Ollie’s Taxi & Airport Service

Because of a family emergency, I’ve had to use Ollie’s Taxi about six times in the last few weeks both locally in Franklin Square and to JFK and back. Every single time they have been on-​time, polite and helpful. I wish people would be as quick to give reviews for consistently good service as they are for one-​time poor service… everyone has an off — day once in a while.

I’ve used Ollie’s twice to get to the airport. No complaints. They showed up early both times, were friendly, and got me there quickly and safely.

Ive been using ollies here and there. I liked it until today. I went from franklin square to garden city south and it usually cost $ 5 but the driver said the cost is $ 10 and had the nerve to ask for a tip. If he ever comes to pick me up again i rather walk

This situation happened about a month ago. I was taking my usual commute from Penn Station to New Hyde Park but this day, there was an accident on the tracks and all trains from Jamaica going East on that line were canceled. At Jamaica, I called Ollie’s to schedule a pick-​up from the Steward Manor Station to the New Hyde Park Station so I could get my car, which is only .7 miles away. I needed the pick-​up 45 minutes from when I called; called at 6:15 for pick-​up at 7pm. A young male answered the phone and he took the reservation and said I have a pick-​up scheduled. I finally arrive at Stewart Manor, get off the train and did not see the cab. I wait 10 minutes before I called and when I did, a woman picks up who proceeds to tell me that the cab will be there in 10 minutes, even though she didn’t have any information except that the pick-​up was Stewart Manor. She didn’t look anything up in the computer, just tells me 10 more minutes. I wait another 15 minutes before I call again as no cab showed up. When I call this time, a different woman than the last time I called answers and takes the time to look up the info in the computer. She tells me that they have no record of my reservation, asks who took it, and then tells me that the person who took it is a new employee and didn’t take the reservation correctly. Why is a new employee taking reservations if he doesn’t know how to do it? At the very least he should have been supervised. At this point I’m angry as I spoke to a man and a woman who told me I have a reservation for pick-​up when I didn’t. This woman dispatches a cab which arrives in another 15 minutes. By the time I got in the cab, I had been waiting 45 minutes outside in the cold.
I had called Ollie’s in the past to pick me up from Stewart Manor and take me to my home in Franklin Square and the fare was $ 7.50 for that trip which is 1.7 miles. When I finally get in the Cab, I am told the fair is $ 8.50. How does it make sense that a 1.7 mile trip to my home is $ 7.50 but a .7 mile trip to a train station right down the street is $ 8.50? I am completely irate at the level of incompetence I was forced to endure by your company’s employees. 1^st person that took the reservation didn’t really take, the 2^nd woman I spoke to told me a cab was on the way when it wasn’t, and then a cab finally does show up and the fair costs more when it’s less than half the distance of my regular trip. At the very least I should have had a reduced fair for having to wait in the cold for 45 minutes.
When you never encounter a problem with a company you just assume that they know what they are doing, but the true test of a company’s customer service is how they handle their mistakes. I can say without a doubt that your company does not know what they are doing or how to provide customer service. I have already removed your number from my phone as well as my family members and replaced it with another cab company. You can be assured that I and my family will never use your services again.
In response to your follow-​up comment: I complained to the driver who said there was nothing he could do about the fair who proceeded to tell me that he was just sitting around for the last 20 minutes with nothing to do and would have been out to me sooner if he new I needed a pick up. Yea that’s just what I wanted to hear, that while I’m waiting in the cold for a cab that there’s a driver sitting around with nothing to do because the 1^st two people I spoke to couldn’t do there job and schedule the pick-​up correctly. I also called back to ask to speak to a manager about what happened but was told by the woman who answered that there was no one there that I could complain to and to call back the next day. I find it odd that you have no managers working at night; when I started complaining to the woman on the phone, she started arguing with me. The woman’s response should not have been to argue with me, it should have been to apologize and offer a solution instead of saying «well it’s not my fault.» I had no desire to get into a screaming fight over the phone with her so I just hung up on her. I don’t see how you can «rectify the situation.» What’s done is done, what I’ve noticed from dealing with 3 people over the phone and the driver is that no one in your organization really cares about customer service. Regardless if that woman took the reservation or not, your company is responsible for what happened, she is an agent of your company and should have accepted fault and apologized. If you took great pride in customer service, then situations like this would not happen. I have no intention of ever giving your company another chance.

