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Searching for limousine service on the web can
be a tricky proposition littered with a maze of smoke-and-mirrors.
Many internet limousine websites claim they have vehicles available
worldwide and that you should book with them.
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The fact is, most of
these limousine websites with "vehicles around the world" don't
own a single car. These websites are reservation
clearinghouses; internet brokers who are merely third-party
subcontractors. This practice is widespread on the web and it
typically leaves the consumer, YOU, at risk. |
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A reservation
clearinghouse, or internet broker, doesn't own their own vehicles.
They merely take your reservation and farm it out to a locally based
company. Once this is done, they effectively loose control over
your job, leaving you at risk.
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For example,
lets say you made a reservation with "1800BookLimosNow" for an
airport arrival in Boston. |
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1800BookLimosNow
jobs out your reservation to a local company in Boston, say, ABCBoston
Limo. If ABCBoston can't take the job, they call on another one of
their "affiliates" - yes, your reservation is shuffled from
company to company until a local company can do it. You may not get
the limo you wanted. |
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The total price
you pay is above market. Hidden in the price is a broker premium.
This premium could tack on as much as 20% more than regular price than if
you dealt direct with ABCBoston Limo directly. Unfortunately, the
premium is not disclosed as it is cleverly hidden in the price. |
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Because you
are1800BookLimosNow's client, and NOT ABCBoston Limo's client, the
service you receive may not be up to par. |
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If you have any
problems with the service, the internet broker has little control over
the service; they don't own the cars or hire the drivers. If
ABC Boston Limo receives an opportunity to service one of their OWN
clients, you may be left standing. |
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They make broad
claims of coverage such as "book a car anywhere" or "we
have vehicles worldwide" or "we service over 25 countries in
over 250 cities."
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Some websites
will give you instant pricing on your reservation need. While
convenient, this price often reflects the broker's fee & the
subcontracted rate; in other words, you will be paying MORE than if you
dealt direct with a locally based company. |
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They have names
symbolic of national prominence such as "1800BookLimosNow" or
"Limousine Network Worldwide." |
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Avoid brokers - With any
company you hire, you deal directly with them; their cars, their chauffeurs, and their prices.
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Shopping on the Web for Limo Service? 