In this episode of Mailbag, a reader explores the rip-off of wedding limos.
Hi, Ariel. I'm a bride from Southern Maine and while researching Limo companies in my area I came across Mr. Limo in Scarborough, who advertises 10-passenger limos. His "basic rate" is $45 an hour. His "wedding rate" is $250 for three hours including "complimentary red carpet service and champagne." So that's $115 MORE for the same thing only with "complimentary service"? Not too complimentary. I emailed him on this and here's his response:
"Hi Brittany,
In the limo business, special events are normally booked at 3 hours at a time and include red carpet and complimentary beverages at a higher rate, hence the difference. The same holds true for proms, etc. It's based on what the market will bear, not unlike many other service industries. I suspect you won't find a limo service that differs, but I wish you good luck.
Thank you,
Scott
Mr. Limo of Scarborough"
"What the market will bear"?! Brides everywhere need to stand up to this "market" and refuse to pay more than the average person!
I've been going through all my chosen vendors and getting a "wedding" quote then getting a "family reunion" quote. I refuse to book them unless they give me the price for the every day type event and not the rip off price! —BrittanyRae
Comments on "Wedding limo rip-offs"
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Lara
September 22nd, 2007 · 10:06 AM · #
Agreed. The photobooth for my wedding is going to cost $300 more than the photobooth for my "family event". And they are on the SAME day in the SAME place. Seriously, these people can't even pretend not to be ripping people off.
Canadian bride
September 23rd, 2007 · 8:28 AM · #
These clips from BBC's "Man Stroke Woman" give humorous insight into how retailers suddenly increase the price with the word 'wedding.' Very funny, yet still disturbing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ff13zZ0h0k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gimiDBAK2wA
Ang L.
September 23rd, 2007 · 7:08 PM · #
Yeah, I think I'll just happen to get married while I am hosting a family reunion. After all, that is my vision: to have the first family reunion between our two families, which will also be the reception. And, to accomplish the 500 or so guest list, we are probably going to end up in a park, which is cool by me!
Alison K
September 24th, 2007 · 8:16 AM · #
So what if it's being sneaky? They're making us be sneaky by being so sneaky themselves!
Brittany
September 25th, 2007 · 6:07 AM · #
I don't know if it will accomplish anything or not, but I reported him to the Better Business Bureau for false advertising. According to the BBB advertising rules you can't charge more for something when you advertise it as being "Free or Complimentary".
Bride Diva
September 25th, 2007 · 6:58 AM · #
I stayed away from people who practiced that but it wasn't easy because a lot of vendors do. It's all a part of the money-hungry wedding industry.
megan
November 3rd, 2007 · 12:14 PM · #
I am running into the same thing when trying to get hotel room blocks. Every hotel ALWAYS asked for the reason why the room block was needed & I found I wasnt getting very good rates. So I then had my fiance call many of the hotels back and told them it was hor a family reunion & we were getting significantly better rates. So we ended up booking it as a family reunion of 2 families. it seems like this should be illegal!
cyndilee
January 7th, 2008 · 11:44 AM · #
I would suggest when planning a wedding and looking for places to hold your wedding, when asked what is this for I started out saying its for a private party and I find that you almost always get a cheaper rate than a wedding rate. Why that is I have no idea but Im planning on my wedding and thats what I am doing to save a buck here and there!!
mary
June 8th, 2008 · 11:46 AM · #
i just booked a bus online to take guests from my wedding to the reception. i did not specify the event was for a wedding and do not want to tell them. i'm concerned after the job they will adjust the rate (its a 500$ difference between point to point and "wedding" rates). could this happen? i cannot believe its legal for them to have different rates for the same service.
Kit
July 17th, 2008 · 8:03 PM · #
I agree with him: get what you can take until you can't take it anymore. But you should have emphasized to him more not to use the word "complimentary" as it is an outright lie.
MidwestElle
April 5th, 2009 · 3:38 PM · #
Let's shout this from the rooftops, ladies! Not only for the sake of ourselves, but for the sake of all the ignorant folks who keep falling for this!!
Angela
August 8th, 2009 · 6:06 PM · #
Canadian: It's the exact same limo service! They just added some shit champagne and doubled the price!