularly in so that I can do business at their airport.

I have to pay for a decal in my window that gives me the authority to operate in an airport.

I have to pay a fee every single time I go to the airport to use it but the general public does not.

I have to find a parking space that a super stretch will fit in to and pay a parking fee to go and greet someone.

If I get them to the airport late, they want me to pay for any fees to change flights.

If they don't arrive on the plane there is always the anxiety and stress of "where is my passenger".

If a flight is significantly delayed and your are running a heavy day, a flight delay of more than an hour can wreak serious havoc on the rest of the day's schedule simply because the car is no longer available.

Then, I failed to mention the fine boy scouts and their smokey bear hats who want to yell at, harrass and intimidate my chauffeurs.

On some ocassions they like to write unwarranted "administrative tickets" that require either a fine with no hearing or five hours of my day to go and contest it in court.

When you buy a new car, you must physically drive it to the airport to have your little decal and transponder mounted on your new car. A four hour drive for me round trip.

Then, in Gunny's area, the airport tells you what cars you can bring in and what year the car must be to be considered a "luxury vehicle"

Have I given you enough reasons why many operators just say, the hell with airport runs?

Maybe Limo Bob doesn't need to put up with the B.S. He certainly isn't hurting for money. I have been privledged to be seated at dinner with him and have him pickup the tab for a table of twenty - most of whom were strangers to him that he just met at a limo show and invited to sit at his supper table. Now that is a man of class.

limo bob said that they don't do airport runs

i would wonder why not when airports are one of the busiest places to get riders

quote:

Originally posted by Limo Scene:
Hey Cliff,

You mention your chauffeurs do not know the rate but yet they get 20% of it. What happens if a cash (retail) client goes into overtime on a prepaid reservation? How does the chauffuer know how to calculate the overtime and collect on it.

I try to avoid having my chauffeurs handle any financial transactions and leave that to my office staff. However, it does come up from time to time.

62% of all my orders are "billed" on a house account. 33% are on credit cards and 5% are cash up front. It is the 5% that causes a problem when they go over. The chauffeur must either collect cash or obtain a credit card. Any credit ccard transactions are completed (processed) prior to the final departure of the chauffeur but they would have to tell the client how much they owe.

Just curious how you and others handle this.

I have the drivers call into the office and get an exact payoff if they go over and the client wishs to pay in cash but that does not happen often. Like you I do not want my drivers dealing with cash if possiable so I normally simply let the client know that if they go over I will be chargeing the difference to their credit card. I also use my daily run sheet with the actual charges and get clients to sign off on it with Notations made for any runs which may go over and have then sign off on the extra time as well and I do the billing the next morning to keep it all up to date. I also do not use wireless terminals so I do all the Billing from my Laptop on the Internet.

I got burnt 2 years ago by a client who paid in cash and went 4 hours over and did not have the cash to pay me so I like a dumb dumb took a credit card from them BUT Failed to call and get a verbal authorization orior to my leaving the scene. I should have simply parked it and said I would call the Law if they did not pony up with the cash somehow. I have done that on one occasion with a retail client who use me for 3 eatra hours and then wanted to give me a check. I do not accept checks unless paid weeks in advance to ensure they clear the bank and even then I always sweat bullits waiting for the bank to pay off the check. I am considering a wireless terminal now to capture in real time the sales as they occure. All reservations are by Credit card except those established clients whom I agree to Bill I only have 4 of those curently... I do not do alot of corporate work just cant get the airport permit here for that There has been a moratorium in place for 4 years now Even established companies can not get new permits. Its a tough place to live.

The reason my drivers do not know every rate is due to the deals I may offer some clients or repeat clients were I offer them a 10% off for repeat business. The driver gets His 20% regardless of the discounted rate I do not discount the Gratuity just the Hourly charge.

I may have a $10 to $15 difference in hourly rates depending on the situation but the drivers get theirs no matter what I do with the hourly rate.

