Wedding Car Trouble

Irish Lion

We booked our wedding car (a H2 Hummer) a while back and today we got a call from the hire service telling us that that car was no longer available as it was "Just Killing Him". I assume by this he means that it was costing him a fortune to run or it was getting no business.
He has offered us our deposit back or €100 off another car that to be honest is just not anything like we want.
What are we to do with only 8 weeks to go?
My wife to be has not been fussy about this wedding but a H2 is just something she wanted and she was over the moon when we eventually got one.
This weekend is the Hen and she is totally gutted because of this. It has taken a bit of the shine off what should have been a great weekend for her.

I can't figure out why didn't get more notice if he was trying to sell the H2...

Does anyone have any idea where we would get a H2 for hire in Cork???

I think it's time for a bit of really negative publicity for this guy...Facebook and Twitter will do for a start..................................:mad:

Addle

Irish Lion wrote: »

I think it's time for a bit of really negative publicity for this guy...Facebook and Twitter will do for a start..................................:mad:

I think that would be very unreasonable.
It's unfortunate, but he's offered your money back and it's not last minute..
You have time to organise alternative transport.

baby and crumble

Irish Lion wrote: »

I can't figure out why didn't get more notice if he was trying to sell the H2...

Does anyone have any idea where we would get a H2 for hire in Cork???

I think it's time for a bit of really negative publicity for this guy...Facebook and Twitter will do for a start..................................:mad:

In all fairness, he's given you two months to find a car, plus giving you your deposit back or money off a different rental. I can't really see why you'd go about badmouthing him, seems a little childish. What was he supposed to do, keep losing money keeping up a car so you and your wife can have the car you want in 2 months time?

Sorry I can't help you find people that do the H2 in Cork, but maybe some of the other companies offer them nationwide?

http://www.absolutehummers.ie/portfolio-categories/hummers/

davo2001

8 weeks should be plenty of time to arrange another car. IMHO proper notice was given.

wexie

try one of these guys?

http://www.absolutelimos.ie/

http://www.dixonsweddingcars.ie/hummer-hire.asp

Irish Lion

9 phone calls this afternoon and only one car available for our date and that is a genuine heap of S*it.
We saw it last year and it was in terrible condition then.
In the Cork area, there are no cars that are not held together with tape and rust available for our date.
I think that you don't know how difficult it is to get something that you actually want, not what others think will do, when you book over a year in advance, not to mention 8 weeks.

Rochester

I know she had her heart set on it, but the day is about much more than a car. Surely there is something nice out there that will do the job, i.e. take her to the ceremony and then onto wherever the party/reception is on.

Irish Lion

Rochester wrote: »

I know she had her heart set on it, but the day is about much more than a car. Surely there is something nice out there that will do the job, i.e. take her to the ceremony and then onto wherever the party/reception is on.

If there is something out there that may suit, it didn't pop up today.
Rang all the cards I had from the wedding shows and nothing doing for our date.

Greenmachine

Break of contract. Take them to court after the wedding for the cost of replacement hire of a car.

Addle

Greenmachine wrote: »

Break of contract. Take them to court after the wedding for the cost of replacement hire of a car.

You don't know that it's a breach of contract.

bren2002

Have you tried asking what price he would do it for?

Greenmachine

Addle wrote: »

You don't know that it's a breach of contract.

Why take a deposit if you are not offering a contract.

Addle

Even if there is a contract, we don't know its content.

wexie

Greenmachine wrote: »

Why take a deposit if you are not offering a contract.

May well have been a contract, could also have been a contract stating that either party can cancel the arrangement with reasonable notice (such as 8 weeks).

Either way, if the guy had to sell the H2 as he couldn't afford to run it then it doesn't sound like there'll be much to be gained from suing him. Also it wouldn't much help OP organise a car for the wedding.

Sligo1

Op could you ask if he sold the hummer to another company who does wedding car hire? And in turn you could contact them...? Just a last resort I spose...