Started using the service again a few months ago and I am happy to state that my experience has changed since my last review! My usual morning car has only been late twice in the past 6 months which is pretty good service in my book. Another problem that I had recently was quickly responded to and I am very happy to see that Ollies takes an interest in their customer service and the experience that their customer base has!

I just had the absolute worst cab experience I have ever had. I have used Ollie’s for years to go back and forth from Little Neck to JFK or LGD Airport and have had little to no problem (although pick up is always spotty). Today however I ordered a cab to pick me up from JFK airport and was told to wait outside for the cab to arrive. I waited for an hour and 23 minutes when I was told the cab would be there within 5 minutes. Mind you it is 31 degrees outside and there is snow on some cars. I called headquarters and the driver personally multiple times and they assured me that he was almost there. Then he stopped answering and headquarters could not contact him either. When he finally arrived I was shivering uncontrollably. The driver informed me that the reason he was late was because he could not find the designated pick up place that headquarters had told me to wait by. He said it was his first time driving to the airport, and that he had been driving around departures instead of arrivals. Once in the cab he did not know my address even though I had already given it over the phone and my boyfriend had to personally put it in his gps because he could not work it. When we arrived he informed me that my fair was going to be $ 41. I asked him to call headquarters (who had already told me the situation was abysmal on their end) and ask them to either wave my fee or discount it. The man at headquarters (who I had talked to earlier and who had said the service was abysmal) told me that there was no fee wave because service was busy at the airport and that things are congested. I informed him that that was unacceptable and that the reason we waited so long was because the cab driver could not find us. He then told me that I shouldn’t have waited outside when they told me to wait inside. To which I told him that I was told to wait by pick up area 3, not inside. He then laughed and said the best he could do would be to take $ 5 off. I told him that an hour and 23 minute wait in 31 degree weather for a 24 minute cab ride warranted a bigger discount and curtesy on their part. He then said «ma’am the best I can do is $ 10 off that’s it» and then rudely hung up on me. I then paid the cab driver the $ 31 and after departing the cab called back, and was again hung up on before anyone said hello. I called back again and spoke to a lovely lady who helped me by writing down a formal complaint of my experience. I will not be using Ollies ever again, and I advise everyone to only use them if you are desperate and want to be treated like dirt.

First time reviewer here, but I feel compelled to speak out.
1 star is far too generous. I had the cab driver from hell. He came 15 minutes early violently honking as soon as he arrived (he wasn’t even in front of my house). I was not dressed and was not able to come out to tell him he was way too early. I was hoping he would call my phone, but I did not receive a call. Instead, he came to my door and my roommate politely told him I would be right out.
I rushed out the door and right away he asked if I was deaf and complained that his dispatcher did not give him a time. Like it was my fault! I couldn’t believe the way he was talking to me. I told him he was being rude and it set him off.
He wouldn’t leave my driveway and wanted to stay and argue. Finally, he started driving very slowly. He was yelling at me and kept calling me deaf, blind and rude. He said «I gotta deal with people like YOU all day!» I didn’t know what that meant. I was a person who needed a ride. Maybe that’s what he meant? People who need rides?
I was in total shock. He refused to give me his name, but after asking 3 more times he said it was ‘glen.‘
After driving me about 3 blocks verbally abusing me, I said I had enough and to drop me off right there. He made an abrupt right turn from the wrong lane in front of another car. He told me the fare and I said I’m sorry but you drove me 3 blocks insulting me the whole time, driving recklessly and refusing to give me your name. I wasn’t provided a proper service and should not have to pay $ 10 to be late for work, abused, and scared for my life. He threatened to call the cops. And I started walking to my destination. I was so shaken from that experience, so my brother called the manager who apparently said «let’s pretend it didn’t happen» or something along those lines.
In conclusion, don’t use ollies. They are not professional and extremely sketchy. Seriously.

Unprofessional and rude service. I scheduled an airport pickup with the dispatcher Mike two days in advance. The day of the flight they didn’t seem to have anyone at the airport and then when they finally sent a driver to the airport the dispatcher or assistant gave the driver the wrong terminal number. We literally stood there with our luggage waiting more than an hour for a driver after a long international flight. After first saying it wasn’t their fault, the dispatcher Mike said he would take off the $ 20 for meeting and greeting inside as if that was so generous of him (we still paid for parking). When I said that was not sufficient Mike hung up on us. Extremely unprofessional and low class service. NEVER USE OLLIES FOR AIRPORT SERVICE. They don’t appreciate their customers and it’s too risky.

