Tours and Rental need their own link

[Itsi Atkins]

With many issues to discuss and trying to help other Segway tours get started in a safe way, I think we should have a group which can get together interchange ideas and visit. A Dirctory is a must, and working together with travel promotion, media and printed advertisements would provide savings,an a unitified set of rules. maybe The Segway Tours Operator Professionals or STOP.and get plugged into the big time travel industry pros.
Let keep all who want to start tours talking and helping each other, this will benefit all So lets get it together, we need a member director to set up, the Olympics, Queen Mary 2, 2 National Conventions and the new WTC transit Hub. Plus the rest of te world. So lets keep LLC building them and we can network together making good money creating more tours until we have tours in every country.owners in every village and the international around the world glide will be the biggest event of the next century.
Live you Dreams..... Don't Dream to Live!!





Segway

[Florida Ever-Glides]

Great idea... We need to distinguish between 'real' tourist attractions using the Segway as a commercial form of transportation and the start-up companies that are selling, renting, doing conventions, etc.. Because these type of outfits are not tour professionals. Many of them are just reaching out for the quick buck. If uniform safety guidelines are not set fairly quickly setting priorities such as rider safety and pedestrian respect, these 'carnival companies' will bring down the Segway reputation. More accidents will happen with novice riders and innocent walkers. Let's support Itsi on this one.

Tom Jacobson

[LarryL]

I completely agree and would be happy to start setting up a group to work with all the Segway Tour and Rental companies. If others are interested, please e-mail me at LarryL@Fun-Transport.com.

Larry

[Florida Ever-Glides]

Larry, Your e-mal address isn't working. I think there should be two different groups; one for rental businesses and another for tours. They are two different business models. I would be interested in assisting others who are interested in starting a safe guided tour operation. They are more difficult to operate than a rental business. If the tour business is set up properly with the city, as a 'real' tourist attraction it is a wonderful 'commercial' and responsible use of the Segway.

Tom Jacobson

[LarryL]

I completely agree, but many have both. I will have both Rentals and Tours in Las Vegas. Even though they are very different, I think we can all benefit from starting an organization to share information and to get discounts on things like insurance.

Larry

[Florida Ever-Glides]

Where will your tours in Las Vegas be visiting. The size of the tour groups? Do you have the unwavering support of the city (politicians)?

Tom Jacobson

[LarryL]

Tom:
We are currently working through the process to offer tours of Red Rock Canyon as well as tours along the Las Vegas Strip visiting the hotels and casinos. We are working with the city officials, Public Works Dept. Etc.

We plan to keep group sizes on the strip to 4 people and a guide. Red Rock Canion will depend on need.

Larry

[fathertime]

Tom and Larry,

I am working with a local university's business students doing a case study on the Segway Rental business. You folks seem to have a lot of experience. Would you be willing to talk to the students (by email - they don't have a travel budget)?

JR

[LarryL]

Sure, not a problem at all. Just have them e-mail me at LarryL@Fun-Transport.com or call me at 509-999-8020.

Larry

[Florida Ever-Glides]

JR

My expertise is only on the tour side. I will be happy to share our experience in 'safely' operating a structured tour using the HT's as the mode of transportation. Please use the floridaever-glides@att.net e-mail.

Tom Jacobson

[Stewbonz]

I don't recommend renting Segways and turning people loose on the streets and sidewalks. Short term renters often want to test equipment to the extreem, damage or even steal the Segways. I had a setup where we were giving 10 minute, $5 dollar, Segways lessons. (300 in 5 days!) Alot of hassle. During the 10 minute ride, some folks feel it is their right to abuse the equipment since they paid $5 dollars!
The guided tours are alot of work but the equipment is better taken care of and much safer for the customer and by-standers.
http://www.thailandsegwaytours.com/

JEFF JARVIS
ThailandSegwayTours.com

[Florida Ever-Glides]

Prior to opening our guided tour business we partnered with our city's (Sarasota, FL) science museum and sponsered a 'fund raising' demo program. We offered 5 minute intro demos for $5.00 with the proceeds going to the museum. We brought out seven Segway's and had a one-on-one ratio for each rider. In four hours we safely demo'ed over 250 riders without incident or any damage to the units. It was a great promotional program which we will be repeating quartly as a local fund raiser.

To some extent I agree that a rental operation comes with inherent risks such as personal injuries and damage to the machines. Individual riders are much less likely to ride careless and abuse the expensive equipment if a guide is riding along. Both rental and tour businesses can exist and succeed if they can adhere to a common code of ethics, put rider/pedestrian safety first and have an established certification process in place. Larry at Fun-Transport and I are starting to discuss forming such an organization.

More to come later...

