Had the pleasure of working at Cobblestone Limousine in Stuart Fl for about 6 months until late…read moreFebruary 2024. It was a stop gap from day one, meant to supplement my failing Real Estate business, and a rapidly rising cost of living in my beloved home state...but I digress.
I will say that I've never bothered to review any of my previous employers, in fact I'd rather review a Domino's Pizza from iPhone at 2am...but it was the varying degree of reviews of this business from former employees, including some of the rather crude opinions of the current ownership that have pushed me to do so, even almost two weeks after relocating to New Mexico for an opportunity that I just couldn't let fly over my head.
My wonderfully fun, exhausting, and illuminating time working for this 32-year-old small but thriving business was filled with early mornings, late nights, talkative passengers, quiet passengers, flirty passengers, condescending passengers...etc. But if you're coming from any sort of customer service, restaurant, or hospitality background, you know that THAT'S JUST PEOPLE, and such is the way of the world. The job itself is not terribly difficult, there is no extensive exhausting training, the base pay is more than fair (even in this economy), and basically you will be weeded out by the quality and safety of your driving, as well as your personality and service. Basically, if you can tie a tie, maintain a clean appearance, crack a well-timed joke or play a well-timed song...and enjoy driving a range of luxury vehicles on a daily basis, this is the gig for you, and you won't come home smelling like kitchen or with aching feet, regardless of what time you turn in your car.
Every once in a while you'll have a passenger who grinds your gears, and I'm sure many passengers get dropped off perhaps thinking that you weren't charming enough, or that maybe you drove to slow or too fast (a couple passengers may also slip you $100 to "get there faster", or come inside to help zip up a dress whatever, but that's neither here no there)...but the point is to not take it personally, and enjoy each ride as it's own individual experience. You will also have repeat passengers who request you...which may or may not be to your liking depending on the passenger, but again, enjoy the ride!
About the 3rd owners of Cobblestone...they are a married GERMAN couple who divide operations equally, and in a short 5 or 6 years they have streamlined and expanded this humble hometown company to make it a respected name across the entire state of Florida (I'm for real...if you're good, you will be on both coastlines and in every city). In their very German way, you will find them to be straight shooters, and almost shockingly honest compared to American sensibilities, but always helpful, always fair, and always understanding. Don't be surprised or take it personally when they say something to you like "This is not a kindergarten", or "Examine your brain"...they're just telling you that you can do better.
Thanks Patrick and Demy, I wish you at least 32 more years of success.
Omar