Their not dumn and know my Basic rates so they can compute their cut when the time comes. I simply do not want them in my finances at all. They are Hired staff who receive a fair wage and gratuity, they are not my partners and thank God I dont have any. LOL

I had a client try to Buy into my business with $50,000 this Summer. He stated how impressed he was and wanted to invest into the company! Nice Guy. I told Him why in the world would I want to have to answer to anyone but myself with the company. I do what I want when I want to, take vacation when I want to,spend what I need when I need it. With a partner on board I would not
be able to do any of that and I do not want the anguish of worrying about some other guys finantial situation when I have enough on my plate worrying about my own self and keeping my guys working and making money. A partner would cut into the flexability and ability to go and do something at a moments notice. Partners for me? Never. I offered to sell Him the company though for a nice profit. He declined no experience LOL

Sometimes the chauffeurs want to verify a rate or the rate was not printed on the tripsheet.

quote:

Originally posted by Limo Scene:
I understand how you do it Dean but there wouldn't be a rate question with your company as I have ridden in your vehicles and both chauffuers presented paperwork for me to sign that was very clear what the rate was (even though your didn't actually charge me - THANK YOU!). My hourly rate or fare basis is also included on the chauffeur's paperwork out of both convenience and legal requirements. Not to mention that my trip ticket is a "contract" that requires signature and the signature specifically states that the client "agrees to
all terms and conditions contained in this contract" and a legal binding contract must declare the basis for how charges are computed.

I understand how you do it Dean but there wouldn't be a rate question with your company as I have ridden in your vehicles and both chauffuers presented paperwork for me to sign that was very clear what the rate was (even though your didn't actually charge me - THANK YOU!). My hourly rate or fare basis is also included on the chauffeur's paperwork out of both convenience and legal requirements. Not to mention that my trip ticket is a "contract" that requires signature and the signature specifically states that the client "agrees to
all terms and conditions contained in this contract" and a legal binding contract must declare the basis for how charges are computed.

If there is a rate question the chauffeurs are instructed to call dispatch.

Hey Cliff,

You mention your chauffeurs do not know the rate but yet they get 20% of it. What happens if a cash (retail) client goes into overtime on a prepaid reservation? How does the chauffuer know how to calculate the overtime and collect on it.

I try to avoid having my chauffeurs handle any financial transactions and leave that to my office staff. However, it does come up from time to time.

62% of all my orders are "billed" on a house account. 33% are on credit cards and 5% are cash up front. It is the 5% that causes a problem when they go over. The chauffeur must either collect cash or obtain a credit card. Any credit ccard transactions are completed (processed) prior to the final departure of the chauffeur but they would have to tell the client how much they owe.

Just curious how you and others handle this.

Thousands of steelworkers this morning lined the Las Vegas Strip in support of union taxi cab drivers, according to a report from KLAS-TV Channel 8.

The TV station reports that protestors marched between the Paris-Las Vegas and Bally's hotel-casinos about 7 a.m. The steelworkers are attending a convention at the Paris.

The rally comes a little more than a week after the Nevada Taxicab Authority raised cab rates and allowed a new fuel surcharge for drivers, the TV station reported.

The soaring cost of gas will be just one issue taxi drivers are protesting Tuesday morning on Las Vegas Boulevard. The rally comes on the heels of the Nevada Taxicab Authority raising rates and tacking a new fuel surcharge onto fares

Starting Sunday, a taxi ride will cost 45 cents more per mile. Plus, you'll be hit with a 25 cent per mile fuel surcharge.
Another way to look at this increase -- an average four mile trip that used to cost $12.85 will go up to $14.65. That starts Sunday and the cab driver rally with the Steelworkers Union starts Tuesday at 8 a.m.

will this ever happen to the limo biz?

Alan

Agreed I charge 20% Gratuity and a 5% fuel surcharge on every run. The driver gets the 20% and the fuel surcharge only helps to off set the cost of fuel.

I lump it all together for the client when I charge their card or tell them about the charges as I sell my service so it is all upfront and open and the drivers know it well enough.

What the drivers are not told is what the Hourly rate is which may differ from Job to Job but I am as consistant as can be so they do not have to be worried or concerned and I do not play with the Numbers to cheat the drivers out of their 20%.

I may offer a lower rate for a valued customer or for multiple bookings, or for a prolonged booking 6 hours or more I offer a discounted price but the driver always gets his 20% and of course any extra the client offers which is often and they do well.

If it is charged as a TIP or GRATUITY, the entire amount goes to the chauffuer. You cannot keep any portion of money that the client intends bestow on the chauffeur. If you tell them it is a tip or a gratuity.....then it must be treated as such.

An alternative to this is to charge a Service Charge of 15% to 20% and then use that money to pay your chauffeurs an hourly wage that is sufficient to live off of such as $18 to $30 per hour. The reality is, people feel inclined to give the chauffeur some cash at the side of the car at least 50% of the time so they end up making $25 an hour plus cash tips and love it.

Some companies, such as Boston Coach forbid their chauffeurs from accepting ANY gratuity from the passenger though.