The Taxi Centre Comes To The Rescue Of Pontypridd Driver After Nationwide Search
A South Wales taxi driver who spent weeks searching the UK for a specific new vehicle has praised a Glasgow business for helping him secure the car he thought was out of reach.
Mark Frowen, a self-employed taxi driver from Pontypridd, contacted dealerships across the country in a bid to find a new Toyota Corolla Touring Sports that matched his requirements. However, despite an extensive search, he was repeatedly told he would either have to settle for a used vehicle or wait several months for a factory order.
Determined to find the right car, Mark widened his search beyond Wales and eventually contacted The Taxi Centre in Glasgow – more than 400 miles from home.
Within minutes of speaking to Branch Manager Stephen Porter, Mark discovered that The Taxi Centre had the exact vehicle he had been searching for, sparking a cross-country deal that saw him collecting the car just four days later.
Having placed his order on the late May Bank Holiday Monday, Mark was keen to collect the vehicle in person rather than have it delivered. In response, The Taxi Centre arranged and paid for a flight from Cardiff to Glasgow and collected him from the airport before completing the handover at its Darnley headquarters.
The rapid turnaround meant Mark was able to drive the new Corolla back to South Wales the same day and quickly put it into service transporting passengers across Pontypridd and the surrounding area.
Mark Frowen said: "I wanted a new, unregistered car and contacted every dealership in the UK looking for a Toyota Corolla, TS but the only option was either a used model or to wait until August for delivery.
"I was aware of The Taxi Centre, but the distance to the dealership had put me off. However, as soon as I made the call and spoke to Stephen, the distance became insignificant when it became clear they had exactly what I was looking for.
"I really wanted to collect the car in person, and The Taxi Centre went above and beyond to make it possible, paying for the flights up from Cardiff then collecting me from the airport.
"The levels of service that were provided were nothing short of incredible, and Stephen and his team kept me updated on everything throughout, and even rang me on the journey home to make sure I was happy with everything.
"To sort everything and get the car ready to be collected in four days was impressive and it made the whole process enjoyable rather than a battle. I've bought many cars and motorbikes in my lifetime and never has such a pleasant experience. If I were to expand and need another car, then there is no-one else I'd contact!"
The story highlights the lengths some taxi drivers are now having to go to source suitable vehicles as demand for reliable, low-emission models continues to grow.
For The Taxi Centre, which has supplied vehicles to drivers across the UK for 25 years, Mark's experience demonstrates how distance is increasingly becoming irrelevant in the modern taxi market.
Stephen Porter, Branch Manager at The Taxi Centre, said: "Although we are based in Glasgow, we're proud to support customers all over the UK and Mark's story is the perfect example of how we do everything we can to help when an enquiry comes in.
"Our knowledge and expertise in terms of knowing what our customers want meant that we had the exact car Mark was looking for on site, and then it was just a case of sorting out the slight logistical issue of us being 400 miles apart!
"To be able to hand over the keys so quickly and to see the positive reaction from Mark has been fantastic, and it is one of the reasons why we do this job. We wish him all the best with his business going forwards and hope he enjoys plenty of happy miles in his new car."
Based in Glasgow, The Taxi Centre serves taxi and private hire drivers across the UK, with customers regularly travelling from England and Wales to secure specialist vehicles and industry expertise.