The Backup Plan November 2013

The Uber Problem

What is Uber Car?  Uber Car is a black car service coming to a city near you, they offer black cars at discount rates and booking and reservations can be made quickly via a smart phone application.  The idea is great and the execution is not bad cheap car service obtained quickly and painlessly in almost any major city.  That’s about where the good stops and the bad begins, you see like many things Uber is great in theory and has potential but is currently riddled with problems that the client is not at all privy too.   In addition to poor service using a company like Uber can be down right dangerous.

Some of the problems, and in fact most of the problems, stem from a service that is very poorly regulated and that is able to operate via the manipulation of certain loop holes in the limousine and executive car service industry.   Uber owns no cars and insures no drivers or vehicles they are essentially a third party broker that intakes a reservation through its app and then opens up quick bids to independent operators in the area close to the prospective client.  These operators also have an Uber App on their phones and when a call comes in they bid and the job goes to the lowest bidder, keeping costs at a minimum for the client.  It doesn’t sound too bad but think about it for a moment, there is no one to check on these operators, no one to see what they are driving how they are dressed or to check registration information or insurance. 

There have been stories about guys showing up in blue jeans and T-shirts driving beat up station wagons.  There have been stories of harassment and price gouging and actions bordering on extortion, after all there’s no one monitoring the activity when a client gets into that un-regulated car.  So poor service is a risk, drivers not knowing how to get where they need to go being rude or poorly dressed and driving whatever they want are all somewhat common occurrences, but believe it or not that’s not the real issue.   There is no one regulating the insurance on these vehicles.  If a driver gets into an accident with the customer in the car he may not have insurance sufficient to cover and protect his fare, even more shocking recent court cases have found that Uber isn’t responsible or accountable either!  That means clients beware and ride at your own risk because if something awful should occur you are not protected!

So ultimately not only is Uber Car Service sub-par and unreliable it can be very dangerous.  With improper regulations and no accountability customers beware because although seemingly convenient there is no telling who is coming to pick you up or what he is driving and if you are or are not protected god forbid there is an accident.  A great idea in theory it leaves much to be desired in execution.

All Star Limousine is a Long Island, New York based company with an extensive global reach; we provide expert Wedding, Special Event and Executive Travel services throughout the Tri-State area and the world. We have over 30 years of experience in the travel industry; our attention to detail, 2013 top-of-the-line vehicles and professional trained Chauffeurs set us apart from the rest!

by Jarrad Kulick

The Chauffeur Driven Atlantic City Trade Show

The Chauffeur Driven Trade Show offers a chance for the industries best to share ideas and network with one another in an effort to better the industry as a whole.  This event offers true camaraderie and fellowship as well as a chance to experience educational seminars and workshops showcasing the latest and most innovative ideas in the executive car and limousine service industry.  This year’s show is at The Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City New Jersey and takes place November 3^rd thru the 6th.

Workshops and seminars such as “Training and Empowering Your Sales and Reservations Staff” and “Understanding Your Financials & Creating an Effective Budget” are invaluable to any growing Limousine service.  This five-day trade show offers these courses in abundance and also feature keynote speakers such as the Apple legend Guy Kawasaki.  

Guy Kawasaki’s keynote was perhaps the most enlightening aspect of this years Chauffer driver trade show and the man lived up to all the hype and glamour that surrounds his name and reputation.  His Keynote was about enchantment, how to enchant your clients and customers.  A ten point 45 minute long speech about engaging and satisfying your customers, Kawasaki was impressive.  

Kawasaki’s ten points began with achieving likability, achieving trustworthiness, perfecting the product or service and then went on to talk about telling a story or launching the product, overcoming obstacles and enduring those that come.  Finally he concluded with using the technology around us and taking advantage of the digital age we are in.  He then ended his key note with what he called “Guy’s Wish list” a series of things he wished he could have when he was picked up by an executive car service.  I am proud to say that All Star had every one of these things, including text messaged confirmations and i Pads in all of our vehicles.

This year’s show proved to be even more productive and educational then the last and provided education and experience offered by the very best in our industry.  The highlight was the incomparable Guy Kawasaki and his unbelievable keynote speech.  All Star Limousine was honored to be a part of this years Chauffeur Driver Trade Show in Atlantic City, and we want to thank all the great people and companies that we had the pleasure of meeting and to thank those that spoke and organized such an incredible event.

