You know how it goes. When we were young all we thought about was being older. At five you couldn't wait to be six or seven. Remember being fourteen or fifteen, you were beside yourself that if only you were seventeen, then I could drive. And even at seventeen you wanted to be eighteen because then you were officially an adult. OK, but that wasn't good enough, because if I was twenty one, then I can drink (officially)and now I'm really an adult.
But then it started changing. In your mid twenties you started dreading being thirty. But at thirty, life wasn't that bad. As years went by you hoped they would slow down before I got to forty. Now I'm starting to feel some aches, but as soon as I hit fifty, there is enough medication out here for me to take so the pain shouldn't be that bad.
Oh how I wish I was twenty again, maybe thirty , heck I'll even take forty. You know what at fifty six, I remember when I was younger and had my fifthtith surprise birthday party, those were the good old days.
I was at a Senior's luncheon today and there was something I noticed that is real important. After a certain number in our life it doesn't really matter. It all comes down to your health.
There were eighty year olds that looked sixty and sixty year olds that looked ninety. Take care of yourself, get your check ups and enjoy every moment.
Life is great.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Customer Service
I own a limousine service, so I truly understand the customer service business. I'm not selling you the only widget there is, so I have to make sure we do a respectable job to keep your business.
So, when I go out and receive bad service from people, I look at it differantly then other people. First, I'm a little upset, but most of all I try to figure out how this fits into what my people might be doing. What changes do I have to make to avoid what I am experiencing.
I'll give you a small example. When I go to a resturant and my waiter or waitress is no where to be found, but I need a new fork, what do I do. If I see a co-worker I'll ask if they know where my server is. If they say, they'll get them, that aggravates me. But if they say "can I help you" then we are in a establishment with a well trained staff.
So what I expect my people to do always is to be helpful. If some one calls and wants to speak to a particular person, ask if you can help them before putting them on hold. If a driver is at the airport and an extra person walks up to inquire about their driver, they are instructed to help them and call the office. Don't just say "look over there".
It's the little things that all add up.
So, when I go out and receive bad service from people, I look at it differantly then other people. First, I'm a little upset, but most of all I try to figure out how this fits into what my people might be doing. What changes do I have to make to avoid what I am experiencing.
I'll give you a small example. When I go to a resturant and my waiter or waitress is no where to be found, but I need a new fork, what do I do. If I see a co-worker I'll ask if they know where my server is. If they say, they'll get them, that aggravates me. But if they say "can I help you" then we are in a establishment with a well trained staff.
So what I expect my people to do always is to be helpful. If some one calls and wants to speak to a particular person, ask if you can help them before putting them on hold. If a driver is at the airport and an extra person walks up to inquire about their driver, they are instructed to help them and call the office. Don't just say "look over there".
It's the little things that all add up.
One Year of Hybrid
Well it is almost a year since I bought my 2010 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid. And I still love it.
Last Friday my wife and I were driving down the Garden State Parkway edging along in bumper to bumper traffic. I had my windows down because it was a beautiful day. Along the driver side of me pulls a rival, high priced, gas guzzling SUV with a woman drving. She puts her window down to tell me how much she "loves" my Hybrid. She said she wants to now get one and get rid of her ride. I mentioned to her that what she was riding wasn't to shabby of a car! Then she started to talk about this enviromental stuff and Hybrids.
All this moving along at 5 MPH.
A few years ago, I probably would of preferred the sound of a powerful V8 over the hum of Hybrid, but times have changed. Besides being absolutely fantastic on fuel, this vehicle is a conversation piece. This woman on the highway was not the first person to comment and I'm sure she will not be the last.
Also, a year later it still drives like new. I always feel when you go to a dealer to test drive a car, they should have the vehicle you want with 50,000 miles on it. This will give you a real feel of how it will drive later on in it's life. After all, they all ride great with no miles.
Last Friday my wife and I were driving down the Garden State Parkway edging along in bumper to bumper traffic. I had my windows down because it was a beautiful day. Along the driver side of me pulls a rival, high priced, gas guzzling SUV with a woman drving. She puts her window down to tell me how much she "loves" my Hybrid. She said she wants to now get one and get rid of her ride. I mentioned to her that what she was riding wasn't to shabby of a car! Then she started to talk about this enviromental stuff and Hybrids.
All this moving along at 5 MPH.
A few years ago, I probably would of preferred the sound of a powerful V8 over the hum of Hybrid, but times have changed. Besides being absolutely fantastic on fuel, this vehicle is a conversation piece. This woman on the highway was not the first person to comment and I'm sure she will not be the last.
Also, a year later it still drives like new. I always feel when you go to a dealer to test drive a car, they should have the vehicle you want with 50,000 miles on it. This will give you a real feel of how it will drive later on in it's life. After all, they all ride great with no miles.
About ten years ago our school had a Spring Social gathering that happened to be on a Port Imperial Ferry. The organizer did a great job in planning the buses to and from our town of Montvale loaded with food. The time on the ferry was a blast. We floated around New York Harbor and surrounding areas.
