Grocery Stop with Tiffany Towncar

[Jodi1980]

How much time do they give you to pick up groceries?

 

[BrerRabbit_fan]

Half an hour.

 

[quicksilver]

I used to be 30 minutes. Now only 20 minutes!!!

 

[katypop]

my last trip with them they refused to stop the driver said i hadn't booked the grocery stop but i had, this was my 3rd trip with them. i have let them know i will not be travelling with them again
katypop

 

[manning]

RE: katypop reply

Is their service slipping?

 

[travelbug]

I was told 30 min. when I booked by phone sometime last summer for my Dec. trip. The driver did not emphasize a time limit when she stopped at the store, but I told her my list was short and I wouldn't be long. I think I was back in about 20 min.

Makes me think. What would a driver do if someone took way too long in a store? Charge extra? Go off and leave? Anyone have any experiences with that situation?

 

[katypop]

manning-we used tiffany once in 2002 and twice in 2003. to be fair, the most important part of their service has not slipped...they were waiting to pick us up each time at the airport and were also on time for our return trip. however, 1st trip driver was very friendly and talkative, 2nd trip driver spent entire trips on phone directing other drivers to where they should be (he was very stressed as a couple of the drivers could not "find" their fares and vice versa 3rd trip driver did not talk to us at all except to refuse to stop for our grocery stop. this stop was important to us and we ended up spending more at wdw to purchase what we needed. i even told her all we needed was 15min, but she refused. i did not tip her and told her why. i did not complain while i was there because i was worried about our return trip to the airport. i sent an e-mail upon our return but was not satisfied with the answer. i was told since i didn't tip the driver, she would probably not refuse to stop for someone again they didn't understand why i would not use them again since they were there on time. i understand the stop is "free" but it is part of the service offered and i was promised this service. i will try someone else this spring.
katypop

 

[manning]

katypop - Do not be timid. If you don't get the service you are paying for contact management. situations like these can't be resolved if they are not known. You can also ask for a different driver for the return to the airport. Just explain that the service was not up to THERE professional standards and if they are able to provide those services you will be happy to continue to use and recommend them in the future.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

This is an interesting thread. I'm debating (with myself lol) about how to get around Orlando when I bring my 4yo in a few weeks. I need to get to WDW and to Universal for a couple of day trips. I will probably rent a car, but am nervous since I've never driven around Orlando and I will be alone with my 4yo. I don't want to take Mears because there isn't a grocery stop, but if I can't be positive about a grocery stop with a towne car service I am better off renting a car. At least this is helping me with my decision.

katypop, when the driver refused to stop at the grocery store had your flight been late? That's the only reason I can understand them not stopping, but even then I wouldn't be too happy since that would have been out of your control. I can really only understand it if the driver came to pick a person up and they insisted on stopping at the gift shop, Starbucks, etc, that ate up the drivers time.

T&B

 

[MEM]

We have used Tiffany for the last four trips to WDW, including August 2003. I always ask for the grocery stop in the on-line reservation system and save a copy of the reply. I also ask for the same driver each time- Sam. I have also used the driver named Berkley for a trip to Seaworld and he is also excellent, but tends to only drive the van. I have never had a problem with getting the grocery stop although I need to remind the driver I prefer Publix. Apparently some clients have abused the grocery stop and spent over an hour in the store! I always have a list and pretty much keep it under 20 minutes.

The excuse about the late flight really shouldn't apply -- if your flight is running late, they may pass you off to another driver if they have someplace else to be. I had Sam's brother one time when Sam had to leave to pick up another fare. Sam then met his brother and us at Publix and took us the rest of the way. Please do not be offended if the driver spends most of the time on the phone or radio -- communication is everything with these towncar companies.

 

[katypop]

yes, my flight was 1 hr late but this didn't seem to be the problem. the driver said it did not say on her sheet that we were to have a grocery stop so refused. i asked her to call someone and she did (i think ) and again said no stop was booked. when i complained in my e-mail to tiffany's i mentioned that my flight had been late, and if this was the reason i should have been told of this possibilty, but in their answer they didn't even refer to the fact i was late, just that they figured the driver would not refuse again as she missed her tip as i said before, our 1st 2 trips were fine, there was no problem stopping and we were told to take our time, although we only needed 15-20 min. since i used the 1-800 # each time i booked i had nothing to prove i had requested the stop. the company did not deny in their reply that i had booked this stop though. i will try another company next trip and book by internet so i can print off a confirmation.
katypop