Art's Shuttle - worst customer service ever

Tinkmom

DIS Veteran
Joined
Nov 3, 2003
Messages
676
Only have time for a quick post, but wanted to relay our first (and absolute last) experience with Art's Shuttle. We were picked up at 9:45 am at a hotel near the airport, for a trip to Port Canaveral. Besides the four of us, there were two groups of six other passengers to be picked up. Problem #1, the van smelled like spoiled milk or that someone had vomited in it. I initially thought that someone had thrown up perhaps in the parking lot, that surely it was not the van itself which smelled so bad. I was wrong. Someone had tried to cover the odor with lots of air freshener. It did not work. We then learn that the other two parties are scheduled to be picked up 45 MINUTES from when we were picked up, even though they are also hotels at the airport. We wait on the first group for a while, they are nowhere to be found so he attempts to find the other hotel. The driver has no idea where he is going. Zero. He asks for directions three separate times. Still unable to find hotel #3, he goes back to #2 and gets a group of four. By this time, this van is stuffed to the gills with people and luggage. Everyone questions how more people and luggage can be added (there are technically two seats without people in them, but the luggage is overflowing.) The drivers says that he just gets the van and the pickup info from the company and has no control. We spend, literally, another 30 minutes driving around while he tries to find the last hotel. There is no way he would have managed without the passengers' help, pointing out where and how to get there. We cram the last two people and their bags in. The passengers sitting in the back are upset that the luggage is stacked higher than their seat backs, that if the driver stops suddenly there is nothing to prevent it from coming forward and hitting them. He doesn't seem to understand their concern and we finally (nearly an hour and 1/2 after our pickup) head to the port. After we finally arrive, we find the number for Art's Shuttle, and call with our complaints. Their response, and I told them that I would quote them was, "You got from point A to point B and the ship didn't leave you. What more do you want?" I asked them to repeat that statement as I planned to quote them on this board. The rep, in a very sarcastic manner, very slowly repeated it.

Make up your own mind. I cannot imagine every using them or sending my worst enemy their way. Problems can occur, but a company that refuses to even acknowledge customer service does not need to be in business.
 
For the heads up about this company.
 
I've never heard of Art's Shuttle before this, but I'll remember their name for my "Hall of Shame" file. What a rude response to your phone call! And to have the audacity to repeat the rudeness a second time! Pitiful. :eek:
 

Personally, I'd like their email address so I could give them this website and let them know that word of mouth gets around!
 
How did you find out about Art's Shuttle? If you got through a travel agency you might complain to them. How much did you save over Mears/Disney's shuttle service? For 4 people who much extra would a towncar have been? Happy limo quotes $160 R/T from MCO to Port Canaveral and Mears is $50 R/T from MCO to a Carnival cruise in Port Canaveral.

Booking an unknown company to save a small amount of money sounds like false savings.
 
Originally posted by Lewisc
How did you find out about Art's Shuttle? If you got through a travel agency you might complain to them. How much did you save over Mears/Disney's shuttle service? For 4 people who much extra would a towncar have been? Happy limo quotes $160 R/T from MCO to Port Canaveral and Mears is $50 R/T from MCO to a Carnival cruise in Port Canaveral.

Booking an unknown company to save a small amount of money sounds like false savings.

In response to the interrogation, I found out about Art's Shuttle by seeing their vans previously when we cruised and from mentions on this board, so they are not "unknown". For our family of four it cost $65. So, factoring in tip it was $40+ cheaper one-way. I don't consider that a small amount of money.

Also, since you seem interested, we were not looking for round trip transportation. We are spending about ten hours at Epcot before flying home, so we are renting a car for that double leg of our trip.

I certainly did not consider it "booking an unknown company to save a small amount of money." Since they seem to be out there, and others might make the mistake we did, I simply wanted to relay the company's apparent official policy on customer service.
 
Originally posted by Tinkmom
In response to the interrogation[...]

Also, since you seem interested[...]

Sounds like you're still quite upset with your experience, but no need to take it out on other DISsers. The whole point of these boards is share information with others. If you weren't interested in people being curious (or facing an interrogation as you put it) about further details on the company you used, perhaps you should have refrained from posting in the first place, or best yet, not replied.

People are using these boards more and more to lash out at fellow DISsers instead of the responsible parties.

On that note, have a nice day! :wave:
 
Found this in another post. Vent away there:


For complaints regarding Orlando transportation companies, contact "City Of Orlando Vehicles For Hire", Phone 407-246-2845, Fax 407-246-3725, email cwells@ci.orlando.fl.us
 
I'd expect horrible service from a company that was more than 33% lower than market price. Doesn't surprise me that for the price you paid the van would be packed no matter how many stops or how long it would take to fill it. Also doesn't surprise me that their position is you paid to get to the cruise before it sailed and you got what you paid for.

My point was if a travel agency (or even a website) suggested Art's you complain to them as well.

Your point seems to be that the service was so bad that it wasn't worth the money you saved. If that's your point then thanks for posting the warning.
 
Originally posted by blondeqtip
Sounds like you're still quite upset with your experience, but no need to take it out on other DISsers. The whole point of these boards is share information with others. If you weren't interested in people being curious (or facing an interrogation as you put it) about further details on the company you used, perhaps you should have refrained from posting in the first place, or best yet, not replied.

People are using these boards more and more to lash out at fellow DISsers instead of the responsible parties.

On that note, have a nice day! :wave:

:rolleyes: Um, your post does not make sense to me. Yes, I also believe that the point of these boards is to share info. My intent was to warn people. Personally I appreciate when people take the time to tell of really bad experiences. Being chastised by someone was just uncalled for, thank you.

I also, FIRMLY agree that sometimes people should just refrain from posting in the first place, or not reply. I would like to think that my warning post would be helpful to others. I don't think that the subsequent "holier than thou" ones served that purpose. :rolleyes:
 
Originally posted by Lewisc
I'd expect horrible service from a company that was more than 33% lower than market price. Doesn't surprise me that for the price you paid the van would be packed no matter how many stops or how long it would take to fill it. Also doesn't surprise me that their position is you paid to get to the cruise before it sailed and you got what you paid for.

My point was if a travel agency (or even a website) suggested Art's you complain to them as well.

Your point seems to be that the service was so bad that it wasn't worth the money you saved. If that's your point then thanks for posting the warning.

My primary complaints were that the van reeked of vomit or spoiled milk, the driver absolutely had no idea where he was going, and when the company was informed they could not have cared less. I find this unacceptable at any price. Your opinion may differ, I guess........
 














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