Am I wrong to be upset with Tiffany?

[FredS]

We are planning details of our October cruise and looking for a town car for transporation. My husband asked if we were going to use Tiffany, who we used the last time we flew down just before Christmas. I said no, that I was still aggravated that they had sent a rather decrepit van (not a luxury van, a very old one with the driver's name in what appeared to be masking tape strips, placed on the back side windows) instead of the town car we had reserved.

At the time he arrived at baggage claim, we had no idea that he was not in a town car. Once we get to the curb with our luggage it was awkward, to say the least, to tell this man who obviously was driving "his" van that it was not what we expected or paid for. My son had gotten sick that morning, also, and my husband just said to let it go and let's get to our room. Unfortunately, this same (very nice) driver in the same ratty old van picked us up. I don't want to sound like a snob, but it was actually sort of embarrassing to be staying at the Polynesian, concierge, and pull up in this vehicle. Besides which, I had really talked up how nice it was going to be to have a town car and driver pick us up.

My husband said that perhaps it was unfair to just avoid Tiffany, and that I should email them and explain the situation. I did, giving details of dates and our name so they could check their records and I am sure see that we did not get a town car (I am thinking that they "subbed" this to someone?) but have received no response whatsoever.

Has anyone else experienced this? Am I wrong to feel cheated for getting an old, rundown van instead of a town car? And now I'm a little worried that this might happen again. I am fairly assertive, but as I said it was just not within my ability to tell this man that his van was not acceptable.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I don't think you are wrong to be upset.
Bad enough the first time to pay for car service and get picked up in a run down van.
Bad again for a second time to be picked up in the same vehicle.
Third strike was no reply to your correspondence.
That would be all for me, thank you.
First time, shame on you. Second time, shame on me.

 

[Ms. WDW]

I would have made it a point to let Tiffany know how upset I was that minute. You paid for a "towncar" and you should have received a towncar.

Who knows; maybe you would have been compensated somehow.

 

[FredS]

Three things discouraged my immediately complaint -- one, my son's sudden illness, two, that the driver's name was crudely placed on the side, so it was apparent that this was his personal vehicle and he was not just a driver in whatever vehicle assigned by Tiffany, and three I had some vague thought that perhaps it was because there were four of us and on the two occasions when I had previously used a towncar there were only three so perhaps there was some problem about transporting the four of us or maybe there was an unusual situation which prevented a town car from being available (I think that I was going through any possible explanations in their defense.) Then when hubby just said "Don't say anything; let's just go and get to the room" I went along and once we were at Disney was more concerned with getting my son settled and happy, then when he improved getting back to our vacation. I think that my teenage daughter was the most disappointed at not having the town car.

When the same vehicle/driver picked us up, I think I thought "Well, I guess I should have already complained" but at that point we needed to get to the airport and I thought that I would just never use them again. Even being nearly five months later I would think that they would have a record of the transaction or at least say "Hey, we're sorry and that won't happen again." I think that Disney gets me spoiled to excellent customer service and when you receive something shoddy it is just a surprise! Well, live and learn.

Anyone who has used a town car service they can recommend (or steer me from) particularly for a "three-leg" trip, i.e., from the airport in Orlando to Port Canaveral, then from the Port to WDW, then from your resort at WDW to the airport?

 

[JOC]

Anyone who has used a town car service they can recommend (or steer me from) particularly for a "three-leg" trip, i.e., from the airport in Orlando to Port Canaveral, then from the Port to WDW, then from your resort at WDW to the airport?

I don't know how long your stay is, but have you thought about renting a car instead of paying for so many transfers?

 

[inkkognito]

My personal opinion is that changing vehicles is okay when it's an upgrade, but not when you get less than what you paid for! We have been upgraded to a limo a couple of times with Happy Limo, and of course we were very pleased with that. They were really nice, roomy, comfy vehicles.
But then again, I suppose that an upgrade might be in the eye of the beholder. Maybe Tiffany thought you would be happy with more space. I would definitely contact them and let them know your feelings and that you did NOT consider it an upgrade.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[FredS]

Originally posted by JOC
I don't know how long your stay is, but have you thought about renting a car instead of paying for so many transfers?

Thanks for the suggestion, but we'd be looking at eight days of rental, plus the hassle of picking up and dropping off, gassing up, parking, besides the obvious knowing the best directions to get around. If we can get a town car with driver to get us where we need to go in the $200 neighborhood then I think that would serve us better than renting.

 

[jamsmom]

I used Tiffany 3 times, but have used YourRide.net twice. I prefer YourRide over Tiffany.

 

[FredS]

Thanks, Carol!

 

[JudithM]

FredS, I would probably find another way to get around besides a company I did not get a good feeling from.

Originally posted by inkkognito
We have been upgraded to a limo a couple of times with Happy Limo, and of course we were very pleased with that. They were really nice, roomy, comfy vehicles.

