App technology for car rentals could be coming to Vineyard Haven this summer.
Timothy Johnson

App-Based Car Rental Service Plans Summer Debut

<p>Visitors to the Island may soon have another technology at their fingertips. William Gately of Vine Rentals came before the Tisbury selectmen Tuesday to propose an app-based car rental service, to launch this summer.</p>

Visitors to the Island may soon have another technology at their fingertips, as Uber paves the way for more transportation services becoming available through app-based technology.

In the wake of the Uber debate, William Gately of Vine Rentals came before the Tisbury selectmen Tuesday to propose a remotely operated, app-based car rental service, to launch this summer.

Mr. Gately plans to offer rental cars to Islanders and tourists alike at half the cost of current lowest rates on the Island. “Our staff would survey the five or six operators on the Island and our price would be half of the current lowest one,” he said.

His business plan involves outsourcing the bulk of his labor to the Philippines, where a staff of female employees earn above the average minimum wage and are given housing and computers. “Through the use of technology and high-speed internet we can offer much more in terms of service,” he told the board.

Mid-sized and specialty vehicles, as well as pickup trucks, will make up Vine Rentals’ fleet of vehicles, about three of which will be stored on site at a small office at 95 State Road, formerly a hair salon. An additional eight to 10 vehicles will live at a nearby storage facility, and the rest will be spread out around the Island, for convenient retrieval. “Stagecoach Taxi would greet individuals at the ferry as part of the rental fee and drive them to their car,” Mr. Gately said. “Folks who wanted to come to the office and look at cars could do that too,” he said.

The rental car business will also offer a personal concierge service, operated by a staff of Boston-based employees. “Visitors can ask questions about housing rentals, booking a restaurant, what’s the best ice cream on the Island or what beach is open. Anything they want will be a text message or a phone call away.”

The unofficial proposal was well received by the selectmen, who suggested that Mr. Gately return before the board with an official business application for approval. “I am from the generation when we used to know the name of the milkman so it’s definitely changing,” said selectman Tristan Israel.

In other news Tuesday, Mr. Israel continued a public hearing on Bruno’s rate increase for curbside trash and recycling services until June 16. He reported that the issue is still being researched and that the selectmen have been in conversation with the Department of Public Works on the topic.

Co-president of Tisbury Waterways Inc., Gerard Hokanson, received approval for the installation of educational medallions next to storm drains in town, as part of an eighth grade science program the organization is developing with Felix Neck. Ten medallions will be placed next to drains starting at Mansion House and heading up Main street. The project’s aim is to instruct kids on how to keep water clean, by having them understand that what goes down the drain funnels into the harbor as opposed to just disappearing. The program has already launched and been successful in Edgartown.

Comments

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 06/03/2015 - 17:21

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PieInTheSky Vineyard Haven

So you can retrieve your rental car from a parking spot somewhere "around the island"? Does he mean parked on the streets taking up valuable parking spots? Town resources for his business? I thought VH didn't allow that on the harbor (jet ski or passengers going aboard a sailing charter using town docks) but it's going to be ok for this guy to park cars in retrievable public spots? Or is he talking private.

Sounds like a pie in the sky idea that won't get to high.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 06/03/2015 - 18:50

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PieNot?

Actually seems like the start of a decent idea. Outsourcing the minimum wage jobs helps reduce demand on employee housing. The car wash and clean jobs, desk agents (more like high pressure insurance sales agents). Valuable downtown parking used by the current car rental companies is opened to a higher and better use. Stagecoach taxi gets some business it didn't have, much needed as Uber takes a chunk out of the traditional taxi model. I like that forward thinking reaction to Uber. This is creative destruction at its best. Maybe this exact model has holes, but people are thinking. I am not sure how PieInTheSky came to the conclusion that this company was going to park in public spaces...it didn't read that way to me at all. It sounded like they were going to park where there is room, and ferry people to their rental cars via taxi. Smart.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/04/2015 - 10:10

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Billy Chilmark

I have some serious questions about the sustainability of this project. This island is obviously a fairly unique place, and I have some reservations about the ability of a Philippines based staff being able to properly address any concerns on island. And a Boston based concierge? Essentially someone being paid to go on Google and search for "Best ice cream on Martha's Vineyard?" I have had to rent cars on the island before, and yes, they are expensive, but the service has always been great. For the most part, the island companies are run by locals who know the island as well as anyone. Hardly "high pressure insurance sales agents" as stated above.

I wish them well, and having a more economical choice sounds great, but come August, when the island is packed, I wouldn't want to be calling Manila when I get a flat tire in Chilmark.

deshandra brown mv

If the VTA would run a bus on the south beach katama loop at nite, it would take a lot of pressure off the parking in Edg, and got lets of cars off the road (many of whom would like to spend a few more $$ at the bar, but don't want to drink/drive and cannot afford the cabs. One loop per hour at 11p, 12a, and 1a would probably attract lots of riders.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 06/08/2015 - 13:04

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gina menemsha/nyc

Although a noble potentially cost saving biz plan, I have my doubts just how effective a Philippines based customer service support organization can actually be.. It reminds me of every time I call my credit cd company & reach Mumbai .. Well intentioned folks working the phones but essentially useless ..

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