Simon's car developed a fault a while ago. It seems to be beyond the wit of of the dealership to fix it. In the mean time he needed a car. Hiring one meant finding his driving license and going to a hire location. Too much effort. Streetcar was suggested to him.
It has been a revelation. The best service experience I have ever known. Signing up was done over the phone. No need to find the driving license as they ring whoever it is they ring to check these things. Hundreds of cars are scattered all over London and beyond. There are about a dozen within five minutes walk of my house. There isn't a car hire location within an hours walk and I sometime have to park my car further away than the nearest of theirs. Just go online or phone and tell them when you want the car and they'll tell you where the nearest available one is. It will be near. It will be a new Golf. Fine for most things. It won't be covered in branding. I have a card to open the car and the keys are inside. I return it where it came from or to somewhere else.
Not only is it the most efficient service experience I have ever had, but when there is a need to talk to someone they answer the phone promptly with no options to be selected and they are personable, intelligent and helpful people who bear no resemblance to the typical call centre employee.
And for this premium service I pay a standard price.
There is only one thing I don't like: they give the cars names. I loath that. People and pets, fine. But not cars. They have number plates.
And they sent me a survey to complete the other day. It wasn't very well constructed. I think they are excellent but I doubt that was clear from the answers required of me.
But the survey did tell me their objective is to offer the best service a customer can experience.
They have achieved their objective for this customer.
Simon