I have never used a town car in the Orlando area - we almost always drive. However, on our trip last month, soem relatives joined us & used Mears from the airport. I asked two bellman who they would personally use & they both said, "Happy Limo." And now I see you were happy with them .

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

As a driver for Disney... I see all these different town car and van companies around property. One thing that I've noticed with Tiffany in specific, is that I'll see a van with "XYZ TRANSPORTATION" on the side and back, and then a removable "Tiffany Towncar" magnet on the front door. Although I cannot say for a fact, but my best guess is that Tiffany contracts out with different independant operators out there... and as such, it's hard for them to make sure the contractor is upholding to the Tiffany standards.

 

[FredS]

Tyler, that is additional evidence toward what I figured had happened. Our driver was subbed the reservation and came with what he had. There was just no way to tell this man that we were unhappy with his van, but I find it difficult to believe that Tiffany thought this driver would show up with a town car. Perhaps they thought that most people would react as we did, not complaining at the time so as to not hurt his feelings, then just letting it go since we got where we wanted.

However, that doesn't change the fact that we were disappointed that we were not provided with the amenity we paid for, and Tiffany is on my "bad" list for that. A town car would have been a lot more comfy than that ol' van!

P. S. Tyler, hope we see you later this month when we spend a week at Fort Wilderness, the home of my son's favorite two Disney characters, Chip and Dale!

 

[seashoreCM]

What exactly is a town car.

I thought "town car" referred to a quality of service, not a shape of a vehicle.

Was the driver on time and polite? Those are the important points.

There may have been overbookings or vehicle breakdowns forcing the use of backup equipment.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

Of more importance is being able to identify and then avoid imposters or gypsy cabs which may overcharge you or even kidnap you. Althogh even metered cabs can be rigged for cheating, getting into an unmetered cab is asking for an overcharge unless it is a flat fare negotiated before you take off. At the airport there are usually several cabs in line, insist on refusing and choosing if you don't like the looks or smell or lack of air conditioning of the one that comes next for you.

 

[Ms. WDW]

A Towncar is a Lincoln. I'm sure you've seen them.

I do think that Tyler had a good point. Some of Tiffany's drivers may be contracted out and use their own vehicles. I don't think I'm comfortable with that.

Look, I'm seriously thinking of taking a Limo to and from the airport on this next trip. If I'm going to pay "towncar" prices I don't expect "shuttle" service. No matter how polite the driver may be, you should get what you expect and pay for. Otherwise I may as well take Mears. Nothing wrong with Mears. I've taken them many times. Other than just taking forever to get to where you want to go, I've never had problems with them.

But I wanted to do something a little special this trip so I decided on the Limo service. I'll definately continue reading this section of the board to monitor Tiffany's service. I am however seriously looking at Fl. Tours and Cartier too.

 

[Trekker]

Fl Tours is the official transportation company of the DIS and they help keep these boards available for all to use.

We have used them and have been well pleased with the service. To my knowledge there have been no negative reports about them.

 

[kathleena]

Sorry you had such a lousy experience. I have used them three times, and each time had a Lincoln Towncar with a great driver.

In talking with the three different drivers we had, we learned that all drivers for Tiffany are contracted and use their own vehicles. Now, I haven't verified this by asking Tiffany, or things could have changed, but they all said that the car was theirs and that's how Tiffany works.

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

We used Yourride the last time we needed a towncar service (this past Jan/Feb), and were very pleased. Yourride does use drivers who own their own cars, and ours was Tom Dunham, who had a very clean, new Town Car. He was prompt, courteous and I made it a point of noting his name so next time we need this service, I can request him again by name.

http://www.yourride.net/ or (866) 240-RIDE

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

No, you are not wrong to be upset with Tiffany. It is wonderful that your driver was a nice man, but that doesn't make up for your paying for a Town car and not being transported in one.

If the type of car is irrelevant, then why is a 2-door speck so much less expensive to rent than a Mustang convertible?? Tiffany's condoning the practice you experienced is essentially cheating you.

I hope your most recent visit to WDW was a good one!

 

[April in Disney]

We have used Tiffany atleast 4 times roundtrip. Actually last Nov when I took my DD(7) on a mommy and me kind of vacation with late night arrival and very early morning departure my DH was happy we were using Tiffany. We have been requesting our driver who has always showed up with a nice lincoln towncar, He is very polite and really reliable. But I would also have been upset if our usual driver would not be there and someone else would take his place with a different kind of transportation then the one we asked for.

 

[FredS]

Mrs. Snowgod, our most recent trip was wonderful! After 12 days at WDW, though, I either had to return to work or quit and find a job at Disney. Since I have quite a few years in at the office, I figured I'd better head back.

Fortunately, only 18 days until we head out for our first camping trip at Fort Wilderness.