All Star Limousine is a Long Island, New York based company with an extensive global reach; we provide expert Wedding, Special Event and Executive Travel services throughout the Tri-State area and the world. We have over 30 years of experience in the travel industry; our attention to detail, 2013 top-of-the-line vehicles and professional trained Chauffeurs set us apart from the rest!

by Jarrad Kulick

Turnaround Time

For those of you that are unfamiliar with the term turnaround time quite simply it means taking something currently owned or used selling or disposing of it and buying the same thing brand new to replace the old.   This of course has many benefits, first and most obvious is that your product is brand new, no wear and tear no performance issues, no dulled paint or worn interiors.  These benefits weigh heavily in the limousine or executive car industry.

Turnaround time for an executive car service or luxury car service is essential. Firstly it means you will offer only the newest and latest model vehicles that will be immaculate on both the interior and the exterior.  Clean and new that is what most people pay top dollar for when renting a car or limousine.  No dents, dings or chips in the paint, no tears in the upholstery or fabric of the vehicle, no stains or blemishes, all the amenities and features in working order, exactly how it should be.   In addition to the aesthetic, and the working features (sound system, air condition, lights and fiber optics) a quick turnaround time also means that the limousine company saves a fortune when it comes to vehicle maintenance.  With a swift turnaround time the wear and tear on the cars themselves is eliminated which in turn means less money spent on repairs.  It also means happy clients as these vehicles will rarely break down, or suffer from random service issues while on the job.  Again this equates to money saved for the business.

All Star Limousine has a 12-18 month turnaround time, one of the quickest in the industry, and it is in part what makes us so successful.  With an expeditious turning over of the vehicles we properly service our important clients with only the newest model vehicles making them happy and saveing ourselves a fortune in mechanic fees and reactionary maintenance.  It is the right thing to do in this business, putting the money back into the most important aspect of the limousine industry, your vehicles, it is what your company will be known and remembered for.

All Star Limousine is a Long Island, New York based company with an extensive global reach; we provide expert Wedding, Special Event and Executive Travel services throughout the Tri-State area and the world. We have over 30 years of experience in the travel industry; our attention to detail, 2013 top-of-the-line vehicles and professional trained Chauffeurs set us apart from the rest!

by Jarrad Kulick

Top 3 Zagat Rated Seafood Restaurants In NYC

New York city is a metropolis known for many things, chief amongst them is the vast selection of amazing restaurants.  There are so many great places to eat in NYC it can be almost overwhelming at times and so in the interest of helping out our fellow foodies All Star Limousine would like to introduce Zagats top rated Seafood restaurants in the New York Metropolitan area.

The top rated seafood restaurant, voted by consumers and zagat, is Le Bernardin located at 155 West 51^st street NY NY.  Chef Eric Ripert has achieved culinary perfection with this French seafood masterpiece.  The dining room itself has been touted as “drop-dead Gorgeous”, and truly it is.  Personally I have never seen its equal in décor and ambiance.  The food, service and over all experience is “unforgettable” and incomparable.  A little on the high end as far as price is concerned Le Bernardin is not for everyone, but for those with the means it is an absolutely incredible dining experience.

Marea is an Italian seafood restaurant located at 240 Central Park South and is run by chef Michael White.  White demonstrates how a kitchen should be run and the incredible food and service is prepared expeditiously and exquisitely.  Make no mistake however Marea’s fast and efficient service by no means detracts from the food itself, in fact Zagat calls it “sheer perfection”.  Overall an amazing dining experience and you will not have to wait long at all to eat, diner averages about $100 a person.

Aquagrill at 210 Spring Street is a dining experience a little different from the above mentioned.  This “unbeatable raw bar” is said to offer the best shellfish in NYC, and truth be told I have never had fresher fish.  Always packed and for good reason not only is the food, ambiance and service near perfect the price is unbeatable.  Aquagrill has something for everyone at an average of about $60 a head.

All Star Limousine is a Long Island, New York based company with an extensive global reach; we provide expert Wedding, Special Event and Executive Travel services throughout the Tri-State area and the world. We have over 30 years of experience in the travel industry; our attention to detail, 2013 top-of-the-line vehicles and professional trained Chauffeurs set us apart from the rest!

by Jarrad Kulick