Tom Jacobson

[SegwayPete]

A National Association is a good thing,but what we really need to do is get Segway LLC to support us. Tour operators offer the finest form of sampling for potential buyers of units(I have myself sold over 30 units). What I would like to see Segway provide is the following:

A)On Segway.com, a comprehensive listing of all tour operators including city,tour location(s),hours of operation,scope of operation ie corporate and consumer event capability,how long in business etc.
B)Currently to get qoute "authorized" they make you jump through all the legal hoops.This is a bunch of crap and is akin to their stellar marketing efforts to date.
C)Provide corporate support WOW!! Maybe even have a corporate representative drop in now and then!!!! They seem to have the time to do one on one BROT training but never visit the people that are attracting potential buyers..DUH!
D)Provide ALL of us with Corporate Event leads that are specific to the geographical location(s) of each operator. (currently most leads are fed down to one or two agencies. Right Keith!!!
E)Give us a deal or at least "cost" pricing on spare parts especially BATTERIES!!!!!
F) Direct new Segway owners to recieve their BROT training at the nearest Segway Tour Operator location.(if feasible)

To me these suggestions are no brainers... but..well.. you know
how things are.
Our biggest collective problem is simple. THERE ARE MASSES OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT DON'T BELIEVE THEY CAN RIDE THE DEVICE!!! The only way to change this is one rental customer at a time!!!! This is only way our business will increase. This is why I strongly encourage new entrants into the business. If Suzy rode in New York she is more likely to take a tour in Florida or Vegas(Larry)while on vacation.
One final thought.. I see some of the prices out there and in my opinion some of you guys are giving it away.Test glides at 5 bucks for 10 mins.... what's with that? I have a theory that everything you do albeit test glides or tours should be centred around a buck a minute!The guy in Paris is nuts..95.00 for 4 hours??? I don't what to be with people for that long and I'm sure they don't want to be with me.Also.. loose the video watching.. the best way to learn how to ride a Segway,is to ride a Segway!
Thanx for letting me ramble.
Peter Beauchamp
www.technologyinmotion.ca

[Florida Ever-Glides]

Segway Pete:

You are exactly the reason we need a National Association; to seperate the 'true' safety minded company with the all-in one 'quick buck' business.

I don't mean to be too harsh but Budweiser Girls, an infant on a Segway and pictures of group rides without ANYONE wearing a helmet is not my nor Segways idea of a safe/professional business. The fact that you don't think riders should view the safety/operations video is certainly negligent behavior, if an accident occurs.

A professional association will unify the serious business people, set a responsible standard of operatin that Segway LLC would appreciate, and a certification process would be welcomed by commercial insurance carriers. I understand that one of the large carriers for Segway rental companies is pulling out of the Segway business.

Segway is not responsible for promoting my business. This is my job. Segway has plenty on it's plate to get involved babysitting other businesses. As professional business people it is our responsibility to organize and structure our services using consistent ethical behavior

Those who are in it for the quick buck, will charge a buck a minute. Others will price their services on value and reputation.

There are too many poor operations opening now. Let's work together to assist those who need our help to operate using 'best practices' through a professional organization. It's just as easy to do it right as it is to do it wrong.



Tom Jacobson

[Itsi Atkins]

I nominate Tom Jacobson to lead the link for tour groups, which can be added to the Chat site if Frank is in agreement. I suggest that we not put the rentals in the tour site. They need to be separate and as far away as possible from real tour operators which use the Segways to inhance the historical or entertainment theme of their tours which are real tourist related business.

[Florida Ever-Glides]

Itsi,

I guess Technology In Motion didn't like the appraisal in my last message. But their web site speaks for itself. They have apparently barred me from entering their site now. I'm just trying to preach providing safe riding in rentals or tours. This is essential for the survival of Segway and all of our goals.



Tom Jacobson

[Relay]

Tom, Itsi, and Larry, and everyone else too I guess.
I know October is too far off for starters, but lets lobby Father Time for a Rental Operator's Conference track at SegwayFest! 2004. We should probably have at least one conversation or get together first, but if we are all at the conference, we can sit down and talk about what everyone is doing, what is working well, what is not, as well as discussing an Operator's Code of Conduct.

[Florida Ever-Glides]

That's a great idea... To add, we should think about forming an advisory board made up of professional rental/tour business people who share the same basic principles of rider safety, pedestrian respect, and fun. This board must not be a self-serving arena but a group who's goal is the present and future success of Segway rental/tour businesses. Our time is limited in weeding out the 'carnival shows' and embracing the serious endeavour. A few bad apples could have a dramatic negative effect on all of us. I think this discussion is heading us in the right direction. I look forward to meeting many fine people at the 2004 SegFest....

Tom Jacobson