Godspeed Transportation

My boyfriend needed to pick up our car from the auto repair shop by a certain time and he called Godspeed over an hour and a half before then. They told him they would be here very quickly. They were not. He called back and the woman was incredibly rude and basically told him he needed to wait. He called back again after another half an hour and she was still rude. The third time, she was EXCEPTIONALLY rude. The taxi never showed up at all and he had to find a ride, making him late to get the car AND late for work. This people need to learn how to run a transportation service. You won’t make money acting like that. What happens when it is an emergency situation and they never show up? Never giving them our business again.

These people hired a convicted felon with a rap sheet a mile long for assault and armed robbery who ended up raping one of his customers. If they don’t care about a potential employees’ criminal history or don’t perform background checks, then they shouldn’t be in business putting their customers at risk.

This company will rip you off and get angry if you try to get a fair deal or stand up for yourself. Based on my experience and the experiences of my friends, they especially like ripping off young women traveling alone. They seem fond of trying to intimidate them too.
A prime example is the review below by Natalie R and the way the owners commented on her review to attack her. A decent owner (and a decent human being) would say, «We’re sorry you feel you had a bad experience. I hope we can make it up to you the next time you’re in Kalamazoo.» Whether they feel that way or not, and whether the review is accurate or not, a polite response would communicate that the business owners are smart and reasonable and know how to look good in the face if criticism.
Instead, the owner came across as a ranting, aggressive mad man who, based on that god-​awful typing, did not pass sixth grade. That was my experience with this company. They’re uncivilized, rude, and not very smart about the way they run their business. They deserve to go bankrupt for the poor way they treat customers.

Buyer beware! The major problem with Kalamazoo, is there’s not much regulation of taxi companies. Many of them have a «Wild West» approach to doing business and this often involves sneaky fees and the classic «bait and switch» tactics. Such is the case with Godspeed Taxi. I called for cab and asked for a price. They told me between 15 – 20 dollars for a 4.1 mile ride. RED FLAG#1 They don’t have a meter system, so be aware that when they give you a quote claiming a vague price, this is a method of roping you into ordering the car. My advice firmly ask what the price will actually be, or they will take advantage as I will outline in this review. I specifically asked the dispatcher, if they accept credit cards as I was not expecting to be taking a cab and didn’t have bills handy. She responded affirmatively and said the driver was on his way.
RED FLAG#2-The driver arrived, and as I was ready to enter the car, he told me there was an extra 5 dollar fee for using my credit card. I replied that I was never informed of this extra surcharge and that it was something I should have been notified of when they gave me their quote. He then had the audacity to tell me that he would take me to the ATM around the corner so I could get a cash advance off my credit card, since it was «only a two dollar fee to go to the ATM close by.» At this point, it was just getting uncomfortable and told him I find another option unless they waived the questionable fee. He then called the dispatcher, and after some back and forth, they waived the fee.
As we arrive at my home, I received a four paragraph text from the owner, apologizing about his dispatcher’s selective memory and warning me that if I use his service again I’d pay the 5 dollar fee if I use plastic. IN A TEXT MESSAGE! Insane. I replied that I know very well that their inflated prices and the sneaky method in which they issue them would never fly and a larger, regulated city. RED FLAG# 3 Their credit card processing is so very questionable. There’s no machine, no swipe, and a lot of repeating of numbers and security codes to someone else on the phone-​so strange. And of course he concluded the ride with a justification for his company’s behavior by saying «Well dispatchers don’t usually tell people about that fee. That’s normal.»
I tipped the driver the 5 dollars, (it wasn’t about the money; it was the principle). I use cabs fairly often, and I can say without a doubt that behind the deity in the name and the so called «Christian» image, this business is just another crooked cab service in a deep sea of many others. You’ve been warned.
Pros: Clean car. On time.
Cons: inflated prices. Bait and Switch tactics. Fare was 20 dollars for 4 miles. (Would have been 25 if I had not refused to pay the 5 dollar surcharge) Total paid with tip was 25 dollars.
Result: Probably won’t use Godspeed again. I’ll stick with metered cars where there is less obscurity and friction.

I was in Kalamazoo for a night a couple of weekends ago and when I asked the guy at the desk at my hotel about a taxi referral, he directed me to Godspeed…
Pros: –The cab pretty much arrived on time (not going to sweat 5 minutes).

–Cab was clean.
Cons: — I made the mistake of telling the driver that I was from Chicago and I’m pretty
sure I received the «Big City Special» as a result. I was, needless to say,
flabbergasted when we arrived at my destination, which was less than 10
minutes away and roughly 4 miles, and was told the total was $ 18.
EIGHTEEN DOLLARS? That was at least double what I’d have paid here in
Chicago, so if this guy assumed I wouldn’t bat an eyelash at the heavy price
tag, well, he was wrong.
–There is no meter, at least not in the cab I was in. So, I’d be willing
to bet that these drivers just make up the rates as they see fit.
On the way to the destination, I had asked how difficult it would be to find cab late-​night. The driver gave me his personal number and said he’d give
me VIP treatment, to call him when I was ready. My bad, but by the end of the night, after a long day of driving and a few drinks in me, I didn’t feel like screwing around with hunting down another cab (and who knew who much it would cost, anyway?), I called him. He came and picked us up (my boyfriend was there this time around) and took us back to the hotel. This time, to no surprise, the total was $ 19. He explained that it was an additional dollar due to the extra person and made it very clear that he «wasn’t trying to rip us off».
Conclusion: Don’t. Or, if you absolutely have to, don’t say that you aren’t from the area, although, judging by the other reviews, that may not make a difference, anyway.

I took a cab home from a bar last night. The fare was $ 6 for two people (0.9 mile ride).
Today I took a godspeed cab back to my car. When we got to my car, the driver said, «that will be $ 8. Uhh, $ 10.» So I paid him and tipped him. I feel like I tipped him for ripping me off.

I had a very unpleasant experience with this company. Last night I ended up stuck in Portage with a broken down car, and called Godspeed to take me to a motel and return me in the morning. The cars are largely unmarked, leaving me nervous about getting in. One driver answered texts and calls, swerving the cab in the process. The other argued with me about directions, even after I assured him that I was not from the area and would take his word for it. While in the cab, I politely told the driver that I would need to make a phone call to roadside assistance, and he talked through my entire service call, repeating himself to be sure I’d heard. Besides the rates themselves being exorbitant, I was also charged a very high fee to use my credit card and reprimanded for not informing the dispatcher that I would need to use one. Each pickup took twice as long as the estimated time, which is not unusual for cabs, but still frustrating.

Fast arrival. Friendly operator. Polite driver. Clean car.

The people running this are certainly friendly and courteous. They are a bit too evangelical for my taste but its worth putting up with for a fast efficient taxi service. The driver did start talking about he didn’t like Obama, though, which was a bit inappropriate.

Godspeed Taxi is new to the Kalamazoo area and competes with Big Daddy Taxi. I believe it is only one van owned and operated by a really nice guy that has «Chaplain» and «Minister» on his business card.
What makes Godspeed different is the fact that he drives one of those 1980’s super long stretch vans that has two benchs along both sides of the van in the back with matresses on them. It makes for an interesting ride. It’s about ten dollars anywhere you wanna go in the KZOO area.
*He couldn’t pick us up when we called so he sent his buddy and he comped us.