Irish Lion

Sligo1 wrote: »

Op could you ask if he sold the hummer to another company who does wedding car hire? And in turn you could contact them...? Just a last resort I spose...

I will ask the original vendor what is the story with the H2 and if it's available on our required date, ill book it(within reason-the original price).
Is there not a responsibility on the original vendor to supply the service if it's available??
A solicitor mate of mine thinks that the vendor is responsible to cover the cost of a similar booking if they can't fulfil the original booking.

Stanlex

In all fairness I think both you and your wife to be are over reacting. You have 8 weeks. The guy might of genuinely went out of business and you suggest bad mouthing him?

I wish you a happy marriage but my God.

http://www.limobroker.ie/limo-hire-ireland/southern-ireland/

Irish Lion

Stanlex wrote: »

In all fairness I think both you and your wife to be are over reacting. You have 8 weeks. The guy might of genuinely went out of business and you suggest bad mouthing him?

I wish you a happy marriage but my God.

http://www.limobroker.ie/limo-hire-ireland/southern-ireland/

If you think 8 weeks to get a H2 for cork for our date (a Saturday in July) is not going to be an issue, then you try booking one..........

daveohdave

They're a crass car anyway, might as well be in a pink stretch.

chuckyarelaw

daveohdave wrote: »

They're a crass car anyway, might as well be in a pink stretch.

Glad someone made this point. No demand for them means the guy had to sell up.

It sounds harsh but grow a pair and quit the whinging. It won't matter if you use an ass and cart on your wedding day when you look back on the big day in 5 or 10 years time.

Irish Lion

chuckyarelaw wrote: »

Glad someone made this point. No demand for them means the guy had to sell up.

I agree but it is a genuine wish that my wife to be has...

chuckyarelaw wrote: »

It sounds harsh but grow a pair and quit the whinging. It won't matter if you use an ass and cart on your wedding day when you look back on the big day in 5 or 10 years time.

Perhaps you are right but we plan to only do this once and we want to do it our way, not anyone else's way.
For us it's more about the way it was done.
IMO, if the vendor was going to move on the H2, he should have told us when he decided to move on the H2 and that it may have been a possibility that the car may not be available for our date if he got as buyer before then.
We could have (only could have) had a better chance of organising a suitable alternative if we had more time but now there seems to be very few viable options that to be honest, aren't worth paying for.

daveohdave

You said that he called you to tell you, what makes you think he knew before he called?

Irish Lion

daveohdave wrote: »

You said that he called you to tell you, what makes you think he knew before he called?

Because he said that he waited until he had another car to offer us at discount....

daveohdave

Did he say how long?

Whether or which, what's done is done, unless you're proposing to go legal over it, which is a waste of time and effort for everyone involved, or you just came here to bitch, then like the other poster says, move on, get on with it. Ask in the classics forum if someone would be willing to help you out. She'd look a lot classier in a Bentley than she would in a heap of crap like a Hummer.

You should tell her that btw. The Hummer isn't just tasteless, it's a _bad_ vehicle. Only stupid people will be impressed by it.

Irish Lion

daveohdave wrote: »

Did he say how long?

He didn't say

daveohdave wrote: »

Whether or which, what's done is done, unless you're proposing to go legal over it, which is a waste of time and effort for everyone involved, or you just came here to bitch,.

Both

daveohdave wrote: »

She'd look a lot classier in a Bentley than she would in a heap of crap like a Hummer.
You should tell her that btw. The Hummer isn't just tasteless, it's a _bad_ vehicle. Only stupid people will be impressed by it.

The choice of car is ours not yours. I haven't asked for other opinions on what is or is not a good choice of cars but thanks for your input....

daveohdave

Irish Lion wrote: »

He didn't say

It could have been a week then, or a day.

Both

Bitching I can understand, but legal? Grow up.

Irish Lion

daveohdave wrote: »

It could have been a week then, or a day.



Bitching I can understand, but legal? Grow up.

