Buyer Beware: Avoiding Scams in the limo industry
With social media, internet marketing, and readily available tools such as Google Maps and Youtube, it is easy for anyone to connect directly to and find out more about local businesses, including limousine companies.
Unfortunately, however, it is also easier to pull a fast one on potential clients.
There have been reported cases in the Detroit metro of limousine companies scamming their customers using the internet. Companies have reportedly opened “fake locations” and store fronts to appear legitimate. What these companies don’t tell you is that they are not licensed, have no permits, and even worse, no cars. The company will gladly take your full or half payment and then cancel your run or skip town with the money, never to be found again.
The companies are using Facebook to bash other local companies, advertise their fake rates, and extend unbelievable discounts to online viewers. The companies have also been creating/buying fake addresses on Google Maps to appear legitimate.
It is our hopes at Aristocat that no one fall victim to any of these scams. Here are a few steps that can be taken to make sure you are getting your money’s worth:
Check addresses:
When considering a limousine company on the web, actually look at the “Street view” and “Aerial view” versions of the location. It’s not uncommon to look up the location of a limo company and actually find out it is an empty parking lot or starbucks. Double check, to play it safe, even drive by.
Contact email:
Though not a guarantee, beware of “unprofessional” emails. A professional email will normally have a neutral name or real name as the user (such as info, michaelg, reservations) and a custom domain (their company name.com/org/net) rather than “limoguy_23454@hotmail.com.” This is not always true, but it is a telltale sign.
Domain name/website:
Check the website as thoroughly as possible. Professional and legitimate websites often have their own domain “limocompanyusa.com” rather than a subdomain or a hosted site (limos100.wordpress.com, limos23.blogspot.com etc). If the hosted site is only a blog, check for a real domain. Any company owner should have a nice website. Again, just because a company has a website does not ensure that it is legitimate, but it is a step in the right direction.
Website content:
What to look for on a website-
1) Do the photos appear to be purchased/look like stock images? Photos on a background are a huge giveaway, or photos with no background
2) Does the content seem specialized or generic?
3) How much about the company do you learn from the ‘about’ section? Is there one?
4) From the website, can you answer the following:
- Where is the company located
- Where are their offices
- What does the office look like?
- What is the company owner’s name?
- How long has this company been around?
Associations
Does the company have associations or awards? Though it can be easily faked, search for awards the company has won. Looking for the company on limos.com and the national limousine association in their member directories is a helpful step.
Use google smart:
- Find at least two news articles about the company on google on legitimate news websites
- Find 7 reviews from different places on the internet
- Use street/aerial views of the location
- If/when you find out the address of the office or lot, type it in to google. Does the company name appear as a result?
If it sound too good to be true, it probably is
Don’t fall for bait and switch techniques, incredibly low rates (shop around first to compare, even), and huge deals, such as 1 hour and 3 hours free, etc. Investigate these deals further.
Most important of all, visit!
If an event is important enough to pay for transportation, it is important enough to investigate. Actually go the the location and see who is there. Tour a vehicle, ask to see insurance and permits. Nothing proves a company’s legitimacy than seeing it with your own eyes.
