Latest News About Limonet

Since the onset of this prolonged U.S. recession in late 2007 Limonet has held the line on pricing.

1. The increases in the cost of providing service, including vehicle replacement, maintenance, insurance, fuel, and tolls have continued. Limonet has successfully maintained the newest and safest fleet of Lincoln Town Cars in New York.
2. We will not lessen service by shifting to compact hybrids. These smaller vehicles are not safe in NY traffic, lack durability, and have limited luggage capacity. We can't switch to SUV hybrids as they are too expensive for our industry's price points. Our industry is waiting for a viable option.
3. The cost of living has increased year after year; Chauffeur earnings have not.
4. This year the NYC TL&C approved 17% rate increase for yellow cabs, the 1st adjustment since 2006. Meter conversion was completed on September 30, 2012. This poses an immediate problem. The same driver pool that works in both Black Cars and yellow cabs has shrunk. If they can make more money driving a yellow cab, the yellow cab ranks swell and our numbers shrink. This translates into service issues. Out of necessity, the Black Car Fleets must raise rates and many have all already implemented new rates books.

In consideration of all factors, we need to follow suit. After almost 5 years, Limonet is increasing rates effective October 27, 2012. This is a 10% increase on average over the current Limonet 2008 Rate Book. The new Limonet 2012 Rate Book is available for download from our website, www.Limonet.net

SmartCab® Corporate is a highly dynamic browser based application that revolutionizes corporate relationships by directly integrating with transportation provider vendors. The system was developed by SoundView Technologies, Long Island City, NY and transitions from SmartCab®, our industry's first user friendly Windows based dispatch system. SmartCab® Corporate uses XML technology; SmartCab® is the traditional live operator model. Accepted worldwide by the Travel Industry, XML implementation is the efficient solution to eliminate the excessive fees of 3rd party GDS-platform based transmitters.

Control And Account Management:

SmartCab® Corporate is designed to operate under a controlled environment by incorporating a supervisory function within its Administrator Module, thereby providing the necessary corporate tools to enforce corporate policies.

1. USER ACCESS RIGHTS can be modified to permit or restrict accessibility thereby limiting unauthorized access and transportation costs.
2. DEPARTMENTAL AND INDIVIDUAL RIDE SUMMARY REPORTS as well as billing and invoicing statements can be viewed and printed on demand by in-house corporate account administrators.
3. TEMPLATE MANAGEMENT can be provided to grant varying degrees of access rights and levels to designated departments and individuals. Department Administrators can delete, modify or add new templates and assign them to either entire departments or individuals within departments.

Elimination of Unnecessary And Time Consuming Procedures:

SmartCab® Corporate is a complete transportation solution incorporating Reservation, Billing, Customer Service and Administration modules. No longer is it necessary to call to order a car, wait for car number, send mail or e-mail for customer service or billing issues. All aspects of transportation status and requirements can now be resolved readily and easily on-line, thereby eliminating call waiting time, delays, and inaccurate billing as well as disputed charges.

1. Ease Of Use: SmartCab® Corporate provides employees immediate access via check rates both locally and worldwide. This application will save your firm employee time, eliminates communication errors, and reduces utility expenses by eliminating telephone usage.
2. Rapid Reservations: For a car on demand or to place a later reservation, simply logon and enter an order. Within minutes, the assigned vehicle number and estimated time of arrival will be displayed. Once a vehicle is assigned, the passenger can further communicate with the driver by accessing SmartCab® Corporate's Passenger-Driver Communication feature.
3. Cost Containment Benefits Passed Back To Corporate Clients: The benefit of lower dispatch staffing requirements through SmartCab® Corporate implementation translates into lowered administrative costs.

There are two major problems that factor in the way we can provide client service at Met Life Stadium.

1. When the event is over, if the vehicle is not already on scene access is impossible until the stadium parking lots empty; and
2. There is no assigned Limo Pickup Area.

Solution: The pre-dispatch travel time for cars to access the stadium area must be increased by 90 minutes.

1. We cannot accept live calls. All reservations must be placed at least 3 hours prior to end of the event;
2. Client should provide a cell phone number and e-mail address;
3. The driver will call the Client and advise location for pickup;
4. Client should provide a cell phone number and e-mail address;

Due primarily but not limited to runaway fuel prices and the impact on our franchisees, Until now, Limonet has singularly refrained from adding Fuel Adjustment charges while fuel offsets were being universally added, both locally by the entire Black Car Industry and nationally in the transportation and airlines industries. During this extended economic downturn of the past three years while we have held corporate rates at the 2008 level, fuel costs have kept increasing. It is only now that for the sake of our Limonet Limousine franchisees that we must follow suit. Please remember that the entire Fuel Adjustment is a straight pass through to the drivers.

The Fuel Adjustment surcharge to be added August 15, 2011 has been provided by a US Big Four accounting firm and we believe it to be fair for both Limonet clients and Limonet Franchisees. The Fuel Adjustment charges shall be added to the trip price as follows:

* The Weekly U.S. Retail Gasoline Prices (Regular Grade) for the U.S., as of the first Monday of each month, shall be utilized to determine the applicable fuel surcharge for that month. The Weekly U.S. Retail Gasoline Prices (Regular Grade) can be obtained on the Internet at: www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/

Limonet has completed installation of a natural gas-powered generator to provide backup power resources in a crisis or when regular systems fail. This guarantees operational contingency for the entire Limonet headquarters building and all dispatch and billing systems. Reasons for our selection of natural gas over the more commonly used diesel powered systems include:

1. Environmental benefits through 90% less nitrous oxides, 60 % less carbon monoxide, and near elimination off all visible soot emissions;
2. Longer run time in a natural disaster; and
3. Low fuel maintenance. Fuel filters in diesel fuel storage tanks will clog over time and require regular system polishing to prevent microorganism buildups.

Effective June 1, 2009 New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, under section TSB-M-09 (2) s, imposed state and local sales tax to “transportation services provided using limousines, black cars and certain other motor vehicles with a driver.” The sales tax applies only to trips that begin, remain, and end within New York State.

New York State is now the 2nd in the tri-state to impose sales tax. Effective October 1, 2006 New Jersey N.J.S.A. 54:32 (b)(13) imposed sales tax on transportation services where the trip begins, remains, and ends within New Jersey.

Limonet is installing brand new state of the art terminals in Limonet's entire fleet. These terminals are equipped with a GPS system, which would pinpoint car's location at any given time eliminating no-show and waiting time disputes. These systems have built-in detailed navigation system and provide turn-by-turn directions to the drivers for easier out-of-town pickups and drop-offs.