The music was great, we were dancing and singing and enjoying the adult beverages and food. Unfortunately when there are roughly two hundred people and two restrooms it gets a little crazy. Then one of them happens to break so we are sharing just the one. It gets better, because some one then locked the only key available in the bathroom. The only key!
Guess what. That is a problem. As we headed back to port, unscheduled, every one positioned themselves to get off that boat as fast as possible. The casual walk became a trot to get to the golden room first.
I bring this story up because of the new limousine bus we are getting in October. It will have a restroom which is a great feature, but sometimes I wonder, when I think about the Social.
The music was great, we were dancing and singing and enjoying the adult beverages and food. Unfortunately when there are roughly two hundred people and two restrooms it gets a little crazy. Then one of them happens to break so we are sharing just the one. It gets better, because some one then locked the only key available in the bathroom. The only key!
Guess what. That is a problem. As we headed back to port, unscheduled, every one positioned themselves to get off that boat as fast as possible. The casual walk became a trot to get to the golden room first.
I bring this story up because of the new limousine bus we are getting in October. It will have a restroom which is a great feature, but sometimes I wonder, when I think about the Social.
new bus
We are looking foward to the arrival of our newest vehicle. It will be a 30 passenger limousine bus with a bathroom. The delivery date will be about the second week in October.
I remember when we got our first 14 passenger limo bus, it was big. Now it is not enough. We still have it, but the party sizes just keep increasing.
I was under the impression we were in a bad economy. So about 2 months when I decided I wanted to purchase a vehicle this size, I thought, no problem. I picked up the phone made a few phones thinking there was going to be a dozen or so for me to choose from. Boy, was I fooled.
I had to spend 2 weeks or more calling and emailing every one in the industry, and doing alot of research only tio find there were none to be had. So, an order had to be made. It was probably for the better because I am getting what I want, not something off a auto slaes lot.
Hopefully when the bus arrives we will be able to do an open house, to show the public the many options you have when going out on the town.
I remember when we got our first 14 passenger limo bus, it was big. Now it is not enough. We still have it, but the party sizes just keep increasing.
I was under the impression we were in a bad economy. So about 2 months when I decided I wanted to purchase a vehicle this size, I thought, no problem. I picked up the phone made a few phones thinking there was going to be a dozen or so for me to choose from. Boy, was I fooled.
I had to spend 2 weeks or more calling and emailing every one in the industry, and doing alot of research only tio find there were none to be had. So, an order had to be made. It was probably for the better because I am getting what I want, not something off a auto slaes lot.
Hopefully when the bus arrives we will be able to do an open house, to show the public the many options you have when going out on the town.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Customer Service
I just got back from a trip to San Francisco. We had fun. But if I ever ran my business the way airlines and hotels do, I'd be bagging groceries at the local supermarket.
Our EWR to SFO flight was scheduled to leave at 7:15 PM. We boarded, we taxied, we waited, we refueled, we taxied, we waited, we waited, we took off at 10:35 PM. We landed in SFO about 1:15 AM. Our limo was waiting. Our industry has to do it right.
We got to the hotel and guess what, we had no room, go figure, they overbooked. Even after we called just before departure to tell them we would be extremely delayed, they didn't care. They did provide a taxi to take us to another hotel, but at 2:00 AM I just wanted to go to bed. We finally got to our new rooms after 3:00 AM
At the wedding we attended we had cab service back and forth. Between us and the other guests we had four mini vans. At the end of the night the fourth van, mine, because we were the last ones to come out, was 15 minutes late. The owner offered us a free ride, but being in the business I paid him any way. The way the trip was going 15 minutes was nothing.
When we got to SFO for our flight back to EWR, we had, guess, a one hour flight delay.
Now, I don't want you to get the wrong impression, the hotel after asking what they were doing to make amends did satisfy us. So I do have to give them credit.
The airline!!! Oh yeah, what is that famous customer service line, "We're sorry". That is all your getting from them.
Our EWR to SFO flight was scheduled to leave at 7:15 PM. We boarded, we taxied, we waited, we refueled, we taxied, we waited, we waited, we took off at 10:35 PM. We landed in SFO about 1:15 AM. Our limo was waiting. Our industry has to do it right.
We got to the hotel and guess what, we had no room, go figure, they overbooked. Even after we called just before departure to tell them we would be extremely delayed, they didn't care. They did provide a taxi to take us to another hotel, but at 2:00 AM I just wanted to go to bed. We finally got to our new rooms after 3:00 AM
At the wedding we attended we had cab service back and forth. Between us and the other guests we had four mini vans. At the end of the night the fourth van, mine, because we were the last ones to come out, was 15 minutes late. The owner offered us a free ride, but being in the business I paid him any way. The way the trip was going 15 minutes was nothing.
When we got to SFO for our flight back to EWR, we had, guess, a one hour flight delay.
Now, I don't want you to get the wrong impression, the hotel after asking what they were doing to make amends did satisfy us. So I do have to give them credit.
The airline!!! Oh yeah, what is that famous customer service line, "We're sorry". That is all your getting from them.
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