I used to use Airport Transportation which is now owned by Ollies. Got great service by Airport Transportation but now that Ollies has taken over the prices have increased and BEWARE of the fake $ 2.00 service fee for using your credit card. I was not told of this fee when I made the reservation. I felt this is unfair. I could have easily gone to the cash machine and saved my self the 2 bucks. I did not take it out of the drivers tip. I decided to call the office and I spoke to Steve the general manager. I told him about not being told about the service fee snd he basically said he could care less. I thanked him for now helping me to decide to go to Über that charges $ 45.00 with tip and you have to use a credit card. Ollies taxi and Steve helped me make a better decision to use Über. Thanks guys. I just saved $ 7.00 dollars on my next trip.

horribe service. they say the will come and never come. One time i asked them for an 830am pick up and to please call me when the cab arrives because i cannot see the street from my apartment, they call me at 835 and then want to charge me $ 15 additional dollars for a «wait time fee» Ha! a $ 6 cab ride that they charge $ 9 for is now $ 24!!! This place is a joke. The old fart of a taxi driver was the rudest nastiest old man i ever met. Disgusted. They need to fire every dispatcher and driver and start over, everyone is disgusting.

My family and I have been using ollies for as long as I can remember. Even though im a driver i will still using them from time to time for certain reasons. That’s gonna change cause I value my life.
This morning I wasn’t passenger I was a driver of my personal vehicle. The weather was horrible with very poor visibility when the ollies #50 ford econoline was driving recklessly cut me off and traded paint. All this reckless driving was just so he can pick up about 5 passenger’s down the road on little neck pkwy. This is where I caught up to him to get the vehicle #.
Even though i can buff it out so there was no need for police i have been wondering all day why this driver is still on the road. I also wondered how many other drivers here drive like this guy.
I called the office and spoke with the supervisor Jerry who was very kind, understanding and helpful. He did offer to get police back there I refused because I was already at work and frankly the damages wasn’t worth calling. There were no injuries so why bother right. The supervisor told me he was gonna call his driver back to take care of the problem.
I am not sure what has happened since. I do know I won’t get in the car/​van with these drivers because if they are gonna drive like this they are going to kill someone one day. So for my safety and others I won’t use them I’ll start using Glen belle car service. As for my family and friends I tell this to its there choice if they choose to use them.

This is really a «no stars» rating. I ordered a car in the evening to pick me up the following morning, so I could get to a flight leaving from JFK. The man who took my reservation could not give me a price, and asked me to call a few hours later. So I did. Same person answered the phone. Had my reservation but no one could tell me how much it would cost. I was told to call first thing in the morning to find out the cost. So I did. mThey gave me a price that was fair. I confirmed pick up time and address every time I called.
7:15 am rolls around. No car. We call. «He’s near by.» We call again at 7:18. Don’t forget— there’s a flight to catch. We are put on hold for two minutes. «He’s in your community». «Where exactly?» On hold again for two minutes. «He’s 7 minutes away. His GPS sent him to the wrong place.» What???
Luckily for me, my husbands flight was two hours later, so we ended up driving to the airport, dropping me off, and him going to the long-​term parking lot. Which we should have done in the first place, and saved ourselves the aggravation, what if I hadn’t had that as an option? I would have miss my flight because of this complete incompetence. This is a LOCAL car service. how do they send a driver to a location without being sure that he/​she knows where to go??? I will never call them again.

I have been a loyal customer to Ollies for years now. Today I called to make a reservation for a car so I could get to work. 15 minutes after the car was supposed to get here I called to cancel because I made other arrangements to get to work as I was going to be late. The woman on the phone was beyond nasty with me. This is not the first time they have been very late or very rude with me. I have use Ollies for the last time. They need to hire reservationists with personalities and who know a bit about customer service. Giving them one star was being generous. If I could take stars away, I would have.