Again, Thanks so much for your input

ezopsae

Seems childish that someone could be so fixated on a hummer and you would consider bad mouthing a guy in financial difficulty.

I'm sure there's lots of alternatives to be had. I saw a few of those pink stretch hummers going around Ballymun last week for a communion.

Irish Lion

ezopsae wrote: »

Seems childish that someone could be so fixated on a hummer and you would consider bad mouthing a guy in financial difficulty.

Childish and fixated.... Probably true but regardless of anyone else's opinion, that is what she wants and was under the impression that she had

Who said this guy was in financial trouble??? I didn't

ezopsae wrote: »

I'm sure there's lots of alternatives to be had. I saw a few of those pink stretch hummers going around Ballymun last week for a communion.

Alternatives...... A few
Suitable alternatives....... Not so far

clint_silver

Id ask anyone who thinks its crass to hold their views. After several years on here the over-riding opinion is "have your wedding your way". If that's what she wants let's help get it.

Op I think you need to let the original car go and you're not going to get any luck pursuing it. It really is unfortunate but I would have thought what he offered was reasonable.

Did you try countrywide for other hummers? May even if it costs extra to get it down to cork for the day?

wexie

clint_silver wrote: »

Did you try countrywide for other hummers? May even if it costs extra to get it down to cork for the day?

I'd be surprised if you couldn't get one from Dublin to drive down for the price of a tank of diesel and maybe an extra hundred quid or so, which is a lot of money but if it's that important to SWMBO then it'd be worth it.

Just remember : if she ain't happy then nobody aint happy.....

Milly33

I was just going to say your hardle in Cork. Not sure if its a H2 hummer but there is chap living close to Douglas who has one of these, or he used to anyway I haven't seen it in a while.. I might know someone else let it with me ill be back

ABajaninCork

Is it worth putting the question to the chaps on the Motors forum? Someone there might know where to get the Hummer.

Stanlex

...

Milly33

Ok so the chap who had one in Douglas has sold it, But you could chance giving Tom Carr a ring he deals mostly with Royces but he might know of someone with a hummer. Also the Steam Rally in Upton is on the june weekend you could go along and see if anyone there has one or knows of someone.. It would be good to post in the motor forum too as Aban said, all sound there... Another one is to try the American Car Club see if they know of anyone

Milly33

check done deal too looks like there are two up for sale perhaps someone would be willing to use for the day

Toots

Stanlex that's not helpful and it's not funny. If you can't make a worthwhile contribution to the thread please don't bother posting.

Irish Lion

I didn't mean to get anyone in to trouble with the mods. I was venting our frustration and we have taken on board the opinions and suggestions of the posters.
Sorry if anyone gets in to a spot of bother.
Mods: I don't take offence easily and I appreciate the opinion of all posters.

Stanlex

My apologies for the above post, it was meant as a joke.

Best of luck with the wedding and your life together.

Milly33

American Car club says ne sorry

Irish Lion

On the phone and net for the past 2 days and the best I can do is Belfast or the UK.
Due to the distance and travel time, its not really an option from a financial point of view (got one quote for £2400stg).
Herself will be back from the hen later today and lets see if a bit of time has softened the blow.
Thanks for you help and suggestions.

Gatica

Sorry you lost the booking on the car you wanted but if he genuinely was unable to keep up running the car, then that's just it. I'm sure he wasn't out to upset you guys. Badmouthing him solves nothing. Most suppliers do the same or have same in contracts, if they're unable to provide the service they refund the deposit or offer an alternative. Surprisingly this is even common for photographers. If they're sick they provide an alternative photographer, if you don't like him then there's nothing you can do about it. It's just how it is. He offered you an alternative, which unfortunately didn't suit you.
Really hope you find the car you're looking for.

