Can Greyhound attract Corporate types and/or attract more business by revamping their companies?

Question

I've rode the Greyhound one too many times. I feel like weeping before, during, and after every ride. Let's get to the point: Greyhound has no competition, so they can settle for what they have now and not do much about REALLY bringing in some more business and not just more money.

After every trip, the bus driver will say, "We hope you enjoyed your trip!" I don't believe that homeless people in Third World Countries would ENJOY a Greyhound bus trip. I mean, we survive, yeah. After one ride, you feel like a true hero.

My last Greyhound trip was to New York. I'm thinking of diligently praying for a car and new job so I won't EVER have to be seen in a Greyhound again. A complete business revamp of stricter rules, stricter training, more pay for employees; new colors and signs, expanded stations, re-designed buses, ads that actually use money, and just plain BUSINESS SENSE would make Grey go International, not stay National. Grey's Headship is just plain lazy. My 2 sense.

Answer 1

Greyhound has several problems, one of which is very poor management. But they also have an image problem. Their image is that bus travel is for loosers, and who wants to be a looser. Their schedules are nothing to write home about either. Airlines fit their schedules for times that people prefer to travel. I think Greyhound does not have a clue as to when people wish to travel. For example, Indianapolis to Atlanta 5 direct buses, only one of which is on a half way decent schedule. Two leave after midnight and one arrives in Atlanta after midnight. All of their buses have long layovers on route. Two one hour layovers. It appears that they attempt to go out of their way to make certain that no one wants to ride their buses.

What a pity. With fuel costs as high as they are bus travel could provide an advantageous means of transportation, but apparently not in America.

Answer 2

They are an international company. They operate extensively in Canada and Mexico Those are both outside the US last time I checked.

Spending money on signs won't do much. Truth be told, people that have money don't travel on a bus. They drive or fly. Revamping buses cost hundreds of thousands. You underestimate how much it would cost to revamp everything.

The company can grow, especially in the courier market which is much more stable. Half of the problem is that it is a bus, which have small seats with no leg room.

You have to ask yourself, who travels on GreyHound? Why do they travel GreyHound? When do they travel? How often?

But you are right, they could look for other markets to capture and maybe even have a specialty segment that has fancier buses that go to tourist destinations. Include some nice hotel rooms in a package and you have yourself a nice niche that is more profitable than the core segment. But the core travel is their bread and butter and probably always will be.

Answer 3

Interesting question.
There are physical limitations to what a bus company can do.

->It has to be lower priced, so they don't have money to make Gold Plated service.
->They couldn't serve meals for example..there is no room, and stuff bumps around
->Cant make it faster, because of traffic.
->Would new colours or signs would make your ride better? (It might, Im not sure, but I doubt it).
->Gas prices are going up, so it squeezes them

Maybe they could make "mini-buses" or something, that are smaller and more enjoyable...I doubt it though

They are competing against cars, cheap airline flights and trains
Its a tough business and not a lot of money in it.

I personally like flying...I would never consider making a long trip on a bus..it would be hell, regardless of how good the service is.

Last year, I got a ticket from Toronto to Los Angeles for $250 bucks, direct. It took a few hours. On a bus, this would be days.

Its just generally a tough business. I don't think the execs are lazy, just dealing with the reality of a low budget business

Now, if they created a high speed train service, I would consider this (like they have in Japan). But the oil/car cartel kills this everytime, so it won't happen here unfortunately.

Answer 4

"Take the bus and leave the driving to us"---Hey, Greyhound isn't the only bus company! Driving a car has it's down falls too. Aggressive drivers, road rage,etc. It costs a LOT to own a car! Insurance, the initial cost, taxes, maintence, repairs, tires, etc It's not all a bed of roses either. There is a lot to be said about letting them do the driving!

Answer 5

Given that business travelers time is at a premium, no matter how much they improve the service I don't think any bus company is going to attract enough of them to build a business on. Videoconferencing will take off long before Greyhound's corporate travel business!

Answer 6

since they are now the sole company, they have good deals, you have to spend a lifetime on them to get to your destination. you can't sleep or anything on them. amtrak is trying to compete with them now. i have a friend in the state of florida and he travels alot around the state. he got a amtrak annual pass for 229.00 and its unlimited rides around the state, 24/7 all year and then he renews it every year. many charter bus companies are making deals for traveling which includes meals, lodging and stuff which is alot better than greyhound. when you figure the meals and lodging, it would be about the same as greyhound. greyhound may run right through, but its worth the day or two lodging to get rest with meals than destroy your body riding on a greyhound bus.

Answer 7

No, it takes to long to get from one place to another...