I’ve used Ollie’s a few times a year for the past few years for airport service. The first time I used them I was impressed, car was on time, fare was reasonable, car was OK. Of course as time went on service went down, maintenance of vehicles stopped and fares have gone up. Last trip I was aghast to pay $ 53 to got from Whitestone to LGA. I was told the premium was for a mini-​van which we needed for luggage but the tail gate wouldn’t open so it was kind of pointless. On the return trip the van was short a seat and had no working AC. For $ 53, nope, no more.
PS — the drivers were never the problem.

mostly reliable!

This a –5 star rating.
Please excuse the profanity below. I’ve really had it with this company. I’ve been a loyal customer (I don’t know why!) to this shitty company for 5 years.
I do not go a full week without being late at least once. I call the night before or a few hours before I have to get picked up and I STILL have to call and ask where my cab is. At one point I was late every god damn day and almost lost my job. That week I flipped and asked to speak to a manager. I told him how I felt and this fucking jerk off told me if I continued with my attitude he wouldn’t send my cab.
I try to stay patient with them. They are alway under staffed and it’s not the drivers fault. Even if I’m late I over tip them. No one should be treated like these drivers are. The dispatchers (both morning and night) are assholes not only to the drivers but customers as well.
Hey dick head! The driver had you on speaker phone when you were talking shit about me. Excuse me if I don’t feel like waiting another 10 minutes to pick up another passenger at another train station and share a cab to have them dropped off first.
As I said above, I’ve used this cab for five years twice a day (both to and from the LIRR) and the fact that I’m treated like this really bothers me. The greeting when you call says the cabs are punctual, cabs are clear, staff is professional. Which is all untrue. You should change that and just have elevator music because you’re making yourself look even worse.
I can tell you I’ll no longer be using Ollies and I’ll be sure to have the 4 other people in my home and ALL my family in the neighborhood to never use them again.
Good luck.

Well there must’ve been an exact address bc I was picked up at my house, dropped off at the restaurant and then dropped off by the same cab driver. And both times that I called for the cab I gave my exact address. I was told $ 7.50 for one person and an additional $ 3.00 per person. Never told about the additional $ 2.00 fee after 10:00 pm until we read it on a small sticker on the car window.
Our driver and probably not his fault was driving a sedan for four people with every light on his dashboard lit up and squeaky brakes. I called 3 other cab companies in the surrounding area (elmont, west Hempstead and mineola). They all transferred me or gave me Ollies phone number.
No drinking and driving, yet calling a cab is always a hassle. A van for 1 PERSON! A sedan for 4 PEOPLE!

The driver was very courteous, punctual, got us to the airport quickly, and unlike the other cab drivers I’ve encountered in New York, his driving did not scare the daylights out of me.

DO NOT USE OLLIE’S EVER! WORST CAR SERVICE IN THE UNIVERSE!!!
I just had a horrible experience with them and it hasn’t been the first time. I don’t know why I’ve been continuing to use them but I am officially DONE WITH THEM.
I called them as soon as I landed at LGA as instructed. The dispatcher told me they’d be there in 20 minutes. After 40 minutes I called them and it’s a good thing I did. THEY DIDN’T SEND ANYONE. If I hadn’t called I would have been waiting even lounger. I know all of this because the driver told me he was told to pick me up 20 minutes before he finally arrived. I called them while en route to my house and the guy who picked up had no concern for my needs. A 20 minute wait turned into an hour. Incredibly disappointed.
As of this review I have yet to speak to a manager but when I do I will be sure to share my HORRIFIC experience with him and tell him that he’s lost a loyal customer who should have left a while ago.
DO NOT USE OLLIE’S!!! You have been forewarned. I know there are several other companies in the area including Century and Dial 7 will always get you not matter where the location.
Again…you’ve been warned fellow Unilocalers. AVOID OLLIE’S LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!

Let’s put it this way, I’d rather walk uphill in a blizzard, carrying a 100 pound backpack rather than do business with this company!
In a nutshell of my several experiences, the drivers are highly unprofessional with a rude/​violent demeanor, attempt to OVERCHARGE you (thankfully I always knew the prices & paid in cash), drive dangerously, and are quite unreliable. Go elsewhere, ANYWHERE! Save yourself a boatload of unnecessary pain & suffering and give your hard earned money to a company that prides itself in doing a good job. Ollies should be out of business. It’s a miracle they’re still operating after all these years.