Irish Lion

I find the lack of knowledge here just overwhelming.
Trying to hire anything for a wedding on a Saturday in July at such short notice is just impossible. What cars are available are the dregs left behind because nobody wants them. I saw a car today that had white tape holding on a window and duck tape on the rear seats and the individual still wanted €450 for the hire.
This is why most people book so far in advance.
Perhaps what has transpired is the norm as the last poster said but that doesn't make it right.

clint_silver

Irish Lion wrote: »

I find the lack of knowledge here just overwhelming.
Trying to hire anything for a wedding on a Saturday in July at such short notice is just impossible. What cars are available are the dregs left behind because nobody wants them. I saw a car today that had white tape holding on a window and duck tape on the rear seats and the individual still wanted €450 for the hire.
This is why most people book so far in advance.
Perhaps what has transpired is the norm as the last poster said but that doesn't make it right.

don't be so overwhelmed. As it's the height of the season, Anyone who hires cars aren't running their business right if they're not booked out.

http://europe.hireluxurycar.com/ireland

You may be in danger of letting it take over the day. Resign yourself to the fact you may not get what you want here. It happens.

Chattastrophe!

Irish Lion wrote: »

I find the lack of knowledge here just overwhelming.
Trying to hire anything for a wedding on a Saturday in July at such short notice is just impossible. What cars are available are the dregs left behind because nobody wants them. I saw a car today that had white tape holding on a window and duck tape on the rear seats and the individual still wanted €450 for the hire.
This is why most people book so far in advance.
Perhaps what has transpired is the norm as the last poster said but that doesn't make it right.

It's a f*cking car. I'm sorry but seriously. Get over it already. You're getting married, you're celebrating the decision to spend the rest of your life with this woman. I really cannot believe your attitude to all of this. I find it amazing that you or your future wife would actually be upset about the car you'll be travelling in on the day.

Sure, it would have been nice to have had the one you wanted. The option is no longer there. Move along, get over it, focus on the important aspects of your wedding.

Maybe a friend with a nice car could give you a lift?

No one - NO ONE - is going to care or remember what car you travelled in on the day, apart from yourselves. It's such an insignificant thing to allow yourselves to get upset over, in the context of the event.

Teyla Emmagan

I think you're putting far too much focus on this too OP. The only wedding car I ever remember was a pink fiat punto. The rest either went unnoticed at the time or have faded from memory. No one will care, I think you should let it go.

jlm29

It's not a lack of knowledge op. I think it's more a case that people here wouldn't prioritise a wedding car. It's often one of the first things to be cut if a budget is tight. I intend to travel to my wedding in my 6 yr old ford focus. And I'll be just as married as the person who arrives in a horse and carriage or whatever the trend might me. If none of the wedding cars around don't appeal to you, maybe buy a roll of ribbon, and pick the friend/family member with the nicest car, and ask them for a lift. It's not what you planned originally, but in the greater scheme of things, if the car is the biggest thing that goes wrong for you for the big day, you're doing well.

Irish Lion

Reading the replies I think you all have the wrong end of the stick.
I couldn't care less about your opinions on if the car was a good choice or how you prioritise wedding budgets, if you think no one will remember the car or even if you think is was an over reaction to post it on this forum. I really couldn't care less what ye think on these points. We are in this position, not you, so how we dictate our priorities and our reaction to it, is up to us not you.
It's purely a question of "Did the vendor act properly?"
"If not, what should be done to prevent this from happening to others?"
"Are these vendors be regulated by law? And if not why not?
"Where can we get a H2 at short notice?
"What other options are available in the Cork area (that can be viewed to prevent us from getting something that would one tremble in fear)?

January

Yes, he did act properly, he gave you enough notice (the day before or even the month before would be unreasonable but not two months), offered an alternative or offered you a complete refund.

Milly33

get her a hummer trip up in Belfast after the wedding a day trip in one twud be much more fun

Typer Monkey

I'm sure people will be falling all over themselves to help you after that rant! If you post in a public forum you don't get to dictate the responses you get. If you 'couldn't care less' about what people have posted so far, maybe they couldn't care less about your 'major issue'